PLATINUM BUSINESS MAGAZINE - ISSUE 26 - SURREY

The widest-read business publication in the South East

PLATINUM

SURREY EDITION . ISSUE 26 . 2016

CYBER CRIME

The Battle

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS for start-ups

OSLO

PLATINUM

A Cool Place for Business

ROUTE 66 Audi TTS JCW Mini

THE BIG STORY

Rivervale Sandown

MAYDAY A Profile of our New PM

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To find out more about the full range of accountancy, business advisory and financial services that help our clients achieve their personal goals, please contact: Shirley Smith, Partner, Gatwick office T: +44 (0)1293 776 152 E: shirley.smith@krestonreeves.com Bryan Elkins, Partner, Horsham office T: +44 (0)1403 253 282 E: bryan.elkins@krestonreeves.com

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WELCOME

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A new dawn, a new Prime Minster. A new female

THE BIG STORY THERESA MAY PBM profiles our new Prime Minister

Prime Minister to be precise and, at Platinum Towers, we can not think of a better gender choice. The Glass Ceiling is well and truly shattered and Maarten gets hot under to collar about it in Anger Management.

In the first issue under new leadership we profile Theresa May whilst the country holds its collective breath for a successful Brexit outcome. Many businesses are hurting as this was always going to hurt in the short term but it is the medium and long terms that matters. We are a strong country with centuries of stable tradition, and the 5th largest economy on earth, so the wise move is to think positive, ignore the media scare stories, roll the sleeves up and graft. The country needs to get to work, reduce corporation tax to 12.5%

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and whip all the global corporation business currently

SUPER GROWERS Celebrating Surrey companies on the up

in Ireland. Low tax, high yield.

In addition, DMH Stallard discusses cyber crime, Penham Excel looks at how to get it back when you’ve lost it and Lombard looks at IT technology. ACES tells all about the Best4Biz conference and Maarten cuts loose with a rally bred Focus RS - and locates the Drift

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button. When he broke it they sent him an Audi TTS. Oh

RAWLISON BUTLER The Horror of a Dawn Raid

Lord‌ Rose was freezing her unmentionables off in Oslo and discovers a very cool place for business travel.

And John Burroughes, MD of Uniglobe Travel, finds an airline with stewardesses in bikinis! Ian has already departed for the airport.

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The new 66 registration numbers plates will be with us in September so we have extended the Motoring

DIGITAL MARKETING Why email still matters

Section with news, reviews and features with Rivervale and Birchwood. We even called it Route 66 to be kitsch.

We hope you enjoy this issue and the start of your new

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life under Mrs May - upwards and onwards.

OSLO Scandi charm and stunning scenery

Maarten & Ian Platinum Business Magazine August 2016 All rights reserved. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. The publisher cannot accept

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responsibility for any errors or omissions relating to advertising

ROUTE 66 With the new plates due,

or editorial. The publisher reserves the right to change or amend any competitions or prizes offered. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior written consent from the publisher.

No responsibility is taken for unsolicited materials or the return of

we present an extended

these materials whilst in transit.

motoring section

Platinum Business Magazine is published and owned by Platinum Business Publications Limited.

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Issue 26 - 2016

The Team

Maarten Hoffmann – Director maarten@platinumbusinessmagazine.com 07966 244046

AT A GLANCE 6

Local News

40 Uniglobe

8

Super Growth Awards

42 Travel - Oslo

10

NatWest

48 Debt Recovery

13

Young Start-up Talent

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14 Surrey Chambers of Commerce

16 17

Woking Chamber of Commerce Cranleigh Chamber of Commerce

58 Motoring Audi TTS Roadster

60 Motoring History of BMW

62 Motoring Sandown

19 National News Ian Trevett – Director ian@platinumbusinessmagazine.com 07989 970804

22 DMH Stallard

Motoring John Cooper Works Mini

64 Motoring Reader Review

24 Theresa May

68 Table Talk

30 Kreston Reeves

69 Wine Masterclass

32 Rawlison Butler

70 Chef Profile - Tom Griffiths

34 Digital Marketing Amanda Menahem Food & Drink Editor

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Identity

72 Croydon Food Festival

IT News

73 Woking Food Festival

39 Business Travel

Amanda Spicer Senior Designer

Rose Dykins Travel Editor

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Institute of Directors

Julia Trevett Accounts Manager

Lauren Psyk Event Photographer

The old Top Gear presenters’ reaction to hearing that Evans had been fired.

5

NEWS

LOCAL NEWS

Compiled by Ian Trevett

THIRTY YEARS IN FAMILY FIRM Bryden Johnson partner Neil Johnson celebrated 30 years with the family firm at a party in Yumn Brasserie in South Croydon.

The firm’s original Johnson, Neil’s great uncle, was a partner from 1922 onwards.

His father Don joined in 1946 and, apart from National Service in the 1950s, stayed until 1993.

In the early 1980s, Neil trained with KPMG, but in 1986 he realised the family firm was the place to be. He said, “You’re far more involved with the client, you get to know the clients and their business, you get lots of variety, you get to help them rather than just turning up and auditing them.”

Neil, who was made a partner in 1990, says one reason the firm has been so successful is its blend of practical know-how and strong interpersonal relationships.

He explained: “There’s the tools of the trade and technical stuff, such as accounts, tax and legal, but so much of what we do is getting to know people, understanding what makes them tick and being the trusted advisor to them.”

MAYOR BACKS GATWICK The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has thrown his support behind Gatwick Airport’s campaign for a second runway.

Khan said, “Gatwick is the front door to London for millions of visitors to our city and I salute their decision to spend another £200m on improvements to the airport. They have put together a formidable plan that is a fantastic display of their confidence in London.

“The new Prime Minister has a very important decision to make regarding new airport capacity, and I urge her to rule as swiftly as possible in favour of a second runway at Gatwick, which would bring substantial economic benefits.”

Gatwick Airport CEO Stewart Wingate commented, “It is now clear that only Gatwick can deliver the runway Britain needs to boost international competitiveness and trading links at a time when it is most needed, and we can do that before 2025.

“Our total investment since coming into private ownership now stands at £2.5 billion as we operate the world’s most efficient single-runway airport.”

Gatwick has already completed work to transform Pier 1 in the South Terminal – including a state-of-the-art baggage system and early-bag store – and the ongoing North Terminal development programme has resulted in the opening of the world’s largest self-service bag drop and check-in area this year.

“An honest man in politics shines more there than he would elsewhere.”

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NEWS

“When buying and selling are controlled by legislation, the first things to be bought and sold are legislators.”

CAMBERLEY VOTES FOR BID Camberley Town Centre can expect to benefit from nearly £1.5 million of private sector investment after local businesses voted in favour of continuing to fund Collectively Camberley, the Business Improvement District (BID), for a further five-year term. Ballot results released by Electoral Reform Services reveal that 85% of all those who voted were in favour of the BID continuing.

Collectively, Camberley BID are behind popular events such as The Camberley Car Show, The Christmas Light Switch-On and Camberley’s Rooftop Film Festival.

Alongside the annual events programme, the group are also responsible for the floral displays, Christmas lights and the popular Little Book of Offers. They work with businesses in the town centre, via the Love Camberley brand, to promote them and support their marketing.

Lucy Boazman, BID Manager for Collectively Camberley, said, “With Camberley’s strengths and characteristics, the town centre has a huge potential. These strengths provide the BID, our businesses and organisations with the opportunity to create and manage an environment that is good for business, for our customers, visitors, employees and for local residents.”

The activities and projects delivered by BID are financed through a BID levy that is 1.5% of the rateable value of each business, resulting in around £260,000 annual investment for Camberley. After several months of consultation with the town’s businesses, the BID produced a business plan that outlines their aims for 2016 – 2021. This includes a continuation of the town’s events and marketing initiatives as well as a focus on increasing external funding. The group also aim to enhance the look and feel of the town with street art and improvements to signage around the town.

GUILDFORD MONOPOLY Guildford’s own Monopoly game will be launched later this year, and local charities are set to benefit. The Community Chest squares have been donated by the game’s manufacturer to publicise good causes.

The first charity to win a space on the game is the halow project, which won the coveted square in a public vote.

A charity spokesperson said, “We would like to thank everybody who voted for us, we feel very overwhelmed and grateful that we received so many votes, which secured our place on the board. We really appreciate the amount of support and interest from our friends, volunteers, supporters and families.

“Achieving a place on the Board means the halow project will be encapsulated in time forever; we are very proud to be a part of Guildford’ s heritage.

The Guildford Monopoly board with be available to buy in the shops later in the year.

Staff at the halow project office are already making plans for a mammoth Monopoly evening!

The halow project is dedicated to supporting and creating opportunities for young people aged 16-35 with a learning disability so that they are able to live independent, meaningful, fulfilled lives and become more involved in their local communities.

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BUSINESS AWARDS

SUPER GROWERS! Surrey Super Growth Awards 2016

The fastest growing companies in Surrey announced

T

he inaugural Surrey Super Growth Awards took place on Friday 1st July 2016 at Mercedes-Benz World in Weybridge. Over 100 people attended the breakfast event, including representatives

from 34 short-listed finalists, to find out which companies were the fastest growing across the region.

Surrey Super Growth is a collaboration between asb law, Lloyds Bank and RSM. It is different from traditional business awards in that the finalists don’t apply to participate as the work is already done in their financial reports filed at Companies House. The turnover growth of companies is assessed over a three-year accounting period against the Surrey Super Growth criteria to produce a finalist list.

Dr Malcolm Parry OBE, Managing Director and CEO of The Surrey Research Park, announced the Surrey Super Growth 2016 winner as Guildford-based The Gym Group, with an outstanding growth rate of 241%. The company opened its first Gym in 2008 and now operates from 78 sites in major towns and cities across the UK and is on-track to open a further 15-20 gyms in 2016.

On receiving his award, John Treharne, Chief Executive of The Gym Group, explained: “It’s a great achievement for the company to be recognised in the Award’s inaugural year and be named as the region’s fastest growing company. Having launched in 2007, we have taken The Gym Group forward through continued investment and strong financial backing. We’re now looking forward to building on our success and deliver our award-winning service to even more of the UK population.”

Chris White, Chief Executive of Denbies Wine Estate, also spoke to the assembled finalists, explaining the unique history and development of the successful wine producer. The Denbies Estate in Dorking has become one of the largest vineyards in Northern Europe and is a major visitor attraction in Surrey, with over 350,000 visitors each year.

Each of the Surrey Super Growth sponsors also added their own congratulations to all of the finalists during the event.

Neil Foulkes, Area Director – Thames Valley and South East, for Lloyds Bank explained: “We are delighted to be sponsoring Surrey Super Growth and may I offer our congratulation to all the finalists.

Surrey Super Growth is a celebration of business success across the county and the range of great companies included is proof that the local economy is in very good shape.”

Jon Da Costa, Partner at audit, tax and consulting firm RSM, also commented: “RSM is proud to sponsor the Surrey Super Growth Awards and highlight Surrey’s great successful businesses. It up holds my belief that Surrey is a really strong business machine that contributes a lot to the UK.” Nicola Billen, Head of Insurance & Risk Management at asb law, continued: “asb is delighted to have the opportunity to congratulate the Surrey Super Growth finalists. Delivering sustained business growth is not easy and each finalist is rightly recognised for their success.”

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BUSINESS AWARDS

“ It is different from traditional business awards in that the finalists don’t apply to participate”

Surrey Super Growth Awards Criteria • A UK business with a trading address in Surrey • The company being active and profitable • Growth in turnover measured over a 3-year accounting period based on information field at Companies House • A minimum of £2 million turnover in the base year.

The 2016 Surrey Super Growth list Companies with over 100% growth • The Gym Group Ltd

241%

• Damia Group Ltd

200%

• Lowery Ltd

168%

• ES Pipelines Ltd

139%

• Oliver Bonas Ltd

135%

• Lifecare Residences Ltd

127%

• Brisko Scaffolding Ltd

121%

• IMC Worldwide (Holdings) Ltd

121%

• BCM Construction Ltd

115%

• Ultrasun (UK) Ltd

113%

• Sprite Construction Ltd

110%

• Condell Ltd

109%

• Runners Need Ltd

109%

• Explore Learning Ltd

107%

• Romans International Ltd 107% • Lovering Foods Ltd

103%

• State Oil Ltd

102%

• Jointing Technologies Acquisitions Ltd

101%

• Keltbray Group (Holdings) Ltd

100% 9

ASSET FINANCE

TAKING THE PAIN OUT OF TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT How Lombard’s specialist team can make it easy to buy, maintain and dispose of IT kit

The constant replacement, management and disposal model of computer and other technology equipment creates unique challenges, explains Keith Nowland, Head of Sales at Lombard Technology Services, Commercial & Private Banking, RBS

How can Lombard help with technology asset management?

We make asset funding facilities available for technology, but we do so much more than

How do you support companies when they need to buy new equipment?

When you use Lombard’s specialist team,

managing their equipment, getting them into a cycle of maintaining and replacing kit. That cuts out the hidden expenses that can crop up when a business owns its own technology, and

that. We can procure equipment, sourcing it

instead of making the purchase yourself

it also protects them from depreciation. Our

effectively thanks to numerous accreditations

you have all the usual benefits of a funded

online Lease and Asset Management software

with tier-one manufacturers; we can maintain

investment — it frees your cash up for other

helps companies manage their technology

the items we have funded; and we can also

things, for example — but we also help

portfolios effectively, by keeping track of when

collect and safely dispose of the assets.

customers become more disciplined about

equipment needs to be refreshed, improving

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ASSET FINANCE

“There is a lot of legislation around disposal. Your business will want to have confidence that it is complying with the rules and that its partners operate to the highest industry standards, particularly when it comes to handling data during disposal.”

financial and strategic decision-making.

business and what they’re

Over time, technology becomes outdated,

trying to achieve. We need to

software is no longer supported and the costs

learn about their long-term

of maintaining, managing and hiring old kit

ambitions — there’s no point

become more expensive — it’s like running an

in us making assumptions

old car. In this market people need to keep up

about what is required. Our

with improvements to stay ahead, and to give

specialist team understands

them a competitive edge.

the importance of technology

Why should a business consider Lombard for managing its maintenance?

to business, so once we know

Many companies rely on product warranties, but look at the small print; a lot of these guarantee to take something away and look at it, but not necessarily to fix it. There are separate maintenance firms in the market but the advantage of using us is that we’re a one-stop shop — we can provide bespoke multi-vendor maintenance as part of our overall support package, so you don’t have to negotiate and manage multiple manufacturer relationships.

How can Lombard make the tricky task of disposing of technology assets easier?

There is a lot of legislation around disposal.

Your business will want to have confidence

what their position is we can provide the appropriate solution.

Does Lombard offer anything for firms that create new intellectual property (IP)?

Innovation is vital and we are always looking for new areas where we can offer our expertise. We have developed the Software Licence Solution, which allows us to offer funds to a company that has invested significantly in

Bank of Scotland (which owns Lombard) has

solution, and it has created a lot of interest. It

a specialist team like ours within its company,

isn’t traditional in asset finance to put a value

with the depth of knowledge we have, that’s

against something you can’t see or touch, but we get security in our investment by linking

its partners operate to the highest industry standards, particularly when it comes to

Do you think UK businesses realise how much growth technology can drive?

data. We are also the only Adisa (Asset Disposal

Is this a service other banks provide?

I don’t believe any bank other than Royal

generates.

— we understand the importance of handling

manufacturers.

only company currently offering this type of

the funding to the revenue that the software

large banking group — Royal Bank of Scotland

projects that have multiple suppliers and

software IP. As far as I am aware we are the

that it is complying with the rules and that

handling data during disposal. As part of a

We are “vendor agnostic” — we can manage

Everything we see suggests an increasing

and Information Security Alliance) certified

awareness of the importance of technology.

technology finance company in the country,

In a survey we conducted recently, two thirds

which means we’re audited to the highest

of businesses felt a greater investment would

industry standards.

improve efficiency and productivity.

How do you pick the right solutions for each customer’s business strategy?

Why would a business come to Lombard rather than going to a manufacturer?

It may sound obvious but the important thing

When you go directly to a manufacturer, you

is to listen to the customer, to understand their

tend to be tied to their hardware and services.

available to UK customers.

What is the most unusual asset you have financed and managed?

At the moment we are providing funding to a business that puts pitch-side digital advertising boards around premiership rugby grounds.

These used to be fixed in place, which could cause injuries when rugby players collided with them. Now the screens are spring-loaded — they won’t get damaged and they will keep players safe.

To find out more about Lombard’s specialist technology team, go to www.lombard.co.uk/asset-finance/ technology.

Security may be required and product fees may apply.

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Be More Successful DMH Stallard has been working in partnership with businesses for over 40 years, helping them become more successful.

We focus on your business critical success factors and deliver commercial solutions to effectively manage your: • Customer and supplier agreements

• Intellectual property

• Property and employees

• Shareholders and Directors

• Finance, borrowing and insurance

• Environmental issues

Having the right strategic approach to effectively manage these factors can positively impact your bottom line.

Don’t leave this to chance.

Contact us now for your completely free business self assessment pack.

Email: david.paling@dmhstallard.com

DMH Stallard Corporate Law Firm of the Year 2016

London | Gatwick | Guildford | Brighton | www.dmhstallard.com

YOUNG START-UP TALENT

SHAKING HANDS WITH ENTREPRENEURS OF THE FUTURE Croydon Entrepreneurs Crowned winners of Prize Fund

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n July Fairfield Halls played host to this year’s Young Start-up Talent showcase where one successful business was chosen to walk away with a £50k prize fund worth of business products and services. The initiative,

Kent region, Dean Day who is CEO of up and coming Indie games studio – Greenlight Games and loyal Croydon sponsor, Simon Maddox.

Simon said, “It’s been incredible working with these guys, seeing their

which is set to seek out the region’s most promising entrepreneurial

enthusiasm and seeing a great idea flourish. Stephanie’s story this year

spirit, whittled a range of applicants from across Croydon down to a final

has just been amazing and to be part of it is just heart-warming.”

six entrepreneurs. Robert O’Sullivan and Laurence Grant were crowned

With 2016 marking the initiative’s second year in Croydon, judge Mark

this year’s winners with their business – Shaking Hands Interactive

Burgess of Natwest commented, “They’ve all got excellent ideas, I think

Partnership (SHIP), a platform for Croydon-based small-medium business

they all presented perfectly and I’m sure they’ll all go on and move on to

owners to inform, smarten and grow their businesses.

bigger and greater things in whatever path they choose.”

Laurence said, “We are so thrilled to have been chosen as this year’s

Other finalists who faced the panel with their impressive pitches

Croydon winner, this experience has been invaluable and the year head

included Kurtis Peck, 17, Serena Evans, 16 and 22 year old duo Harry

looks very exciting.”

Flaherty and Maddie Ellison.

The process began in April when selected applicants took part in a

Reflecting on the initiative, Annabel Fogden of The Croydon Chamber

business know how workshop followed by a 1-2-1 speed networking

of Commerce said “It’s a really inspiring, creative and supportive process

event at Jurys Inn Croydon. After having their businesses scrutinised by

which is great for young people in business.”

sponsors from across the region, a final four were chosen to face a panel

The initiatives newest sponsor, Morton Michel attended the evening,

of business professionals. It was at this stage that finalists battled it out

with Steve Hodgson saying “It’s been a great evening, they’re all very

to take home the prize fund worth up to £50k of business products and

worthy winners, I’m pleased for the people that won and I thoroughly

services that can help their business take flight.

look forward to hopefully assisting them moving forward.”

Three guest speakers featured at the showcase event, shining a

Joanna Ford of Cripps summed up the evening saying “It’s been

light on the significance of the initiative. Attendees heard from 2015

inspirational to see young people who have such amazing ideas, really

Croydon winner, Stephanie Kane who is making her mark on the creative

innovative and so passionate about what they are doing and fabulous to

community of Croydon with her quick-selling paintings. Other guest

see such talent that we have around us locally.”

speakers included successful young entrepreneur and winner of the YST

www.youngstartuptalent.co.uk

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SURREY CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE www.surrey-chambers.co.uk

CHAMBER NEWS

BUSINESS MUST SET THE AGENDA FOR BREXIT NEGOTIATIONS

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The ‘Brexit’ decision has been made and the UK is on course to leave the EU, it’s time for businesses to take action – and not just wait to see what happens.

That’s why on 5th July, we hosted a round table discussion together with the Something Big Marketing Agency to discuss what opportunities there are for British business now that the decision for the UK to leave the EU has been made – and how businesses can make the most of them.

Whilst uncertainty was still a concern, many businesses highlighted their positivity for growth by looking at opportunities such as exporting to new international markets, a falling pound had accelerated some companies plans to look at these international markets. If you are a business that would like to explore this further, contact sarah.butcher@surrey-chambers.co.uk at Export Surrey.

It was also clear that businesses were still holding back investment which would delay any growth in the economy however strong political leadership could give business back some confidence to initiate a “business as usual” agenda.

Louise Punter CEO of Surrey Chambers of Commerce said, “At this time of transition and change, we welcome the new Prime Minister May and offer our support and assistance with the weighty tasks that lie ahead. The watchwords for business remain stability, clarity and action. Mrs May and her new administration must work to bring stability to markets, clarity on the timetable for changes to our relationship with Europe, and action on the many issues that matter for growth.

“Businesspeople want Westminster to lead by example in the coming weeks. Bold decisions to progress key infrastructure and construction projects, guarantees for EU nationals working in British firms, and a commitment to seek the best possible terms of trade for the future would be an excellent start. Positive, visible steps to support business and trade would shore up both confidence and investment at a critical time, and are surely a better course than continued

parliamentary inaction and uncertainty.

The round table event concluded that right now Surrey businesses Louise Punter were looking for clarity. Generally around issues such as long term planning for policy, development, and the economy, and more specifically around how the outcome of the referendum – and next steps – will affect issues such as: • Access to the European Economic Community Common Market for British businesses • Procurement • Regulations – there was huge uncertainty as to which are British and which are EU driven • Freedom of movement • In addition, businesses would like to see: • Strong, pro-business leadership from the government • Flexible regulations that allow stakeholders to make important decisions quickly • Decisions on issues related to business, such as on airport capacity • A greater focus on positive stories from the media • More guidance and information on how to make the most of local and (more importantly) global opportunities, especially on how to start exporting • Surrey Chambers to gain more information about what’s happening, where more clarity is needed, and what opportunities there are – essentially to empower businesses and give them more tools to help drive the debate If you would like to feedback or have any queries Surrey Chambers can assist with contact carol.squires@surrey-chambers.co.uk.

SURREY CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE www.surrey-chambers.co.uk CHRIS GRAYLING LAUNCHES 2016 EPSOM & EWELL BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARDS

MP Chris Grayling launched the 2016 Epsom & Ewell Business Awards at Nuffield Health headquarters on Epsom on Friday 1st July. The Awards were established by the Rt Hon Chris Grayling to recognise and showcase the success stories of businesses and individuals within the local area of Epsom & Ewell including Ashtead, Nork and Tattenhams.

Entrants can compete across nine different categories. There will also be an award for the Best Overall Business. The closing date is 30th September; winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on the 17th November at the University of Creative Arts.

“Epsom and Ewell has always had an entrepreneurial business community and our businesses continue to provide an excellent service to their customers. The Epsom & Ewell Business Awards have made a real difference to the profile of businesses locally and I am delighted to launch them for the sixth year. Many thanks to Nuffield Health who hosted the Awards launch, it is wonderful to have a major business choosing to locate to Epsom. I encourage people to take the opportunity to give businesses and individuals in the area a boost and to nominate outstanding contributors.” Rt Hon Chris Grayling MP

The Awards cover nine categories with a prize for the overall best business: Best New Business – trading for less than 1 year – sponsored by thebestof Epsom & Ewell Best Independent Business – sponsored by Milners Best Small Medium Business – sponsored by Metro Bank Best Website of Use of Social Media – sponsored by Spring Electrical Best Business for Food and Hospitality – sponsored KT Partnership Best Business for Commitment to the Environment – sponsored by Toyota GB Best Young Entrepreneur – sponsored by The Federation of Small Businesses and Young Enterprise Best Business for Commitment to the Community – sponsored by TWM Solicitors Best Business for Customer Service – sponsored by National Counties Best Overall Business – sponsored by Radio Jackie Prizes include a tour of the House of Commons, £1000 worth of radio advertising (courtesy of Radio Jackie) and membership to Surrey Chambers for the Overall Winner, membership to thebestof Epsom & Ewell for the Best New Business and a whole host of other prizes for category winners.

Full information on award categories is available from the awards website www.epsombusinessawards.co.uk . Entries and nominations are made online.

LOCAL BUSINESS LEADERS LAUNCH NEW BUSINESS START UP SCHEME Are you thinking of starting a business? Not sure if your idea is viable? Need an expert to help you to get started? You are not alone, Start-up Elmbridge can help support your business journey.

Start up Elmbridge is designed to support entrepreneurs offering free one-to-one 60 minute business advice clinics and resources to kick start their journey. Working in partnership, Elmbridge Business Network, Surrey Chambers of Commerce, Haines Watts Accountants and The Digital Work Hub, are set to offer all local companies and potential companies the chance to meet with experienced professional advisors to get tailored advice, support and grants for their business. Keen to develop new local companies, the partnership will be helping the entrepreneurs and employers of the future.

To further enhance the offer, the start-up Elmbridge partnership will help to signpost available start up grants, offer complementary specialist start up clinics from Haines Watts Accountants, free membership to the Elmbridge Business Network and subsidised business advice from Surrey Chambers of Commerce.

Louise Punter, Chief Executive of Surrey Chambers of Commerce said, “The number of start ups are still growing within the economy and we all know that the better help they get at the start of their business the more likely they are to succeed.”

Elmbridge Business Network’s Chairman Gary State said, “Elmbridge is a hotbed of entrepreneurialism with the latest figures showing 1,255 new start-ups in the Borough, the highest number across Surrey. The support on offer is the perfect platform to help them grow into the big employers of the future.”

To sign up for a free Start Up Elmbridge business advice clinic please contact anita.avery@surrey-chambers.co.uk or call 01483 735540.

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WOKING

MAJOR CONSTRUCTION COMPANY JOINS WOKING CHAMBER

F

CHAMBER NEWS

arrans is a Building and Civil Engineering company, established for over 70 years, who have recently opened an office in Woking to further support its projects in the South East.

The offices were officially opened by the Mayor of Woking, Cllr Anne Murray, along with her Consort Mike Smith. The Mayor was welcomed by Farrans Managing Director, John Wilson, as well as a number of representatives from both Farrans’ Civil Engineering and Building divisions, guests from Woking Borough Council, Woking Chamber of Commerce and leading figures from the local commercial property market.

John Wilson said, “We are delighted to have recently extended our UK presence Farrans and capability with our investment in 4,000ft2 of Cat A Office Space in Woking, Surrey. The new office space is split across 2 floors and fitted out with interactive meeting rooms, cellular office space and flexible working areas to manage ever-changing staff working habits in a fast-paced industry.”

Prior to this move, Farrans spent a substantial amount of time and effort analysing the market in the south of England, before selecting Woking as an excellent hub for their business. They recognised the

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diversity of Woking for business and international links with large corporations, along with a very vibrant SME sector. The new office offers access to central London within 25 minutes. Farrans has already engaged with the Chamber of Commerce and is keen to knit into the local community and understand how best they can work with Woking and Surrey through the construction industry.

WOKING CHAMBER MEMBER SUPPORTS WOKING HOSPICE

W

Stuart Wright

oking Chamber member Barnbrook Sinclair has arranged for Stuart Wright and Kevin Shaw from Surrey Hills Wealth Management to take on the challenge of cycling from London to Paris to raise money for the Woking & Sam Beare Hospices. They are raising funds to help the hospice build their new In-Patient Unit on Goldsworth Park as well as renovate Sam Beare Hospice, their existing building in Weybridge.

With the support from local funders, businesses, trusts and foundations, the hospice has been able to raise the first 60% of the associated project costs and they have begun the building work, but this still leaves them with a £3.4 million funding gap.

Barnbrook Sinclair sponsored the Chamber’s July networking event at the New Victoria Theatre and gave their speaking slot to Woking Hospice. The hospice talked about the work they have been performing in the heart of Surrey for almost 20 years to drum up support from the local business community for its fundraising efforts.

The Mayor of Woking, Cllr Anne Murray, was also in attendance to say a few words as Woking Hospice is also her chosen charity for her year in office.

Membership of Woking Chamber of Commerce starts, for smaller companies, from as little as £10 + VAT per month and can be paid by direct debit. Full details are available on the Chamber website www.wokingchamber.org.uk

CRANLEIGH

CHAMBER NEWS

Cranleigh School Headteacher, Martin Reader

C

pupils and staff playing an ongoing role in various aspects of village life.

Chamber members heard about how seriously Cranleigh School takes its responsibilities to the village as a large local employer and how it plans to sensitively manage any future growth in an increasingly global economy.

Following breakfast, Chamber members were taken on a guided tour of the school, learning about the history of the buildings and hearing some interesting stories about how life at the school used to be.

Cranleigh Chamber of Commerce takes a summer break from networking events, before returning on 14th September for an evening event at nearby Rudgwick Brickworks. Members will have the opportunity to sample some beers, enjoy cheese on toast and hear about the entrepreneurial journey of Richard Peters and Bill King of Firebird Brewing Co., and Rob Bookham of Bookham Harrison Farms.

This networking evening includes an optional cycle to and from the event, using the Down Link cycle path from Cranleigh to Rudgwick. Non-members are welcome and can book their tickets online at www.cranleighbiz.co.uk/events.

CHAMBER NEWS

ranleigh Chamber of Commerce members were treated to breakfast, networking and an informative presentation at Cranleigh School at their most recent meeting.

The venue for the Cranleigh Chamber June networking breakfast was the Reading Room at Cranleigh School, with headmaster Martin Reader presenting a potted history of the school before sharing details of its business model and future plans.

Guests were fascinated to hear the story of Cranleigh School along with its role as the largest employer in Cranleigh, employing over 350 staff and making extensive use of local businesses for other services.

Cranleigh School is a community focused institution, with many

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NEWS

NATIONAL NEWS 597 MILLION POUNDS Discount chain Poundland has agreed to a £597m takeover by South African retail group Steinhoff International.

Steinhoff said Poundland would be a

THE VERBAL PASSWORD How often do you ring your bank and forget the special dates, places or names needed just to get through security?

Apparently, it takes us 45 seconds on average just to confirm who we are.

Poundland operates more than 900

Now that might not seem very long, but if you’re a global bank like Citi receiving 35 million calls a year in Asia alone, that adds up to 437,500 hours of staff time a year.

stores across the UK, Ireland and Spain,

That’s a lot of money.

“complementary fit” to its expansion plans in the UK and the rest of Europe.

and employs 18,000 people, but recently announced falling profits. Steinhoff owns 40 retail brands in 30 countries, including Bensons for Beds and Harveys in the UK.

But by using computers to identify our voices, this authentication process can be cut to 15 seconds on average, saving the bank pots of cash and us lots of hassle.

Citi has just begun rolling out this kind of voice biometrics authentication for its 15 million Asian banking customers, starting in Taiwan, Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore. Whereas fingerprints give you fewer than 20 points of measurement and comparison, voices offer more than 1,000, says Brett Beranek, director of voice biometrics product strategy at Nuance Communications. Rory Bremner is going to make a fortune.

WHY THE UK MUST LOWER CORPORATION TAX Ireland’s economy expanded by more than three times the previous estimate last year, posting growth of more than 26% following a flurry of foreign investment.

PwC TO BE INVESTIGATED MPs investigating the demise of BHS want one of the City’s leading regulators to broaden its own inquiry into the scandal.

The Irish economy grew by 26.3% in 2015, compared with the expected rate of 7.8%, after foreign companies that switched their base to Ireland were included in the value of its corporate sector, pushing up the value of the state’s balance sheet.

The chairmen of the joint

The process of switching tax domicile after a merger or acquisition, known as an “inversion”, has increased in recent years, and Ireland has become a popular end destination in these corporate manoeuvres because of its low corporate tax regime.

accountancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) on auditing BHS

Several US companies, including drugs maker Allergan, security systems provider Tyco and medical technology specialist Medtronic have domiciled in Ireland by buying a smaller Irish-registered rival and “inverting” into an Irish corporate structure. A surge in aircraft imported into Ireland by leasing companies that send the jets out on loan to airlines was also among the main reasons for the economic growth. Lease operators based in Ireland account for about 20% of the global market, with sales of €7.8bn (£6.6bn).

parliamentary committee have called for the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) to investigate the work done by the and the rest of Sir Philip Green’s retail empire.

The FRC announced last week that it plans to explore the conduct of PwC during its audit of BHS’s accounts in the year to August 30th 2014, the last full year it was controlled by Green. However, MPs want the regulator to examine the previous years, when PwC audited BHS and the accountancy firm’s audits of other companies in Green’s empire that were interlinked with the collapsed retailer.

The investigation is likely to focus on why PwC signed off BHS as a going concern when it was reliant on support from its parent company, Taveta, which is the Green family’s investment firm.

“Some people are like clouds. When they go away, it’s a brighter day.”

19

NEWS

NATIONAL NEWS NATIONAL LIVING WAGE Employers have responded to the new National Living Wage (NLW) by raising prices or reducing profits rather than cutting jobs, according to a survey from the Resolution Foundation.

The wage, which requires employers to pay staff aged 25 and over at least £7.20 an hour, was introduced in April. This report is the first snapshot of how firms have reacted to the NLW. It comes after the Office for Budget Responsibility predicted it would lead to 60,000 job losses by 2020.

Five hundred companies, covering a range of UK businesses, were questioned just before the referendum on Britain’s membership of the EU, of which 215 said that the new NLW had impacted their wage bill. Some 36% of those affected by the NLW said they had put up their prices to compensate for the higher wage cost, while 29% said they had reduced their profits. Despite reports of some employers cutting back on staff terms and conditions, the survey found that only 8% had cut paid breaks, overtime or bank holiday pay.

TANKING BANKING There was mention during the referendum build-up of a huge black hole in the Euro banks balance sheets but many cast it aside as part of the ‘project fear’ campaign - but perhaps not.

Deutsche Bank shares hit a new record low. Its value has halved since the beginning of the year. So is it now the most dangerous bank in the world? According to the International Monetary Fund - yes.

Last week, the IMF said that, of the banks big enough to bring the financial system crashing down, Deutsche Bank was the riskiest. Not only that, Deutsche Bank’s US unit was one of only two of 33 big banks to fail tests of financial strength set by the US central bank earlier this year. The other was Santander.

It’s not hard to get scared when you look at a few numbers. In simple terms any bank is worth the difference between what it’s owed and what it owes.

In the case of Deutsche Bank that means the difference between assets of 1.64 trillion euros (yes, trillion) and liabilities of 1.58 trillion euros. Its net value is 60 billion euros. Sounds like a lot. But the value of what its owed doesn’t need to move by much to wipe out its value completely.

Italy’s banks are the latest trouble spot for the eurozone. They are struggling with a burden of bad debt, loans that are unlikely ever to be repaid fully.

They are a potential flashpoint in an economy that has for some time been seen as posing wider risks to the EU’s currency area.

Meanwhile, the Italian government is considering a banking sector bailout which could breach European Union rules.

It’s the size of the Italian economy and its government debt that makes the country a smouldering financial volcano. The risks are aggravated by the political situation.

It’s the third-largest economy in the eurozone. The government debt burden, depending on which figures you look at, is certainly one of the largest in the eurozone, indeed the largest by one measure.

One of the roots of the problem is Italy’s two decades of dismal economic performance. Measured by total economic activity (gross domestic product or GDP), the economy remains about 8% smaller than it was at the onset of the international financial crisis. It is roughly the same size as it was at the turn of the century.

That has made it harder to generate the tax revenue needed to keep the debt burden down. It has also increased the chances of businesses getting into difficulty and being unable to maintain their loan payments.

The result: Italian banks are weighed down with a massive problem of bad debts, or non-performing loans (NPLs), worth €360bn (£307bn), equivalent to about a fifth of the country’s annual economic activity.

“If Monday had a face... I would punch it.”

20

NEWS

“I know the voices in my head aren’t real..... but sometimes their ideas are just absolutely awesome!”

PASSION TO PROFESSION Over 1.3 million Brits dream of starting their own business in the next year Almost one in five potential entrepreneurs would like to launch a foodrelated start-up such as a bakery, sandwich shop or cafe. Over half (51%) of those wanting to start a business state lack of capital as the biggest stumbling block followed by lack of direction (32%) New analysis from Direct Line for Business reveals that over 1.3 million Brits dream of starting their own business in the next twelve months.

Interestingly, the type of businesses we’d like to start shows more people are choosing to follow their hearts and launch bakeries, cafés and craft shops.

third admit they wouldn’t know where to begin planning a new business.

Lack of direction is more apparent amongst women with nearly double (43%) citing this as the main barrier compared to men (20%).

PRIMARY REASONS FOR NOT STARTING YOUR OWN BUSINESS Primary reason for not starting a business % Lack of capital 51% I don’t know where to start 32% I don’t have the confidence 30% I can’t afford to lose my salary 29% Fear of losing job security 25%

When asked what type of business they would set up, 5% said that they would set up a shop, with ambitions ranging from books and music to mobility scooters and Wiccan products. The most popular choice was a café or tea room, selected by one in 20 respondents (6%), while arts and crafts – either from home or in a shop – were cited by 2% of Brits. Restaurants, business consultancies and animal-related professions were all commonly cited, showing that there is no limit to the professional passions of the British public.

TOP FIVE MOST DESIRABLE START-UP SECTORS Type of business % Food 18% Retail 16% Manufacturing 7% Leisure 6% Technology 6% Lack of capital is cited as the biggest reason that people don’t want to start their own business (51%). Funding is not the only barrier, almost a

LIES DAMN LIES Academics at Cass Business School have designed an algorithm that can detect lies in emails. The research team have designed and developed an algorithm that can detect deception within digital text.

The algorithm works by identifying linguistic cues of deception found within a computer-mediated communication (CMC) system such as emails.

The team applied automated text analysis to an archive of emails to assess the ability of word use (micro-level), message development (macrolevel), and intertextual exchange cues (meta-level) to detect the severity of deception being perpetrated within a business framework.

Their findings indicate that: • Deceitful e-mailers avoid the use of personal pronouns and superfluous descriptions such as unnecessary adjectives.

• Deceitful e-mailers over structure their arguments.

• Deceitful e-mailers minimise self-deprecation but include more flattery and pattern the linguistic style of the recipient across e-mail exchanges, because they want to make themselves appear more accommodating and likeable.

Dr Tom van Laer, Senior Lecturer in Marketing at Cass, said: “This research opens up the possibility of fraud prevention and deception detection technology across lots of in-person domains, not just e-mail. Our approach comes from big data - combining statistics with natural language processing patterns that tip us off to deception. Authorities and companies will now be able to figure out the plausibility of fraud and identify lying individuals.”

While the research does not offer insight into how to deal with deceivers, the software can help organisations streamline their investigations into fraudulent communications and modify their auditing processes for messages that have been automatically pre-classified as potentially severely deceitful.

21

CYBER CRIME

ARE YOU DDoS READY?

Joanna Potbury, Associate at DMH Stallard LLP and Graham Fox, Director of Redspam LLP, both Gatwick-based organisations, discuss the risks businesses currently face regarding Cyber Crime, and steps which can be taken by businesses to protect themselves.

JOANNA POTBURY Cyber crime is an epidemic, affecting more individuals and

data as well as exposure to civil liability from third parties whose

organisations than ever before. It now takes many forms including

data has been stolen. It is critical

hacking, identity fraud, denial of service attacks, harassment by

that organisations have plans in

electronic means or phishing.

place to protect data, systems and

While media headlines focus on hack attacks on big brand names, the threat is very real for the smaller business, who often may not have

client information.

Businesses also need to be aware

the knowledge, time and resource to implement the processes and

and alert to the risk that cyber

technology solutions required to reduce the risks of a cyber attack and

crime in the form of data theft may

the resulting damage.

not always be an external threat

Earlier this year, the Daily Telegraph reported that a poll of British businesses suggested that only 28% had reported an attack, citing fear of reputational damage. That is of course only one aspect of the risk

but may come from within the business itself: from disaffected or departing employees. We have acted in several cases where employees have taken business critical and confidential data to use for their own

associated with an attack. Even if you do not report externally, you

purposes or for rival businesses who are in competition with their

need to be able to demonstrate that you have taken effective measures

employer.

internally to resolve and contain the breach, particularly when personal

We have extensive experience in dealing with all aspects of cyber

data is involved. Such attacks can lead us into the realms of data

crime and prevention. We are also sensitive to the reputational risks.

protection regulation, where we see risks of prosecution the loss of

You can contact us at any time for a confidential discussion.

22

CYBER CRIME GRAHAM FOX DDoS protection and learning how to protect from DDoS attacks must be at the core of a successful cyber-security strategy, because distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks have become one of the primary cyber-security threats facing enterprises today – and it’s only set to get worse. DDoS attacks are attempts to make a computer resource (i.e. website, e-mail, VoIP, or a whole network) unavailable to its intended users - and/or as a distraction to help them attack you/ steal data from you through other means. Overwhelmed with massive amounts of unsolicited data and/or requests, the target system either responds so slowly as to be unusable or crashes completely. Whatever the outcome effective denial of service protection can eliminate or minimise downtime from a DDoS attack and just as importantly allow you to concentrate on other tasks/risks.

Organised cyber-attack groups, such as Anonymous and DD4BC, frequently launch politically or financially-motivated denial of service attacks to cause website downtime for big brand corporations, financial

Your DDoS protection strategy DDoS protection is a cyber-security response to stop a DDoS attack – it seeks to prevent a DDoS attack from damaging the operations of your enterprise. A DDoS protection service is designed to detect, monitor and stop DDoS attacks (monitor, manage and mitigate).

Given the growing number and scale of DDoS attacks, planning for DDoS attack protection is a critical IT security function. The USA, France and Great Britain are the main targets for attacks over 10Gbps (Altas Report H1, 2016).

It’s virtually impossible for an individual business to build out a sufficiently large DDoS protection infrastructure to scale in response to a large DDoS attack. RedSpam, a cloud-based DDoS protection service, offers protection both nationally and internationally with builtin scaleability combined with advanced DDoS detection techniques,

services companies, and even governments. Yet every day there are hundreds of other unpublicised DDoS attacks on e-commerce companies and web-based service providers of all sizes, there are over 124,000 attack events recorded each week (Altas Report H1, 2016).

Every organisation with a valued web presence needs to know how to protect against DDoS attacks.

Protection is needed for all types of DDoS attacks - Different types of DDoS attacks can affect specific IT network elements and require different DDoS mitigation techniques for denial of service protection.

Attackers know this and will identify the weak links in a DDoS attack protection strategy and chose the DDoS attack they determine will cause the most damage.

“Distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks have become one of the primary cyber-security threats facing enterprises today – and it’s only set to get worse.”

specialised DDoS protection software, and DDoS protection experts who know how to protect against DDoS attacks – 24/7/365

Big data and DDoS protection Hundreds of millions of data points in multiple streams pour into a DDoS protection network in real time during an attack. Automatic DDoS protection software with decision-making algorithms based on data analytics for DDoS protection are helpful but are prone to false positives. DDoS protection experts in our Security Operations Centre (SOC) quickly make sense of the deluge of data and make precise decisions as to which data/traffic to allow and which to block. Using big data, our SOC engineers can customise your DDoS defence using specialised knowledge of how to protect against DDoS attack types observed as the attack happens – we can also contribute a large

REDSPAM is the provider of True Dynamic Mitigation™ a unique combination of industry-leading hardware and patent-pending software that offers unprecedented protection against Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks to ensure continuous uptime of your online business assets.

As a cloud-based transparent service, whatever the level of attack, you only pay the price agreed for the service. RedSpam does not charge for size, number of, or duration of attacks and provides same-day, fixed price quotations for the protection level required.

amount of valuable data on attacks and attackers, including for IP reputation.

DMH STALLARD is

How to protect from DDoS panic

an award winning law firm providing strategic and operational legal advice. From cyber crime protection, corporate finance and M&A advice, to resolving commercial disputes or putting safeguards in place, our lawyers focus on delivering success to help clients protect and grow their businesses. www.dmhstallard.com

A best practice for DDoS protection is the creation of a playbook or operations procedure that details a planned response when a DDoS attack occurs. Working with RedSpam we will help you to create a bespoke template and set up a number of protocols that will trigger aggressive countermeasures to attacks. This will help you to see the best way to manage internal and external communications when confronted with a DDoS attack and leads to optimisations that can be developed to ensure a rapid, repeatable and predictable plan for DDoS survival moving forwards.

Should you have any further questions regarding the above, please do contact Joanna Potbury on 01293 605596/ Joanna.potbury@dmhstallard.com or Graham Fox on 07968 444068/graham.fox@redspam.com

23

THE BIG STORY

THE WEEK OF THE LONG KNIVES They say a week in politics is a long time, but currently, a day in politics is a very long time.

Since the shock referendum result, turmoil has been the order of the day and the British public are aboard a ship from which the Captain, and half the crew, have jumped overboard. We need a saviour who will steer HMS United Kingdom to safer waters, and, since Boris stabbed Dave and Gove stabbed Boris, the coup de grace was performed by Theresa May, our new Prime Minster.

So who is Theresa May?

by Maarten Hoffmann

M

ay has been Home Secretary since 2010, MP for Maidenhead since 1997 and was made the first female

Chairman of the Conservative Party, and a member of the Privy Council. This vicar’s daughter was born in Eastbourne in 1956 and, after a spell in state schools, she won a place at Holton Park Girls’ Grammar School and then went on to St Hugh’s College, Oxford, where she achieved a BA in 1977. She is married to banker Philip May, whom she met at Oxford during a Conservative Association dance, where they were introduced by Benazir Bhutto,

So here is a lady who was not privately

“She sure as hell couldn’t do any worse than them, even if she had a lobotomy the day after taking office. ”

educated, is the daughter of a clergyman and therefore not born into wealth and privilege, and who has nevertheless risen to the very top of the political elite. She seems to have made few enemies, not put a foot wrong and is now the 81st Prime Minster of the UK and the second female to land the job. The only blot on her copybook is that she was, quietly, a Remain supporter, and it is felt in some circles that the new PM must be a Leave supporter. She also got caught up in Cameron’s daft pledge to bring down immigration to the tens of thousands

later to become President of Pakistan, where

when she made that promise, on his behalf, in

she was killed in 2007.

2010. The number actually rose from 298,000

24

THE BIG STORY to 634,000 per year. Worse still, she fully

promise right now that all EU nationals living in

EU nationals living in Britain as a “negotiating

supported Blair’s invasion of Iraq.

Britain should be able to stay indefinitely. The

point” if she attempts to maintain access to the

reason for that is, if we did that the same rights

single market with restrictions.

On 30th June, 2016, May formally announced her candidacy for party leader to replace

would have to apply to any EU national who

David Cameron. May emphasised the need for

comes to Britain before we leave

unity within the party, regardless of positions

the EU.”

about leaving the EU and said she could bring

“If we made that

“strong leadership” and a “positive vision” for

promise you

the country’s future. She insisted that there

could

May, the longest-serving Home Secretary in 100 years, hedged her bets as the “unity” candidate in the Tory leadership

would be no second referendum about the UK remaining in the EU: “The campaign was fought and the public gave their verdict. There must be no attempts to remain inside the EU, no attempts to rejoin it through the back door.

Brexit means Brexit,” she said, adding that Article 50 (the formal notification of Britain’s exit from the EU) should not be filed until the end of 2016.

On the issue of immigration, she agreed that there was a need to regain more control of the numbers of people who come to Britain from Europe. Under questioning, she conceded that it would not be possible to totally eliminate immigration to the UK. Wisely, she has also stated that there can be no guarantee of EU nationals staying in the UK until there has been negotiation regarding UK nationals living within the EU. The other contenders are all shouting that this must be confirmed now, but why on earth would we do that until we have the assurance the other way round? This demonstrates her negotiating nous and the popularist attitude of the others.

May described herself as a candidate who will unify the party after a divisive referendum, and was the favourite among the public in a Sky Data Snap Poll; 47% of the people who were polled on June 30th, 2016 said May was their choice to replace David Cameron, who had resigned the previous week. By July 1st, May had received considerable support from within

just see a huge influx of EU nationals,

the Conservative Party, including endorsements

who would all want to come here

from over 100 MPs, far more than her nearest

while they have that chance.” The

rival Andrea Leadsom. Her supporters included

source also made clear that the

a number of cabinet members, such as Amber

issue was a “negotiating point.”

Rudd, Justine Greening, Jeremy Hunt, Michael

They added: “It would just be a

Fallon and Patrick McLoughlin. By July 13th,

bad negotiating position, because

she was Prime Minister.

we shouldn’t guarantee the rights

May is known for her no-nonsense style,

of EU nationals without having

attention to detail and steely demeanour. She

any guarantees the other way

will need all of this and more to deal with the

about British nationals living

Brexit negotiations and has refused to rule out

in EU member states.”

the deportation of EU nationals living in Britain

Mrs May said during her

after the country leaves the European Union,

leadership campaign that

amid fears that guaranteeing their rights at this

there was no mandate

stage could lead to a “huge influx” of migrants

to accept the free

during the Brexit negotiation phase.

movement of people in

A source close to May told The Independent: “She [Mrs May] was saying it’s unwise to

its current state. She could, therefore, use

25

THE BIG STORY

Call Worthing: 01903 234094 Call Gatwick: 01293 227670 Email: info@carpenterbox.com

26

XERO AWARD WINNER 2016

THE BIG STORY approval will be forthcoming if he/she gets the

contest, said: “What’s important is, there will be a negotiation here as to how we deal with that issue of people who are already here and who have established life here and Brits who have established a life in other countries within the European Union. The position at the moment is as it has been, there’s no change at the moment, but, of course, we have to factor that into negotiations. As part of the negotiation, we will need to look at this question of people who are here in the UK from the EU.” This entire issue, and the foremost complaint from the Leavers, will be dealt with by a new Department for Brexit, a Department that one Tony Blair is vying for. I believe he has as much chance as my cat and should actually be thanking his lucky stars that he is not on trial following the Chilcot Report. Fortunately, that post has gone to arch euro sceptic, David

“So here is a lady who was not privately educated, is the daughter of a clergyman and therefore not born into wealth and privilege, and who has nevertheless risen to the very top of the political elite”

Davies.

We should thank our lucky stars that Andrea Leadsom was ‘talked out’ of continuing her

job done and secures our future.

Mrs May has also taken the opportunity to talk about her private life and how she dealt with the heartbreak of not being able to have children. “Of course, we were both affected by it. You see friends who now have grown-up children, but you accept the hand that life deals you. Sometimes things you wish had happened don’t, or there are things you wish you’d been able to do, but can’t. There are other couples in a similar position.”

Mrs May said she and Philip drew comfort from their happy marriage and all the other things they were ‘blessed with.’

Has it affected her outlook as a politician?

“I don’t think so, it’s an impossible question, because you can’t tell what you’d have been like if you’d been in a different position.”

hands full with Mrs May.

Did they look at other families and wish they could be the same?

candidacy as it sped up the transition in one of

One of the important statements May has

the most volatile times this country has seen in

made is that she will not join the vanity project

many years. Installing May into No. 10 rapidly

of calling a snap general election to seek

allows us to move onto the complex issue

her own mandate and this, l believe, is of the

of untangling ourselves from the EU and we

utmost importance. The last thing this country

need a strong and no-nonsense PM to do it. In

needs is another six months preparing for a

May, l think we have it and she will need to go

vote whilst Rome, or London in this instance,

toe-to-toe with Angela Merkel, a women who,

burns. The new PM needs to get his or her

it is said, intimidates every male politician she

sleeves up and deal with the current crisis and

friends, stubborn and stuffy by enemies, but no

comes across. I have a feeling she will have her

not seek approval from the electorate. That

one has ever accused her of self pity.

“Yes, but I’m a great believer that you just get on with things. There are lots of problems people have. We are all different, we all have different circumstances and you have to cope with whatever it is and try not to dwell on things.”

Mrs May has been called stoic and steely by

27

THE BIG STORY At her leadership launch, she credited her clergyman father Hubert Brasier for inspiring a sense of public duty in her.

“He was hopeless at cooking or mending a plug but hugely respected for his pastoral work. He visited one family and heard scrabbling noises in the house before the door was opened. When he sat down he put his hand over the armchair straight into a bowl of jelly and ice cream. They had been sitting eating and tried to clear it away before the vicar came in.”

It is easy to see where she gets her sense of propriety: her father banned a teenage Theresa from canvassing for the Tories in the village to avoid claims of political bias against him. Instead, she stuffed envelopes in the Conservative office, out of sight.

But he backed her when she rebelled against a decision by the head at her school to ban girls from joining a boys-only school trip to an international rugby match.

“There must be no attempts to remain inside the EU, no attempts to rejoin it through the back door, and no second referendum. The country voted to leave the European Union, and it is the duty of the Government and of Parliament to make sure we do just that.”

Rev Brasier complained and Theresa went to the match. Her father was killed in a car crash in 1981. She recalls: “I got a phone call saying he was in intensive care. I saw him before he died, but he wasn’t able to speak.”

The health of her mother Zaidee, who had multiple sclerosis, deteriorated rapidly and she died a year later.

After that distressing year, she took even more solace in her marriage and one can only imagine how close she and Philip are and quite how much advice he departs.

But all remains tranquil at home in sleepy Sonning, where her neighbours include George and Amal Clooney, ex-footballer Glenn Hoddle and Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page.

She will need plenty of stamina to negotiate Britain’s exit from the EU but insists she is not deterred by Brussels’ refusal to open talks before Article 50 is signed – a daunting, irreversible decision that will fall to the new PM. “I’m very clear we need to determine our negotiating position before we invoke Article 50.”

But isn’t the EU stating that they will not do that, asked the Guardian’s Political Editor, Ashley Cowburn. “Sometimes the practice one is able to undertake in negotiations is different… it’s possible to have informal discussions,” she says, trailing off with a meaningful

28

THE BIG STORY glance, as if to say “They would say that, wouldn’t they? Wait till I get to grips with them.”

She bats away the claim by her rival Mrs Leadsom that as a Remainer she has no right to be PM after being on the losing side in the referendum. “The Government cannot just be consumed by Brexit, there is so much more to do.”

“Brexit means Brexit. The campaign was fought, the vote was held, turnout was high, and the public gave their verdict. There must be no attempts to remain inside the EU, no attempts to rejoin it through the back door, and no second referendum. The country voted to leave the European Union, and it is the duty of the Government and of Parliament to make sure we do just that.”

“There should be no general election until 2020. There should be a normal Autumn Statement, held in the normal way at the normal time, and no emergency budget. And there should be no decision to invoke Article 50 until the British negotiating strategy is agreed and clear – which means Article 50 should not be invoked before the end of this year.”

“We should make clear that for the foreseeable future there is absolutely no change in Britain’s trading relationships with the EU or other markets. And until a new legal agreement is reached with the EU, which will not happen for some time, the legal status of British nationals living or working in Europe will not change – and neither will the status of EU nationals in Britain”.

“While it is absolutely vital that the Government continues with its intention to reduce public spending and cut the budget deficit, we should no longer seek to reach a budget surplus by the end of the Parliament. If before 2020 there is a choice between further spending cuts, more borrowing and tax rises, the priority must be to avoid tax increases since they would disrupt consumption, employment and investment. These are all measures that will be taken by a Conservative Government I lead, and they offer stability and certainty to consumers, employers and investors for the foreseeable future.

And I want to reassure foreign governments, international companies and foreign nationals living in Britain that we are the same outwardlooking and globally-minded and big-thinking country we have always been – and we remain open for business and welcoming to foreign talent.”

Theresa May is an impressive character. Yes, she is very politically

If you can speak English, and you can get a place on a proper course at a proper university, you can come to study in Britain.

Theresa May

correct, and yes, she does lack dynamism and charisma, but do we want another Tony Blair? Style over substance, or, at this time of huge political turmoil, do we want a steady hand on the tiller who is more concerned with getting the job done than grandstanding and constantly checking on their popularity ratings?

There is one very large elephant in the room that l will take on in full in my Anger Management column on page 52, and that is, she’s female. It is time for men to take a step back and let women have a go at running the global economy, and indeed, the UK. Male politicians have totally screwed it up time and time again with raging egos, childish public-school point-scoring and future-nest-feathering, and if we look around the world, with Merkel running one of the most powerful countries in the world and Clinton soon to be running the most powerful country in the world, l think May would be in good company. It is time men put their egos away, rolled up their sleeves and started grafting for a female boss. She sure as hell couldn’t do any worse than them, even if she had a lobotomy the day after taking office.

She gets my vote all the way.

29

BREXIT

BREXIT

The lion has roared, time to hold steady

By Shirley Smith, Partner, Kreston Reeves

N

erves need to be held as we enter uncharted seas to an uncertain destination. The referendum result,

despite convulsing markets, at this stage changes only sentiment and certainty. We remain in the EU, and the process of leaving will take at least two years to negotiate.

Sterling’s currency devaluation will translate into tangible costs; straight away for travellers

interest that may, at least in the short term,

look for opportunity from the uncertainty. The

dwindle.

worst reaction would be to be mesmerised into

Businesses that want to locate in the UK from overseas in order to have access to the

inactivity.

We must expect that however long and hard

EU single market are likely to pause or switch

the process, the Government will work to open

to another member state.

new markets as well as secure a workable

Keep calm and carry on Yet we must hold steady. The UK is today still

arrangement with the EU. It can do no less.

There can now be no greater priority for the country.

but soon for businesses that import. Those that

the world’s fifth largest economy and what we

export will benefit, but perhaps only before

always have been: a trading nation with great

the position of the City of London as a global

longer term uncertainty about tariffs and

expertise, as we have within Kreston Reeves, in

financial centre – and a centre of funding for

markets sets in.

building connections with other countries. Half

businesses seeking to expand.

Aside from pressure on property investment

of that trade is with the EU, making it hard to

funds, there are also damaging implications

see why renegotiated arrangements would be

for inward investment, which may take its first

punitive.

visible form in falling London property prices.

These have risen in large part due to overseas

30

Our message to all Sussex businesses is that they should simply carry on, but also

A particular effort will be needed to protect

This is the time to think carefully about your business and finances, to take guidance from professional advisors who will now be putting huge, inventive energy into minimising the impact on clients.

BREXIT

“We can hope that the professional investment funds sitting on large cash piles until the result was clear now finally invest, giving a boost to the economy.”

The referendum was a certainty for a long time. As a result, many investors will already have drastically reduced their equity holdings in the UK and moved much of their portfolios

If you have any opportunities,

abroad.

concerns or issues you would like

Until the longer term position becomes clearer, it is likely people will still keep their assets away from what may become a very volatile domestic investment market. Others will find

to discuss regarding your business

investing opportunities from the same volatility.

or personal finances, please

Taking the long-view

speak to one of our Sussex team:

History suggests that whatever the initial shock, markets return to steady, long-term averages with remarkable speed. We might therefore expect history to repeat itself.

It does however look as if we should be prepared to accept this is just one further stage in the gradual erosion in the value of Sterling against the Dollar to a new, lower, level.

BRIGHTON Alex Spofforth

01273 811000

Meanwhile, our economy continues to grow, with reasonable construction and trade figures anyway this year despite the looming referendum. We created 55,000 new jobs nationally in the last quarter even with the introduction of the National Living Wage.

CHICHESTER Simon Webber

“A particular effort will be needed to protect the position of the City of London as a global financial centre – and a centre of funding for businesses seeking to expand.”

We can hope that the professional investment funds sitting on large cash piles until the result was clear now finally invest, giving a boost to the economy. They need to see opportunity, too.

Considering your business options Many businesses have strong balance sheets and want to grow their enterprises. That will

01243 787627

GATWICK Shirley Smith

01293 776152

HORSHAM Richard Spofforth 01403 253282

WORTHING Steve Kirkham

01903 828728

www.krestonreeves.com

not alter. The desire to trade internationally is not diminished because of a vote driven by political, not economic, arguments.

Brexit will also be an opportunity to review regulations and ensure that they strike the right balance between rights and obligations. Perhaps we will finally see a bonfire of ‘red tape’ to ease burdens for many.

We are a competitive, inventive economy well equipped to battle for market share on the basis of quality not protectionism, so let us expect to flourish. We have the advantage of language, location and legal system. Our tax system is favourable. These remain in place. We should be stimulated by the prospect of extraordinary change.

31

COMPANY INVESTIGATIONS

PREPARING FOR A DAWN RAID

by Clive Lee and Liane Simmonds at Rawlison Butler

A

dawn raid by regulatory authorities may seem like something that would never happen to your business, but it could.

Being prepared for this eventuality is crucial

investigation, in order to obtain incriminating

or competition issues is a potential target for

evidence as a precursor to regulatory

dawn raids – regardless of size. As the dawn

proceedings.

raid is often the first step in an investigation,

Often the dawn raid actually taking place

for all businesses – particularly as there will

is the first time you will know about the

be no prior warning and the sanctions for non-

suspicions or investigation. Regulatory

compliance can be severe. Do you have an up-

authorities which might carry out dawn raids

even allegations which ultimately prove to be unfounded could still potentially give rise to a dawn raid.

Examples of the types of issues which could

to-date dawn raids policy and would you know

include the European Commission, national

arise include allegations of abusing a dominant

what to do in the event of a dawn raid?

Competition Authorities, the Competition

position and other anti-competitive practices

So what is a dawn raid?

A “dawn raid” is a surprise inspection carried out by the officials of a regulatory body or authority (whether UK or EU based) at the premises of a business under suspicion or

32

& Markets Authority, the Financial Conduct Authority and HM Revenue & Customs, as well the Serious Fraud Office in extreme cases.

Who could be affected?

Any company which could face regulatory

(ie price-fixing, cartels etc) or allegations of fraud, market abuse, insider dealing, bribery or corruption. Issues could also arise in respect of the administration of tax and duties or in relation to imports and exports.

The types of companies which might be

COMPANY INVESTIGATIONS

“As the dawn raid is often the first step in an investigation, even allegations which ultimately prove to be unfounded could still potentially give rise to a dawn raid.”

particularly at risk include: • Companies in regulated industries, such as

Preparing for a dawn raid There are various ways you can prepare

mock dawn raids as part and parcel of the training and preparation of your staff • enter into an agreement for dedicated “on-

the financial services sector, which may be

in advance of a dawn raid so that you have

investigated by the FCA

everything you need to hand in the event of a

call” lawyers who you can call immediately

raid and are not caught unprepared.

upon the officials arriving at your premises

• Companies which occupy a large market sector, and arguably hold a dominant position, could be investigated by

Here are some of the key pointers: • draft a comprehensive dawn raids policy in

competition authorities for anti-competitive

advance, setting out procedures for how to

practices

deal with a dawn raid on the day of the raid

• Companies which import and export goods

itself

in the event of a dawn raid • put procedures in place to make sure that you keep a good record of the documents and information taken by the officers during the raid for subsequent review of your position. This will help you and your lawyers

could face investigation by tax authorities

to evaluate the merits of any case against

• Companies involved in competitive tendering,

you and to devise an appropriate strategy

especially if there is a risk that collaborative tendering (ie tendering that involves the partnering of one or more businesses) could actually be collusive tendering • Retail companies, including manufacturers of retail goods, could face allegations of price fixing or cartel membership • Companies doing business overseas could face allegations of bribery or corruption

“Any company which could face regulatory or competition issues is a potential target for dawn raids – regardless of size. ”

that your staff are fully briefed, because there will be no prior warning of a dawn raid. By preparing in advance, you can think about how best to handle any negative consequences of the dawn raid (both internally and externally).

There are very heavy fines for noncompliance on the day of the dawn raid.

Companies have in the past been fined millions for delaying the start of an investigation by less than an hour, whilst Eon was fined €38m for breaking a seal fixed by Commission officials during a raid in May 2006.

Dealing with the dawn raid in the correct

afterwards to examine the grounds for the investigation and consider your position.

By handling the dawn raid correctly at the outset you will see tangible benefits and this will enable you to avoid penalties for noncompliance. The key to dealing with dawn raids to date policy as part of advance preparation and ensuring that you have good legal support

• prepare associated documents to be

available – both on the day and afterwards. At

available for use on the day such as crib

RB, we offer a specialist dawn raids service,

sheets, emergency contact lists and template

based on our experience of helping clients in

internal/external statements so you can

this area, and we provide a dedicated on-call

communicate promptly with staff and even

service for emergency support if required on

the press

the day and in the weeks that follow.

• train your staff on your dawn raids policy and what to do in the event of a raid • train those

For further information, please contact Clive Lee or Liane Simmonds in RB’s Commercial Disputes Team.

individuals in critical roles; for example, instructions can be given to reception staff as the first point

manner can also have an impact on any

of contact and your

subsequent proceedings brought by the

IT department can be

regulator. For example, you should ensure

given guidance on the

that you maintain any available privilege in

kind of requests that

documents which could be detrimental to your

might be made by

case by lawfully preventing their inspection by

officers

dawn raid officials on the day.

A dawn raid will probably signal the start of a lengthy investigation, so there will be time

appropriately and effectively is to have an up

Why is it an important issue?

It is important to be prepared and to ensure

going forwards.

• consider conducting

33

DIGITAL MARKETING

SPECIAL DELIVERY Why Email Is The Number One Business Marketing Tool

by Shea Bennett, Head of Digital Marketing at Identity

A

s a business leader and decision maker, you know that it’s important to be kept informed about the latest trends

channel that provided the best ROI, beating paid search, content marketing, mobile marketing and social media.

Email Marketing Best Practices As with any digital marketing tool to get optimal results from an email newsletter

in digital marketing. By positioning yourself

campaign there are a series of best practices,

right on the edge of the information curve

rules and guidelines that should be followed.

you’re always up-to-date on the top platforms

1. It Started With A List

and tools, staying one step ahead of your competitors.

So here’s a simple question: which digital marketing tool consistently delivers the best return on investment (ROI)?

“79% of agencies and 66% of companies rated email as the marketing channel that provided the best ROI”

Your website? It’s a fantastic resource for

fantastic for raising awareness of your business, building an audience and generating engagement, but they aren’t as effective as

messages from you and have been kept highly engaged and informed in all of your

email addresses, catch-all email addresses

found that two-thirds of consumers had gone

(the “info@” variety) or acquired email

on to make a purchase online as a direct result

addresses – either purchased from a third

of an email marketing message, and their 2015 study found that more than seven in ten

conversion rates.

consumers say that email is their preferred

campaigns can generate a fantastic sales

have opted into receiving marketing

The worst email lists are made up of old A 2013 Direct Marketing Association report

this (seemingly old-fashioned) medium for Paid search? Used intelligently, paid search

best email list is made up of people who

from you – they’re looking forward to it.

and of itself it probably won’t generate new Social media? Facebook and Twitter are

the list of people it is being sent to. The

marketing. They are not only happy to hear

promoting your products and services, but in business without a lot of help.

Any email campaign is only as good as

method of communication with brands.

Snapchat is cooler. Facebook is dominating

party or “borrowed” from somebody else.

Finally, when you initiate your campaigns, unless you’re losing huge numbers of people with every send, don’t concern yourself too much with unsubscribers. It’s far better (not to mention more economical)

return, but there’s another marketing stalwart

the world. And Google makes billions of dollars

to have a small or medium-sized email

that has got them beat.

from search. But when it comes to generating

list with high engagement rates than a

new business – and specifically getting a

huge list where nobody really cares. So

So who’s the king? Email. A 2015 eMarketer study revealed that 79% of agencies and 66%

prospect to sign on the digital dotted line –

of companies rated email as the marketing

none of these are as effective as email.

(unless you’re being really obnoxious) anytime somebody unsubscribes from your email database you should think of it as a positive, as it is actually purifying your list.

2. Invest In An Email Marketing Platform The emails you send at work are all managed by a software client, such as Microsoft Outlook. These are perfect for everyday use, but to send campaigns you need to invest in a dedicated online email marketing solution. Not only will these services allow you to send huge numbers of emails with a single click, they offer design templates, list management, reporting and analytics. At Identity, we like and recommend MailChimp, which is a great starting point for any business, but other platforms are available.

3. A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words The best email campaigns are designed

34

DIGITAL MARKETING

to quickly capture the attention of the

all content interesting and relevant. And if

a newsletter you need to figure out its

reader. The look of your newsletter should

you are going to write about the past, focus

primary goal, and that is what takes pride

be consistent month to month (to build

on customer successes and case studies

of place. Everything else is secondary.

recognition and trust), and the design

instead of old news.

Indeed, the most effective email campaigns

should be clean and elegant. Any good

5. It’s All About The Call To Action – What Do

usually have just one single CTA, and

email marketing platform will have a

You Want Your Reader To Do?

nothing else. And because the reader then

number of off-the-shelf templates that you

The call to action (CTA) is the focus point

only has one option, that is what they’ll

can use and customise, but you still need

of your newsletter. It’s the one, main thing

take.

to have a good eye (and invest time and

that you want the reader to do above

resources) to make your newsletter really

anything else. For example, clicking on a

6. Analyse, Review & Improve To get the most from your email marketing

zing. And if design isn’t your bag, it’s worth

campaigns it’s essential that you take the

spending the money on somebody who

time to analyse the data after each send.

really knows their stuff.

4. Don’t Share News – Share Knowledge Wait a minute: it’s called a newsletter, right? What else are you supposed to write about? Here’s the problem with news: it’s out of date as soon as you’ve shared it.

This should include monitoring basic (but

“Anytime somebody unsubscribes from your email database you should think of it as a positive, as it is actually purifying your list.”

critical) metrics such as opening rates and clicks, but also broader metrics that require a little more detective work.

For example, how does your data stand up against industry averages? Is that CTA

If your newsletter goes out at the end of

getting all the attention it deserves? Was it

January, telling people what happened

clear to the reader what you wanted them

at the Christmas party is the fastest way

to do? If not, how could you better position

to get them to click on the “unsubscribe”

new product image to go to that page on

the CTA image or change the wording

button. It turns a newsletter into a

your website. While your newsletter will

around it for next time?

snoozeletter.

likely have multiple stories, the call to

Really deep dive into the data and study

Instead, write about what’s coming. What’s

action must go right at the top and be given

who exactly is clicking on your links, which

on the horizon for your business? What

all of the attention, both in terms of design

links they’re clicking and what they’re

new products and services are being

and placement.

doing when they get to your website. Not

launched? What events are you attending?

Without a clear CTA, readers will be

only is this the whole point of doing email

Most people sign up for newsletters to

unsure about the next step. Give them

marketing in the first place, it’s a fantastic

receive information, so strive to keep them

too many options and you’ll lose them to

way to generate a list of ready-made leads

informed about developments and make

choice paralysis. Whenever you’re building

for your sales team.

Biography: Shéa has managed the digital campaigns and marketing solutions for both B2B and B2C brands across a variety of industries, including retail, finance, education, healthcare, charity, sports and events. A recognised authority within the digital space, he has published two books and written thousands of articles about social media, and his work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post and the BBC. Identity specialises in the manufacture and implementation of corporate branding, with over 30 years’ experience in the industry.

A major supplier of digital marketing, events management and commercial signage across the UK and Europe, Identity is a multiaward-winning company with a very experienced team of industryrespected individuals.

Email: sb@identitygroup.co.uk, Web: www.identitygroup.co.uk

35

MANUFACTURING

METALL LAUNCHES WITH A SELL-OUT FIRST EVENT Chris Coopey, Head of the Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology Group at Carpenter Box, reports on the first meeting of the Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology Alliance (METALL) held at Roffey Park near Horsham.

I

because resource is tight and money is

particularly grant funding is not always well

tighter. There are advantages to being small.

signposted and sometimes the application

Smaller businesses can make decisions more

process may not appear to be worth the effort.

within the Gatwick Diamond) joined my

quickly and take advantage of opportunities

In a straw poll of the businesses attending

colleagues and I from Carpenter Box, together

without having to jump through the hoops

METALL, many had not previously heard of

with fellow sponsors asb law and CBSbutler for

that big corporates often have to do. One of

Innovate UK nor the help it was able to offer in

the first METALL event.

the points made by Robert Pearson is that by

both funding and advice terms. Zoe Webster’s

collaborating, small businesses with big ideas

presentation shone a light on some of the

‘Innovation’ and the keynote speakers, Dr

can achieve amazing results around innovation.

options, but in the Q&A session afterwards

Robert Pearson of Cobham Antennas and

Of course there are practical worries when

other organisations such as Coast to Capital

Dr Zoe Webster of Innovate UK, each did a

smaller businesses collaborate with larger

also talked about the various funding options

fantastic job of explaining what innovation

ones. There are concerns around the ownership

they could offer. We will gather together as

looks like, how it can be achieved and how

of intellectual property and who ultimately will

many threads as we can in relation to all of

it can be funded. There were a number of

benefit the most. These are best dealt with

the help available and make sure it sits in

takeaways from the session:

by making strong relationships, developing

the resource area of the www.metall.org.uk

trust and by buttoning down expectations as

website.

n July, over 30 manufacturing, engineering and technology businesses (who between them employ over 5,000 skilled personnel

The subject for the inaugural meeting was

Passion Innovation is born of passion. Passion to solve a problem and provide a solution can drive a project from concept to realisation and

much as possible at the outset in a clear and transparent written agreement.

Collaboration starts by conversation, which

when harnessed effectively, it can become a

is why joining all of the elements together

massive and unstoppable force. We English

was such an important aim for METALL. These

are not known for our fondness of the word

elements include the businesses themselves,

‘passion’, but our place as one of the most

those who can help fund them and those that

innovative nations shows that we have it tucked

can give the practical and academic help to

away somewhere in our psyche!

take innovation forward.

Collaboration

Funding

We used to be seen as a nation of small

Researching and developing innovative ideas

shopkeepers. That may not now be the case but

takes money and all too often businesses are

we are certainly a nation of small businesses.

not well equipped to understand their various

Sometimes that mitigates against innovation,

options. It’s also fair to say that funding,

36

The subtext to this first METALL meeting was of course around the possible effects of Brexit and the challenges it will pose. Consensus in the room was that it is far too early to predict how our departure from the EU will affect the sector, but there were obvious concerns around currency fluctuation, possible trade tariffs and the difficulty of finding skilled and motivated staff if restrictions on recruitment from overseas becomes a reality.

I’m pleased to say that METALL is already forming into a community and that a LinkedIn group has been established to carry on the conversation. For more on METALL check out www.metall.org.uk

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

CLOUD TALK DUAL SIM MOBILE PHONES

WINDOWS 10 PRODUCT ID

Do you have a separate work and a personal smartphone, or use different numbers when travelling abroad? If yes, then you may want to consider looking at a smartphone that can take two SIMS. These devices are now becoming mainstream and rumour control has it that Apple may be introducing this as a feature in the new iPhone 7 allowing two different numbers and profiles. If you would like to read a review on the current best UK dual SIM phones take a trip to www.pcadvisor.co.uk/ and type ‘20 best dual-SIM smartphones’ in the search bar.

In order to activate Windows 10 it generally uses what’s referred to as an activation digital signature, and does not require a 25-character product ID key. I say generally as this is when you upgrade for free from Windows 7 / 8.1 or purchased a Windows 10 / Windows 10 Pro upgrade from the Windows store. If you purchase Windows 10 from an authorised retailer or have a Volume Licensing Agreement, then a product key is required.

HOW SAFE IS YOUR DATA? If a hacker with resources wants your data they will invariably find it irrespective of whether it is on a server in your office or in the Cloud. The majority of data thefts are however, by disgruntled employees; late 2015 a client of ours lost an employee to a competitor start-up taking confidential company data with them.

This data was on a local server and taken without the owner’s knowledge, until it was too late. Following this we retired the old server and migrated the client to an Office 365 cloud environment and set up data loss policies (DLP) to prevent confidential data leaking outside the business. DLP helps a business to identify, monitor and protect sensitive information across their Office 365 environment and is certainly something all businesses should consider.

This is all good stuff, however what if you have issues with Windows 10 or want a copy of it, yet don’t have a Product key as you upgraded or purchased from the Windows store? To find this key navigate to Control Panel (press the Windows key and X or right click on the Windows 10 Start button) and select System. Your 25-character Product ID key is displayed under Windows activation.

RUNNING WINDOWS ON YOUR MAC CONTINUED… Last month I mentioned Apple’s Boot Camp and the third party application Parallels to run Windows on your Apple computer. If you are looking to run Windows inside your OS X environment, aside from Parallels, also take a look at VMware Fusion and VirtualBox. With VMware Fusion and Parallels you pay however VirtualBox is free. Parallels is in my opinion the best, and easiest to setup for nontechnical users, but don’t discount the others.

WINDOWS 10 FULL SCREEN START MENU If you find the Windows 10 start menu too small why not make it a full screen affair?

To do this right click on your Windows 10 desktop and select Personalise. In the personalisation windows click Start. Now slide the Use Start full screen bar to On, and close the window.

Now when you click on the Windows start menu it fills your display making it far easier to work with the live tiles.

The Cloud Consultancy Europe are authorised Office 365 resellers

If you would like help and advice with your IT infrastructure call me. t: 00 (44) 1342 716873 e: jamie.shaw@thecloudconsultancy.eu w: www.thecloudconsultancy.eu

uk.linkedin.com/in/shawjamie 37

DELIVER BALANCED GROWTH FOR BRITAIN A second runway at Gatwick will give airports across the UK greater opportunity to grow, which means more competition and balanced growth for the whole country. Let’s make it happen so all of Britain can get the benefits.

gatwickobviously.com @LGWobviously

TRAVEL SUPPLEMENT

PLATINUM

Welcome to Business Travel. Rose has been busy in the Norwegian capital Oslo to discover the delights of this fascinating City that seems to be growing rapidly. Uniglobe Travel MD, John Burroughes, brings us the latest news in the airline sector with a few surprises from the latest Vietnamese airline and talk of a permanent baggage tag. If you are planning to visit Oslo for business or pleasure, this is the guide you need.

PLATINUM

THIS MONTH:

OSLO

Travel IN FOR THE LONG HAUL

by John Burroughes Managing Director, Uniglobe Preferred Travel

British Airways lead the way British Airways, in conjunction with IATA, are leading the way in the development of the permanent luggage tag. Extensive development work has been taking place to establishing an industry standard for the tag that would have a generic interface, for use by any airline as well as being interlinable, meaning it could be used for up to three destinations. It looks at all aspects of the permanent tag - the e-link display, the 2D barcode, the RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) and the NFC (Near Field Communication) interfaces.

Although baggage mishandling has reduced by over 50% since 2007 and only 1% of the worldwide baggage is now mishandled, this is still costing the industry $2.58 bn (£1.62 bn) every year.

Baggage quality measurements have recently been defined, which enable airlines and airports to refer to a clear list of measurable processes - such as the time taken for a passenger to successfully process a bag at self-service bag drop stations - and therefore identify where improvements can be made. After recent attacks at airports there is an industrywide drive to streamline and speed up the customer experience at checking. I will be watching with interest and keep you updated on this and other progress.

Sci-fi or reality?

Well Mr Putin certainly doesn’t think this is fiction. It is unknown if he is a Capt Kirk fan although in the early days of the mobile phone era he certainly was, allegedly, captured holding what looked suspiciously like the famous Star Trek flip phone.

Yes we’ve all had them.

Well, now the Kremlin has backed a multitrillion pound (£1.4 trillion) strategic development programme drawn up by, yes you’ve guessed it, Vladimir Putin himself to seek the development of teleportation by 2035. It sounds fantastic today but there have been successful experiments at modular level. Western governments also believe that Russia has leveraged its computing talent and is making significant progress on many fronts. I will be watching this space to understand if this is the end of air travel as we know it and in closing I will simply say “Beam me up Vladimir”.

40

Travel Sussex Office: Old Chatsworth Hall, 11 South Road, Brighton, BN1 6SB. London Office: 18 Buckingham Gate, Westminster, London, SW1E 6LB T: 0845 180 7817 F: 0845 180 7812 sales@uniglobepreferred.co.uk

Could this be the future look of the European aviation industry?

In the highly competitive aviation industry we are all used to inventive attempts to grab the headlines, be it stories about having to pay one euro to use the on-board facilities or certain budget airlines experimenting with standing room compartments. Or from the other spectrum, the famous red high-heeled shoes of one of our most flamboyant airlines.

Time to move over Mr Branson, I think even you have been out manoeuvred in the headline grabbing escapades of Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, who is poised to become South East Asia’s first self-made female billionaire.

Thao made her first million by trading latex rubber and fax machines(!), with the initial public offering of Vietnam’s only privately owned airline, Thao is set to have a net worth exceeding $1 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, making her the country’s first female billionaire.

VietJet is known for its young and attractive flight attendants who wear bikinis on inaugural flights to beach locations and featured similar models on its calendars, which Thao says are empowering images in Vietnam’s conservative culture.

“Our flight attendants have the right to wear anything you like, either the bikini or the traditional ao dai,” she said, referring to the traditional long tunic worn over loose pants.

“We don’t mind people associating the airline with the bikini image. If that makes people happy, then we are happy.”

VietJet will probably surpass national carrier Vietnam Airlines as the nation’s biggest domestic carrier this year, according to CAPA Centre for Aviation. Vietnam is expected to rank among the world’s 10 fastest-growing aviation markets in the next two decades, according to the International Air Transport Association.

“You have to take the lead and take calculated risks,” she said. “As a businesswoman, I have a responsibility to contribute to the economy and to push for positive changes of the country and in the society, in light of the international integration that’s happening.”

On a personal note I would like to say that I have not flown on VietJet (yet) and I can’t help wondering how many other Asian airlines require their flight attendants to wear, what is clearly, regulation DVT stocking.

41

Travel Shake hands in...

OSLO

Whether you’re travelling for business or pleasure, choose Oslo for incredible architecture, epic scenery and world-class museums, says Rose Dykins

A

s the metro glides along, the fierce sun scans the forest as if it’s a barcode, forcing its way through the gaps in

the spruce trees. I look to my left and see dark wooden residences resembling quaint

has fallen, and an army of trees surround it, standing to attention.

It’s hard to believe I’m not a two-hour drive up the Alps right now, rather than a mere

Chances are, you probably know less about Oslo than other European cities. “A lot of people still haven’t really discovered Oslo and what a unique corporate destination it is, which makes each event here feel very new and interesting

children’s playhouses, their roofs thatched

20-minute metro ride north of Norway’s capital.

with bright green grass. Then, to my right, a

In comparison, the natural beauty of my North

of Conventions at Visit Oslo. “People are

sapphire fjord stretches out like a piece of sky

London suburb is beyond disappointing.

amazed at how compact the city is. Everything

Oslo Fjord

42

for visitors,” says Annie Kristi Korsmo, Director

Travel top-notch facilities, with a dash of Scandi excellence when it comes to design. “We have recently been told we’ll be getting a new conference centre in the middle of the city, which will hold 2,500 delegates,” says Korsmo.

“At the moment, we can do congresses for up to 8,000 delegates, and we currently have 13,000 rooms. Many of our hotels are being renovated, and one of the largest hotels in the city is expanding and reopening in 2018 to become the biggest hotel in Norway.”

And it sounds like the rooms are needed.

“Each month, our number of visitors are increasing,” says Korsmo. “Our strongest markets are the UK, Germany and Scandinavia, but we’re seeing that there are more travellers coming from the Far East, Dubai and China,” There’s no doubt that Oslo has, in part, been opened up to the rest of the world by the rapid global expansion of its national airline.

Norwegian is now the third-largest low-cost carrier in Europe (tenth globally). Its UK base at Gatwick Airport has aided its growth, and, in July, the airline celebrated its second anniversary of flying from the UK to the US, flying in the face of sceptics of its “low-cost, long-haul” business model. The latest figures reveal the airline is enjoying a 13% growth in passenger numbers compared with this time last year.

Holmenkollen Ski Jump is in immediate distance, it’s very easy to move around, and all our venues are easily accessible.”

like a stairway to heaven, was broadcast across the globe earlier this year when Oslo hosted the X Games for the first time.

Just one third of Oslo is urbanised, while the rest is covered by parks and woodlands. At this time of year, its citizens are subject to 19 hours of sunshine each day, and a large proportion of them own boats, setting sail along Oslo Fjord at weekends and mooring at emerald green islands for picnics.

Of course, it’s true that there are grittier parts of the city, particularly around Central Station. And it’s also true that grabbing a quick snack in Oslo can set you back more than expected – though the Norwegian krone has weakened somewhat, visitors will feel the burn more than other European cities (although, I suppose it depends when you’re reading this).

But if you’re looking for value for money, you won’t be disappointed.

When the snow arrives later in the year, winter sports spring up across the city. Around 2,600 km of cross-country skiing trails lead from the centre into the nearby forest and, 20 minutes from town, the Holmenkollen ski jump may tempt the thrill-seekers – the world’s newest ski jump, which shoots up to the clouds

Next April, Oslo Airport will open its new Terminal Two, which will boost its capacity from 23 million to 28 million. “Oslo is a highquality airport, ideal for business travellers so expansion will only help our busy operation in Oslo,” says a spokesperson for Norwegian Air. “Business travellers will also have reduced walking distances making their journey more efficient. As Norwegian continues adding more passenger services, the increased terminal capacity will help improve the overall travel experience for our customers.”

Oslo’s strengths for welcoming international visitors lie in its breathtaking nature, its Englishspeaking population and its

43

Travel Another significant development for the city is the renovation of its Grand Dame hotel. Steeped in history, the five-star Grand Hotel Oslo hosts the Noble Peace Prize dinner each year, and its former Palm Garden – now a refined restaurant – was once the watering hole of playwright Henrik Ibsen. Keen to keep its proud Bohemian past alive, the property’s revamp celebrates its cultural legacy in a way that look forward to the next generation of cutting edge artists and thinkers – for example, Tracey Emin’s take on Munch’s The Scream, hangs above the new, sleek lobby bar. “The main part of the renovation is complete, and the banquet area will be done by the end of August – It is really looking great!” says Angelica Montez de Oca, Commercial Director of the Grand Hotel Oslo.

Grand Hotel Oslo Lobby

Grand Hotel Oslo Spa

44

Grand Hotel Oslo

Travel FIVE AMAZING OSLO MUSEUMS FOR A MEETING/EVENT Norsk Folkemuseum This one-of-a-kind outdoor museum comprises more than 150 buildings that show how Norwegians have lived since the 1500s. Set amid woodland, you stroll from building to building and meet actors in traditional costume. Its grounds are available for hire, and there’s also an open-air arena surrounded by wildflowers. norskfolkemuseum.no/en

Fram Museum Housing two historic Norwegian expedition ships – Fram and Gjøa, which set sail for the South Pole and the North West passage, respectively – this award-winning museum tells the tales of Norway’s extraordinary maritime achievements. It makes an atmospheric setting for receptions, and it’s possible to arrange dinners on board the ships’ decks. frammuseum.no

Norsk Folkemuseum

The Mini Bottle Gallery Home to the world’s largest collection of miniature bottles (53,000 in total) this quirky three-floor museum has a retro cocktail bar, and can hold 350 guests for a party. It also has a smart boardroom for meetings. minibottlegallery.com

Fram Museum

Astrup Fearnley Museum Designed by Renzo Piano, the architect behind Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, the contemporary event and exhibition spaces of this striking modern art museum – with permanent exhibits from Damien Hirst and Jeff Koons – can host all kinds of occasions, and group guided tours are possible. afmuseet.no

COMING SOON: MunchMuseum A major development for Oslo, the existing museum dedicated to the Norwegian expressionist artist is moving to a downtown waterfront in an iconic glass structure designed to “bow” to the rest of the city . Scheduled for completion in 2020, it will have four times much exhibition space, along with an east-facing VIP room for hire, and galleries designed to host events. munchmuseet.no/en

Astrup Fearnley Museum

45

Travel NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH: VULKAN City regeneration doesn’t get much more impressive than this. Open officially since 2014, Vulkan is set in a former industrial area on the bank of the river Akerselva, and it has become one of the most desirable areas of Olso thanks to its enticing recreational activities. It’s home to two hotels – one of which only employs and trains ex-prisoners – apartments, schools, a dance academy with a performance centre and office space. There’s also a huge focus on sustainability, and Vulkan runs on its own energy centre complete with geothermal wells.

The main draw is Mathallen, Oslo’s first ever food hall. Housed in a converted factory, its central waited tables surrounded by the smorgasboard of food and produce stalls are occupied by students, tourists Mathallen Food Hall and businesspeople alike. In the galleries overlooking the food hall, there is a restaurant complete with a show kitchen. Here, it’s possible for guests to take cookery classes, where they can be taken shopping around the food hall beforehand to select the ingredients they need. Upon my visit, I sampled succulent cuts of regionally-reared meat, cheese and garnishes, doughy Chinese dumplings, technicolour vegan food and fragrant coffee brewed masterfully. Mathallen places a strong emphasis on quality products and showcasing new businesses, and its sense of dynamism makes it a buzzy place for a lunch meeting. vulkan,no; mathallenoslo.no

SPARE AFTERNOON

Doing business in the Norwegian capital? If you only have enough time to see one or two things, here are recommendations from the experts: Annie Kristi Korsmo, Director of Conventions at Visit Oslo,: “I would walk around Tjuvholem, where you have the Astrup Fearnley Museum. Built upon reclaimed land, the area is a very new architectural feature of the city, and one of my favourite parts, with lots of urban, trendy restaurants, and there’s such a great atmosphere.

“If the weather’s nice, head to the roof of the Oslo Opera House, for an unusual perspective and soak in the city from there. Or, head to Ekenberg Park to people watch, it’s such a unique place with great restaurants. It’s full of sculptures, and it’s a very new Opera House ‘must-do’ thing in Oslo.”

Tryvann

46

Angelica Montez de Oca, Commercial Director of the Grand Hotel Oslo.

“Take the tram to the Tryvann, a local mountain area, for some lovely hiking in the autumn or spring, or for sports in the winter – it’s just 15 minutes from the city centre. And, in summer, take one of the local ferries around the Oslo Fjørd.

“Kick back with a Norwegian brewed beer at any of the wonderful outdoor cafés near the harbour or Eight Rooftop Terrace Bar, overlooking the city centre and fjørd.”

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6103

DEBT RECOVERY

WHAT ARE THE BARRIERS TO YOUR DEBT AND INVOICE RECOVERY?

U

nless you are a business that takes payments up front for your product or service you are likely to have an unpaid bill or invoice at some point. Maintaining a good cash flow is often a challenge, but absolutely essential for the growth and success of every business.

The job of recovering unpaid invoices typically sends most people in to a cold sweat and invariably gets pushed down the ‘to do’ list until it fails to make it on to the list at all and gets forgotten.

Why is this - and what are the barriers?

One of the main reasons for failing to pursue an unpaid invoice is a lack of resources or suitably trained staff to deal with this task.

We frequently see this job being passed down to a secretary or receptionist who has been offered little or no training and typically does not have any background in debt recovery or speaking to customers in this regard. The job

48

of debt recovery requires a certain set of skills and a junior member of staff may simply make a quick phone call or send a standard letter which might not be enough to provoke payment.

Another main reason debt recovery is overlooked is the fear of losing a customer or having that customer “bad mouthing” your reputation.

Far too many companies fail to understand how a good debt recovery procedure can help your cash flow, reduce stress and only result in a loss of a customer when YOU decide.

Everybody has to reach a point where you draw a line in the sand and say future business with this company or individual is too risky.

It is important that within your debt recovery procedure your staff understand what that trigger point is.

What is a good debt recovery procedure?

The first and most important thing is the accuracy of the customer details. When setting

Alan Wood up an account or starting a quote for a job think of what information you may need at the end of the process should they decide not to pay. This may sound obvious but includes things such as:• A full postal address including unit or house number

DEBT RECOVERY

The job of recovering unpaid invoices typically sends most people in to a cold sweat and invariably gets pushed down the ‘to do’ list until it fails to make it on to the list at all and gets forgotten.

• A full name or names of those who are being billed • Senior personnel not just a company name • Landline, mobile phone numbers and email addresses • Date of birth (if appropriate) and if you can’t obtain a date of birth a rough age can be really helpful when trying to trace someone where father and son have the same name.

Depending on the type of credit being offered, you may wish to run some of your own checks as to your customer’s ability to pay or some sort of address verification. We might be able to help you with that.

“The judicial process in this country is pretty easy as long as you can demonstrate the debtor has been given time and notification to pay. ”

part of any debt recovery process. Over what period are you prepared to send these forms of communication before passing it to your solicitor or an enforcement agent?

Sending random letters with vague threats of further action will prod the odd person into paying but for your more hardened non payer they will quickly learn these are typically empty threats and in our experience won’t generally pay until a third party specialist is involved.

Much of this is down to client relationships, you spend a lot of time and sometimes money building client relationships and your late or non-payers will play on that relationship giving never ending excuses and promises to pay.

Create an effective debt recovery procedure tailored to your exact needs and stick to it!

One of the biggest and most frequent issues when recovering unpaid invoices is a lack of communication early on in the process. We have been amazed over the years how many companies fail to set out at the point of sale or quotation their payment terms. A customer will always think they have 30 days plus and a kitchen fitter for example might be expecting payment on completion. This misunderstanding is often the flash point for what turns in to a breakdown in customer relationships and potentially non-payment.

Establishing a procedure is simple enough, you need to allow for an escalation from “gentle reminder” to “final notice before court action” and set out how many letters you feel are appropriate. Will you supplement these letters with text messages and emails? Both of which are rapidly becoming an essential

Can I take someone to court and will it cost the earth?

The judicial process in this country is pretty easy as long as you can demonstrate the debtor has been given time and notification to pay.

Whether you do this yourself via Money Claim Online (www.moneyclaim.gov.uk) or via your solicitor obtaining a County Court Judgement (CCJ) it is straight forward. Court papers are issued to your customer, they have 28 days to pay or they get a chance to stand in front of a judge and present their case. If after this the judge is satisfied your debt is due and the debtor has still not paid a CCJ is awarded and you can then instruct a County Court

enforcement agent or for a small court fee (currently £60) the case can be transferred to the High court for enforcement and allocated to one of our High Court Enforcement Officers to oversee the enforcement process. This is likely to be much quicker, and, in our experience will be more proactive as we have access to software for tracing, address verification, asset checking and investigation work.

But is that a little heavy handed?

Since April 2014 all enforcement action now comes under, and is regulated by, the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2007 and requires a Notice of Enforcement letter to be issued to the debtor giving them 7 clear days to contact the Enforcement Agent with an offer to pay before the enforcement agent attends.

This 7 days does not include the day of posting, the day of delivery or bank holidays so in reality it is 10 days plus before any door step enforcement action can commence.

Should you require help setting up your own debt and Invoice recovery procedure or would like to know more about the best debt recovery solution for your business we offer a free no obligation consultation and free training.

Contact alan.wood@penhamexcel.co.uk.

Or visit our stand at LAWBizTech Show at London Olympia on the 25th & 26th October 2016.

www.penhamexcel.co.uk Tel: 07825 971799

high court enforcement officers & enforcement agents

49

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ANGER MANAGEMENT

ANGER MANAGEMENT

by Maarten Hoffmann

GLASS CEILING SHATTERED I wonder if it has escaped your notice that our political classes are in a bloody awful mess?

I wonder if you have noticed that our

political classes are predominantly male?

It is time that men took a step back, a long way back, and let the ladies have a go. Let’s face it, they could not possibly do a worse job of it than us. Even saying ‘let them have a go’ is insulting and condescending, as if they need our permission. But that is indeed the case to date.

It is time the old-school-tie boys’ brigade went out and got real jobs and stopped screwing up the country whilst at the same time keeping female politicians down. Margaret Thatcher was the first female PM and now we have the second in Theresa May. The public school boys in her cabinet were in awe of her and feared her a little, as if Matron would soon tan their backsides for being naughty, and she went to Brussels, fought for a deal and actually brought it home.

The world is changing and we are, thankfully, seeing the rise of the strong female politician.

Hillary Clinton will, in all likelihood, be the first President of the USA; Nicola Sturgeon is

ruled by their libidos and thus able to make

“It is time the oldschool-tie boys’ brigade went out and got real jobs and stopped screwing up the country whilst at the same time keeping female politicians down.”

first female Mayor of Rome and Baroness Scotland is the Secretary General of the Commonwealth. Even looking closer to home, we have our regional Chambers of Commerce run by strong women - Sarah Springford (CEO Brighton), Tiny Tilley (CEO, Worthing), Ana Christie (CEO, Sussex), Christina Ewbank (CEO, Eastbourne) and Louise Punter (CEO, Surrey).

Christine Legarde has an interesting take

more cool-headed judgments, she said.

Mrs Lagarde, in the running to be France’s

next prime minister, said: “Women inject less

libido and less testosterone into the equation.

It helps in the sense that we don’t necessarily project our own egos into cutting a deal, getting our point across, convincing people, reducing them to a partner who has lost in the process” The world’s 43rd most powerful woman (according to Forbes) continued, “It’s probably overgeneralised what I’m saying, and I’m sure there are women who operate exactly like men.”

Testosterone certainly seems to play into this. The indiscretions, the career-crashing ones that make the news, are all committed by male politicians. You don’t read about female politicians baring their breasts in snapshots and sending them to admiring male suitors while their cuckolded husbands are home taking care of the kids. You don’t hear about them soliciting sex in a restroom on their way to a speaking engagement, or charging their credit cards for an hour with a stud who subsidises his acting career by servicing older

taking no prisoners in her fight for Scotland;

on the situation, having said that her 30-year

women.These are exclusively male forms of

Christine Legarde is the head of the IMF; Janet

career as a high-flying lawyer and the world’s

political career-crashing.

Yellen is the Chair of the US Federal Reserve;

most powerful female finance minister left her

Leanne Wood is the leader of the Welsh Plaid

convinced that men’s sex drive, testosterone

interesting facts. More than 90 years after

Cymru party; Marine Le Pen might well be

and ego made them prone to taking decisions

the first woman was elected to Congress,

in charge of France within the decade; Beata

personally and to humiliating people. Most

female politicians still hold less than a fifth of

Szydlo is the Polish PM; Virginia Raggi is the

women in power, on the other hand, were less

all national seats, and do only slightly better

52

Research in the US has thrown up some

ANGER MANAGEMENT

at the state level. But that’s more than just a

that held regardless of party, geography,

blow for diversity and equality, according to a

committee position, tenure in office, or margin

forthcoming study in the American Journal of

of victory). The spending jump was found within

Political Science - because women also rank as

districts, too, when women moved into seats

the most effective lawmakers in the land.

previously occupied by men, and the cash

The research is the first to compare the performance of male and female politicians nationally, and it finds that female Members

was for projects across the spectrum, not just ‘women’s issues.’

Women sponsored more bills, co-sponsored

of the House rout their male counterparts in

more bills, and attracted a greater number

both pulling power and shaping policy. Between

of co-sponsors than their colleagues who

1984 and 2004, women won their home

use the other loo. These new laws driven by

districts an average of $49 million more per

women were not only enacted but were more

year than their male counterparts (a finding

popular. In a pair of additional working papers,

❝

Whether women are better than men I cannot say - but I can say they are certainly no worse Golda Meir

❞

“Testosterone certainly seems to play into this.

The indiscretions that politicians commit, the career-crashing ones that make the news, are all committed by male politicians.”

researchers tracked every bill introduced between 1981 and 2009, and found that those sponsored by women survived deeper into the legislative process, garnered more press attention, and were more likely to be deemed ‘important’ overall. All of which leads the authors of the paper to conclude that it’s the women themselves, specifically, their skills at ‘logrolling, agenda-setting, coalition building, and other deal-making activities,’ that are responsible for the gender-performance divide.

Move aside guys, as the girls are coming, and thank God for that.

53

MOTORING

DO IT THE RIGHT WAY, DO IT THE RIVERVALE WAY

Architect impression of Rivervale’s new premises

R

ivervale Leasing has a long and illustrious history within Sussex and is obviously set for greater things looking at the plans for their brand new building that is rising rapidly from the soil of Portslade in Brighton.

Located next to many major main dealers such as BMW, Mercedes and Ford, they offer a superb service that is being selected by an ever growing band of wise motorists who wish to get into the car of their dreams without paying the earth. I caught up with the Head of Operations Vince Pemberton, whose passion for the business shines through and who

has been with the company since 2009 when

at the site next door, currently the home of

he merged his company Eagle Oak Vehicle

Mercedes-Benz Brighton, and went on to

Contracts with Rivervale.

dominate the motor dealer scene for many

The site is owned by Endeavour Holdings, the owners of the famous Endeavour Motor Group, a Ford dealer that once employed over 1,000 people in Sussex. Endeavour is owned

by Tommy Sopwith, the son of Sir Thomas Sopwith, CBE who invented the iconic Sopwith Camel aircraft, a WW1 single-seat biplane introduced on the Western Front in 1917 and attributed with changing the course of the war.

Rivervale started life as a Mercedes dealer

years. The growth of Rivervale Leasing has been astounding as they refine their offering to customers and consumers who wish to lease their vehicle. Many younger customers view their car acquisition as they do their smart phone acquisition. Lease it, use it and then give it back when the contract is over and get a new one. This has led to an explosion in business as the company has expertly tapped into this market and offer a range of cost effective and simple leasing solutions for any car or van imaginable. The leap from a traditional main dealer selling just one marque of car to a leading leasing company that can provide any make of car or van anywhere in the country, is obviously a shrewd move and one that is paying dividends.

Having outgrown their existing location, and with Endeavour owning the site next door, they are in the advanced stages of construction of a magnificent new, purpose built building that will house Rivervale Leasing. But that’s not enough for Vince and the team. They are determined to ensure it is totally unique and will be adding a service centre therefore allowing them to not only supply the customers vehicle but to conduct all the manufacturers servicing requirements.

Along with a used vehicle division that will allow the customer to trade in their current car at the same time they acquire their shiny new one.

But, of course, that is still not enough. Rivervale will be the first such company of its kind in the

54

MOTORING Sopwith Camel biplane

Vince Pemberton drive, Rivervale is set for an exciting future.

The new building will open in September and Vince assures me that there will be reference to Endeavour somewhere in the building. Vince even sought out the famous Endeavour Racing Yacht, built by Sir Thomas in 1934 to challenge for the America’s Cup. When he found it was for sale at $17 million, he thought better of it. left to chance here and an offering that is totally

“The growth of Rivervale has been astounding as they refine their offering to company and private buyers who wish to lease their vehicle.”

unique.

The team is one of the most important facets

As the world continues to regard high value purchases as a leased item rather than a outright purchase, Rivervale is bang on trend

of any business and they score here too. Many

and the key will be keen pricing and exemplary

of the top team have been with the company for

service. And with such a high level of service

over 10 years and share Vince’s passion for the business. When l visited, the smart company shirts, busy vibe and general hubbub all around the office lays testament to the happy team

with everything under one new roof, it would be a fool that bet against their total domination of the sector.

environment. There are also a lot of family members involved in the business which is always a good thing. They all believe in the motivational strap line “Do it the right way, do

country to have a high street branded coffee shop on-site along with high speed broadband.

This means that a customer can sell their old car and obtain a cracking deal on the new car and when the time comes for the routine servicing, they can return to Rivervale for that service, and

it the Rivervale way” and this is a slogan that is followed through from start to finish by the entire team.

Tommy Sopwith, although in his eighties, is still involved in the holding company alongside Managing Director Neil Chapman and fully supportive of the company’s plans and Vince

with a high speed turnaround, they will be able

speak very highly of this much loved mentor

to wait for the car in comfort with a Skinny Latte

as one of the most inspirational figures he has

and a biscotti whilst working. There is not much

ever encountered. Allied to Vince’s passion and

Endeavour Motor Company

Rivervale Leasing Unit 8, Victoria Road Industrial Estate Portslade, Brighton, BN41 1XQ T: 01273 433480 W: www.rivervaleleasing.co.uk 55

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MOTORING

JOHN COOPER WORKS MINI

by Maarten Hoffmann, Motoring Editor

I

t seems to be hot hatch month for this issue but if they send em, l will drive em.

This 228 bhp JCW model is the fasted Mini ever produced. It reminds me a tad of an old Wood & Picket 1275cc Mini l had back in the day. It was fast, furious and an absolute hoot to dart around London. The quick Minis have always been fun as with good power attached to such a tiny frame, fun was always going to be the order of the day. 30 years later, we have the Works and it certainly, well, works!

It’s a great engine with a rich baritone sound emanating from the central fat twin pipes and you need that noise as with the tiny rev counter, the exhaust note tells you when to change up. This little rocket will hit 62mph in around 6 seconds and will roar onto 153 mph. The crackle from the exhaust is a little like a box of Rice Krispies being shot at with a Purdy 12-gauge.

The new 330mm Brembo brakes do their job well with special intake vents in the cars face flooding them with air and they are impressively progressive and although the ride is a little firm, there are optional adaptive dampers that you would be well advised to select especially is you plump for the larger 18 inch rims.

A new electronic front diff sends the power to where it is needed and assists in avoiding the toque steer that causes the horrid front wheel scrabble as you try to get off the line, and with 228 horses to contend with, it’s just as well.

You do have to play around with the drive settings to get away from the hard ride at the same time as avoiding the skittish behaviour and this is best achieved by popping the dampers into their soft mode and the engine into Sport. You are then rewarded with a decent ride and a peppy engine that seems to be just right.

The starting price is fair but there are many options that you should really have and that can push the price north of £30,000 and then we are stepping into Focus RS and Audi S1 territory. Although there are many reasons to chose the other models mentioned the Mini gets by on the one thing that cannot be created if it’s not already there - and that is character.

TECHNICAL STUFF Model tested: John Cooper Works Mini Engine: 1998 cc, 4 cylinder, turbo-charged Power: 228 bhp Performance: 0-62 mph 6.1 seconds Top Speed: 153 mph Economy: 49.6 combined Price from: £23,155.00

The Mini has a hyperactive personality all its own and is quite unique and if that’s your thing, this is the hot hatch for you.

Vines of Gatwick Vines of Guildford

57

MOTORING

AUDI TTS ROADSTER

by Maarten Hoffmann, Motoring Editor

T

he TT has always divided opinion - some love it and some deride it as a hairdresser’s car. Shorthand for camp guys that wouldn’t know a good car if it whacked them around the head but just want to cruise through Kemptown posing for all they are worth, but this is totally unfair as it has always been a great car.

Its funky, fast, great looking and, OK, the early models were a tad camp but that is all in the past as the new model, that l first drove a while back in hard top form is so much chunkier and better is every respect.

Now we have the TTS convertible, which is the most rapid variant, and it retains great looks and adds a dynamic drive to boot. This third generation of the TT looks sensational with the roof up or down and to ensure your comfort, there is a pop up wind deflector and an air-scarf that seductively blows hot air against the back of your neck. The electric roof is down in a 10 second jiffy and stows away neatly and what is most impressive here is the amount of boot space you are left with. We travelled to the Lets Do Business Exhibition in Eastbourne, fully loaded with 8 boxes of magazines and assorted pull up banners and, amazingly, it all went in without having to jump up and down on the boot lid.

The drop top market is in the doldrums with global sales halved over the past five years so one might think it brave to pump out this new model but then the TT was always designed to be a drop top and l for one, think it is a great option. It’s easy to forget the thrill of driving roofless especially on a dark chilly night, flying under the trees along a B road with the heated seats blazing and Heidi Klum blowing hot air onto your neck. It is also surprising how much more you see with the lid off.

It does feel more energetic than previous models with wider wheels, tauter springs and magnetically controlled dampers, higher boost pressure, and a more pronounced willingness to rev. All this

TECHNICAL STUFF Model tested: TTS Roadster 2.0 TFSI Quattro Engine: 1984cc, 16v turbo Power: 306 bhp Performance: 0-62mph 4.9 seconds Top speed: 155 mph Economy: 32.2 mpg Price: £40,450.00 As tested: £48,815.00

58

helps, as does the switchable quad-tailpipe exhaust and sound actuator, which fills the cabin with a sonorous full-bore roar.

It has a whiff of the R8 about it but possibly its baby brother and there is very little to dislike. The drive is as rapid as you would like it, in Quattro guise it is glued to the road and the low centre of gravity would make even Julian Cleary secure in chucking it around. I also love the SatNav that takes up the entire dash with the ability to alter the position and size of the digital dials Again, a proper manual gearbox although the six-speed dual clutch S-tronic auto box is not to be sniffed at and with 306 bhp at your fingertips, this thing will really fly. The electric rear spoiler pops up at 75mph which, sadly, gives Plod all the indication he needs to pull you over.

Admittedly, its not as quick as, say, the Porsche Boxster but it’s cheaper to buy and cheaper to repair and with the Boxster, there is always that feeling that everyone knows that you couldn’t afford the proper 911.

The only thing better - the TTRS is coming and for your delight and delectation, l will put myself out and review it for you.

LET MINI DRIVE YOUR BUSINESS. If you run a business, MINI has a range to suit your needs. With compelling monthly rentals, unrivalled design and first-class performance, it’s time to find out which MINI works for you.

To find out more please contact our Local Business Development Manager, Dean Eaton, on 0800 915 47500 or visit www.vinesofgatwickbmw.co.uk/business

MINI Business Partnership Official Fuel Economy Figures for the MINI Range: Urban 27.2-72.4 mpg (10.4-3.9 l/100km). Extra Urban 47.9-91.1 mpg (5.9-3.1 l/100km).

Combined 37.7-83.1 mpg (7.5-3.4 l/100km). CO2 Emissions 175-89 g/km. Figures may vary depending on driving style and conditions.

MOTORING

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

BMW

The famous German automobile maker is 100 years old this year and what better time to look back over the illustrious history of one of the worlds most successful car manufacturers.

B

MW can trace its roots back to Karl Rapp and Gustav Otto. In 1916, the Flugmaschinenfabrik Gustav Otto company was merged with Bayerrische Flugzeug-Werke AG (BFW) at the governments behest. Elsewhere, in 1917, the Rapp Motorenwerke company became Bayerische Motoren Werke GmbH, which was duly converted into an AG (public limited company) in 1918. BMW AG subsequently transferred its engine construction operations - including the company and brand names - to BFW in 1922. The date of BFW’s founding, March 7th 1916, has therefore gone down in history as the foundation date of BMW. The company announced its first motorcycle, the R32, to great excitement in 1923. The basic concept of the original Motoread motel - a boxer engine with longitudinally positioned cylinders and shaft drive - continues to be employed in the their motorcycles to this day.

Early production of the R32 The company didn’t become an automobile manufacturer until 1929 when it purchased a company called Dixi that built Austin Sevens under licence and the BMW engineers progressively developed the car into 6-cylinder luxury cars and, in 1936, began production of the BMW 328 sports car.

During the war, and against the wishes of its Director Franz

60

MOTORING 2002, which is now wholly owned by BMW. The cars are produced at the plant at Goodwood in West Sussex and sales have gone from strength to strength. The only left-over from the less than successful takeover of the doomed Rover Group in 1994 was the Mini, which is now an important part of the group. This gave the company entrance into the small car market and is still built in the UK.

Bristol Dixi Josef Popp, BMW turned their attention to the development of aircraft and this stopped car development in its tracks.

After the war the Allies banned the company from making cars and it survived by making pots, pans and bicycles. This was largely pointless as the Allies had bombed much of their production facilities into rubble. In 1948, they restarted motorcycle production and it was not until 1952 that the company began building cars in earnest, with the BMW 501 luxury saloon and, to supplement the little income derived from cars, the company began building Isettas (better known as Bubble cars) under licence. With profits marginal the decision was taken to sell the company to Daimler-Benz until Herbert Quant became involved and took a controlling interest in the company and its future. As the margins increased, the company grew and eventually acquired the Rover Group and the licence to build cars under the Rolls Royce marque.

Isetta In the west, the Bristol Aeroplane Company (BAC) inspected the factory, and returned to Britain with plans for the 327 model and the six-cylinder engine as official war reparations.

Bristol then employed BMW engineer Fritz Fiedler to lead their engine development team.

In 1947, the newly formed Bristol Cars released their 400 coupé, a lengthened version of the BMW 327 that featured BMW’s double-kidney grille.

With a rapidly expanding reputation for producing fast luxury cars, BMW Motorsport was created in 1972 and won countless trophies and much of the racing technology found its way into their road cars. Warming to

this theme, the company created BMW Technik where some of the best brains in the business, engineers, designers and technicians, were placed away from the everyday operation to be set free to develop the cars of tomorrow. The first major project was the Z1 Roadster, which started production in 1988.

One of the concept benchmarks of BMW was the launch of the X5. This was the first SUV that actually drove like a car and was the catalyst for the wave of such cars that followed from just about every manufacturer.

Bringing the story right up to date is the launch of the first all-electric BMW, the i3 followed by the barnstorming hybrid i8, that can reach 155mph and attain 62mph from standstill in 4.4 seconds.

If BMW’s vision for the future is as technologically advanced as their past, we can look forward to another 100 years of motoring innovation and evolution.

Vines of Gatwick Vines of Guildford

Motorsport

The creation of a plant in the USA in 1989 underscored its position as a global player and is the current production plant for the Z3 and the X3, X4, X5 and X6 models for export across the globe Further evidence of the company’s roaring success was the outright purchase of the iconic British marque, Rolls Royce in

i8

Rolls Royce Ghost

61

MOTORING

BESPOKE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS

W

e understand that your business is unique and has its own needs, which is why we have designed Mercedes-

your service, maintenance and repair needs Designed to suit you, Mercedes-Benz

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Business Solutions provides you and your

Offering high levels of specification as

Benz Business Solutions with you in mind. Our

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solution.

costs, our vehicles deliver outstanding

your business with: • A dedicated Business Advisor who understands your business requirements • A range of award-winning vehicles with class-leading efficiency, safety and technology systems for which Mercedes-Benz is renowned • Our bespoke Business Demonstrator Programme giving you the opportunity to experience our vehicles for 48 hours as part of your day-to-day business • Competitive, flexible funding solutions to suit your budget and needs • Comprehensive After Sales care plans for all

62

Cost benefits and efficiency.

Around the world, Mercedes-Benz is

cost-efficiency across the range. Many of our vehicles offer remarkably low fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, reducing

synonymous with automotive excellence. Our

your running costs and benefit in kind

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taxation.

performance and class-leading luxury with impeccable safety standards and outstanding environmental credentials.

What’s more, our range provides low

• Class-leading safety All of our vehicles undergo extensive tests that exceed the demands of consumer safety organisations and of European, US

whole-life costs with exceptional write-down

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solution for your business.

• Extensive range of vehicles

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From the dynamic and highly efficient

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excellent build quality.

MOTORING

Mercedes-Benz The best or nothing.

BUSINESS USER LEASING

SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE

ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE

Choose from competitive and flexible funding plans, tailored to suit you and your business. All of our plans are designed to deliver a low-cost way to finance high quality vehicles whilst keeping residual values high.

As a Mercedes-Benz Business Solutions customer, you will also receive comprehensive After Sales support. This includes the assurance that servicing repairs and maintenance are carried out to Mercedes-Benz standards, a full warranty, and Roadside Assistance in case you ever run into a problem on your journey.

Our Roadside Assistance cover lets you drive with confidence wherever your business takes you throughout the UK and Europe.

If you ever encounter a problem on your journey, a trained technician is only a call away from getting you back on the road.

With our business user plans, you receive: • Immediate available funds You will not have to wait for a cheque or loan to clear.

• Self-security Your loan is secured on the vehicle, rather than your other business assets.

• Management expertise Our Business Advisors can guide you through each of our plans in detail.

CONTRACT HIRE Instead of owning a car, you can lease it for a fixed period at a fixed monthly rental. Monthly payments are based on the difference between the initial value of the vehicle and its projected residual value at the end of the agreement. Only a proportion of the vehicle’s value is repaid which improves your business cash flow and avoids a large initial outlay. At the end of the agreement, your car is returned and there are no additional costs, subject to return conditions being met and the agreed mileage not being exceeded.

With Contract Hire, you will benefit from: • A guaranteed future value Allowing for reduced monthly payments.

• No large initial expense This option allows you and your business to avoid a substantial opening payment.

You will receive: • A dedicated Service Advisor Supporting your After Sales needs and ownership experience.

• Complete Care Plans for Business* Complete Care Plans for Business covers all regular maintenance work, including recommended additional items, an AdBlue® top-up at point of service, wear and tear repairs and the option of including replacement tyres. The easiest way to manage your servicing and repair costs, with prices starting from as little as £34 a month**.

• Access to My Service Online Booking Portal Makes booking your service easier than ever with flexible options to suit your needs. Visit www.mymercedesservice.co.uk

Your complimentary cover includes: • Technical breakdown If you cannot start your car or go on with your journey for technical, legal or safety reasons, we will come out to you to get you back on your way.

• Accident assistance In the event of an accident, we will ensure you are back on the road as soon as possible.

• Minor mishaps If you are unable to start your car due to a minor problem, such as lost keys or a puncture, rest assured we will have you on the move again as soon as possible.

• Vandalism/attempted theft If vandalism or attempted theft leaves you unable to drive your car, we will be there to help.

• Complimentary Roadside Assistance Keeping you and your car out on the road at all times.

• GenuineParts Rest assured that Mercedes-Benz GenuineParts used for servicing and repairs come with a two-year, unlimited mileage warranty.

• Exclusive discounts 10% off Mercedes-Benz GenuineParts for any additional work completed on the day of your service.

Stuart Head, Group Head of Fleet Sales, Sandown Group Mercedes-Benz Tel: 01483 654541 Mail: stuart.head@sandown-mercedes.co.uk www.sandown-group.co.uk *Available on A-Class, C-Class and E-Class only. **Based on a new A-Class for 24 months and 20,000 miles. › Only vehicles displaying the AdBlue® refill warning are eligible for a free top-up. The top-up will be a maximum of 10 litres of AdBlue®. The offer only applies to new vehicles in the first year of registration prior to their first service.

63

MOTORING

READER REVIEW This Month: Richard Pollins I am constantly asked if people can review cars for me but it is always based on “please give me a supercar to review” - if l am getting a supercar, you will only get it out of my dead cold hands! So here we go with a new feature whereby readers review their own new cars. First Richard Pollins, Managing Partner of leading law firm DMH Stallard on the delivery of his new pony.

S

o picture the scene, back in July last year. My Audi S5 was getting on a bit, and I needed a change before anything too nasty and expensive went wrong. I fully intended to play it safe again with some more German efficiency and safety. I am after all Managing Partner of DMH Stallard and, as a lawyer, hard-wired to be sensible. But where does sensible end and boring begin? I am 50 next year for goodness sake - was now the time to think radical and take a bit of a risk?

So with that in mind, and some encouragement from my kids, I duly placed an order for a brand new Ford Mustang available now in the UK for the first time in its 52 year history in right hand drive.

I could have gone for the safe (and somewhat boring) 2.3 eco-boost option but that wouldn’t be any fun would it? So I went for the full fat option, and opted for the monster 5-litre V8, and after 11 months and 3 weeks my new Mustang duly arrived last week, all the way from Flat Rock, Michigan, USA. First impressions were promising. It was clean and shiny, and the colour options a real winner – magnetic grey with black alloys.

Sporty but a touch classy too - a bit like a certain Mr Hoffmann!

Sitting in the car I immediately realised how big this thing is. The long bonnet was imposing from the driver’s seat. And underneath that

64

bonnet, lurked a beast. With a touch of the start button I unleashed the monstrous growl of the V8. Things were looking good.

“I’m used to driving a V8, but the Mustang’s acceleration is truly impressive, as is the handling”

For a car with a list price of around £36,000 you certainly get a lot for your money. It’s very well kitted out and looks the part – a few cheap plastics but on the whole very good. Heated and cooling seats as standard - the latter takes a bit of getting used to but is surprisingly effective. There is a rear camera which is very useful - but strangely no front sensors annoyingly. Great connectivity as you would expect via the Ford SYNC system. Texts by voice command were particularly useful, and the shaker pro sound system boomed loudly and brought home the true magnificence of Highway to Hell by AC/DC on the journey home back from the dealer.

The car is crammed full of technology – different driving and steering wheel modes, and loads of data available for track days.

The car has two rear bucket seats but at over 6 foot, for me it can

only really accommodate 3 people comfortably.

It certainly has a big boot for a coupe – fit for a couple of golf bags if that’s your thing, or a decent load up from Ikea.

Now this is where I have to make a confession. During the order process I reverted to type and went with the auto box – a 5 litre V8 without a stick shift I hear you say? I know, very boring on paper but in the flesh this has done nothing to lessen the enjoyment of driving the Mustang. It’s been widely reported that this is the best Mustang ever – both in terms of performance and looks. Even Clarkson likes it.

Independent rear suspension makes the whole driving experience so much more rewarding and although unfashionable for some now, so very European. I’m used to driving a V8, but the Mustang’s acceleration is truly impressive, as is the handling. Brakes are thankfully sharp too. Now according to my wife I drive a bit like Miss Daisy, so fuel economy is bearing up quite well for the first 400 miles – around 21 mpg, which is somewhat better than my Audi.

Now on the face of it, there is something inherently wrong about owing an American Muscle car in the UK. Our roads are narrow, parking spaces tiny, fuel expensive - but there’s something about this car – it works perfectly.

It really is an absolute blast, and I now drive around with a smile on my face. How well it will cope with the British winter remains to be seen, but for now I am going to enjoy the weather, and my new toy.

K N O C KO U T

EVENTS

P RO U D LY

PRESENTS

k c i w t a G & Crawley Sponsored by

FRIDAY 4TH NOVEMBER 2016 In Aid Of

Charity Sporting Lunch in aid of Rockinghorse Children’s Charity - THREE COURSE LUNCH - RAFFLE - AUCTION

Special Guest Speaker Former England and Arsenal footballer and Sky Sports Pundit –

Paul Merson Hosted by

12pm in the Ascot Suite, Hilton London Gatwick TABLES OF 10: £750 - TO BOOK CONTACT RYAN HEAL ryan.heal@rockinghorse.org.uk - 07852 285238 Co-sponsored by

Aaron James

Are you a local business looking to gain new clients or maybe a start-up in need of some real business advice? Whatever the reason, the Target Business Expo and gdb Speakers Conference should be the most important date in your diary.

This business to business exhibition is a unique event bringing together organisations from a range of sectors from Insurance to HR to Design and Vehicle leasing.

Over 140 exhibitors will be available to discuss their products and services directly with you.

Purchase a ticket for the gdb Speakers Conference, hear from three outstanding speakers and have the opportunity to meet and discuss your business issues over lunch.

DAILY EVENTS NETWORKING BREAKFAST (Tickets available from gdb in advance)

08.15 NETWORKING BREAKFAST | Hosted by Gatwick Diamond Business

FREE SEMINARS 10.45 The March of Technology Seminar | By John Berry of TimelessTime 13.00 Speaking in Public Seminar | By Ges Ray

gdb SPEAKERS CONFERENCE

(For the full conference timetable, please see the event website. Tickets purchased in advance through gdb)

11.30 Lara Morgan

12.15 Geoff Meade

13.45 Rt Hon Lord Andrew Adonis

Target Business Expo is free to attend to all visitors and offers a wealth of information and advice, products and services to all businesses large and small.

Please book your stand early to avoid disappointment.

THE TARGET BUSINESS EXPO

Tickets for the Networking Breakfast and gdb Speakers Conference must be purchased through gdb in advance.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL TARGET IN 1

Gatwick Diamond Business | 01293 440088

AND gdb SPEAKERS CONFERENCE. K2, PEASE POTTAGE HILL, CRAWLEY RH11 9BQ

20TH OCTOBER 2016

01293773021 targetbusinessexpo.co.uk

www.gatwickdiamondbusiness.com

Charity supported by Target in 1 Limited.

Sussex & The World Weekend THREE HUGE DAYS OF LOCAL & INTERNATIONAL FOOD & DRINK SATURDAY 27 - BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY 29 AUGUST 2016 HOVE LAWNS, BRIGHTON FREE ENTRY

MEDIA PARTNER

PHOTO JULIA CLAXTON

www.brightonfoodfestival.com

brightonfoodfestival

brightonfood

brightonfoodfestival

Table Talk

MY FOOD DIARY

By Amanda Menahem

A

fter last month’s full-on foodie onslaught, June has been

about my favourite topic

relatively low-key by comparison.

– wine. Plateau just never

One of the highlights was a remarkably good lunch at Brighton’s

Hotel du Vin. The hotel was always my fail-safe bistro but having recently

disappoints.

While in Brighton, I finally

gone through various management changes, it lost its fail-safe status for a

got round to trying the spring

while but for the astonishingly good value Sunday Brunch with 4-courses

menu at the Curry Leaf

for £24.95 - the second of which is an all you can eat buffet of delicious

Café the last week before

pates and seafood. If you have not been you MUST.

it changed to the summer

And so to lunch, with my wonderfully eccentric and entertaining friend Jasmine. I chose a lamb breast dish – two rolled lamb breasts that had been pan seared, creating a combination of the melting, slow cooked meat and a charred edge. This came with a rich jus, peas and buttered carrots.

A Californian Pinot Noir was a perfect accompaniment. Simply a delicious plate of food.

menu. Delicious tandoori lamb chops, pakoras, and whole marinated tandoor cooked

Plateau

sea bream were among the delights - oh and a whole bottle of Ridgeview shared with the lovely Becky.

I’ve also been enjoying a good few lunches at Moshimo – the best place for sushi in Brighton. The salmon sashimi, chicken Gyoza, pork belly teriyaki and healthy salads are my staples. In the summer the outside space is great.

Our chef profile this month is one to keep an eye on - a real rising star, Tom Griffiths, who is cooking up a storm having been recently praised by Jay Rayner in The Observer.

As I type I am just back from an excellent foodie weekend destination – you’ll read about it next month.

I hope you enjoy the section – please do email me with any suggestions of what you’d like to read about in future sections.

Hotel du Vin

Amanda

On another visit, feeling the need to be healthy, I tried their superfood salad – also delicious and plentiful. Hopefully this is a sign of a return to glory, especially following the extensive refurb of the bistro. I must admit I’m a bit worried about this – an early look revealed bleached wood and pale walls – all a bit IKEA /airport lounge as opposed to French bistro intimacy which was so core to their appeal. There’s a new GM too in Ben Haynes whose enthusiasm should see the return of the HDV that we knew and loved and l will review the new restaurant next month.

My second highlight: a totally delicious impromptu dinner at Plateau.

Veal sweetbreads with roast Jerusalem artichoke followed by cannon of lamb and lamb breast (I think my love of all things pig and cheek has now extended to breasts. There’s a joke there but I won’t make it). A rich yet light dish accompanied by borlotti beans and charred baby gem. I ate at the bar chatting to the delightful bar manager Johan who is incredibly knowledgeable

68

Sushi at Moshimo

Table Talk

Wine Masterclass IN SEARCH OF THE PERFECT ROSÉ

by Jonny Gibson The classic and most elegant rosés are from Provence, a wine region that has been specialising in rosé wines for over 2,000 years.

They take rosé seriously here and it accounts for 88% of wines produced in the region. The dry, delicately fruity taste and pale colour are achieved by the juice of a blend of usually Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault and Mourvedre grapes macerating on the skins for between 2-20 hours before fermentation continues in a

Lourmarin

separate tank. Areas to look out for on the label are Cotes de Provence AOP, Coteaux Varois

and Chase vodka fame is making some lovely

AOP and Coteaux d’Aix en Provence AOP. The

rosé at Chateau Constantin just outside the

latter area allows a small amount of Cabernet

ridiculously pretty village of Lourmarin. I was

Sauvignon in the blend. My local Majestic store

in the Luberon and Coteaux d’Aix en Provence

manager tells me that Majestic sell almost half

regions earlier this month researching wine

of all Provence rosés in the UK and given the

estates and this was in the top 20% of the many

osé now accounts for around 11% of

wide range available I can believe him. Magnum

rosé wines tasted. You can buy the 2015 closer

wines sold in the UK. Although growth

formats are particularly popular as indeed they

to home at The Secret Cellar for £14.50.

has been flat for the last year or so we

are in France. My recommended picks are AIX

R

Other southern Rhone regions that do

are still talking about 175 million bottles, a

in magnum at £19.99 or Chateau de Berne Rose

rosé very well are Tavel AOP and Lirac AOP.

statistic that was unthinkable 20 years ago. To

2015 at £9.99 if you buy two bottles.

Further west along the mediterranean in the

put it into perspective, rosé outsold sparkling

Still within Provence but technically from a

Languedoc and beyond the dependable good

wines in 2015 by 35 million bottles and that is

wine region point of view in the southern Rhone

value Pays d’Oc IGP rosé wines I would look

despite the huge rise in popularity of Prosecco.

is Luberon AOP, a green hilly area north of the

out for rosés from Minervois AOP, Saint Chinian

Durance river made famous for holidaying

AOP and Cotes de Roussillon AOP. Many of

reflecting the power of brands like Blossom

Brits by Peter Mayle and his Year in Provence

these are available in M&S, Oddbins, Waitrose

Hill and Echo Falls, the country on the march

book. Wine estates are thinner on the ground

and Sainsbury as well as the two stores

is France with strong sales growth last year.

here but there are some excellent producers

mentioned above. Happy hunting.

I have always enjoyed the dry, pale coloured

of rosé, red and white wines. They are harder

rosés from the south of France. I have a

to find in the UK but William Chase of Tyrells

Whilst a third of rosé wine sold is from USA,

particular affinity with them from years of summer holidays camping in the south of France and a previous job importing wines from small producers in the Languedoc. They work well as aperitif wines and are good food matchers so you can happily carry on drinking them with your barbecue grilled meats, fish dishes and summer salads. Olives, garlic,

Jonny Gibson is a wine educator and runs regular tastings and courses including WSET Levels 1-3 with Sussex Wine School at Hotel du Vin in Brighton.

tomatoes, goat’s cheese and lamb are all good partners with a south of France rosé. And sunshine of course, something we seem to

www.sussexwineschool.com

enjoying more of in UK summers these days.

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Table Talk THE ONE TO WATCH - CHEF PROFILE

Tom Griffiths

By Amanda Menahem

seafront (at the bottom of Preston

T

cook with care and simplicity. He has spent a

Street) became a firm favourite of mine

great amount of time understanding innovative

as soon as it opened. I was so impressed with

cooking techniques and likes to experiment

I am not home that much! But when I am it

the American style gourmet ‘dirty food’ with a

with ferments, pickles and sauces. His food

has to be some real clean Asian food or a great

refreshing ‘edge’. Little did I know that the chef

is British with a Nordic slant – unintentionally

classic brunch with mates.

responsible for this was Tom Griffiths, who is

bang on trend. I recently met Tom at the

now garnering much attention with his pop-up

fantastic Food Lab event at 64 degrees and was

Guilty pleasures?

restaurant Flank at the Cow, previously at the

struck by his focus. I managed to get some

Regency Tavern.

time with him.

he New Club restaurant on Brighton

Tom’s passions and skills are all things gastronomy. He’s been in the food industry for over 12 years. Growing up in Sussex he relocated to London to work for some top restaurants, honing his skills in cooking and menu development. Later he returned to Brighton and opened the New Club to great acclaim. Tom spent over two years establishing a strong reputation before going on to launch

Tom’s vision is to work sustainably and

What’s important to you?

My integrity and believing in what I’m doing. I like to cook with my heart rather than just follow trends. I’ve worked in environments where I’m told what I can and can’t cook and that’s not for me!

Where do you get your inspiration?

Firstly my team – they inspire me to push

FLANK in late 2015. Since then FLANK has

harder. Travelling and visiting new places can

become a notable brand generating numerous

also be inspiring as you see things through a

accolades including a largely positive review

fresh pair of eyes. I am inspired by chefs who

from Jay Rayner in the Guardian on the 3rd

push boundaries like Rene Redzepi (of Noma

July.

fame) he did things that had never been done

70

before, he didn’t follow trends.

What do you cook at home?

Ice cream every time! – I love what Seb does at Boho Gelato, especially his unusual flavours like Jasmine. My girlfriend bought me an icecream cake from there for my birthday – it was perfect.

Table Talk

❝

I like to cook with my heart rather than just follow trends.

❞

What do you think of the local food scene?

I think its’ incredible, in the last year Brighton and Sussex has grabbed the food scene by the horns and gone for it and its very exciting to see and be a part of. For 64 degrees to achieve number 16 in the top 100 restaurants list is huge for Brighton. We do need that elusive Michelin star next though.

Where do you like to eat out?

Bincho Yakatori in Preston Street, Lyles (London), The Curry Leaf Café in Ship Street and The Little Fish Market (Upper Market Street, Hove)

Which celebrity chefs do you admire?

Rene Redzepi and Claus Mayer (both of Noma) Magnus Nilsson (of Faviken in Sweden)

What’s next for you?

I have lots of exciting plans and potential projects in Brighton. Watch this space!

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Table Talk EVENTS

A

Croydon Food Festival

record-breaking 12,000 plus visitors enjoyed Croydon’s biggest cultural event, which showcased local businesses in the town’s Restaurant Quarter, with a smorgasbord of world cuisine, live music

and family entertainment.

Visitors enjoyed fabulous street food and alfresco fine dining served by over 70 stalls and restaurants along South End, Croydon’s restaurant street in June.

Menta-Redrow - one of the longest-serving developers in Croydon’s regeneration stepped in as headline sponsor to ensure the hugely popular event went ahead.

Tina Dedman, Redrow Divisional Sales and Marketing Director, said: “As a key developer in Croydon, we’re proud to have supported such a successful event. There was a real community atmosphere throughout the day with local and prospective residents coming along to check out the action.

“It’s great to see that the community is united with businesses and the council showing the cultural and fun side of Croydon.”

Linda Arthur, Chair of South Croydon Business Association and owner of Bar Txt said, “This was a record-breaking Food Festival, attracting businesses and foodies to the Restaurant Quarter from all over Croydon and beyond. It was a fabulous, sunny day – there was such a great atmosphere, with brilliant food and entertainment. I want to thank all our sponsors – particularly Menta-Redrow – and everyone who came along for supporting us. It would not be possible without you.”

The new Mayor of Croydon, Wayne Trakas-Lawlor formally opened the event commented, “I am enormously impressed by the amount of work that has gone into making this amazing Festival such a success,” “The number of businesses who’ve got together with the local community to put on this magnificent event is amazing, and really good news for Croydon.

“It’s now in its fifth year and I think that tells you everything you need to know about how it has grown - I hope it becomes bigger, badder and even better in the future.

“It shows the future is bright - and the future is Croydon.”

Among the acts providing top class music across the three stages, were John Butler’s Penny Fathers and Da Groove Station, while Beats ‘n’ Eats showcased and live music venue Scream Lounge showcased top acts and new talent.

In addition to Menta-Redrow, the sponsors included were the Croydon Partnership, London Borough of Croydon, Bagattis Restaurant, Bryden Johnson Partnership, Streets Ahead Estate Agents and Quantum. It was organised by White Label Creative for the SCBA.

72

Table Talk EVENTS Celebrity Chefs Join Woking’s Food Festival

T

his year’s Woking Food and Drink Festival is set to be a star-studded event following the latest celebrity chef announcements. Topping the bill in the Tante Marie Culinary Theatre on Saturday, 3rd September

will be Jane Devonshire, MasterChef Champion 2016, and Tom and Henry Herbert, aka ‘The Baker Brothers’.

Jane Devonshire said: “One of the great things about winning MasterChef has been the opportunity to present at events like these, sharing my love of food and getting to answer questions and talk to people. I’m really enjoying the whole experience!”

The festival’s three-day demonstration schedule also features Nadiya Hussain, Great British Bake Off Winner 2015, and a stellar line up of local chefs and restaurant owners. Cllr John Kingsbury, Leader of Woking Borough Council, said: “This year’s festival programme is exceptional. We are delighted and lucky to host in the Tante Culinary Academy Theatre such an impressive line up of well-known culinary experts, who are set to deliver another diverse menu of free demonstrations across the three days.

“Following a Surrey-wide public vote, I’m also pleased to announce that Woking Food and Drink Festival has been shortlisted for the Best Local Food Event category in the Surrey Life Food and Drink Awards. Last year, the festival won the award category, and it’s great recognition to be shortlisted for the second year running.”

The award-winning, free-to-attend Woking Food and Drink Festival will return to the town centre for the fourth year from Friday 2nd - Sunday 4th September 2016.

www.wokingfoodanddrinkfestival.co.uk

CHEF LINE-UP • Nadiya Hussain – Great British Bake Off Winner 2015, columnist, author and TV presenter.

• Jane Devonshire – MasterChef Champion 2016.

• Tom and Henry Herbert – TV chefs (aka ‘The Baker Brothers’), authors and directors of • Hobbs House Bakery.

• Al Crisci MBE – Chef and founder of The Clink Restaurant and Director of Clink Events.

• Georgina Hayden – Food developer for Jamie Oliver, food stylist, author and cook.

• Steve Drake – Head Chef and owner of Drakes, a Michelin Star rated restaurant, based in Ripley, and former Roux Scholarship winner.

• Fernando Stovell – Head Chef and owner of Stovell’s restaurant based in Chobham, and guest chef on BBC One’s Saturday Kitchen.

• Matt Edmonds – Head Chef at The Grantley Arms based in Wonersh, and former Head Chef at Searcys, The Gherkin, London.

• Ben Piette – Head Chef and owner of London House restaurant based in West Byfleet.

• Valentino Gentile – The new Executive Chef at The Restaurant at Tante Marie.

• Aneke Spacie – Executive Chef and owner of Waters Edge Cafe based in Horsell.

• Thierry de Magneval – Chief Sommelier and owner of Cellar Magneval based in Woking, Fleet and Ripley.

• Stephanie Moon – Chef and former contestant on BBC Two’s Great British Menu.

• Tante Marie Culinary Academy instructors – Newly appointed Academy Principal, Claire Alexander-Brown, and Senior Academy Instructors, Ally Molyneaux and Al Brady.

73

INSTITUTE OF DIRECTORS

A POLITICAL IMPERATIVE DAVID SEALL CEng FRAeS MiMMM MIoD David is the Regional Chairman of IoD South. He is a former Chair of IoD Surrey and is an experienced Non-Executive Director. He is retained by DMH Stallard LLP as their Strategic Adviser Manufacturing www.davidseall.co.uk ∕ www.dmhstallard.com

O

the ability of British firms to trade easily with

importance of the Bank of England maintaining

the remaining member states. Even once we

stability in the financial system. It is crucial that

have left, the EU will continue to be our biggest

the banks do not starve businesses of cash.

either being incorrect or completely on the

trading partner, and the first destination for

Businesses have a clear message to those who

wrong tack. As I write this following the result

many companies when they start to export. One

may wish to replace David Cameron as Prime

of the EU referendum I’m thinking that the least

thing the Government must do immediately is

Minister: during the referendum campaign we

I say on the subject the better!

to guarantee the right to remain of EU citizens

were promised an open and outward-looking

currently in the UK. Companies do not want to

country after Brexit, now it must be delivered.”

ne of the downsides of writing articles in this column is the fear of things being overtaken by events and the article

In the days following the count we have seen upheaval in both the business and political world and no sane person would be confident that they could predict the way ahead.

I think the IoD response summed it up with our Director General Simon Walker stating “While this may not have been the result

have to worry about losing valued staff.” All sensible stuff and it would be good to see movement on this.

Following the result a snap poll was taken of members • Nearly two-thirds (64%) of IoD members

Personally I think that “we are where we are” and businesses need to show their usual agility and common sense to get through this.

Partly this will be doing the things we do better but also by exploring and innovating new ideas and different approaches to delivering

that the majority of our members wanted,

think the result is negative for their business,

excellent good value services and products to

Britain has voted to leave the EU, and it is now

against 23% who think it is positive (only 9%

our customers. In any of these situations the

imperative that our political leaders manage

say it makes no difference)

fleet of foot usually win out. Also we learned from the last recession innovative ways of

the transition as smoothly as possible. The

• A third (32%) say hiring will continue at the

weeks and months ahead are going to be a

same pace, but a quarter (24%) will put a

keeping businesses going without cutting into

nervy time for business leaders, so they need

freeze on recruitment, and 5% will make

bone. There’s certainly no point expecting the

to know that the Government is focussed on

redundancies

decision to be totally reversed.

maintaining stability while a new relationship with the EU is established.”

He also stated that “British businesses are resilient and, with their characteristic

• 1 in 5 (22%) are considering moving some of

One thing for sure is that business will

their operations outside of the UK; only 1%

need a Government that can find practical

say they will bring operations back

ways through this to help maintain investment

The DG added “There is no point crying

levels, not add to chronic skills problems by

ingenuity, they will weather this storm. It is

over spilled milk. We will not lose our faith in

losing trained staff and use their influence

now beholden on politicians to negotiate a

the ability of British firms to overcome these

improve our productivity by investing in key

deal with European leaders which preserves

obstacles, but these results highlight the

infrastructure.

74

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