Bristol Life - Professional Services Guide 2019

PROSERVICES

2019

architects

AG E N C I E S / B US I N E SS SE R V I C E S / FI N A N C E / L AW / PR O PE R T Y

the city at

work mEET THE PROFESSIONALS MAKING THE CITY BUZZ

mediaclash.co.uk 1

SETTING THE AGENDA

ARCHITECTS

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Meet the shining stars of Bristol’s professional services’ community, from creative directors to financial experts who help your wealth grow, and a myriad of other professions in between

ADVERTISING FEATURE

2 MEDIACLASH.CO.UK

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agency ambitious PR

Sarah Woodhouse, director

Tell us a little about your business

AMBITIOUS PR is an award-winning independent PR agency that focuses on business-to-business and corporate communications. We help businesses find, influence and engage their target audiences regionally, nationally and internationally.

We take a strategy first approach to determine the most effective communications channels to reach a client’s goals. We invest in developing a deep understanding of a client’s business and industry and then, fuelled by insight, creativity and clever ideas we strive to build relationships for our clients through multiple touch points online, offline and everywhere in between.

What achievement as a firm are you most proud of?

AMBITIOUS PR was named Best Public Relations Agency in the UK at The Drum Magazine’s Recommended Agency Register (RAR) awards in 2018 and 2019. This award is based purely on client feedback.

What areas do you specialise in?

The sectors we are strong in include technology and innovation, property and construction, education, healthcare, high value design and engineering, professional services including financial services, law, recruitment and management consultancy. We provide integrated communications services including strategy and planning, media and influencer relations, digital PR, content marketing, copywriting, stakeholder mapping and engagement, social media management, crisis and issues management.

Did you know?

Every client works with a Director who has a stake in AMBITIOUS. This means a highly motivated leader manages each team, with hands-on senior counsel as standard. Our approach is built on the understanding that your business is our business. www.ambitiouspr.co.uk

Toby Farrow

hide the shark

Toby Farrow, owner / creative director Tell us a little about your business

We’re a strategic brand and design agency – a nimble team of digital designers, developers, marketers and problem solvers who help to give innovative companies the killer edge. We’ve been running for nearly ten years and in that time have gained a wide client base in the cultural, charity and commercial sectors.

How have the last 12 months been for you?

They’ve been very busy. We’ve had a few large scale brand projects that have really helped to reinforce our reputation. We have also moved to [HERE], which marks an exciting new chapter for us. The current UK uncertainty makes us even more committed to providing sector leading brand, content and design services.

What sets you apart from others in your sector?

A lot of agencies claim that they’re storytellers, but my background as a theatre and TV writer means that we are really able to back that claim up. Story-telling structure flows through all our work giving it a logic and depth that our clients and their audiences really respond to.

Did you know?

As a kid I was obsessed with Jaws. I loved the way the music, lighting and camera angles created the shark in my head. The shark is a perfect metaphor for our approach. Our clients come to us with an objective.

From that we create a shark full of personality. We give it purpose and direction and then deploy it, keeping it hidden until it’s the right time for the big reveal. That’s why we’re called Hide the Shark. www.hidetheshark.com

Sarah Woodhouse

4 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

“As a kid I was obsessed with Jaws. I loved the way the music, lighting and camera angles created the shark in my head”

BUSINESS SPECIAL

kubiak

Chas Pratt, managing director

Tell us a little bit about your business

Kubiak specialise in the marketing of commercial and residential property. Evolving creativity is what we do. Our team lives and breathes each project, using all our creative passion to produce breath-taking, fresh creative thinking. It’s the opportunity to find new ways to engage an audience’s imagination that excites us.

Whilst we practice all the traditional design and print disciplines, it is the online digital work that most enthuses us and that today’s target audiences most engage with. Our creative team is accomplished at building bespoke, future-proof, mobile-responsive websites and digital solutions.

New media is also a vital part of a modern marketing campaign, so when it comes to features like film, virtual tours, drone footage, photography and CGIs, we have the creative expertise right here.

When was your firm founded and who by?

Kubiak was founded by George Kubiak over 25 years ago. George was a very talented designer who worked tirelessly to put Kubiak on the map. I joined Kubiak as a Director in 1997 to help generate new business and feed George’s creative genius.

What areas do you specialise in?

Right from the start in the early 1990s, Kubiak had a connection with commercial property marketing and can now boast some of the world’s large commercial property companies amongst its clients; such as Schroders, St. Modwen, Jones Lang Lasalle, Knight Frank, Savills and UNITE. Property marketing has become our unique point of difference and it’s what we do best.

Did you know?

Kubiak is a dog friendly office, sometimes three dogs a day! It’s amazing what a calming influence they can have in our crazy studio. www.kubiakcreative.com

Chas Pratt

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BUSINESS SPECIAL

Nikki Ellison

marles + barclay

Adrian Barclay + Gill Marles

Tell us a little about your business

Marles + Barclay is a graphic design partnership – we create brands and design communications to help businesses and organisations thrive. Our work ranges from brand identity, naming and guidelines to websites and exhibitions, for clients ranging from independent retail businesses to large public sector organisations.

What areas do you specialise in?

We specialise in design and visual communications for healthcare, craft and culture. What this unusual mix have in common are great people with an amazing commitment to their work – customer relationships are very important to us. Our healthcare clients include several NHS trusts and Second Step – this leading mental health charity are really flying after our re-brand. We also re-branded Two Day Coffee and Planet Pizza, two established independents ‘crafting’ brilliant food and drink. Amongst our cultural clients we’re proud of our work with Bristol Old Vic Theatre School – a great Bristol institution with an international reputation.

What sets you apart from others in your sector?

loom

Nikki Ellison

Tell us a little about your business

We’re a specialist integrated digital marketing agency. We make our client’s digital channels work together in a joined-up way and have been transforming businesses in Bristol and beyond with our award-winning digital marketing for over 10 years.

What sets you apart from others in your sector?

At Loom, we focus on the whole user journey. We create bespoke digital marketing strategies that reach online users at each touchpoint, weaving together different channels to reach them at the right time with the right message. We have teams of experts dedicated to each channel including PPC, SEO, content marketing and social media, making us an unbeatable powerhouse when it comes to digital marketing knowledge.

We’re a small agency and we’re hands on – immersed in each project from initial ideas to finished designs. Our approach goes beyond pure business – it’s born out of commitment, care and a deep understanding of our customers’ goals and aspirations. Our approach builds trust and delivers results – and this is reflected in many longstanding client relationships.

Did you know?

An infographic we designed for Southmead Hospital has really struck a chord with healthcare professionals on Twitter... In August 2019 this image had one-and-a-quarter million Twitter views and, over 20k likes later, enquiries are rolling in from hospitals across the world. www.marlesandbarclay.co.uk

How have the last 12 months been for you?

The last 12 months have been all about growth, change and looking forward. We’ve refined our services, restructured the team and undergone a total re-brand to better reflect what it is we offer to businesses.

Did you know?

We used to be called Digirank – but we changed to Loom because it sums up exactly what we do: weave the different threads of digital marketing channels to make digital marketing achieve more.

Loom also represents how we work with our clients, symbolising how we integrate our team with theirs, creating close partnerships that help businesses reach new heights. It also demonstrates how our team of digital specialists collaborate – each one an expert in a specific channel – to achieve incredible results for businesses. www.Loomdigital.co.uk

“The last 12 months have been all about growth, change and looking forward”

Adrian Barclay and Gill Marles

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BUSINESS SPECIAL

vaughan and company

Ryan Vaughan, founder & creative strategist What are you?

We are a distinctively different design studio.

What makes you distinctively different?

We operate in a virtual space to produce award-winning work for daring brands + agencies by harnessing the best freelance talent for the project in-hand.

Think of it as the creative A-Team, perfect for your brands next challenge.* Our services:

• Graphic Design • 2D Animation • Social Media Advertising • Pay-per-click Advertising Who do you work with?

Ailsa Billington

We collaborate mainly with clients in the financial, tech and FMCG sectors who want to produce truly distinctive brand communications that are remembered by customers.

“It’s very hard to buy something you can’t remember.”

Do you have an office?

Proctor + Stevenson

Ailsa Billington, client services director Tell us a little about your business

Founded by Roger Proctor MBE in 1979, Proctor + Stevenson is one of the region’s longest-established independent marketing businesses.

From our beginnings as a brand and design agency, we’ve expanded our offering over four decades, now providing services that cover creative, strategy and technology to clients around the world.

What achievement as a firm are you most proud of?

We’re Bristol born and bred, but global in our reach. From our earliest days, we’ve been a champion of local and regional business, working with clients that include UWE and the South West Regional Development Agency.

While our heart remains in the city, we’re well-established on the international stage, exporting 70% of our work overseas, with a track record of clients that includes blue-chip brands such as BMW, HP, Epson and Panasonic.

Yes, despite working with creative talent from around the globe, we have a fixed space at 1 Victoria Street, where we encourage our client partners to visit for a coffee.

What sets you apart from others in your sector?

Unlike our traditional agency peers who brief a project to ‘Dave’, midweight designer on £30k+ per year, out of necessity, we hand-pick creative talent, perfect for the project, to deliver a superior service.

And that’s all we ask our clients to pay for, no fancy office with 17 ping-pong tables, extravagant end of year parties or yoga mats, just industry-leading work.

What plans do you have for 2020?

We want to expand our global creative roster and capabilities into new services such as 3D motion graphics and augmented reality outputs.

Did you know?

Vaughan + Company = Ryan Vaughan + Creative specialists. www.vaughanandcompany.co.uk

What sets you apart from others in your sector?

We have a can-do attitude that’s second to none. Always ready to adapt and evolve, our commitment to say ‘yes’ more than ‘no’ means we offer in-house specialism in a broader range of disciplines than almost any other similar-sized business in our sector.

As an example, I started my P+S career as a graphic designer, later becoming an account manager and then the company’s first female director.

Did you know?

Our HQ in Easton is one of only two buildings in the UK to be coated in an active air-purifying substance that absorbs NOx, improving air quality in built-up areas. www.proctors.co.uk

“While our heart remains in the city, we’re wellestablished on the international stage”

Ryan Vaughan

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BUSINESS SPECIAL

Bristol City Centre BID Keith Rundle, operations director Tell us a little about your business

The Bristol City Centre BID (Business Improvement District) is all about making the city centre a better place for everyone who lives, works, studies, visits or spends time there. We are focused on improving the safety, the welcome and feel of the area, and to benefit our levy payers – the local businesses and organisations that fund us.

Tell us about your community/charity involvement…

Helping to solve homelessness in Bristol is a major part of our work as the numbers of people rough sleeping is a particular concern for our levy payers. Partnering with Caring in Bristol, we have just launched ‘TAP for Bristol’ – the UK’s first-ever contactless donation system to raise money for homelessness prevention services as well as directly supporting people who are currently homeless.

Team Blackstar

business services Blackstar Solutions Nick Smith, CEO

Tell us a little about your business?

Blackstar Solutions is a trusted telecoms provider who deliver best-ofbreed business communication solutions.

Our team’s technical expertise is matched by their passion for delivering the highest quality solutions and support services.

At Blackstar, we pride ourselves on having long-established customer relationships. Our 5-star Trustpilot rating and high client retention rate speaks volumes for a positive experience and our customer-first approach.

What achievement as a firm are you most proud of proud of?

Our team are extremely important to the success of our business. We’re therefore most proud of our 100% employee retention rate.

We work on creating a working environment that everyone enjoys.

We also equip team members with the tools to work remotely and allow flexible working to manage family and other commitments.

They’re provided with training and mentorship on a regular basis for them to progress and continually improve.

We enjoy ourselves along the way with quarterly team nights out and we meet for a monthly lunch club. We also reward the team with Wriggle vouchers, Bristol Zoo membership and tickets to Bristol Bears rugby games.

What makes working in Bristol special?

So many things! From the creative, defiant, disruptive spirit for which Bristol is known nationally and increasingly internationally, to its can-do attitude and down-to-earth mentality. It’s fun, it’s diverse, it’s impressively committed to – and delivering on – sustainability. A city that regularly tops tech and growing economy lists the world over, but somehow Bristol still has the best attributes of community – a place where you’ll often bump into someone you know, where you can chat to a stranger and people really do say ‘cheers, drive’ as they get off the bus.

Did you know?

Bristol City Centre BID has been operating for less than two years and so far we’ve helped businesses to increase recycling rates by 98% and save an average of 40% on their waste services; provided 4,000 additional hours of street cleansing to improve the look and feel of the city centre; installed more than 35 street planters growing free fruit and veg; and partnered with Caring in Bristol to raise £28,500 for homelessness support in the city. www.bristolcitycentrebid.co.uk

What sets you apart from others in your sector?

We take the time to listen to our clients’, partners’ and employees’ needs before providing an innovative telecoms solution and we deliver on our promises. This approach ensures we are highly rated for our service and retain our clients.

Did you know?

The Blackstar team jumped out of a plane from 15,000ft (with a parachute) for Bristol charity Jessie May, raising £3,200. www.blackstarsolutions.co.uk

“Our team’s technical expertise is matched by their passion for delivering the highest quality solutions and support services” 10 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Keith Rundle

Funding solutions for your business and property needs South West Business Finance (SWBF) is an independent finance consultancy and commercial brokerage. We work with a broad range of lenders and funding providers to find our clients the most appropriate finance for their needs.

Property Development

Property Investments

Bridging Finance

Crowd Funding

Asset Finance

Commercial Mortgages

Buy To Let Mortgages

Invoice Finance

Banking Consultancy

Business Loans (Secured and Unsecured)

Changing the face of commercial finance

01225 800849

enquiries@swbf.co.uk www.swbf.co.uk South West Business Finance is a broker of credit and not a lender. South West Business Finance is a trading name of Aspire Commercial Finance Limited Registered in England & Wales under No: 09076273 Aspire Commercial Finance Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (690089) also a member of the NACFB (06/0035/CM) Your property may be repossessed if you do not keep up on repayments on a mortgage or any other debt secured on it.

BUSINESS SPECIAL

Datasharp Integrated Communications Will Wood, senior account manager Tell us a little about your business

We’re a business communications company based in Bath – now celebrating our 20th year! Our areas of expertise are VoIP phone systems, internet connectivity, network security, business mobile phones and video conferencing combined with the in-house consultancy, design and deployment skills required to bring the technologies together and create the best solutions for our clients.

Amy Bramhall

What challenges are your clients facing?

Our clients face enormous challenges providing environments where staff can work, communicate and collaborate easily – both inside and outside the workplace – while, simultaneously managing the security around those environments. Take video conferencing. Yes, it has the potential to transform the way a business communicates, but it has to be highly available, absolutely secure and super-easy to use for the deployment to be successful.

What sets you apart from others in your sector?

We’re proud to be a multi-vendor solution provider with a keen focus on customer service. We have strong links with many of Bath’s top 100 businesses and retain our clients for many years – so we must be doing something right!

Did you know?

Microsoft Teams cloud-based team collaboration software is the fastestgrowing product ever released by Microsoft. Can it be used as your business phone system? Absolutely! If you’re planning an upgrade to your business phone system, talk to us about the benefits of moving to Microsoft Teams with Direct Routing. We’re here to help. www.datasharp-ic.co.uk Will Wood

MEET bristol

Amy Bramhall, convention bureau manager Tell us a little about your business

Partnering with the best venues, hotels and local suppliers in Bristol and the surrounding areas, we work with you to secure the best options for your event. We offer a free to use venue and accommodation finding service, negotiating rates with selected suppliers.

What areas do you specialise in?

We specialise in business events, providing practical solutions for event planners and impartial advice about what Bristol can offer.

What plans do you have for 2020?

We’re developing a conference ambassador programme, working with local industry experts to enhance conference business in the South West region.

Did you know?

Bristol ranks 7th in the top UK destinations for business events (BMEIS Survey 2019). www.meetbristol.co.uk

“Bristol ranks 7th in the top UK destinations for business events”

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BUSINESS SPECIAL

Royale Chauffeur Group Rob Dickenson, managing director

What achievement as a firm are you most proud of?

This company was founded at the turn of the millennium by two ‘gentlemen’. They built a business based on quality of service and won contracts with some of Bristol’s largest employers, particularly in the aerospace industry. When I was introduced to them some 6/7 years ago, they were both well past retirement age and the business had lost direction and drive, if you pardon the pun!

I quickly realised that the business had a good reputation across a broad spectrum of businesses, and agreed to help build the company back up again.

Today I am proud to say that we have a fleet of prestige vehicles and employ full trained drivers who safely deliver our clients all over the country. We have a diverse and growing list of companies that appreciate us ‘going that extra mile’.

What makes working in Bristol special?

If I didn’t live in Stratford-upon-Avon I would definitely live in Bristol. It is such a diverse and interesting city with an abandonment of different cultures, restaurants and entertainment. It is the business hub of the South West and is within easy distance of some amazing countryside and places to visit. I have loved working here and am looking forward to enjoying ‘Bristol Life’ for the foreseeable future.

Did you know?

Tom Cannon

The Royale Chauffeur Group was the first company in the South West to offer the Tesla all electric car to our clients, and have since covered over 200,000 eco-friendly miles. www.royalechauffeurgroup.co.uk

Moore IT

Tom Cannon, managing director

Tell us a little about your business

We are an IT company that specialises in IT support, IT security and cloud services for small businesses, schools and charities. We focus on the South West region of the UK, with offices in central Bristol and Bath. We deal with all sizes and types of organisations varying from start-up businesses to secondary schools, and tailor the support we provide to each of their individual, and often different, requirements.

What challenges are your clients facing?

Keeping up with the latest technology and software in a rapidly changing tech-driven world. Topics such as cyber security are interesting; we are always advising our clients on how they can help protect themselves and helping with new and emerging technologies.

Tell us about your community/charity involvement

We work with a lot of charities in the South West and help not for profit organizations set up free to use software such as Microsoft Office 365, which some charities aren’t aware of. We also regularly take part in events such as the Bath Half, and Bristol 10k to raise money for charity.

Did you know?

For the last 5 years we were called ‘Moore Stephens IT Solutions’. We have recently re-branded and renamed, following the recent ‘Moore’ network rebrand in the UK. www.msbit.co.uk

“We work with a lot of charities in the south west and help not for profit organizations set up free to use software”

Rob Dickenson

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Maximise productivity and let us take the stress out of your journey....

Whether you are attending business meetings, going to the airport or planning a special occasion, we will ensure you arrive on time and relaxed. There is no need to fight for a seat on a busy train or stress about driving long distances with our professional and experienced chauffeurs at your service.

Why Choose Royale Chauffeurs?

Top reasons to hire a chauffeur: Improved productivity whilst on the move Impress your visiting clients A special occasion To manage your roadshow or event transportation No parking, No waiting, No hassle

Royale Chauffeurs is the preferred choice for our corporate clients because we offer a tailored and personalized service. We know that our customers need a unique service that meets the needs of their business.

Throughout the years Royale Chauffeurs have transported celebrities, premiership footballers and 3* generals, taken groups to all the major sporting events and got the bride to the church on time on many occasions. We have strong experience working with large clients in sectors including Banking, Media, Law and Business.

One thing remains the same, regardless of working for a company or an individual, we value our clients highly and strive to provide the best service at competitive prices.

Contact us today to find out more:

Telephone: 01179 69 6688 | Email: rob@royalechauffeurgroup.co.uk

BUSINESS SPECIAL

SERIALTRAINER 7 Simon Hares, director

Tell us a little about your business

Simon Hares created SerialTrainer7 in 2014 with an ambition to deliver unique and engaging sales and management training. Simon has 25 years training and development expertise and works with a global client base to deliver the very best in people development.

What sets you apart from others in your sector?

Everyone has experienced the same run of the mill training – sitting in an airless room watching someone read off PowerPoint for seven hours!

That’s not how things are done at SerialTrainer7. Simon crafts each training event to ensure it not only meets the business’s commercial objectives but also inspires each delegate to leave the training with improved skills and the motivation to implement things right away.

The approach clearly works evidenced by 200+ very enthusiastic testimonials on LinkedIn.

What plans do you have for 2020?

It’s an exciting time at SerialTrainer7 as we are partnering with a number of our clients to deliver sales and management academies.

These are detailed learning programmes – delivered to the wider workforce over a 9-12 month period – that really drill down to look at what people skills are needed to ensure that client’s business is successful. We are lucky that are clients recognise the importance of investing in their people and understand that training isn’t a ‘one off event’ to be imposed on people – it’s about their personal and professional growth and development, and aligning that with the business strategy.

Did you know?

SerialTrainer7 has a mascot: a very shiny Toyota Hilux flatbed truck called Huxley! Huxley has quite the following on LinkedIn and we always find our traffic (pardon the pun!) increases when there’s a post featuring Huxley. Look out for him on the road – he’ll be the only silver Hilux sporting Bath Life Award Finalist stickers! www.SerialTrainer7.com

SOUTH WEST BUSINESS FINANCE Steve Barrett and Dan Smith

Tell us a little about your business

South West Business Finance (SWBF) is an independent finance consultancy and commercial brokerage. Our offices are in Corsham, near Bath, Steve Barrett and Dan Smith but we have members of the team in Bristol who are able to help businesses with their finance needs. We have access to over 200 lenders and alternative finance providers and we use our broad range of experience to put together the best debt structures for our clients, focusing mainly on trading businesses and property professionals. We offer a much more flexible approach than a mainstream bank, and a personal service to ensure we fully understand your business to provide the right finance at the most competitive rate.

The main part of the role is to educate our clients about the number of alternative funders that are out there looking to support the SME sector. Over the last few years these providers have developed their offering and are providing excellent solutions for businesses in all areas of their business cycle, especially in the growth stage. Whether you need finance to help with your cashflow, quotes on rates for commercial mortgages, buy-to-lets or development finance, we can help.

All the team have come from high street banks, and as ex commercial bank managers are ideally placed to discuss your requirements as we know how lenders want a proposal presented to ensure a swift, positive and competitive response.

We are happy to come and meet you at your premises, or come to our offices in Corsham and we can give you our advice and support for your business.

What predictions do you have for the sector in 2019?

The uncertainty in the external economic climate does bring both challenges and opportunity for businesses. All businesses and property professionals will need to be discussing their finances to ensure that they will stand through this difficult period and therefore we are still forecasting growth.

Tell us about your community/charity involvement…

Simon Hares

We are delighted to be supporting Children’s Hospice South West as our charity partner of year 2019. The team completed a sponsored walk along the Bristol to Bath cycle path, raising over £3,700! These funds will help support life-limited children and their families from across the South West.

What areas do you specialise in?

We specialise in all aspects of business and property finance. What we are currently seeing most of is cashflow finance, whether that be for growth, growing pains or a small gap in general cashflow. On the property side we are completing a lot of property development and commercial mortgage transactions. Debt sizes vary from £100k to £20m.

When was your firm founded and who by?

My fellow managing director Steve Barrett and I founded the business in 2014, having both come from a background of commercial and corporate banking. Our team is now 14 members strong with a huge amount of commercial banking experience, over 250 years between us.

With this much experience we don’t believe there is a transaction that we haven’t seen… Saying that, we are happy to be tested!

Did you know?

We have an office dog called Digby. www.swbf.co.uk

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BUSINESS SPECIAL

Dr Paul Phillips

Stripe OLT

Tom Robbins, technical account manager Tell us a little about your business

For over ten years we’ve been providing managed IT services to customers all over the UK, working with clients across a range of sectors, from Transport and Logistics to Finance and Legal. Our expertise has been built on extensive experience, so whether you need to implement a cyber security plan or migrate your business to the Cloud, we’ve been there, done that and gained the knowledge your business will need along the way!

What achievement as a firm are you most proud of?

As it happens, the last few months at Stripe have been some of the best yet! Not only have we received our Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation, but we’ve also become a Microsoft Gold Partner! The Microsoft Gold Cloud Platform Competency is an elite level in the partner programme, attained by only a small percentage of their most capable Microsoft partners. We had to meet a lot of criteria to attain this accreditation, from installing live customer systems in Azure to passing exams – it wasn’t an easy process, so we’re extremely proud of it.

What sets you apart from others in your sector?

When it comes to customer satisfaction, at Stripe OLT we’re completely transparent and pride ourselves on the exceptional service we provide. To show this, we’ve made sure our customer feedback (SmileBack) score is visible on our website; to this is day, our score has never been below 97% – unlike a lot of companies that say they have “excellent customer service”, we want to prove it!

Did you know?

Tom Robbins

We started out in London (we still have an office there!) and were originally called ‘Stripe’. The OLT part of our name comes from a merger with OLT Consulting in 2013. www.stripeolt.com

Weston College

Dr Paul Phillips CBE, principal and chief executive of the Weston College Group Tell us about your business

One of the largest education and skills providers in the region, we provide education and training to over 30,000 learners, reaching people of all ages. We offer a diverse range of opportunities to our students, and aim to develop people at all levels – from people just testing the waters in an industry, all the way to offering Masters Degrees.

We also work in partnership with over 2,500 employers to offer bespoke training solutions that meet businesses’ needs.

What achievement as a firm are you most proud of?

As a college we see fantastic achievements on a daily basis; from students that have defied the odds, to helping businesses to grow.

We are proud holders of regional and national awards, which shows the impact that we are having across the UK in creating brighter futures.

The achievements that we are most proud of, though, are being rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted; this is a reflection of our ethos, approach and the quality of learning available, plus achieving the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Further and Higher Education.

What challenges are your clients facing?

“When it comes to customer satisfaction, at Stripe OLT we’re completely transparent and pride ourselves on the exceptional service we provide” 18 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Skills is a hot topic, as ever. Many organisations that we meet are unsure on where they will get their future work force from – especially with the uncertainty of Brexit looming over us.

This is why we offer an array of opportunities to engage with us as a training provider – in order to find a solution that meets individual business’s needs. We offer future employee talent pools via our work focused qualifications plus apprenticeships, industry placements and bespoke training programmes to upskill existing employees, amongst other things.

Did you know?

We provide education to 19 prisons across England. www.weston.ac.uk

BUSINESS SPECIAL finance

Andrew Sandiford

Anderson Financial Management Ltd Tony Anderson, FPFS, chartered financial planner, managing director Tell us a little about your business

We are a chartered financial management practice of seven extremely professional and expert staff; we are known for our expert advice and outstanding service.

What areas do you specialise in?

We are best known as financial planners to individuals and families, but we also have a growing portfolio of business clients too. We love the passion and energy that comes from entrepreneurs setting up and developing new businesses, as well as working with established organisations in planning for the future. We’re engaged with the local business community and have built up strong networks over time; by staying up to date with issues and trends, we understand the challenges and opportunities our clients face.

What predictions do you have for the sector in 2019/20?

Rather than trying to predict the future, which in the financial world is a fool’s errand, we advise clients to focus on their own goals and stick to their plan. Don’t be tempted into emotional reactions to short-term market conditions beyond your control.

Did you know?

We have a strong belief in doing the right thing by our clients, our staff and our community. We believe we have a responsibility to support and nurture the good causes that have helped either ourselves, our clients or our families and friends through difficult times. We have started our own Charity Partner initiative and on average donate £12,000 per annum to our nominated Charity of the Year. www.andersonfinancial.co.uk

Tony Anderson

Bishop Fleming

Andrew Sandiford, managing partner Tell us a little about your business

2019 has been Bishop Fleming’s centenary year. But far from viewing this as a just another anniversary and looking back, we’ve used it to transform our business and position ourselves for the future. We’ve rebranded, grown our turnover and headcount and set a new ambition to be the most rewarding accountancy firm in the UK for our clients, people and communities, underpinned by a new set of values, which is changing the way we do business.

What sets you apart from others in your sector?

We genuinely believe we have different approach to servicing our clients needs that focuses on the relationship we build with them. This focus is embodied in our brand promise. It’s what we bring together, that sets us apart.

Tell us about your community/charity involvement

As part of our centenary, we committed to raise £100,000, a target we smashed after just six months. Our people have taken part in a range of individual and team challenges and are on track to have delivered over 2,000 hours of volunteering and community support. In March we were title partner of the Bath Half Marathon, fielding a team of 120 runners ­the largest corporate team in the history of the event. What is most pleasing however, is the way the activities have brought our people, our clients and our communities together.

Did you know?

Our whole business has been accredited as a plastic free champion following our efforts to remove single-use plastics across our offices. www.bishopfleming.co.uk

“We genuinely believe we have different approach to servicing our clients needs that focuses on the relationship we build with them” www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 21

BUSINESS SPECIAL

Clifton Mortgages Edward Payne, director

Tell us a little about your business

Clifton Mortgages was founded by Edward Payne in 2017 after 20 years of working in a variety of senior roles for a variety of lenders and insurers. Too often, advice can be too transactional and customers deserve a better, outcome driven service. Our approach is simple; we believe in taking a holistic view of our customers circumstances and then offering the right solution from a range of options both for now and the future, not the narrow vanilla approach of some advisers in the sector. Instead of a one time transactional approach we aim to be able to support clients throughout their property owning lives, from first time purchase, to property investment and right through to equity release. We also specialise in family purchases in the form of gifted deposits and guarantor mortgages through our sister company, www.familyfirstfinance.co.uk.

What predictions do you have for the sector in 2019/20?

In our opinion the home mover mortgage market in Bristol will remain relatively buoyant for first time buyers and those buying more modest family homes, but the higher end of the market will remain sluggish until Brexit uncertainty is resolved and people are more confident about making a large step up. For younger customers, low available housing stocks will keep prices high and this will continue to be a particular challenge for people with average incomes. For older customers it’s about being able to access and leverage the value in the homes. This is where getting the right advice from a professional is key. We foresee huge growth in areas such as equity release and parents utilising ways to pass on the value in their homes to their children to help them to buy property. More generally, clients will also continue to take advantage of low interest rates when remortgaging or consolidating debt.

Corrigan accountants

Describe your offices?

Tell us a bit about your business

We’re lucky enough to have offices above the Clifton Club on The Mall in Clifton Village, with wonderful views down the West Mall and across South West Bristol to Dundry. It is difficult to modify the old and listed building we are based in, so we utilise Zoom video calls where customers have mobility issues or we can see clients in their own homes.

Did you know?

Clifton Mortgages is so named because we are based in Clifton Village, but did you know that the name Clifton derives from the old English word ‘Clistone’ meaning hillside settlement? Anyone who has ever walked up Constitution Hill has probably already figured that out for themselves! www.cliftonmortgages.com

Edward Payne

Edward Corrigan

Edward Corrigan, managing partner

Corrigan is an independent firm of accountants supporting growth in Bristol businesses by providing a broad range of accounting tax and advisory services, delivered by a highly skilled team.

What sets you apart from others in your sector?

As a growing business ourselves, we understand the demands of meeting ambitious growth plans – whether that is staying ahead of industry innovation, scaling up, business planning or tax efficient strategies, to name but a few.

We are proud of the contribution we are making to the economy of Bristol, supporting some of the fastest growing businesses in the region, acting as a fair and trusted expert adviser. Our size and structure allow us to adapt the way we work with clients through the complete life cycle of their business. We are also proud of training and developing a great team of Chartered Accountants rooted in the local business community.

What challenges are your clients facing?

Running a business is always challenging. Two of the current big issues are uncertainty and innovation.

Clearly the current political situation is creating massive challenges, and no-one currently knows how things are going to look after 31 October. We can help mitigate some of these risks by using sophisticated financial modelling tools which can show outcomes based on various scenarios. We have our ear to the ground and are ready to advise our clients on the impacts of Brexit as soon as they become clear.

From an innovation perspective, there are lots of developments in the automated transmission of data and use of artificial intelligence, which is changing the way people use and record financial information.

This creates significant opportunities to increase efficiencies in running and managing a finance function, and provide much better management information. www.corrigan.co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 23

LAW ASHFORDS

Samantha Newton

Tell us a little about your business

Ashfords is a national provider of legal, professional and regulatory services. We combine legal expertise, commercial experience and our wider network to help our clients achieve their goals.

What changes have you experienced recently?

As part of the firm’s exciting growth, Ashfords’ family team has recently expanded into the Bristol market, with the team continuing to grow over the next year. The specialist family team provide bespoke, sensitive and commercially minded advice and are trusted advisers to the firms’ existing entrepreneurial and high net worth clients and connections. With a real focus on their collaborative offering, the team will help couples resolve their family law issues by sitting together and devising solutions for the family has a whole.

What predictions do you have for family law in 2019/20?

• A rise in the number of people seeking asset protection advice to help limit the financial impact of a relationship breakdown.

•An increase in financial claims by separating parents on behalf of a child.

•Greater use of out of court options to reach agreement on family law issues – such as early neutral evaluation, arbitration, mediation or collaborative law.

•Use of online systems for divorce and agreements about finances, hopefully streamlining family law processes.

•Receipt of the long-awaited law removing the requirement of blame for couples who want to divorce or dissolve their relationship.

Did you know?

Last year Ashfords launched ‘The Ashfords Foundation’, a grantmaking charity which is closely associated with the firm, and brings together all of Ashfords’ charitable giving. Its mission is to make a real difference in the communities in which its partners and staff live and work. www.ashfords.co.uk Samantha Newton

Anna Wilson

BARCAN+KIRBY

Anna Wilson, executive partner

Tell us a little about your business

We are a full service law firm with six offices across Bristol and South Gloucestershire. We specialise in private and commercial law and pride ourselves on our clear, high quality legal advice. We recently won the Legal Award at the Bristol Life Awards and the Business Award for Gender at the Bristol Diversity Awards 2019.

Describe your offices?

We have offices in the following areas – Thornbury, Queen Square, Kingswood, Clifton, Bedminster and Horfield. Earlier this year we moved our Bedminster office into brand new premises next door, extended our Thornbury office and made improvements to our Kingswood and Clifton office. We will be moving our Horfield office down the road to Bishopston in October 2019. We have listened to our staff and implemented their ideas for improvements to our offices.

What sets you apart from others in your sector?

Over 82% of our staff are female, and three quarters of our business support managers are also female. Also, over 53% of staff work either part-time or flexibly. Last year we achieved a gender-balanced Partnership on International Women’s Day 2018, and promoted a solicitor to Partner whilst they were on maternity leave.

Did you know?

We have twelve Mental Health First Aiders (two in each office) whose responsibility is to develop an understanding of common mental health issues, such as stress in the workplace, and provide staff with the support or signposting they may need. www.barcankirby.co.uk

“OVER 82% OF OUR STAFF ARE FEMALE, AND THREE QUARTERS OF OUR BUSINESS SUPPORT MANAGERS ARE ALSO FEMALE” 24 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

BUSINESS SPECIAL

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 25

BUSINESS SPECIAL

Neath Raisbeck Golding Law Michael Ridgwell, corporate litigator What areas do you specialise in?

Our practice mainly involves corporate disputes and commercial litigation matters, such as breach of contract, shareholder disputes, disputes arising from corporate acquisitions, and risk mitigation in a business operations context. My first exposure to commercial litigation was during my training, and I embraced every opportunity to learn.

Wanting to focus more specifically on business and company disputes, I went on to graduate with a Postgraduate Diploma in Corporate Law from the University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa).

What challenges are your clients facing?

Generally client’s face two types of commercial disputes – those with parties outside of the business, and those that arise internally within the business itself. Internal disputes can be devastating to a business, and we always aim to minimise the impact of the dispute on the underlying business, while getting our client their desired outcome.

Clients have invested significant amounts of time, effort and money in the enterprise, and tensions can run high. Shareholder’s disputes can prove especially challenging, and they always involve a multiplicity of considerations. Once our clients objectives are clear, we can devise the most efficient route to achieving this result.

Tell us a little about your business

Lorna Bolton

Neath Raisbeck Golding Law is an eclectic mix of individuals with strong, well-grounded legal experience and the vibrancy, vision and creativity of youth.

Our focus is developing long term relationships with our clients, and getting the best result for them is always our primary objective.

A surprising or little known fact about the firm

Greenaway Scott

Lorna Bolton, director - commercial & IP, and head of Bristol Tell us a little about your business

Greenaway Scott is a business law firm specialising in the provision of legal services to start-up and SME businesses in the areas of Corporate Law, Commercial Contracts, Intellectual Property, Employment and Commercial Property.

Greenaway Scott, together with Verde Corporate Finance, forms part of the GS Verde Group, which combines talents of the legal and financial professionals.

This multi-discipline professional advisory approach enables us give our clients access to extensive capabilities to advise on all aspects of a corporate transaction under one mutual offering, including sourcing investment, equity and debt fund raising, mergers, acquisitions, corporate restructures and commercial contracts, providing seamless solutions to complex business challenges and maximising value for stakeholders.

Our office is historically known as a solicitors’ practice and was one of the first buildings that was constructed as the village of Clifton extended along Whiteladies Road. www.nrglaw.co.uk

What sets you apart from others in your sector?

Greenaway Scott successfully securing an ABS license in 2017 made us the first law firm in Wales to operate as an alternative business structure, allowing us to offer other professional services alongside our legal activity.

We believe that having the right people in your team from the outset can be the difference between success and failure, so it’s imperative that our Clients take on people who share the same drive and enthusiasm for their brand and who will work together as a team to grow the business across all areas.

Did you know?

Not only does GS Verde Group specialise in assisting companies through fast growth periods, the GS Verde Group itself has shown a 900% growth rate since its incorporation 7 years ago. www.greenawayscott.com

26 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Michael Ridgwell

Letrequired sold To similar

7 High Street, Thornbury Café / Restaurant Premises Busy High Street Location 1,970 sq ft (NIA) £35,000 per annum exclusive

SOLD SIMILAR sold similarREQUIRED required

FORLet SALE To

The Club House, Mutley Plain, Plymouth Student Investment Opportunity. 30 bedrooms across 9 flats. Annual rent £159,413 with potential to increase. Price On Application

We are Bristol's oldest privately owned Surveying firm and can offer the following services: • Secured Lending Valuations • Valuations for Pension Funds, Taxation, Accounting • Commercial Property Lettings and Sales • Business Space and Site Acquisition • Development Appraisals and Site Disposals • Rent Review Negotiations • Lease Renewals • Investment Portfolio Reviews

TOLet LET To Bristol Head Office

91-93 Alma Road, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 2DP bristol@etpproperty.co.uk

Land to the South of Foxley Road, Malmesbury Development site with full planning consent. 3 detached houses with garages proposed.

Sold STC with several underbidders. Similar required across the south and southwest

Unit 9, Avon Gorge Industrial Estate, Avonmouth End terrace industrial unit Recently refurbished with new roof and new loading door.

3,374 sq ft. £21,000 per annum exclusive

Chepstow Office

10 Beaufort Square, Chepstow, NP16 5EP chepstow@etpproperty.co.uk

Newbury Office

Wessex House, Oxford Road, Newbury, RG14 1PA newbury@etpproperty.co.uk

Contact our experienced, professional property agents.

ETP Property Consultants are proud members of the BPAA & RICS.

www.etpproperty.co.uk

BUSINESS SPECIAL

Thrings

Simon Holdsworth, managing partner Tell us a little about your business

Thrings is the go-to law firm for growing businesses. We support our clients from start-up to household name and, as leaders in mid-market corporate transactions, we can help secure the finance needed to achieve a business’ full potential. Anticipating our clients’ future needs, our specialist teams of commercial and private client lawyers pride themselves on enabling growth and success.

Work/life balance – how do you get it right for you and your staff?

We recognise that life doesn’t always fit around normal working hours, so (where possible) we offer a degree of flexibility – whether a longer lunch to fit in a trip to the gym, working from home or leaving early on occasion. Around a quarter of our staff work reduced hours too.

We’re proving every day that we can deliver the best service to our clients, while giving our private lives (and health) the time and respect they deserve.

Name a rising star in your company

James Worrall

Royds Withy King LLP

James Worrall, corporate partner, Bristol Tell us a little about your business

Royds Withy King, which has a consulting office in Victoria Street, Bristol, was named Best Managed Law Firm 2019 at the Managing Partner Forum Awards earlier this year, is ranked in The Times Top 100 UK Law Firms and is an accredited Best Company to Work For. Although Royds Withy King has grown rapidly over the last few years, we pride ourselves on our personal approach and long-term relationships. In addition to offering a comprehensive range of legal services to individuals and businesses, we also have teams focused on specialist areas, including Private Wealth, Mergers and Acquisitions, Flexible Office Space, Health and Social Care, Technology, Drones, Reputation Management, Crypto Currencies and Brexit!

We have a strong reputation in Bristol for our work with entrepreneurs and industry disruptors, supporting them in achieving their businesses’ potential.

If you work in the Bristol property market, you’ve probably heard of Ros Trotman – recently named one of the region’s most powerful people in property. She’s been making quite a splash as chairman of Women in Property South West – tirelessly working to raise the presence and profile of women in the sector (her agenda is not for the faint-hearted). Ros is an accomplished planning expert, recognised as a leader in her field, and involved in some key residential and commercial schemes in the region.

Did you know?

More than half of our top paid salaried employees are women, as are five of our eight board members. www.thrings.com

Simon Holdsworth

Name a rising star in your company

Our emphasis is on team working and we are lucky enough to have rising stars in all areas of our business. We continue to grow with high profile hires, including Dan Meadon-Bower, who was a senior commercial lawyer at TSB in Bristol, Catherine Welch, a construction lawyer from Ashfords, Richard Roth, who headed the Bristol-based Real Estate team at RPC, and Laura Podger, a family lawyer from Irwin Mitchell in Bristol.

What sets you apart from others in your sector?

We take the time to get to know our clients so that we can respond effectively to their current needs as well as to anticipate the issues and challenges which may lie ahead for them. With a focus on forwardthinking and innovation, our clients benefit from a whole host of added value experiences through their relationship with us. These include our Life Safe® legacy management portal, online cost calculators providing instant legal estimates, and inspiring Year Ahead events. We are proud supporters of local good causes, including The Milestone Trust and Quartet Community Foundation. www.roydswithyking.com

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 29

Edward Le Masurier and Alastair Kimpton

PROPERTY Ethical Property

Tell us a little about your business

Ethical Property was formed back in 1998 to provide affordable workspace to change makers. Last year across the UK we supported over a thousand different organisations throughout the UK via our conference spaces, retail units, educational facilities and office space.

We provide space for organisations to flourish and achieve their goals.

With 22 centres across 9 different cities in the UK – all with their own unique style – we’ve proven over the years that a workspace can be sustainable, ethical and supportive.

What makes working in Bristol special?

Bristol is very special to us, it’s where we started and it’s where we’ve just opened our latest centre, Streamline, in the heart of The Paintworks.

We love working with the diverse nature of social enterprise, campaign groups and charities that are a foundation of what makes Bristol so unique. A diversity matched by the centres we have here, from St Pauls Learning Centre, which provides a valued asset for the areas, through to Brunswick Court, which is home to a wide range of charities and businesses.

ETP Property Consultants

What sets you apart from others in your sector?

Edward Le Masurier MRICS, partner and Alastair Kimpton MRICS, partner

Did you know?

We are the oldest private commercial property practice in Bristol.

Today, we are a leading independent commercial property consultancy based in Bristol, Chepstow, and Newbury, with our service area extending to cover the South West and South Wales. Our clients include lenders, developers, private individuals, occupiers and SMEs. We offer a wide range of commercial property services, drawing on our knowledge of the markets to advise you with property acquisition and disposal, development, valuations and professional advisory services.

Unlike some other workspaces, each of our centres is unique and staffed by people that really know Bristol and are passionate about the work that our tenants do. As a company, not only do we strive to support our tenants to achieve real change in this world, it’s something that is at the very core of how we work. Ethical Property is one of the very few workspace companies run on a triple bottom line basis, proving for over 20 years that a business can be run ethically.

Our MD, Conrad Peberdy, was once a tenant working in our Brunswick Court Centre.

To find our more, please contact us at info@ethicalproperty.co.uk www.ethicalproperty.co.uk

Tell us a little about your business

What achievement as a firm are you most proud of?

Following a restructuring of the business in November 2018, we have grown in numbers from five to eight members of staff, as well as moving to smart new offices just off Whiteladies Road. We have seen steady growth in the workload we are able to deal with, whilst creating an inspirational working environment for our staff.

What sets you apart from others in your sector?

As a privately-owned firm, they are our names ‘above the door’ when it comes to the quality of work we produce. All instructions are carried out or overseen at Partner level, and our collective 40 years’ experience in the South West and South Wales markets means that we have the expertise to call upon when advising clients on the broad range of issues that can arise.

Did you know?

ETP Property Consultants was founded by Edward T Parker in 1878, making us Bristol’s oldest independently owned surveying firm. A true philanthropist, Edward T Parker also founded the Bristol Dog’s Home! www.etpproperty.co.uk

“we are a leading independent commercial property consultancy based in Bristol, Chepstow, and Newbury, with our service area extending to cover the South West and South Wales” 30 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Dedicated to finding the most secure, long-term outcome for separating and divorcing clients

Family transitions, including divorce, are difficult.

Protecting what matters most

The way you divorce or resolve your family matter shouldn’t add to the turmoil. Many people who come to us are looking to reach settlements that protect the best interests of both them and their children, for the long term.

Talk to Clare Webb to find out how our experienced family lawyers can guide you towards a constructive outcome that enables you and your family to move on with life.

Bristol 0117 9055 055 13-14 Orchard Street, Bristol BS1 5EH clare@sharpfamilylaw.com

Office also in Bath

BUSINESS SPECIAL

Greenheart Sustainable Richard Hatfield, director

Tell us a little about your business

Greenheart have pioneered sustainable building in the Bristol area for two decades, delighting clients with innovative, beautiful projects – from domestic extensions to groundbreaking new-build homes.

Offering a full Design & Build package, the team use a wealth of combined skills, experience and creativity to design and build dream homes that are both a joy to live in and kind to the planet.

What areas do you specialise in?

We specialise in Passivhaus construction. With a great team of friendly eco builders and in-house team of designers and architect, we can build your dream sustainable home from start to finish.

What plans do you have for 2020?

We will continue to build beautiful, low impact eco homes in the Bristol area.

Did you know?

Our recent Bristol project that achieved ‘Passivhaus Plus’ certification is one of only a handful of buildings in the UK to do so, and the house produces as much energy as it consumes! www.greenheartuk.com Richard Hatfield Jessie Rowe

Knight Frank

Jessie Rowe, senior negotiator in the Bath New Homes team Tell us a little bit about your business

Knight Frank has a wide field of expertise; our global network, consisting of over 19,000 property professionals, spans 512 offices spread across 60 territories. From our Bristol and Bath offices, we advise our clients on the sales and marketing strategies for a wide variety of schemes across the South West. We are instructed on a number of flagship developments in the region, including Brandon Yard, located on Bristol Harbourside.

What sets Knight Frank apart from other firms?

There is a human element in the world of property that is too easily overlooked. At Knight Frank we believe that our ability to build longterm relationships and take a personal approach is what sets us apart.

This gives us a detailed understanding of how we can connect our clients with the perfect property – whether it be residential or commercial.

Tell us about your company’s community or charity involvement?

For the past four consecutive years, Knight Frank has celebrated its annual ‘Day of Giving’, which sees all our departments and offices across the UK raise money for charity. Our latest ‘Day of Giving’ took place this September. Here in our Bristol and Bath offices we embarked on the ‘Climbing Mount Everest Together’ challenge, where each of us walked up and down Bristol’s Constitution Hill 25 times. Our combined walking distances equalled the distance to the top of Mount Everest.

“Greenheart have pioneered sustainable building in the Bristol area for two decades”

Did you know?

Knight Frank – founded by John Knight, Howard Frank and William Rutley – began life almost 124 years ago as a valuations, surveying and auctions business. In 1896 the firm’s first sale took place at Conduit Street – situated in the heart of London’s West End, off Bond Street in Mayfair. www.knightfrank.co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 33

BUSINESS SPECIAL

Vickery Holman

Robert Beale MRICS​, director

Tell us a bit about your business

Vickery Holman is now the largest multi-disciplined surveyors in the South West covering Cornwall to beyond Bristol through four offices.

We are commercial property specialists providing building surveying, general practice, property management and property agency services.

We are very strong on our service levels to clients and the depth of our local knowledge, which sets us apart from many other surveying firms.

Did you know?

Vickery Holman is a staff owned company and has had this structure in place for over 25 years. Our culture puts staff at the heart of our business.

What achievement as a firm are you most proud of?

Staff are key to the company and our best achievement, demonstrated by our very high retention rate. We can trace our roots back to 1848 and our team has an excellent record of helping graduates become qualified. Ongoing training and development is part of our culture and we are very encouraging of staff who wish to further develop their skills or gain qualifications during their career with us.

Lee Bignell

“Despite the industry being perceived as being stuck in its ways, we find the Bristol market very innovative and dynamic”

What plans do you have for 2020?

We are ambitious for the business with plans to continue to grow and thrive across the South West. Our vision for the company is centered on growth, as shown by opening our Bristol office recently and the continued investment in new staff. We have just taken on a new wave of graduates and our staff is now around 70 across the Western region. ential clients to be discerning, busy professionals, with a taste for quality, technology and no appetite for hassle or managing multiple trades to get the job done successfully. www.vickeryholman.com

Mobius

Lee Bignell, managing director

Tell us a bit about your business

Mobius is a leading integrated services company providing innovative solutions to the commercial, industrial and luxury residential sectors.

What areas do you specialise in?

Our services cover every aspect of electrical, mechanical or build projects, from the initial design and installation right through to ongoing maintenance: Electrical – As a leading team of expert electrical contractors, we’re proficient in the design and installation of all types of commercial, industrial and residential electrical applications.

Mechanical – From concept to completion, we project manage the design and installation of all the services every building needs to make it function in the optimum way.

Build – We excel in the delivery of first-rate building services, including refits and refurbishment projects for business and high-end residential clients.

Maintenance and compliance – For many businesses, ensuring compliance in the face of increasingly complex regulation can be something of a challenge. Our reactive and planned maintenance and compliance services give clients peace of mind and the freedom to focus on running their business.

What is it like to operate in Bristol?

Despite the industry being perceived as being stuck in its ways, we find the Bristol market very innovative and dynamic. Local commercial clients are keen to embrace technological advances and modern working practices, and we find residential clients to be discerning, busy professionals, with a taste for quality, technology and no appetite for hassle or managing multiple trades to get the job done successfully. www.mobiusworks.co.uk

34 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Robert Beale

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Taking a taste of Somerset to the capital

MOBIUS WORKS provides high quality design and build services.

The Yeo Valley Café in London’s Kensington Gardens is a case in point…

Y

eo Valley is a household name throughout the UK. Based in Somerset, it has grown to become an internationally renowned organic dairy business. However, if you think Yeo Valley is just about the yoghurt, you’re wrong. Throughout Somerset, Yeo Valley is equally renowned for its amazing organic café located at its HQ in Blagdon.

When Yeo Valley decided to take a taste of Somerset to London, Mobius was delighted to be asked to take care of the fit-out. This really is a café like no other.

Located just a few metres from Kensington Gardens, the newly opened Yeo Valley café brings a delicious menu devised by Chef Paul Collins. It offers organic food served in a wonderfully quirky environment that does indeed bring Somerset to the people of London. It provides both a feast for the palate and a feast for the eyes where delicious food meets unique fixtures and fittings in a casual and unusual environment. There is something to see everywhere you look – even the toilets are something to behold – and, of course, the Yeo Valley Café wouldn’t be complete without its very own yoghurt bar.

Mobius was engaged to carry out and manage all electrical, mechanical, build and decorative elements of the complete café fit-out, and the results speak for themselves.

It really does have the wow-factor. Work was completed to the highest of standards within a matter of weeks and the Yeo Valley Café opened its doors as aptly planned on Somerset Day in May. Commenting on his experience of working with Mobius, Yeo Valley Properties Ltd Managing Director Adrian Fenton said: “Mobius proved to be a dynamic and reliable construction company. They were able to work flexibly to accommodate all requests, no detail was too small and no challenge too great. Their work was of an extremely high quality, and we’re keen to work together again as part of a long-term relationship.”

The results speak for themselves. If you visit London and fancy a little taste of home, you’re in for a treat! ■

If you’re thinking about a new project for your restaurant, home or business, we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch today for a no obligation consultation.

0117 403 8560; hello@mobiusworks.co.uk www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 37

GREENHEART SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION Design & Build | Passivhaus Specialists

Our experienced, friendly team can design and build your dream home – sustainably. www.greenheartuk.com Studio 2, St Andrew’s Road, Montpelier, Bristol, BS6 5EH | 0117 942 9717 | info@greenheartuk.com

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Bristol’s BID for success

From street cleaning and night-time safety marshalls to street parties and tree planting, if it’s helping to make Bristol an even better place for everyone who works, lives in or visits the centre, the chances are the BRISTOL CITY CENTRE BID is involved

N

ow in its second year, Bristol City Centre Business Improvement District (BID) represents 760 businesses and organisations to make the city centre safer, cleaner, more attractive and welcoming.

Initiatives include the city’s first-ever deep clean to thoroughly cleanse streets and remove graffiti and chewing gum, plus additional street cleansing services funded by the BID and delivered by Bristol Waste.

Improving and promoting night-time safety is another major priority. Two safeguarding marshalls now work through the night on weekends and holidays to help and support people who may be vulnerable or in need of assistance after a night out in the city centre. Alongside Bristol Street Pastors, who are also supported by the BID, they offer a friendly face and can report issues and incidents to get them quickly resolved.

The work of Bristol City Centre BID is also about fun. This spring saw hundreds of people attend the Old City Street Party and every year the BID funds Christmas lights to add seasonal sparkle to Park Street, the Triangle, Queens Road and Old City – this year extending to King Street. February will be given a much-needed boost with Bristol’s first-ever Light Festival bringing colour, light and play to the city centre at a traditionally quiet and dark time of the year.

More than 30 wooden planters growing fruit, vegetables, herbs and flowers are now in place on city centre streets, making Bristol one of the first cities in the UK to install pavement planters offering free, fresh produce and helping to improve air quality.

This is just one of several projects to improve ‘urban greening’ and sustainability across the city centre.

Bristol City Centre BID is one of five BIDs in Bristol and over three hundred in the United Kingdom delivering significant improvements for the benefit of its levy payers.

More information can be found at bristolcitycentrebid.co.uk on Twitter @BrisCentreBID Facebook and LinkedIn. ■

To get in touch, contact Paula Ratcliffe, business liaison manager at Paula@bristolcitycentrebid.co.uk Bristol City Centre BID Team, 8 Unity Street, Bristol BS1 5HH www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 39

JAS Building Services

Quality First

Residential & Commercial

Extensions – Renovations – Refurbishments

Call us today on: 01454 877520 www.jasbuildingservices.co.uk

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The Travelling Bistro We can be hired for any event, and can tailor to your needs. We offer a selection of menus to choose from or create your own bespoke menu!

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EITHER SINGLE DAY OR WEEKEND - WE MAKE YOUR EVENT OUR PRIORITY travellingbistro@hotmail.com | www.travellingbistro.co.uk Find us on: Facebook & Instagram

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Your fair share Louise Higham Financial Divorce Expert at NEATH RAISBECK GOLDING LAW is here to help deal with the financial fallout of a relationship breakdown.

T

he breakdown of a relationship, whether by divorce or separation after a period of living together, can be one of the most difficult and stressful events in a person’s life. Coping with the combination of emotional issues, uncertainty about the future and having to deal with an unfamiliar legal process can be daunting.

Facing the inevitable changes ahead, particularly in relation to the family finances, armed with appropriate legal advice from the outset is the best way of reducing this pressure and gaining the confidence to make the right decisions.

With over 20 years’ experience, Louise specialises in resolving financial issues that arise following relationship breakdown.

Louise has a breadth of experience dealing with complex financial matters including cases where there are substantial assets, such as property portfolios, pensions, company shareholdings and other business interests.

Louise aims to achieve the best outcome

for her client whether this is by way of sensitively negotiating an agreed financial settlement outside of the court process or, in more contentious cases, robustly litigating within the court process.

Whether you are the one initiating the divorce or separation, or you find yourself in this situation, making the decision to talk to a professional can be hard but is necessary to ensure that you are fully aware of your legal rights so that you can make those important decisions about your future from a fully informed perspective. With the advice and support of an experienced specialist lawyer you will be best placed to make the right decisions.

Louise is a member and accredited specialist of an organisation called Resolution. This is a group of family lawyers, and other professionals, that promotes a non-confrontational approach to resolving family disputes. She offers out of hours appointments, including Saturday mornings, to accommodate your family, work and business commitments. ■

M: 07702316402 E: louise.higham@nrglaw.co.uk W: www.nrglaw.co.uk A: Bush House, 77-81 Alma Road, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 2DP

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

Prevention is better than cure Grant McCall of AMD SOLICITORS has sound advice to any SME wishing to avoid future internal conflict

U

nfortunately, we see many promising business ventures cut short due to internal conflict between the owners. This is particularly common for smaller businesses where the owners are also the key employees who work full time in the business. Whilst market forces and changes in legislation can alter the course for SMEs, quite often internal conflict can arise due to a difference of opinion at management level or a perceived inequity in working contributions between the owners. Rather than allow uncertainty to damage or destroy the goodwill that has been generated, putting in place an ownership agreement could provide for a dispute resolution procedure that the owners would need to adhere to.

An ownership agreement will be relevant for any SME business with 2 or more owners, whether the owners trade as a limited company, a partnership or via a joint venture agreement. Whilst it is always advised to put an agreement in place when starting a business venture it is equally applicable to the owners of an established business with a solid trading history. The key requirement is that the owners are in agreement on how they wish to document their requirements. An example of this might be what the owners want to happen if an owner dies or falls critically ill.

Early investment in a bespoke Agreement will ensure the agreed terms between the business owners are documented at a time when there is consensus on key decisions. Trying to agree terms when the owners are no longer of the same mind is far more problematic.

The main benefit of a written agreement is therefore to avoid the risk of substantial disruption later down the line and to avoid the potential of the owners putting the business at risk due to a misunderstanding or a change of contributions.

In the case of a limited company, unlike the articles of association, a Shareholders Agreement is a private document that only the shareholders are party to.

In general terms, some of the main areas to cover in an ownership agreement are listed below.

1. How the business will be managed on a day to day basis.

2. How material decisions will be made and whether unanimous consent will be required to protect any minority shareholders.

3. What should happen if a shareholder dies or falls critically ill.

4. What will happen if a shareholder is absent from the business without consent of the other owners.

5. What happens if a shareholder wants to leave the business.

6. How can shares be sold or transferred.

7. What happens if a shareholder is in breach of the terms of the agreement.

8. What happens if a dispute arises or there is a deadlock on decision making.

For businesses who trade as a partnership, a Partnership Agreement operates in a similar way to a shareholders agreement for limited companies.

If the partners do not agree and document the terms of their legal relationship, the partners will be bound by the terms of the Partnership Act 1890.

It is unlikely that many new partnership businesses will consider a piece of legislation from 1890 when setting out in business!

Here the maxim ‘prevention is better than cure’ has never been more appropriate.

For further advice and information upon legal issues for businesses (including a free 30 minute consultation) get in touch with Grant and our Company Commercial Team. Email grantmccall@ amdsolicitors.com or telephone 0117 9733 989.

■

Call into one of our four Bristol offices.

100 Henleaze Road, Henleaze, BS9 4JZ 15 The Mall, Clifton BS8 4DS 139 Whiteladies Road, Clifton, BS8 2PL 2 Station Road, Shirehampton BS11 9TT www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 45

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