PLATINUM BUSINESS MAGAZINE - ISSUE 28 - SURREY EDITION

The widest-read business publication in the South East

PLATINUM

SURREY EDITION . ISSUE 28. 2016

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DMH Stallard

FOCUS ON RECRUITMENT

PLATINUM

PARIS Business Travel

PLATINUM EXPANSION Major Announcement

THE BIG STORY

BREXIT

The View from Europe

How Steve Jobs changed the world

READ ALL PAST ISSUES AT WWW.PLATINUMBUSINESSMAGAZINE.COM

Clients choose me for the same reason I choose my bank.

Expertise Expert guidance and support for professional businesses Our Relationship Managers are specialists in business banking.

Their in-depth knowledge of the professional services sector means they understand your challenges. From office moves or IT upgrades to supporting expansion, they will work with you, giving you the financial guidance and tools you need to succeed.

Call us 0800 694 0042 Minicom 0800 404 6161 or contact Rachel Cundall, Business Banking directly on 07920 089 199 Monday to Friday 9am-5pm (excluding public holidays).

Calls may be recorded.

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.

Welcome

24

THE BIG STORY STEVE JOBS

The man who changed the world

PLATINUM

6

BUSY TIMES AT PLATINUM BUSINESS PUBLICATIONS

36

BREXIT - THE VIEW FROM EUROPE

46

BUSINESS IN PARIS

53

FOCUS ON RECRUITMENT

70

MERCEDES-BENZ

PUBLICATIONS

Read about our exciting new publication launches

Geoff Meade MBE was the Press Association’s man in Brussels for 35 years. He reveals the reaction from the EU

After horrific terrorist attacks Paris is fighting back

Nothing is more important than finding the right people

At a Glance

6 Big News from Platinum 8 Local News 10 Croydon Business Awards 12 NatWest 14 Surrey Chambers of Commerce 16 Woking Chamber of Commerce 17 Cranleigh Chamber of Commerce 18 Croydon Chamber of Commerce 19 National News 22 DMH Stallard 24 Steve Jobs 30 Kreston Reeves 32 Rawlison Butler 34 Gatwick Diamond Business Awards 36 Gatwick Diamond Speakers Conference 38 Carpenter Box 41 Brighton Expo 43 Business Travel 44 Uniglobe 46 Travel - Paris 53 How to Recruit 54 Recruitment - Ten2Two 56 Recruitment - Harvey John 58 Recruitment - Pier Recruiting 62 Coast to Capital 64 Anger Management 66 Motoring News 68 Motoring - Vauxhall GTC 70 Motoring - Mercedes-Benz 72 Motoring - Golf GTi 75 Kingston Business Awards 76 Table Talk - And so to Food 78 Review - Isaac@ 80 Wine Masterclass 82 Institute of Directors

The future is here - look out for these exciting new models

All rights reserved. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. The publisher cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions relating to advertising 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 these materials whilst in transit. Platinum Business Magazine is published and owned by Platinum Business Publications Limited.

4

Issue 28 - 2016

A word from the Editors Summer has faded into the chill and wafting leaves of Autumn and following Brexit, we are all still alive and the boogie man has not come to get us yet.

This month we are delighted to make the long-awaited announcement of the expansion of Platinum into every corner of the South East with our launch of various official Chamber of Commerce publications. Not content with only 86% penetration of the business community, our new titles will afford us close to 100% penetration. See all the news on page 6 In this issue we take a look over the life of Steve Jobs to fully understand how this one man changed our lives, we take a look at the world of Recruitment in a special feature and we bring you further news of the launch of the 2017 Gatwick Diamond Business Awards.

DMH Stallard bring you the latest on protecting your personal information and quite apt in light of the Yahoo debacle and Kreston Reeves talk about ostriches! We shine a light on the world of Recruitment with profiles of three of the regions leading recruitment agencies and a word from one of the leading HR Directors in the region - who also happens to be our Food and Drink Editor, the multi-talented Amanda Menahem.

Maarten goes looby lou in the new Golf GTi and we might further investigate, in a future issue, quite how he still has an unblemished driving licence and whilst he was at it, he got hot and bothered about Brexit in Anger Management.

Meanwhile Rose was packed off to Paris to get the scoop on business travel to that famous city.

Our expansion means that we have moved into larger offices with lots of new staff and even more vans that will be flying around the region with an ever increasing load of copies to keep up with demand. Upwards and onwards.

Maarten & Ian Platinum Business Magazine October 2016

The Team

Maarten Hoffmann – Director maarten@platinumbusinessmagazine.com

07966 244046

Ian Trevett – Director ian@platinumbusinessmagazine.com

07989 970804

Lesley Alcock

Amanda Menahem

Kate Morton

Business Development Director

Food & Drink Editor

Copy Editor

Rose Dykins

Julia Trevett

Lauren Psyk

Amanda Spicer

Travel Editor

Accounts Manager

Event Photographer

Head of Design

5

Platinum News

PLATINUM GOES FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH At Platinum Towers, we are delighted to announce the expansion of the Platinum Empire with the publication of three new titles on behalf of the regional Chambers of Commerce.

OF COMMERCE SURREY CHAMBERS

cial Surrey Cham A The OffiM

bers

of Commerce MagazineZ

G

A

I

E

N

THEO PAPHITIS

Exclusive profile of the Weybridge Entrepreneur

ACE S

The official magazine for the Alliance of Chambers in East Sussex

AMBER RUDD WHAT CAN THE CHAMBER DO FOR ME?

on Business in Surrey

UNIVERSITY OF SURREY

Christina Ewbank explains

Business working with Education

Profile of

SOVEREIGN HARBOUR

FOXHILLS

Reviewed

AMSTERDAM

WILKINS KENNEDY

What’s in store for business travel

Focus on Corporate Finance

PUBLICATIONS

Issue 1. 2016

Hastings’ own Secretary of State

LOUISE PUNTER

PLATINUM

ussex

PROFILE: PLATINUM PUBLICATIONS

Tim Cobb PR

ACES

The official magazine for the Alliance of Chambers in East Sussex

The official publication for the Surrey Chambers of Commerce.

The official publication for the Alliance of Chambers in East Sussex.

Surrey Business will cover all the business news from across the county and will be an exciting mix of news and views. Topics covered include finance, education, technology, business travel, food and drink, commercial property, motoring and all the news from the Chamber. With significant editorial content, Surrey Business will be the only magazine you will ever need to learn everything about business in Surrey. The publication will be direct mailed to every Chamber member along with general availability across the county at a wide array of outlets including all the major supermarkets, retail outlets and transportation hubs and launches in January 2017.

ACE Magazine will be the members publication for all 18 Chambers within East Sussex and will bring all the news, views and opinion of the region with informative editorial features, company profiles, start-ups and new businesses and a raft of fascinating news from across East Sussex.

Any company can get involved in the magazine and there are special discounted advertising rates for Chamber members. For further information and a Media Pack, please contact maarten@platinumbusinessmagazine.com.

Any company can get involved in the magazine and there are special discounted advertising rates for Chamber members. For further information and a Media Pack, please contact lesley@platinumbusinessmagazine.com.

6

ACE will also bring you all the Chamber news, event schedules and new members details. ACE launches in November 2016 and will be available to all ACES members and generally available at a wide range of retail and business outlets across the region including Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Asda and Morrisons.

Platinum News

A

H

C

R

E

B

M

The official publication for the Worthing & Adur Chamber of Commerce

e Chamber of Commerc for the Worthing & Adur The official magazine

TIM LOUGHTON MP

Chamber Business will offer a unique look at the business scene of this fast growing region. Packed with fascinating start-ups and niche businesses, along with some household names, the Worthing area is one to watch.

Direct mailed to every Chamber member, the magazine will be a mix of local news, business events, exhibitions, conferences and networking along with regular features and profiles on the businesses of the area and all the Chamber news and events. Chamber Business will be available across the region at a wide array of business and retail outlets and all the leading supermarkets.

New Committee Chair

WHAT CAN THE CHAMBER DO FOR ME? CEO Tina Tilley Explains Profile:

RICARDO ENGINEERING AMSTERDAM

Any company can get involved in the magazine and there are special discounted advertising rates for Chamber members. For further information and a Media Pack, please contact ian@platinumbusinessmagazine.com.

What’s in store for business travel

PROFILE:

Shoreham Airport’s new business centre

PLATINUM PUBLICATIONS

7 1 0 2 n i g And comin PLATINUM B

R

I

G

H

T

O

N

PUBLICATIONS The official magazine for the Brighton & Hove Chamber of Commerc e

BRIGHTON MARINA

Development at last

THE BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP

Sarah Springfield

WIRED SUSSEX

Brighton’s digital revolution

THE BAHBAS

How to win an award

INTERVIEW

LUKE JOHNSON Why did he purchased the Pier

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

DEBRA HUMPHRIS Vice-Chancellor University of Brighton

The official publication for the Brighton & Hove Chamber of Commerce Brighton Business will bring you all the news of this fascinating and vibrant City. An eclectic mix of news and views, we will also feature some of the leading and up-and-coming companies in the City along with a regular feature on the digital industry as Brighton has rapidly become the home of some of the country’s leading companies in the sector.

One of the start-up capitals of the country, Brighton Business will scour the City to seek out those niche businesses that make Brighton what it is vibrant, forward looking and exciting. The magazine will be direct mailed to every Chamber member and available across the City - everywhere.

Profiles, features, interviews and more, Brighton Business will be everything you will ever need to do business in Brighton & Hove.

PLATINUM PUBLICATIONS

New offices, new staff, new delivery vehicles and an exciting future as the largest distribution business publication in the UK - and we haven’t finished there. Watch this space for exciting news about further expansion in 2017 !

7

Local News

LOCAL NEWS BDO EXPANDS AGAIN Accountancy and business advisory firm BDO LLP has appointed Michael Flaherty as Tax Partner in its Guildford office private-client team. Michael’s role is to further develop bespoke private client UK taxation services for clients across Surrey, Sussex, London and overseas.

Michael’s knowledge of the local market is extensive, having spent the last eight years based in Guildford. Michael also brings with him 20 years of private client experience, having worked for two ‘Big Four’ accountancy firms and global banks in London, Cayman and Jersey.

Michael will continue to focus on delivering UK tax advice to high-networth individuals/families and their trust/company structures (UK and overseas) as part of a wider remit to ensure the highest standards of client service.

The hire follows BDO’s recent relocation, having moved its existing office into Guildford’s premier office location in Chertsey Street as part of BDO’s continued expansion and long-term investment in Surrey.

With its 115 strong team, BDO Guildford provides full accounting, audit, tax and advisory services to a wide range of entrepreneurial businesses and individuals.

FIT FOR THE PRESIDENT The shortlist for the Surrey Chambers President’s awards dinner has been announced, with the winners revealed at the dinner on 20th October at Brooklands Hotel.

This year’s headline speaker is Francis Martin, newly appointed President, British Chamber of Commerce. At the event, you will also have the opportunity to hear from our President, Frankie Tierney, Managing Partner, Herrington Carmichael LLP, on her vision for the Chamber for the year ahead.

THE SHORTLIST Best Networker 2016 • Kingsley Ross – Handstand • Jane Drapper – Wilkins Kennedy LLP • Tony Parker – Ability Back • Sally Biggs – Brooklands Hotel • Rebecca Trudgett – Alliotts Chartered Accountants

International Trade Award 2016 • Semmco • Conjoint • Falcon Panels • Special Products • Bisley Office Furniture

Best Support of Chamber Initiatives 2016 • Willmott Dixon • Haines Watts • ALPS • Surrey Heath Borough Council • Surrey Business School, University of Surrey

Most Successful Start-up 2016

❝

Life is like a dogsled team.

If you ain’t the lead dog, the scenery never changes.

❞

• Stanley Montwedi – Free-From Market • Charlie Thompsom – The Massage Company • Jason Lovell- Captivate • David Hogg – Horizon Imaging • Wendy Hesketh – Furbabies

Best PR Story 2016 (As voted for by our members) • 50 years on – Anniversary – Reigate Manor Hotel • Importance of Scientific Research – Venner Shipley • Shots Help Rebuild Nepal – Aldershot Football Club • How to Engage Generation Z – Something Big • Honey for Tea – Foxhill’s Luxury Resort For tickets go to www.surrey-chambers.co.uk

8

Local News

WOKING’S FREE ‘FEASTIVAL’

❝

Early to bed and early to rise probably indicates unskilled labour

❞

An estimated 100,000 hungry visitors flocked to meet some of the country’s top celebrity chefs and enjoy the edible delights on offer at the fourth annual Woking Food and Drink Festival.

Visitors mingled with famous faces, such as Antonio Carluccio, Tom and Henry Herbert, Rosemary Shrager, John Whaite and Jane Devonshire, enjoying the festival between their popular cookery demonstrations.

Cllr John Kingsbury, Leader of Woking Borough Council, said: “For the fourth year running, I’m delighted to say that the annual Woking Food and Drink Festival was another resounding success, which attracted tens of thousands of people to the town centre”.

“As well as showcasing local and regional producers and culinary talents, the event continues to add weight to the town’s increasingly positive profile – putting Woking firmly on the map as a destination which delivers free, large-scale, inclusive, quality events. It’s great for residents, great for business and great for Woking.”

APPARENTLY, PASSENGERS MATTER! After months of endless delays, cancellations, strikes and misery for commuters in Surrey and Sussex, Southern Railway has been shortlisted for a ‘Passengers Matter’ award. The company, which is embroiled in the long-running fight with the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT), still plans to change the role of guards on their trains.

However, the Association of Community Rail (ACORP) Awards have named Southern Rail as finalists in three categories. Presumably, the awards will be cancelled at the last minute.

WILKINS KENNEDY MERGES

Rob Reynolds

Top-20 accountancy firm Wilkins Kennedy is to merge with the Maidstone office of Day, Smith & Hunter, creating a combined firm with 72 partners and an expected turnover of £47 million. The firms have exchanged contracts and intend to complete the transaction on 30 September. Upon completion, the DSH Maidstone office will trade as Wilkins Kennedy.

The deal is an important part of Wilkins Kennedy’s growth strategy for the Southern region, linking its office coverage in Ashford, Canterbury and Sandwich with its long-established presence in Orpington. In the medium term, the firm intends to develop Maidstone as a base for delivering additional services to privately owned and inward investment businesses in the county. Wilkins Kennedy also has offices in Guildford and Heathrow, and is a patron of Surrey Chambers of Commerce.

Rob Reynolds, Regional Managing Partner of Wilkins Kennedy’s Southern Region, said: “We are delighted to be joining forces with DSH, a firm that is well-established and very highly respected throughout the region. This merger provides us with a significant base in the centre of the County from which to support our growing client base. We look forward to welcoming our new colleagues to the WK team.”

Mike Startup, partner at DSH, said: “We are delighted to be merging with Wilkins Kennedy, which has a similar client base to ourselves and shares our ethos with regard to client care. As well as enabling us to offer enhanced specialist advice, this deal gives us access to services such as Corporate Finance and Recovery & Restructuring, which we have not previously been able to provide, and will help us to further grow the office’s client offering.”

Wilkins Kennedy LLP was established in 1882 and has grown to become one of the UK’s top 20 firms of Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers, with a turnover of over £45 million. The firm has 68 partners and approximately 500 staff spanning 15 UK offices and one office in the Falkland Islands.

9

• • • •

A three course meal inc wine A celebrity host Live music & entertainment Awards Ceremony

• • • •

Charity Auction Dancing & DJ until 1am Charity casino Fun photo booth

CROYDON’S NEWEST PRESTIGIOUS VENUE

Situated at 45 Imperial Way, Croydon, CRO 4RR, Grand Sapphire brings style comfort and luxury combining magnificent state of the art banqueting facilities. Hotel rooms are als0 available on request.

Business Awards

TALKING ABOUT CROYDON EXCELLENCE Top talkRADIO host and journalist to compere Croydon’s biggest business event of the year

J

ournalist and broadcaster Julia Hartley-Brewer will welcome guests to the glittering Croydon Business Excellence Awards 2016 Gala Dinner and Charity Ball on 6th October.

The talkRadio host will this year introduce the biggest annual celebration of Croydon’s business successes and achievements at an exciting new venue, the ultra-luxurious Grand Sapphire.

And with tickets selling fast, the spectacular purpose-built hotel and events venue, which boasts three premium halls, promises an unrivalled evening of entertainment and excitement.

More than 60 businesses have been shortlisted across 15 different categories for the prestigious Croydon Business Excellence Awards 2016 in association with Gatwick Airport. All are also in contention to take the night’s biggest prize, Croydon’s Best Business of the Year, which was won in 2015 by RISEgallery.

David Carr of Grand Sapphire said: “This year’s Gala Awards and Charity Ball is set to be a huge success. We look forward to welcoming all the honourable guests and finalists to what promises to be a great night.”

❞

Our time really is now Croydon is the place to be.

Mayor of Croydon, Wayne Trakas-Lawlor

❞

As well as the awards ceremony itself, a prestigious guest list will enjoy a sparkling evening of networking and entertainment including a three-course meal with wine, a celebrity host, live music, a charity auction, dancing to a DJ until 1am and a fun photo booth.

Guests on the evening will also be helping to raise money for the Mayor of Croydon, Wayne Trakas-Lawlor’s chosen charities for his year in office – The Stanley People’s Initiative, Croydon Commitment, and The British Home. The Mayor expressed his delight that funds raised at the Gala Dinner and Charity Ball will be going towards his charities. He added that he also felt Croydon is on the brink of enjoying a bright new future.

“I’ve chosen business, arts and culture as the theme for my year because I passionately believe Croydon’s best years are ahead of us,” said the Mayor. “Our time really is now - Croydon is the place to be.”

As well as Gatwick Airport, the awards partners for 2016 are Allianz Global Assistance, Croydon Advertiser, Croydon Chamber of Commerce, Croydon Council, Croydon Partnership, Handelsbanken, Keltbray, Platinum Business Magazine, StartUp Croydon, Sussex Innovation Croydon and Wing Yip.

Tickets are priced £145 (shortlisted companies £125), £1,295 per table of 10 (shortlisted companies £1,100), and £1,560 per premium table (shortlisted companies £1,265). Prices exclude VAT. To book visit www. croydonawards.co.uk/gala-dinner

11

Business Survey

SELF EMPLOYMENT POWERS UK’S JOBS RECOVERY Peter Quilter ACIB MCIBS Chartered Banker Director, Corporate and Commercial Banking 2nd Floor G3, 2 Cathedral Hill, Guildford GU1 3ZR. E-mail: peter.quilter@natwest.com

NORTH WEST Self-employed Employee jobs

SCOTLAND

2.5% 4.5% 2.3%

Self-employed Employee jobs

WEST MIDLANDS 0.6% Self-employed Employee jobs

WALES Self-employed Employee jobs

SOUTH WEST Self-employed Employee jobs

SOUTH EAST Self-employed Employee jobs

6.6% -0.3 % 2.9% 1.4% 3.3%

NORTH EAST

Regional Economic Tracker

Employee jobs

Q1 2016

YORKS & HUMBER 2.6%

6.3% 1.8%

Self-employed Employee jobs

EAST MIDLANDS Self-employed Employee jobs

LONDON Self-employed Employee jobs

T

hink about job growth and most people picture big employers hoovering up extra workers, but it’s the plucky start-ups that are the heroes of the UK’s jobs recovery. The number of people working for themselves has grown by over 20% since 2008, far outpacing the 4% rise in employee jobs.

Their contribution to falling unemployment has been massive and the rising phenomenon of people starting out on their own has been overlooked for too long.

Self-employment played a critical role early on in the teeth of the crisis. Firms shed over half a million jobs between 2008 and 2010 as the recession hit. Yet selfemployment expanded by 150,000 as people took their future into their own hands. That counter-cyclical role is part of the reason unemployment rose less than had been feared.

12

1.7% 0.2% 1.7%

Self-employed

2.2% 2.2% 2.4% 1.3% 2.5% 1.3%

0.1% -4.0% 0.7%

3.1% 1.2% 3.7%

1.6% 0.3% 1.8%

EAST OF ENGLAND 1.9% Self-employed Employee jobs

-0.8% 2.5%

But its impact didn’t end there.

As growth returned and firms started hiring again you might have expected selfemployment to fall away. Instead we’ve seen continued increases, even as the unemployment rate falls to pre-recession levels.

So who are these new wave of entrepreneurs and why are they shunning the traditional ways of working?

❝

Self-employment amongst women has grown three times as fast as men since 2008, rising by over 40%.

❞

Self-employment amongst women has grown three times as fast as men since 2008, rising by over 40%. Today, 1 in 10 working women are self employed, closing the gap to men who historically have been much more likely to work for themselves. Flexibility over working arrangements is likely to be playing a role in this trend as the self-employed can gain greater control over when and where they work.

Flexibility is an increasingly important theme in the labour market and lies at the heart of much of the increase in male self-employment too. Here, particularly strong growth amongst men over the age of 65 shows how many people are using self-employment to smooth the transition to retirement. That can be a very positive thing, exploiting the skills and networks that a lifetime of employment has built up. But it can also be a sign of supplementing disappointing retirement income. With annuity rates at record lows that effect will increasingly be felt.

London is the centre of the UK’s selfemployment boom, seeing a staggering 40% increase since 2008. This performance has helped mean 1 in 3 of the net new jobs created since 2008 has been in the capital.

Woking is in the UK Top Ten for percentage of people in self-employment with 18.4% doing it for themselves. Guildford also has a high proportion of self-employed residents (12.7).

This is also a genuinely national phenomenon. Self-employment growth has outstripped employee job growth in every region across the UK since 2008. It is a response to economic conditions and to changing demands from workers. Without it, the UK’s record-breaking job recovery would have been a lot weaker.

Business Survey SOUTH EAST Employment growth, year to Q1 2016

1.3%

Employment growth, 2008 - Q1 2016

5.3% SELF EMPLOYED 2.5% 25.0% 16.4%

EMPLOYEE JOBS 1.3% 2.2%

SELF EMPLOYMENT SHARE 21.5% 21.3% 19.5% 18.6% 18.4% 17.8%

RANK IN AMONGST UK MAJOR TOWNS & CITIES 1 2 5 6 7 10

Growth of jobs, year to Q1 2016 Growth of jobs, 2008 - Q1 2016 Self employment share Eastbourne Worthing Hastings Brighton and Hove Woking Crawley

Employment growth

Rise of self-employment since 2008

Source: Office for National Statistics

Source: Office for National Statistics

1,200,000

450,000

Self-employed

1,000,000

400,000

Employees

350,000

800,000

300,000

600,000

250,000

400,000

150,000

200,000 100,000

200,000

50,000

0

Last 12 months

0

Since 2008

Men

Women

Annual employment growth, year to Q1 2016

Employment growth, 2008 to Q1 2016

Source: Office for National Statistics

Source: Office for National Statistics

London

London

Wales

East of England

Yorks & Humber

South West

North West

South East

South West

Wales

East of England

East Midlands

North East

North West

East Midlands

Yorks & Humber

South East

West Midlands

West Midlands

North East

Scotland

Scotland

0.0%

0.5%

1.0%

1.5%

2.0%

2.5%

3.0%

3.5%

0%

3%

6%

9%

12%

15%

18%

Self-employment share in major towns & cities, by region Source: Office for N ational St atistics 25%

20%

15%

10%

South East

Midlands

South West

East

Yorks & Humber

North West

North East

E Mids

Cardiff

Swansea

Newport

Leicester

Northampton

Nottingham

Gateshead

South Shields

Stockton-on-Tees

Bolton

Southport

Blackpool

Huddersfield

Rotherham

Harrogate

Watford

Southend-on-Sea

Stevenage

Bournemouth

Cheltenham

Bath

Walsall

Nuneaton

Sutton Coldfield

Hastings

Worthing

Eastbourne

0%

London

5%

Wales

13

SURREY CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

LOOKING AHEAD

A

utumn is upon us and now Parliament has reconvened it’s time for businesses to reflect on the events of the summer and be more assertive and confident in what they want in the lead up to Brexit. Since the referendum many firms have expressed concern over the future status of their existing EU workforce. These employees are absolutely vital to the success of businesses, and must be retained. Theresa May should reassure them as soon as possible that they will have the right to remain in the UK, to provide much-needed certainty both for EU employees and UK employers. In a period of uncertainty, with Brexit still ahead, making sure that businesses can recruit talented and work-ready

people is critical.

Louise Punter Surrey Chambers of Commerce can be reached on 01483 735540, info@surrey-chambers.co.uk, @surreychambers

Louise Punter

EMPLOYABILITY

O

ur exam results, which came out in August, gave the national media one of its annual opportunities to pass judgement on the UK’s education and training system.

For some of our businesses it’s a time of some frustration. Most journalists, and many politicians, equate exam success with automatic progression to university. The number of people going off to university then becomes a sort of national barometer of progress, as if the completion of a degree were automatically linked to personal well-being, greater local prosperity or an expanding national economy.

In our business community, companies take a different view of the world. We are keen to get the message across that employability needs to be front-and-centre in the educational system.

THE BEST START FOR YOUR TECH START-UP CHAMBER NEWS

T

14

he South East of the UK is a hub of technological prowess and opportunity, with hundreds of businesses offering IT infrastructure, cloud services, smartphone application development, IT services, IT software systems, audio visual specialists and contact centre solutions.

But for every business that burns brightly there are ideas and enterprises that do not achieve their ambitions. The Dot Com bubble of the late 90s/early 2000s is testament to how the white heat of innovation produced some huge corporations that are with us today, but with many others burning out early.

Your tech business potential often starts with a great idea. Steve Jobs famously said, “People don’t know what they want until you show it to them.”

Once armed with a big idea, there’s a quick checklist for every potential tech entrepreneur: Is your product or service truly original? Or are you just duplicating what’s already out there? Research alone can be costly and time consuming but only when you are satisfied that there’s a genuine need for what you’re offering should you proceed.

The big idea is not enough. Being a great tech does not necessarily make you a business person. You’ll need a structured team of professionals who you can rely on. They’ll help to create a business plan to secure funding; a research programme to make sure that what you are offering is relevant and useful; and a multidisciplined marketing plan.

Distribution is vital. From design, to manufacture, to sales; the pathway must be clear. Because if your customers cannot access your product, it is doomed to failure.

Keep A Close Eye On the Money. Getting from startup to Stock Exchange is a journey centred on careful financial control. Raising money and your burn rate will occupy as much of your time as innovation and customer acquisition.

As the chosen partner for many successful tech firms, Wilkins Kennedy is well placed to help you structure well, develop quickly, raise finance and avoid any crashes along the way. Leaving you to concentrate on what you do best – innovate. Contact them at their Guildford and Heathrow offices to see how we can help.

WWW.SURREY-CHAMBERS.CO.UK

SURREY CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

ARE YOU MISSING OUT ON THE BUSINESS NAVIGATOR GROWTH HUB?

C

oast to Capital’s Business Navigator is a web portal for businesses. It includes an online directory of business support organisations and a calendar of business events in the Coast to Capital region. The aim of the Business Navigator is to help business people in the region quickly find the most relevant support.

This fantastic site acts as a signposting tool that links to existing websites of support organisations and other local and national business support initiatives.

The range of support includes: • Business Growth Toolkit • 1-2-1 advice & guidance • Events & networking • Funding & grants • Membership & representation • Premises & facilities • Training & skills

Business Navigators The team of expert Business Navigators have an in-depth knowledge of the diverse Coast to Capital region, which stretches to Croydon in the North, Mole Valley in the East, Lewes in the west and also encompasses bustling Brighton & Hove and rural West Sussex

If you would like to contact your business navigator email andrew. dennis@c2cbusiness.org.uk Here’s what they can do for you and your business, completely free of charge: • Act as your direct point of contact • Offer you one-to-one practical and bespoke support • Signpost and refer you to local and national schemes supporting business growth • Connect you with the right businesses to business support groups and organisations You can also get business support and advice over the phone by calling the National Business Support Helpline Telephone: 0300 456 3565 Monday to Friday, 9am – 6pm. The Business Support Helpline offers advice and guidance to new and existing businesses. It has information on national and local schemes, grants and loans to help businesses start and grow.

It really does work and here is how…..

SAUNDERS ENERGY

S

The Challenge The Challenge for Saunders Energy was to finance the production of a prototype that could be demonstrated to potential customers. This has to be carried out in freeflowing water (i.e. a river) for best effect.

The Solution Saunders Energy were contacted by Coast to Capital’s Business Navigator, Jane West to see if they needed any assistance to support the development and growth of their business. Previously unaware of the wealth of support available to them, Saunders Energy were signposted by Jane to a range of business support services appropriate to their needs.

Jane brokered a visit from the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) in January 2016, as a result of this meeting

CHAMBER NEWS

aunders Energy Limited manufactures and deploys cost Saunders Energy are now in the process of applying for Research effective in-stream and tidal power turbines to enable clients and Development Funding with support from EEN. This will enable to efficiently and reliably generate electricity and reduce them to produce prototypes for several worldwide clients who will their carbon footprint. The last year has been exciting for Saunders benefit from this type of Tidal Turbine.

Energy, with a series of instrumented tests on a turbine test rig in the River Arun, West Sussex, followed by the design and The River Arun build of their latest production model.

15

WOKING

WOKING’S BIGGEST BUSINESS FORUM Penny Power

Woking Means Business HG Wells Conference & Events Centre, Wednesday 5th October 2016 9.30am – 4.30pm

W

oking Chamber of Commerce presents the 14th edition of its annual business exhibition Woking Means Business at the H.G.Wells Conference & Events Centre, Church Street East, Woking on Wednesday 5th October. The day kicks off at 7.30am with the now familiar and very popular Pre-Show Breakfast Forum hosted by Woking Borough Council. This is where senior Council officials and guest speakers bring their audience up to date with the latest developments in the town, the new businesses and restaurants that are opening and the work they are doing to help and encourage new businesses to move to or start up in Woking.

Richard Woods

The splendid range of exhibitors includes Woking Borough Council, Surrey Chambers of Commerce, The Ambassadors Theatre Group, Costco, DoubleTree by Hilton, Farrans Construction, FdK, FSB, Guildford College, International School of London, Lansbury Business Estate, Curchod & Co, Menzies, Madlins, Platinum Business Magazine, Swinton Insurance, Truffles and Yomp Marketing to name just a few.

CHAMBER NEWS

The free seminar programme will be particularly inspiring this year, featuring the splendid Penny Power OBE on business networking, Richard Woods, from BBC TV’s The Apprentice on Digital TrailBlazing, local entrepreneur and ex pro-footballer Doug New on the Power of Your Brand, public speaking coach, Ges Ray on Speaking in Public and Linkedin guru, Allen Ruddock.

16

There will be 1-2-1 clinics for Start-Ups, a reception at lunchtime on the Council’s Woking Works stand, video interviews and a free drinks reception in the afternoon sponsored by Barnbrook Sinclair. So, stacks of activity throughout the day, hundreds of products and services to find out about, plus the opportunity to learn, pick up new ideas and network with hundreds of local business owners, directors and managers.

To be a part of this successful exhibition, you can either book your stand or register to attend for free by visiting the show website www.wokingmeansbusiness. com. Further details from Paul Webster on 01344 304268 or email paul@wokingchamber.org.uk

CRANLEIGH CHAMBER

THE BIG AWARDS RETURN

A

s we head into the final furlong of 2016, Cranleigh Chamber of Commerce has a busy programme of events coming up and will be supporting its retailer members in the launch of their Christmas shopping season.

We start October with the launch of the second annual Cranleigh & District Business, Innovation & Growth (BIG) Awards. Our press launch at Cranleigh Arts Centre on 3rd October is a preview of the upcoming awards which take place in the New Year. We will be inviting entries from members and non-members across the district, showcasing the fantastic range of innovative businesses in our local area.

Our next breakfast meeting is on 12th October and takes us to Wildwood Golf & Country Club. Our speaker is Christine Martin, managing director of Travel Retail Training.

Christine will be sharing the secrets of winning prestigious awards for your business and how these can help you raise your profile, win new customers and grow revenues.

Christmas is an important time of the year for our retailer members and the Cranleigh Christmas Lights Switch-On is our flagship public event. Taking place this year on Saturday 19th November, Cranleigh Chamber of Commerce is organising a family day of entertainment, live music and late-night shopping.

With business membership of Cranleigh Chamber of Commerce now more than doubled in eighteen months, we look forward to good attendance at all of these events, as we continue to be a positive voice to attract, retain and encourage growing businesses.

CHAMBER NEWS

For our breakfast meeting on 16th November, our guest speaker is chartered financial planner Martin Bamford. Martin will be describing the demographic destiny we all face in life and business, how we can live well in retirement, and what the future might look like for an ageing society. Fittingly for this subject, the breakfast will be hosted at Rowleys Centre for the Community, a venue which offers adult day care in Cranleigh.

17

CROYDON CHAMBER

NEW DOESN’T ALWAYS MEAN BEST Croydon Chamber of Commerce member, Nigel Davey, Director, SME Needs, shares his marketing and sales expertise The Lost 20% In the last five years of analysing marketing performance within SMEs, there is one point that appears more than any other: almost all marketing and sales effort is focused on gaining new clients. If this is what you do within your business, you are missing out on a lot of additional sales! Let me explain why I believe small businesses do this and then give you the reasons why you need to focus more on your existing clients.

Why the focus on new clients?

• New clients are fun - When a new client comes onboard, there is a real thrill. Is this the thrill of the hunt? Almost certainly for the Sales team and probably for Marketing. Why? It proves they are good at their jobs. Marketing is generating new leads (and qualified ones at that) and Sales have overcome all objections.

They’ve proved their mettle.

CHAMBER NEWS

• New clients spend more - Most businesses have a core product or service they sell, with all other services wrapping around the core. It is generally the core service that they focus the sales effort on and it is the core product that brings in the most new money.

Big increases in sales revenue are motivational and they increase the profile of the Sales team in the eyes of senior

18

management, or at least that’s the belief.

Now let’s look at the other side • They’re expensive to acquire - It costs much more to sell to a new client - it is anywhere between two and five times more expensive to acquire a new client than sell to a current one.

• They are the most at risk - Whilst new clients may spend more in the first month or two it is not necessarily the case that they will continue to spend more and that the lifetime value will be higher. You also need to remember that new clients are the riskiest.

Subject to service contracts, new clients know your business the least and are going to be the least tolerant. If something goes awry, there is a good chance they will move onto the next provider, simply because they haven’t got to a point where they trust you and know that you will make things good again.

Why you should also focus on your current clients They trust you - Clients who have used your services for a period of time will trust you more than new customers. They will have gone through the perceived risk phase when they signed a contract with you, but there are still concerns in place. They are also much more likely to take your account management call and give you the time to sell more to them.

They’ll say nice things about you - Once a client has been with you for a while, they’ll be happy to be both a referral and a referrer.

They will say nice things to your prospects and introduce you to new prospects too.

They can buy much more - I guarantee that very few of your clients have bought everything they can from you. Our analysis over the last five years shows that companies have maximum wallet share from less than 10% of clients. In other words, less than 1 in 10 clients are buying everything they can from a company. Imagine if you could get just one in five customers to buy something else.

nigel.davey@smeneeds.co.uk smeneeds.co.uk/blog/

Croydon Chamber of Commerce supports its members with a range of services and business tools to help them grow. Our annual programme of events offers members many enjoyable and effective ways to meet and develop relationships with other businesses, both formally and informally.

T: +44 (0)20 7556 2390 E: info@croydonchamber.org.uk W: croydonchamber.org.uk

NATIONAL NEWS HS2 DEPARTURE

National News

FORMULA 1 SOLD

The boss of the controversial HS2 rail link is leaving to take up a senior post at Rolls-Royce, the aerospace and engineering group has said.

Simon Kirby will take up the role of chief operating officer, reporting to chief executive Warren East.

Mr Kirby has earned a reported £750,000 salary at HS2, which will link London with the Midlands and northern England.

He said it had been a “huge honour” to work on the project, which critics say threatens swathes of countryside.

HS2 Ltd said it would miss Mr Kirby’s “experience and leadership”, while Rolls-Royce boss Mr East said the appointment would “strengthen management capability ahead of a period of significant expansion”.

But Stop HS2 campaign manager Joe Rukin accused Mr Kirby of “getting out before the true scale of the mess he has presided over is realised”.

“The departure of Simon Kirby will be a serious blow to those who champion HS2, though many of us are at a complete loss to see just exactly what it is he has done to justify his three-quarter of a million pay packet.”

❝

Before you criticise a man, walk a mile in his shoes.

Then you’ll be a mile away and have his shoes.

❞

The acquisition by the US media conglomerate Liberty Media of the Formula 1 racing business for $4.4bn (£3.3bn) opens a new chapter for the motor sport.

The announcement may have ended the long-running saga over the future of the business, but it also raises some fresh questions.

Some wonder if it will speed up the eventual exit of Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone. Under the terms of the deal he remains as chief executive but he has run the sport for nearly 40 years and is now 85.

The new chairman of Formula 1 will be the elaborately moustachioed Chase Carey, the executive vice chairman of Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox. “I see great opportunity to help Formula 1 continue to develop and prosper for the benefit of the sport, fans, teams and investors alike,” said Mr Carey on the announcement of the deal.

Liberty Media now takes over from the Luxembourg-based investment fund CVC Capital Partners as the new owner of Formula 1 - subject to approval by regulators.

It may not be a household name outside of the United States, but it is a major media conglomerate with stakes in several sports and entertainment businesses.

Most notably these include the Atlanta Braves baseball club. The firm also has stakes in US cable TV firms, entertainment and ticket sales firms, and the satellite and online radio company Sirius XM. And it is just one of a number of telecoms and media conglomerates that are owned and controlled by 75-year-old billionaire businessman John Malone.

Mr Malone started his career at AT&T in the 1960s and was for 23 years the chief executive of the US cable giant TCI. Unlike other media moguls he shuns the limelight. He has a reputation for having a formidable intellect and for being a business executive who takes a long view.

19

National News

NATIONAL NEWS THE RICHEST MAN IN THE WORLD... ... for two days!

Browsing the rails at Zara, you might not be aware of this but there’s an 80-year-old grandfather in northern Spain who helped pick out what you’re taking to the till.

Amancio Ortega stepped down as chief executive at Zara’s owner, Inditex, five years ago. But he didn’t give up work.

Even this week, when the company’s rising share price made him the richest man in the world for two days, he wasn’t ready to retire. Every day he still makes the 10km journey from his town centre house to the Inditex headquarters, based just outside the coastal town of A Coruna where he first launched the Zara brand.

Sometimes he sits down with the Zara Woman design team and they kick around ideas for the coming weeks and months - the new layout for a store, a new design for the upcoming winter collection. Experts in estimating the bank balances of the world’s wealthiest, Mr Ortega’s fortune overtook that of Microsoft founder Bill Gates on Wednesday and Thursday this week, before fluctuating share prices pushed it back into second place.

CEO’S IN THE FIRING LINE Senior corporate executives could be prosecuted for offences including fraud and money laundering carried out by staff under an expansion of laws targeting so-called white-collar crime.

Attorney General Jeremy Wright said the Government is to consult on plans to extend “failure to prevent” offences, currently only covering bribery and tax evasion, to a wider range of economic crimes committed by employees, also including false accounting.

It comes after former prime minister David Cameron in May announced a consultation on plans for a new law as he held an anti-corruption summit in London.

In a speech to the Cambridge Symposium on Economic Crime on 5 August, Mr Wright said: “When considering the question ‘where does the buck stop?’’and who is responsible for economic crime, it is clear that the answer is to be found at every level, from the boardroom down.

Both corporations and individuals are responsible. ”The intention of the Government actions I have described is not only to prosecute and to fine for breaches of the law, but to promote a culture of corporate responsibility so that we are addressing the threat earlier on and not just reacting to it through investigation and prosecution.

LIONHEART RENAMED

❝

Life is a tragedy when seen in close-up but a comedy in a long-shot.

20

❞

Sir Philip Green has insisted that he is working every day to plug the £571 million hole he left in BHS’ pension fund and dismissed allegations that he is attempting to delay a settlement for 20,000 former workers.

The billionaire retail magnate, who has been accused by MPs of the “systematic plunder” of the defunct high street chain, is believed to be holidaying in the Mediterranean on his 300ft super-yacht, Lionheart, when it was imaginatively re-named by protesters.

National News

GROWTH WARNING

TESCO EXECS IN COURT

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has slashed its growth forecast for the UK in the light of the Brexit vote.

It now expects the UK to grow 1.8% this year, down from its March estimate of 2.2%, and by 1% in 2017 compared with its original forecast of 2.3%.

Uncertainty surrounding the UK’s negotiations over its EU exit would “dampen growth prospects”, it said, while consumer spending would weaken.

It said the UK “would skirt with”, but avoid, a recession.

However, a separate report on business conditions from accountancy and services group BDO said optimism was improving, after falling to a three-year low last month.

“Although individual businesses continue to report strong trading conditions, the overall picture suggests a sharp slowdown in UK growth lies ahead,” said BCC acting director general, Dr Adam Marshall.

He urged the government to set out “a clear timetable” for negotiations with the EU, and said it should push on with infrastructure projects such as a new airport runway and new nuclear investment to help encourage business spending.The BCC is a national body of 52 accredited chambers of commerce across the UK, representing over 100,000 businesses in total.

During the EU referendum it decided not to campaign for either side because its membership was split.

Three former Tesco executives have been charged with fraud and false accounting as part of an investigation by the Serious Fraud Office into a £263 million accounting scandal at the supermarket chain.

Carl Rogberg, former finance director, Christopher Bush, former managing director, and John Scouler, the former commercial director for food have been charged with fraud by abuse of position relating to alleged activity that took place between February and September 2014, according to the SFO. The trio, who worked under former chief executive Philip Clarke, have been questioned over their role in the scandal, after it emerged that Tesco had overstated its profits by £263 million in 2014.

EUROPE’S LOSS Britain’s banks are adding a new angle to their campaign for special status in the Brexit negotiations by telling European governments that their companies risk being hurt too.

Firms from France to Germany could lose access to the region’s biggest financial hub, making it harder for them to borrow money or buy derivatives to protect against currency swings and fluctuating interest rates, Anthony Browne, British Bankers’ Association chief executive, told a commons select committee on Wednesday.

“It’s in the interest of a lot of customers across Europe to be able to continue to have access to the services that London offers. It’s not in the interest of either side to sever that.”

Andrew Gray, UK regional financial services leader at PricewaterhouseCoopers, said that some of the wider costs that would affect the UK and Europe “should be more fully understood” before negotiating positions get too hard. “The failure of an investment bank to provide a German corporate with the right financial structuring would inevitably be a direct cost on the German corporate, as well as a loss of revenue for the English subsidiary of the particular institution.”

DATABASE CLEAN-UP? Nearly 50% of marketers are unconvinced of the quality of their marketing database and believe senior management should focus more on lead quality than lead volume.

In a wide-ranging survey of 100 mid to senior level B2B marketers across the UK, respondents revealed anxiety about the sheer quantity of unqualified leads entering their CRMs and consuming valuable sales efforts. Over 50% of organisations admitted passing Automation Qualified Leads (AQLs) direct to sales with no further offline qualification.

“The survey showed that a drive to increase the number of leads in the funnel, without sufficient consideration of whether these leads will actually progress towards a sale is dangerous to the overall productivity and effectiveness of the sales operation,” explained Clare Warren, Head of Sales and Marketing at The Telemarketing Company, which carried out the survey.

“The fact that a whopping third of marketers (34%) rate themselves quite ineffective, or worse, at ensuring only the most appropriate leads progress, speaks volumes about the over reliance of marketing on technology to perform a qualification function, best achieved by a human.

Despite this, only a handful (6%) sought help from external agency specialists to cleanse their data.”

21

Intellectual Property

PROTECTING IP AND CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION Sarah Cook, Associate in the Technology, Media and Telecommunications team at DMH Stallard, offers her top ten tips on protecting your intellectual property

P

rotecting intellectual property and confidential information is a huge challenge for businesses. The recent data breach at French defence contractor DCNS, where over 20,000 pages of documents exposing the combat capabilities of submarines DCNS is building for the Indian Navy, highlights just how difficult it can be to keep IP safe in today’s world.

Whilst most businesses do not have access to such sensitive information they will possess confidential information in one form or another and, in the 21st Century, all businesses are operating in an environment plagued with sophisticated attackers. IP and confidential information is notoriously difficult to protect so businesses should develop a security conscious culture and focus on raising and maintaining awareness of the changing threat landscape with its employees.

22

Top 10 Tips to help you protect your business’ IP and confidential information: 1. Educate employees. Employees must understand the importance of information security and we recommend developing appropriate policies so that responsibilities are clear.

❝

Ensure that even if one layer of security is compromised there are still other layers to prevent unauthorised access.

❞

2. Implement an on-going awareness programme. The threat landscape changes constantly so it is important your employees understand new threats particularly when they can be targeted i.e. social engineering.

3. Implement and enforce a stringent password policy. This will help prevent unauthorised access to systems operated by the business. Ensure strong passwords are put in place by all employees which are of a reasonable length with varying characteristics, i.e. numbers, letters, and special characters, and do not permit employees to use personal information in their passwords to make them more difficult to guess.

4. Operate a clear desk and clear screen policy. Avoid the risk of sensitive documents containing confidential and

Intellectual Property sensitive information from falling into the wrong hands.

Sarah Cook

5. Implement “defence in depth”. Layer your security, particularly with your most sensitive or confidential data so that even if one layer of security is compromised there are still other layers to prevent unauthorised access.

6. Regularly review and investigate logs/alarms. Look for suspicious and unauthorised activity and consider implementing Security Incident Event Management (SIEM) software to automate the log analysis process.

7. Implement a data loss prevention solution”. One of the biggest threats to IP and confidential information are employees. Protect yourself from this insider threat by preventing users from sending certain data to an external source and which tracks and monitors data movement that is prohibited.

8. Only grant the minimum access required. Restrict access to sensitive and confidential files with access only to be authorised on the basis that it is essential for an employee’s role, reviewing access permissions regularly and removing access when it is no longer required.

9. Include appropriate IP and confidentiality terms in employees’ contracts. Protect your IP and data and outline the consequences of failing to do so.

Should you require any further information regarding protecting your IP and Confidential Information. please contact Sarah Cook on sarah.cook@dmhstallard.com.

10. Disable employee access to sensitive

To help you put in place a robust system to protect and enforce your Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) and to ensure that the business is aware of, and complying with, applicable laws and regulations, we offer a free 30 minute IP Consultation for your business. The information you provide will enable us to consider potential areas of risk and enhance your business’ IP protection and enforcement strategy.

information upon resignation.

❝

One of the biggest threats to IP and confidential information are employees

❞

To find out further information, or to book your free consultation, please contact David Paling on 01293 663512 or david.paling@dmhstallard.com.

23

The Big Story

STEVE JOBS The man who changed the world

By Maarten Hoffmann

T

here are many things that could be said to have changed the way we live - penicillin, electricity, oil, the internal combustion engine, and I could go on, of course, but within this generation, it would have to be the Internet and Apple.

The Internet, or World-Wide Web, was a British invention by Sir Timothy John Berners-Lee, who implemented the first successful communication between a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) client and server via the Internet in November 1989. Before then, we were mailing letters written on a typewriter, telephoning each other and getting a bit excited about telex.

❝

Things changed for Jobs in the 1970’s when he got stoned for the first time and discovered Bob Dylan, Shakespeare and Dylan Thomas.

❞

The Internet is a passive invention that sits there waiting to be utilised, and IBM, Amstrad and Microsoft all entered the race to be the machinery of choice for the generation that woke up to what the Internet could actually do. Only the visionaries Steve Jobs and Bill Gates really saw the power that could be unleashed, but only Jobs realised that there was much more besides the computer that could come on-stream and that would truly revolutionise our lives in the areas of personal computers, animated movies, music, phones, tablets and digital publishing.

Born in 1955, Jobs was adopted by Paul and Clara Jobs and lived in Germantown, Wisconsin. His biological parents, Abdulfattah Jandali and Joanne Schieble gave Jobs up for adoption in 1954 and, later, Jobs would become upset when they were referred to as his ‘adoptive parents,’ and he would say that “they are my parents 1,000%” (demonstrating an odd misunderstanding of mathematic principles) and

24

The Big Story referred to his biological parents as “my sperm and egg bank.” There has been much made of the fact that Abdulfattah was Syrian, from the town of Homs, and without immigration there would be no Steve Jobs and no Apple.

Paul and Clara adopted Jobs’s sister Patricia in 1957 and the family moved to Mountain View, California in 1961. It was during this time that Paul built a workbench in his garage for his son in order to “pass along his love of mechanics.” Jobs, meanwhile, admired his father’s craftsmanship “because he knew how to build anything. If we needed a cabinet, he would build it. When he built our fence, he gave me a hammer so I could work with him ...

I wasn’t that into fixing cars ... but I was eager to hang out with my dad.” By the time he was ten, Jobs was deeply involved in electronics and befriended many of the engineers who lived in the neighbourhood. He had difficulty making friends with children his own age, however, and was seen by his classmates as a loner.

As Jobs had difficulty functioning in a traditional classroom and tended to resist authority figures, he frequently misbehaved and was suspended a few times. As Clara had taught him to read as a toddler, Jobs stated that he was “pretty bored in school and [had] turned into a little terror... you should have seen us in the third grade, we basically destroyed the teacher.” At Monta Loma Elementary school in Mountain View, he frequently played pranks on others. However, his father (who was abused as a child) never

reprimanded him, blaming the school instead for not challenging his brilliant son enough.

❝

Of all the inventions of humans, the computer is going to rank near or at the top as history unfolds and we look back. It is the most awesome tool that we have ever invented. I feel incredibly lucky to be at exactly the right place in Silicon Valley, at exactly the right time, historically, where this invention has taken form.

❞

Jobs would later credit his fourth grade teacher, Imogene ‘Teddy’ Hill, with turning him around: “She taught an advanced fourth grade class and it took her about a month to get hip to my situation. She bribed me into learning. She would say, ‘I really want you to finish this workbook. I’ll give you five bucks if you finish it.’ That really kindled a passion in me for learning things! I learned more that year than I think I learned in any other year in school. They wanted me to skip the next

two years in grade school and go straight to junior high to learn a foreign language, but my parents very wisely wouldn’t let it happen.”

Jobs skipped the fifth grade and transferred to the sixth grade at Crittenden Middle School in Mountain View, where he became a “socially awkward loner.” Jobs “was often bullied” and gave his parents an ultimatum: they had to either take him out of Crittenden or he would drop out of school. Although the Jobs family was not well-off, they used all of their savings to buy a new home.

Thus, in 1967, the Jobs family moved to a three-bedroom home on Crist Drive in Los Altos, California, which was in the better Cupertino School District, Cupertino, California (this home – the first site for Apple Computer – was declared an historic site). The new house was embedded in an environment that was even more heavily populated with engineering families, and Bill Fernandez, a fellow electronics hobbyist who was in the same grade as him at Cupertino Junior High, was his first friend after the move. Fernandez later commented that “for some reason the kids in the eighth grade didn’t like Steve, because they thought he was odd. I was one of his few friends.” Fernandez eventually introduced Jobs to 18-year-old electronics whiz and Homestead High alumn Steve Wozniak, (Apple co-Founder) who lived across the street from Fernandez. In mid-1968, when he was 13, Jobs was given a summer job by Bill Hewlett (of Hewlett Packard) after Jobs cold-called him to ask for parts for an electronics project: “He didn’t know me at all, but he ended up

The original home of Apple

25

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

XERO AWARD WINNER 2016

The Big Story

giving me some parts, and he got me a job that summer working at Hewlett-Packard on the line, assembling frequency counters...well, assembling may be too strong. I was putting in screws. It didn’t matter; I was in heaven.”

Things changed for Jobs in the 1970’s when he got stoned for the first time and discovered Bob Dylan, Shakespeare and Dylan Thomas.

Jobs was far too smart and intellectual to actually be a hippy, and most of the time too stoned to be an intellectual, and therefore didn’t fit into any group and remained an outsider. He was an individual, in a world where individuality was suspect.

In 1973, Steve Wozniak designed his own version of the classic video game Pong. After finishing it, Wozniak gave the board to Jobs, who then took the game down to Atari, Inc. in Los Gatos, California. Atari thought that Jobs had built it and gave him a job as a technician. Atari’s co-founder Nolan Bushnell later described him as “difficult but valuable,” pointing out that “he was very often the smartest guy in the room, and he would let people know it.”

Jobs traveled to India in mid-1974 to visit Neem Karoli Baba at his Kainchi ashram with his friend (and eventual Apple employee) Daniel Kottke, in search of spiritual enlightenment. Upon his return, Jobs had changed his appearance; his head was shaved

and he wore traditional Indian clothing.

During this time, Jobs experimented with psychedelics, later calling his LSD experiences “one of the two or three most important

❝

You know, my main reaction to this money thing is that it’s humorous, all the attention to it, because it’s hardly the most insightful or valuable thing that’s happened to me in the past ten years. But it makes me feel old, sometimes, when I speak at a campus and I find that what students are most in awe of is the fact that I’m a millionaire.

❞ things l have done in my life.” He spent a period at the All One Farm, a commune in Oregon and Brennan joined him there

for a period where they continued their journey into LSD and became practitioners of Zen Buddhism. Jobs would later say that people around him who did not share his countercultural roots could not fully relate to his thinking.

Jobs then returned to Atari and was assigned to create a circuit board for the arcade video game Breakout. According to Bushnell, Atari offered $100 for each TTL chip that was eliminated in the machine. Jobs had little specialised knowledge of circuit board design and made a deal with Wozniak to split the fee evenly between them if Wozniak could minimise the number of chips. Much to the amazement of Atari engineers, Wozniak reduced the TTL count to 46, a design so tight that it was impossible to reproduce on an assembly line. According to Wozniak, Jobs told him that Atari gave them only $700 instead of the $5,000 they actually paid, and that Wozniak’s share was thus $350. Wozniak didn’t learn about the actual bonus until ten years later, but said that if Jobs had told him about it and explained that he needed the money, Wozniak would have given it to him.

Wozniak had designed a low-cost digital “blue box” to generate the necessary tones to manipulate the telephone network, allowing free long-distance calls. Jobs decided that they could make money selling it. The clandestine

27

The Big Story sales of the illegal “blue boxes” went well and perhaps planted the seed in Jobs’s mind that electronics could be both fun and profitable.

Jobs, in a 1994 interview, recalled that it took six months for him and Wozniak to figure out how to build the blue boxes. Jobs said that if not for the blue boxes, there would have been no Apple. He states it showed them that they could take on large companies and beat them.

hours on the phone trying to find investors for the company. In 1977, Jobs and Wozniak introduced the Apple II at the West Coast Computer Faire. It was the first consumer product sold by Apple Computer and was one of the first highly successful mass-produced microcomputer products. It was designed

❝

Jobs began attending meetings of the Homebrew Computer Club with Wozniak, and in 1976 Wozniak invented the Apple I computer. After Wozniak showed it to Jobs, who suggested that they sell it, they and Ronald Wayne formed Apple Computer in the garage of Jobs’s Los Altos home. Wayne stayed only a short time, leaving Jobs and Wozniak as the active, primary co-founders of the company. A neighbour recalled Jobs as odd, an individual who would greet his clients “with his underwear hanging out, barefoot and hippie-like.” Another neighbour, Larry Waterland, who had just finished his PhD at Stanford in chemical engineering, recalled dismissing Jobs’s budding business: “You punched cards, put them in a big deck,” he said about the mainframe machines of that time. “Steve took me over to his garage, where he had a circuit board with a chip on it, a DuMont TV set, a Panasonic cassette tape deck and a keyboard. He said, ‘This is an Apple computer.’ I said, ‘You’ve got to be joking.’ I dismissed the whole idea.” Jobs’s friend from College and India, Daniel Kottke, recalled that he “was the only person who worked in the garage ... Woz would show up once a week with his latest code. Steve Jobs didn’t get his hands dirty in that sense.”

Kottke also stated that much of the early work took place in Jobs’s kitchen, where he spent

28

I always thought of myself as a humanities person as a kid, but I liked electronics … then I read something that one of my heroes, Edwin Land of Polaroid, said about the importance of people who could stand at the intersection of humanities and sciences, and I decided that’s what I wanted to do.

❞

primarily by Steve Wozniak, whilst Jobs oversaw the development of the Apple II’s unusual case and Rod Holt developed the unique power supply.

By 1978, Jobs was worth a million dollars when he was 23, 10 million when he was 24, and over 100 million when he was 25. He was also one of the youngest people ever to make the Forbes list of the nation’s richest people – and one of only a handful to have done it themselves, without inherited wealth.

In early 1984, Apple introduced the Macintosh, and the following year Apple aired a Super Bowl television commercial titled “1984.” At Apple’s annual shareholders meeting on January 24, 1984, an emotional Jobs introduced the Macintosh to a wildly enthusiastic audience in a scene described as pandemonium. This explains the roots of his tendency to launch each new Apple product, standing centre stage with a wildly hyperactive audience.

In 1978, Apple recruited Mike Scott from National Semiconductor to serve as CEO for what turned out to be several turbulent years.

In 1983, Jobs lured John Sculley away from Pepsi-Cola to serve as Apple’s CEO, asking, “Do you want to spend the rest of your life selling sugared water, or do you want a chance to change the world?”

Despite the fanfare, the expensive Macintosh was a hard sell. Shortly after its release in 1985, Bill Gates, then developing Microsoft, threatened to stop developing Mac applications unless it was granted a license for the Mac operating system software.

Microsoft was developing its graphical user interface ... for DOS, which it was calling Windows and didn’t want Apple to sue over the similarities between the Windows GUI and the Mac interface. Sculley granted Microsoft the license, which later led to problems for Apple. In addition, cheap IBM PC clones that ran on Microsoft software and had a graphical user interface began to appear. Although the Macintosh preceded the clones, it was far more expensive, so through the late ‘80s, the Windows user interface was getting better and better and was thus taking increasingly more share from Apple. Windows-based

The Big Story IBM-PC clones also led to the development of additional GUIs, such as IBM’s TopView or Digital Research’s GEM, and thus the graphical user interface was beginning to be taken for granted, undermining the most apparent advantage of the Mac...it seemed clear as the ‘80s wound down that Apple couldn’t go it alone indefinitely against the whole IBM-clone market.

❝

There are people around here who start companies just to make money, but the great companies, well, that’s not what they’re about

❞

Sculley and Jobs’s visions for the company greatly differed. The former favoured open architecture computers like the Apple II, sold to education, small business, and home markets less vulnerable to IBM. Jobs wanted the company to focus on the closed architecture Macintosh as a business alternative to the IBM PC. President and CEO Sculley had little control over Chairman of the board Jobs’s Macintosh division; it and the Apple II division operated like separate companies, duplicating services. Although its products provided 85% of Apple’s sales in early 1985, the company’s January 1985 annual meeting did not mention the Apple II division or employees. Many left, including Wozniak, who stated that the company had “been going in the wrong direction for the last five years” and sold most of his stock. The Macintosh’s failure to defeat the PC strengthened Sculley’s position in the company. In May 1985, Sculley decided to reorganise Apple, and proposed a plan to the board that would remove Jobs from the Macintosh group and put him in charge of ‘New Product Development.’ This move would effectively render Jobs powerless within Apple. In response, Jobs developed a plan to get rid of Sculley and take over Apple.

However, after the plan was leaked and Jobs confronted, he said that he would leave Apple.

The Board declined his resignation and asked him to reconsider. Sculley also told Jobs that he had all of the votes needed to go ahead with the reorganisation. A few months later, on September 17, 1985, Jobs turned in a letter of resignation to the Apple Board. Five additional senior Apple employees also resigned and joined Jobs in his new venture, NeXT.

Jobs founded NeXT Inc. in 1985 with $7 million. A year later he was running out of money, and with no product on the horizon, he sought venture capital. Eventually, Jobs attracted the attention of billionaire Ross Perot, who invested heavily in the company.

The NeXT computer was shown to the world at what was considered Jobs’s comeback event, a lavish gala launch event in 1988, and was described as a multimedia extravaganza.

NeXT workstations were first released in 1990, priced at $9,999. The NeXT workstation was known for its technical strengths, chief among them its object-oriented software development system. Jobs marketed NeXT products to the financial, scientific, and academic community, highlighting its innovative, experimental new technologies, such as the Mach kernel, the digital signal processor chip, and the built-in Ethernet port.

Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web on a NeXT computer at CERN.

using the title “iCEO.” The company subsequently branched out, introducing and improving upon other digital appliances. With the introduction of the iPod portable music player, iTunes digital music software, and the iTunes Store, the company made forays into consumer electronics and music distribution. On June 29th, 2007, Apple entered the cellular phone business with the introduction of the iPhone, a multi-touch display cell phone, which also included the features of an iPod and, with its own mobile browser, revolutionised the mobile browsing scene.

As I type this on my spiffy, and bloody expensive, 27” i-Mac, the papers are full of the latest Apple story. This, the largest corporation on the planet, with assets of $305 billion and a turnover in excess of the GDP of most small countries, is being accused of tax evasion. In August 2016, after a three-year investigation by the EU’s competition commissioner that concluded that Apple received illegal state aid from Ireland, the EU ordered Apple to pay 13 billion euros ($14.5 billion), plus interest, in unpaid taxes. They have as much chance of recouping this as I do of sprouting wings.

Also, the i-Phone 7 is about to be released, no doubt to much fanfare accompanied by the nay sayers stating that this is finally the nail in the Apple coffin that will see the demise of the company. They have been saying this since Jobs and Wozniak sat in their garage and started work.

❝ After NeXT was acquired by Apple Inc. in 1997 for $427 million, WebObjects was used to build and run the Apple Store, MobileMe services and the iTunes Store, and Jobs returned to Apple as the interim CEO. With the purchase of NeXT, much of the company’s technology found its way into Apple products, most notably NeXTSTEP, which evolved into Mac OS X. Under Jobs’s guidance, the company increased sales significantly with the introduction of the iMac and other new products. Since then, appealing designs and powerful branding have worked well for Apple. At the 2000 Macworld Expo, Jobs officially dropped the “interim” modifier from his title at Apple and became permanent CEO. Jobs quipped at the time that he would be

Do you want to spend the rest of your life selling sugared water, or do you want a chance to change the world?

❞

Demonstrating that money cannot buy you everything, and after many a year searching the world for a cure, Steve Jobs departed this world on October 5th, 2011 having succumbed to pancreatic cancer and respiratory arrest.

If one can say a man changed the world, here he is. If one can say that immigration can be a hugely positive thing, here he is. If one can say that a genius was taken too early, here he is.

29

Finance

INVESTMENT DECISIONS: Beware of the Ostrich

By Tim Maakestad, Director of Financial Planning at Kreston Reeves

B

ank of England Governor Mark Carney intimated that individuals should consider more risk to get better financial returns from their savings. But investors should tread carefully.

Mr Carney may find his use of monetary policy to prise people out of safe government bonds and savings accounts creates a climate where investors feel risk is some sort of sanctioned security, which could not be further from reality. In fact, the danger is that reckless decisions become mainstream.

In other words, we may see rather more

30

❝

Most of us want to be able to sleep at night without worrying that our entire financial future is at risk

❞

‘ostrich moments’: when it suddenly seems sensible to throw every spare penny at something, often for no other reason than reading about its promise.

Why an ostrich? Apart from the obvious phrase of “not sticking your head in the sand, like an ostrich” which is still apt here, my reference is more to do with the actual ostrich. Not many years ago, farming the large flightless birds was going to be huge in Britain, at least according to excitable reports suggesting families would be routinely tucking in to the meat. Only they don’t. It remains a niche taste, and has grown accordingly with

Finance

â??

The danger is that reckless decisions

investors losing out badly. The ostrich lesson is particularly relevant today and whilst the pressure from policy makers to explore exotic options for returns may be persuasive, it should be treated with caution.

The key to making investment decisions is not being told to be adventurous, but understanding the risks when you are. Saving for retirement, for example, is different to saving for the satisfaction of speculative gain.

Every person is different, too, by age and circumstances. An investor in their seventies may have different needs to someone in their thirties, or to a self-employed entrepreneur.

Ready, steady, slow But one feature is often shared: caution.

Most of us want to be able to sleep at night without worrying that our entire financial future is at risk in some nail-biting, permanent game of money roulette.

We have other worries, too, so it makes sense to keep an amount in cash. This liquidity avoids the hazard of being forced by an

become mainstream.

emergency to sell an investment when its value is low.

Unfortunately, cash gets outperformed by inflation. However low the headline inflation rate may be, the cost of goods and services in many areas will always rise, devaluing money as it goes. Consideration to some wider investing is crucial.

Diversification is a must to spread risk. I have come across investors with their entire savings in three stocks. However good those individual companies may be, as an investment decision it is unwise. Shares are volatile, and sectors drift in and out of favour. Consideration should be given to a mix of investments which may include areas such as shares, Government bonds and property; in effect, a balanced portfolio without dependence on one sector or asset class.

â?ž

an adviser who is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. They are required to understand risk, and the best of them will establish, as we do, a personal risk profile to help their clients make decisions.

These are complicated times for investors as they face the twin dangers of low savings rates and increasing personal inflation rates. But one piece of solid investment advice is to be very wary of pressure from policy makers. Their motives may not be the same as yours.

If you would like to discuss the issues raised in this article please contact Tim Maakestad, Partner and Director of Kreston Reeves Financial Planning at tim.maakestad@krestonreeves. com or on +44 (0)330 124 1399.

Caution is not a fixed measure. People with a great deal of money and experience may be able to take higher risks, of course, and be advised accordingly. But the best advice for anyone is still to get advice and only from

This material is for general information only and does not constitute investment, tax, legal or other form of advice. You should not rely on this information to make (or refrain from making) any decisions. Always obtain independent, professional advice for your own particular situation.

Kreston Reeves LLP (Registered number in OC328775, registered office: 37 St Margaret's Street, Canterbury CT1 2TU) is registered to carry on audit work and is regulated for a range of investment business activities by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. A list of members’ names is available at our registered office and details of the licensing bodies for our insolvency practitioners can be found at our website. Kreston Reeves Financial Planning Limited (Registered number 3852054, registered office: 37 St Margaret's Street, Canterbury CT1 2TU) are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. All of the above addresses are registered in England.

31

Employment Law Conference

1. Lying in the sun Join us on Thursday 17 November 2016, when we put the spotlight on topical employment law issues that employers have faced in 2016. For each topic a practical scenario is used, followed by an analysis of the law relating to each issue and ending with practical advice and tips on how you can deal with the problems and issues raised.

Who should attend?

I’m sick...

2. Dress codes decoded

3. Office politics BREXIT

!

REMAIN!

Directors, Executives, Managers, HR professionals and other decision makers

When and where?

Thursday 17 November 2016 9am - 3.30pm Denbies Wine Estate London Road Dorking Surrey, RH5 6AA

4. Maternity pay pitfalls

Maternity Leave

5. Keeping a private eye on employees

Prices £175 + VAT for one delegate £150 + VAT per person for two or more delegates

How to book

Cost includes a useful delegate pack, refreshments and lunch.

For further information Please contact Tony Hyams-Parish: ahyamsparish@rawlisonbutler.com

To find out all of our Top 10 issues join us at our seminar

Contact Chris Field: cfield@rawlisonbutler.com 01293 558569

Employment Law

ABSENT… Without Leave Many employees take the view that it is their absolute right to take their holiday whenever they choose.

When they discover that this is not the case and have a request for time off turned down, naturally it can result in disappointment. Certain employees will then react by trying to take the time off a different way. RB’s Employment Team looks at how businesses should deal with that situation.

T

he most common ruse tried by employees looking for extra days off is to call in sick. In most workplaces, employees can self-certify absences of up to seven days, so an employee might try this excuse and if employers pay enhanced company sick pay, this could give further encouragement to those individuals to bend the rules.

Other employees might try a more creative solution, if the time off is the issue for them rather than the right to pay. UK employment law contains an assortment of rights to time off work. An employee might, ask instead for parental leave. While an employer is allowed to reject a holiday request in most cases, the ability to refuse a request for parental leave is much more limited.

an employee asks for time off for holiday, is refused, then takes those exact days off for a different stated reason, it will of course be deeply suspicious. However coincidences can happen. Mere suspicions will not be enough to establish that misconduct has taken place.

❝

The common trap for employers is that they will assume that the employee is lying to them without conducting a proper investigation

❞

In all cases, giving a false reason for absence from work would be potential grounds for disciplinary action and possibly dismissal. A fabricated illness is a clear-cut example of dishonesty and an unauthorised absence from work. Even in the case of parental leave, the purpose of it must be to care for a child, so if the time taken off work is used for any other reason it would lead to the same issues.

The evidence an employer needs will depend on the reason given for the absence.

If an employee claims to be sick, an employer can ask for medical evidence. While a doctor’s note is not required for absences of up to seven days for statutory sick pay, a disciplinary investigation is a different matter and it can be requested.

The common trap for employers is that they will assume that the employee is lying to them without conducting a proper investigation. If

Medical evidence is not the only avenue to explore, the employee can be interviewed, evidence of their whereabouts requested,

colleagues may have witness evidence to give and social media can be a source of information about an employee’s actual activities.

As a final point, employers should remember that an employee who is genuinely sick does not necessarily have to be sat at home recovering. The issue is whether or not they are fit to work. Therefore it is possible for an employee to be at a holiday destination but still be off sick. In circumstances where an employee calls in sick after the holiday request is refused, this would be extremely dubious, but it could be that the employee is suffering from stress-related illness and they asked for the holiday as they needed the break from work to recover. Therefore employers should keep an open mind to all possibilities until they have investigated the matter fully.

We will be taking a detailed look at this issue and the solutions available to employers at our Top 10 Big Issues for Employers seminar on 17 November 2016.

If you have any questions relating to this matter, please contact Will Walsh by emailing Will on wwalsh@rawlisonbutler.com or by calling him on +44 (0)1293 558540.

33

SHINE BRIGHT LIKE A DIAMOND As we celebrate the best of business 2017

ENTER T HE GA T W I C K DI AM O ND BUSINESS A W ARD S Now in the ninth year, we have brought together a fantastic group of sponsors and judges to help us find and celebrate the very best businesses across the Gatwick Diamond.

Any business in the Gatwick Diamond can enter and, with 14 categories, there will be at least one Award (if not more) that are relevant to you and your business.

Entry period runs from 6th October to 18th November and judging visits will take place across December and January.

The Awards will culminate in the spectacular Awards Ceremony on 16th March 2017 at the Effingham Park Hotel. Be sure to put the date in your diary for the business networking event of the year!

For more information and to download an entry form, visit:

WWW.GATWICKDIAMONDBUSINESSAWARDS.COM

Business Awards

SHINE BRIGHT LIKE A DIAMOND Jeremy Taylor, Chief Executive of Gatwick Diamond Business launches the The Gatwick Diamond Business Awards 2017

W

e are delighted to be announcing the 9th Gatwick Diamond Business Awards

Once again we have brought together a fantastic group of sponsors and judges to help us find and celebrate the very best businesses across the Gatwick Diamond.

Headline Sponsors to date: Gatwick Airport, NatWest, Nestle, Emirates Airline Pre-Dinner Reception: Irwin Mitchell

The Gatwick Diamond Business Awards give any business the opportunity to shine as brightly as they can ‌ like a Diamond.

SHINE BRIGHT LIKE A DIAMOND As we celebrate the best of business 2017

Award Categories & Sponsors (to date)

ENTER THE GATWICK DIAMOND BUSINESS AWARDS

Business Person of the Year - KPMG

International Business of the Year Gatwick Diamond Initiative

Now in the ninth year, we have brought together a fantastic group of sponsors and judges to help us find and celebrate the very best businesses across the Gatwick Diamond.

New Business of the Year - the FSB

Employer of the Year - Search

relevant to you and your business.

Green Business of the Year - Crawley Borough Council

The Award for Supply Chain Excellence University of Brighton

Business of the Year - NatWest

The Award for Developing People for Business Success - Central Sussex College Responsible Business of the Year – University of Sussex, School of Business, Management & Economics The Award for Customer Delight - Extech

Any business in the Gatwick Diamond can enter and, with 14 categories, there will be at least one Award (if not more) that are

Entry period runs from 6th October to 18th November and judging visits will take place across December and January.

The Awards will culminate in the spectacular Awards Ceremony on 16th March 2017 at the Effingham Park Hotel. Be sure to put the date in your diary for the business networking event of the year!

For more information and to download an entry form, visit:

WWW.GATWICKDIAMONDBUSINESSAWARDS.COM

The Award for Innovation and Technology in Business - Rawlison Butler LLP Professional Services Firm of the Year - tbc The Award for the Place to Meet - Vines BMW & Mini

Our Partners (to date)

Key dates for your diary:

Design Partner: Storm Creative Partnership

6th October 2016

Venue Partner: Millennium & Copthorne Hotels

18th November 2016 Closing date for entries Dec 2016 - Jan 2017

Judging Period

Event Partner: Avensys Live

9th February 2017

Exclusive Media Partner: Platinum Business Magazine

Finalist announcement at the Sponsors and Media Breakfast

16th March 2017

The Gatwick Diamond Business Awards 2017

13th April 2017

Sponsors and 2017 Winners Celebration Breakfast

Launch of the Entry Period with Sponsors, Media and 2016 Winners

To find out more about the Awards and to be involved, visit www.GatwickDiamondBusinessAwards.com or follow the Awards on Twitter @gdbizawards

35

Interview

BREXIT - THE VIEW FROM EUROPE:

UTTER CONFUSION!

Geoff Meade MBE was Europe Editor of the Press Association for 35 years, covering Europe from its Brussels heart, reporting on the rise and fall of politicians, treaties, scandals, alliances and currencies. With his insider’s knowledge and contacts, few are better placed to comment on the view from Europe on Britain’s momentous decision to leave the EU. Don’t miss Geoff’s entertaining take on Brexit at the Gatwick Diamond Business Speakers Conference on 20th October at K2, Crawley.

Interview by Ian Trevett.

Have you spoken to your contacts in Brussels about their reaction to Brexit?

walk around for five minutes without someone asking for you to explain it to them.

There has been no other conversation in town!

And then there is the legendary Article 50.

They say to us Brits, “You voted to leave, and you say Brexit is Brexit, and then you don’t want to trigger the exit?” They are just utterly bemused.

Just like this side of the Channel, the first reaction was surprise; there was an expectation that the status quo would remain in place. Europeans find it a very strange decision and can’t really work it out. Even looking from a British point of view, they can’t work out what the upside is. I would describe the mood as confusion and bemusement.

Even now, in late September, no-one actually understands what Brexit actually means. Even when you get politicians such as Boris saying, “Brexit means Brexit”, noone knows what this actual translates to in reality. It is not a case of the EU politicians or commentators trying to be difficult, they are just confused. Do we British want to extract ourselves from the single market or not?

Being British in Brussels means you can’t

36

How difficult will Brexit be in reality?

David Davis, the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, has said, ”This is likely to be the most complicated negotiation in modern times, maybe the most complicated negotiation of all time.” I agree. Aside from the actual mechanics, there is the emotional side, which is like excommunicating a family member. And the decision has to be made on how much of a break there will be. Will we just rip everything up and start again?

Firstly, Britain has to come to a consensus about what it actually wants. Then we have

the mechanical process. We are currently in a phoney war, but it won’t stay this way.

Once negotiations start, it will be a genuine problem. This could not be more difficult as no-one has ever faced anything like this before.

The negotiations will inevitably run into the sand. And you wonder how much goodwill there will be on both sides to make this amicable. The EU negotiators will have to act in the best interests of the EU, which may not also suit Britain’s interests.

Why is there so much hostility to the EU? When EU politicians speak about the federal project, I don’t think they realise how much this puts people off in Britain. There was a complacency in Brussels which didn’t help.

In fact, the move to federalism has slowed down due to increased Euro-sceptism across Germany, France and Italy. There are much better ways to stop the federal train than just leaving alltogether.

Interview

Being British in Brussels means you can’t walk around for five minutes without someone asking for you to explain it to them.

❞

❞

There is a view in Britain that the country has been run by Europe, but this is not true.

There is already a two-tier Europe, and if you think of three of the main pillars of the EU, the single market, the single currency and a border-free Europe, we are only signed up to one of these. We have opted out of the big policies when it has suited us.

is no great, free world out there waiting for us. I know that there hasn’t been a dramatic impact as yet, but businesses are being affected, and the exit hasn’t started yet.

Then there is the image of all these bureaucratic Eurocrats. Leaving Europe won’t mean we are free of the bureaucrats; there are plenty of these in Whitehall.

Like many on the continent, I just can’t see what the upside is.

I think it is safe to say that you voted to remain?

I don’t understand the argument put out

by Brexiteers that Britain will be great again.

I don’t see where the this utopia is. In fact, we weren’t doing badly as we were. There

I believe that we are better together, and there is strength in numbers when we are facing external threats such as global terrorism.

What can delegates expect to hear at the gdb Speakers Conference?

I will try to explain what I think is going on in Brussels and how it affects Britain and our businesses. But a lot may well happen between now and then. Or maybe we will all still be just as confused.

THE GDB SPEAKERS CONFERENCE

TARGET BUSINESS EXPO

Gatwick Diamond Business have brought together three expert speakers to help you focus on what is important to your business.

• Hear about entrepreneurial business success from Lara Morgan

The Speakers Conference coincides with the launch of the Target Business Expo at the K2. Entrance to the main exhibition is free, although tickets are available in advance to save you time on the day.

You could get a head start on your networking and book to attend the gdb Networking Breakfast from 8.15am. Once the doors open, you will have the opportunity to meet with over 100 Exhibitors and see new products and services ‘up close and personal.’ Take the opportunity to have a coffee in the networking cafe to discuss your requirements further.

• Find out what the result of the EU Referendum means to you and your business from Geoff Meade • Charles Clarke, former Home Secretary, will discuss politics’ aversion to long-term decision-making and the necessity for a political consensus on key areas of national infrastructure Sponsored by Gatwick Airport, Reigate & Banstead Borough Council, Santander and University of Brighton, the inaugural gdb Speakers Conference is being held alongside the Target Business Expo at K2, Crawley on Thursday, 20th October, 2016, and will allow you to hear from three outstanding speakers, as well as benefiting from the opportunity to meet and discuss your business issues over lunch.

Throughout the day, why not take advantage of the free seminars - full of information and advice, they are a must for any business professional. www.targetbusinessexpo.co.uk

Tickets, including buffet lunch, are: £75 plus VAT: gdb Members, or £95 plus VAT: gdb non-members To book your place(s) at the gdb Speakers Conference, please call Sally Brown on 01293 440088.

BOTH EVENTS TAKE PLACE AT THE K2 CENTRE, CRAWLEY - 20TH OCTOBER, 2016

37

Buy to Let

BUY TO LET & THE IMPLICATIONS FOR LANDLORDS Part 2 Led by Robert Dowling at Carpenter Box, the MHA Construction & Real Estate team have worked together to provide a national outlook on the changes facing Buy to Let landlords over the course of the next 12 months. MHA is a national association of independent accountants which Carpenter Box helped to found in 2010.

This is the second of two articles (see issue 27 of Platinum Business Magazine for the first) to help you better understand the changes that landlords now face and which looks at ways that landlords can reduce their tax burden.

Changes to tax relief on finance costs

interest on loans to buy furnishings and bank arrangement fees and charges.

allowance and blind person’s allowance in the tax year.

Currently, individuals receiving rental income from residential properties can offset finance costs incurred in full against the rental incomes received. This results in reduced property profits that are subject to tax. These rules are broadly aligned with other businesses and self-employed individuals who are able to claim business costs against business incomes.

How the new rules will work:

Any excess finance costs may be carried forward to following years if the tax reduction has been limited to 20% of the profits of the property business in the tax year. See example 1 opposite.

Tax relief for finance costs on residential properties will start being restricted for landlords; this is a significant shift from the rules that apply to other businesses.

Furthermore, the mechanics of how tax relief on finance costs on residential rental properties is obtained is also changing, which may have further financial consequences for the taxpayer.

The restricted tax relief will be phased in from April 2017 and by 2020/21 landlords will only be able to claim basic rate tax relief on the financed costs incurred. Finance costs typically include mortgage interest, but also include

38

Deductions of finance costs from property income will be restricted to: • 75% for 2017 to 2018 • 50% for 2018 to 2019 • 25% for 2019 to 2020 • 0% for 2020 to 2021 Individuals will be able to claim a basic rate tax reduction from their income tax liability on the portion of finance costs not deducted in calculating the profit. In practice this tax reduction will be calculated as 20% of the lower of the: • Finance costs not deducted from income in the tax year (25% for 2017 to 2018, 50% for 2018 to 2019, 75% for 2019 to 2020 and 100% thereafter); • Profits of the property business in the year; • Total income (excluding savings income and dividend income) that exceeds the personal

Other financial consequences The new rules also change the reporting of rental profits within the constitution of what is regarded as an individual’s income.

Before April 2017, profits from rental income, being rents received less interest and other property expenses, are reported as income.

After April 2017, rental income before the deduction of finance costs will be regarded as an individual’s income.

This change will result in an increase to the individual’s income being reported, which may in turn give rise to an increased High Income Child Benefit Tax (HICBT) charge and additional Child Maintenance costs, for

Buy to Let

Example 1: A landlord paying tax at the additional rate (45%) with rental income of £25,000 and mortgage interest of £20,000

Current Rules:

New Rules:

Rental income:

£25,000

Rental income:

£25,000

Mortgage interest:

(20,000)

Mortgage interest:

(20,000)

Tax liability @ 45%

(£2,250)

Tax liability @ 45%

(£7,250)*

Rental profit after tax:

£2,750

Rental loss after tax:

(£2,250)

*The tax relief under the new rules is calculated at 45% of the rental income (£11,250) less tax relief on the interest payments at only 20% (£4,000).

instance. It may also push the taxpayer into a higher tax bracket whereby the personal allowance available will be restricted or it may push the taxpayer from the higher rate 40% tax bracket into the additional 45% tax bracket. See Example 2 below.

Potential solutions: As the new rules only affect residential properties, if you have a mixture of residential and non-residential properties in your property portfolio, you may wish to consider moving borrowing away from the residential properties and borrow instead on the nonresidential properties. You will then be able to obtain full tax relief on the finance costs incurred. However, the change in borrowing may result in mortgage early redemption penalties and further bank arrangement fees, which you will need to consider and take into account.

Alternatively, with careful exploration, incorporation may be advantageous with the rental properties being transferred into a corporate shell paying Corporation Tax at

18%. Corporation Tax rates are due to reduce over the coming years, but with the change of Chancellor this may be reviewed.

❝

This change will result in an increase to the individual’s income being reported… which may push the taxpayer into a higher tax bracket

❞

Careful consideration will need to be given to potentially significant Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) and Capital Gains Tax (CGT) charges, which may arise as a result of the transfers, but also how to efficiently extract the profits from the company.

However, recent case law indicates that it may be possible for incorporation relief to be claimed, allowing the capital gain arising from the transfer to the company to be deferred until the properties are onward sold by the company. This may only be possible where there is a strong argument that the properties are being actively managed and specific tax advice should be obtained before implementing such a strategy.

The SDLT charge arising may also be reduced by claiming multiple dwellings relief where appropriate. This will have the effect of the rate of SDLT to be averaged down to the market value of each dwelling within a property.

Should you wish to talk about business or tax advice around the construction and the real estate sector, you can contact Robert on 01293 277670 or by email at robert.dowling@carpenterbox.com.

Example 2: The effect of the new rules on a taxpayer receiving child benefit on two children with rental income of £25,000 and mortgage interest of £20,000

Current Rules: Rental Profit:

New Rules: £5,000

(after deduction of interest)

Rental income:

£25,000

(before deduction of interest)

Employment income:

£40,000

Employment income:

£40,000

Total income:

£45,000

Total income:

£65,000

HICBT charge:

£NIL

HICBT charge:

£1,823

(Based on 2015/16 child benefit rates)

39

Incorporating Spofforths

FINANCEFOCUS 2016

Up to date?

Join us for one of our popular, free, half day Finance Focus seminars aimed at keeping company directors, business owners, financial controllers and others abreast of recent business, tax and wealth developments.

This year we will pay particular attention to the anticipated impact of the Brexit vote for entrepreneurial businesses.

Our half-day sessions will include updates and planning points for tax (both company and personal), accounting and VAT, as well as guidance on company valuations and alternative sources of finance.

Dates and locations: • Thursday 6 October • Tuesday 11 October • Thursday 13 October • Tuesday 18 October • Thursday 20 October

London Arundel, Sussex Gatwick / Crawley, Sussex Maidstone, Kent Brighton, Sussex

For further information or to book your place at one of the above seminars, please visit the web address below, or contact our Marketing team on: E: events@krestonreeves.com T: +44 (0)330 124 1399 Offices across: London, Brighton, Canterbury, Chatham, Chichester, Discovery Park, Eastbourne, Gatwick, Horsham and Worthing

www.krestonreeves.com/events

Business Expo

THE FIRST BRIGHTON EXPO IS NEARLY HERE… Brighton Racecourse - 10am-4pm, 20th October 2016 Register now for free tickets: b2bexpos.co.uk/brighton-business-expo/

Events and Speakers 10.30am – Paul Samrah (Kingston Smith Accountants) Top Ten Tax Tips for Entrepreneurial Businesses 11am – Natalie Montagnani (Page Marketing) Removing the Barriers to Successful Marketing 11.10am – Julie Nicholds (Loch Employment Law) How to effectively recruit, retain and reward your staff 11.50am – Andrew Abaza (ActionCOACH) Improving your profits by 60% Andrew Abaza is a licensed business coach with ActionCOACH, the world’s biggest 2pm – Speed Networking Hosted by Network My Club 1pm – Emma Pearce

Exhibitors

(as at August 2016 - more to be confirmed)

40 Vexus Corporate Ltd 1 MailServe Ltd 41 Align - Doctors of Chiropractic 2 Federation of Small Business 42 Accelerated-Mail 3 ODM (UK) Ltd 43 Visit Brighton 4 Platinum Business Magazine 44 Rockinghorse 5 Brighton Racing & Events 45 Sussex County Cricket Club 6 Marvellous Sicily 46 Chandlers BMW 7 Mayo Wynne Baxter 47 Action Coach 8 Core Chiropractic 50 Safe C Corporate & Public Safety 9 Pearce Marketing 51 Sussex Copywriting Services 10 Lead Forensics 52 Polestar 11 Direct-Tec 53 Office Profile 15/16 Silver Lining Convergence Ltd 54 Hot Yoga South 18 Brighton Beautiful 55 Eagle Eye Networks 19 Entrepreneurial Spark/NatWest 56 Smart Aviation 22 Joosr Ltd 57 Brewers Paints 24 Chestnut Tree House 58 Laughton & Co Ltd 25 Brighton Video Production 59 Fresh Display 26 Sussex Chamber of Commerce 60 Loch Associates Group 27 Monk Marketing 61 Sussex Skills Solutions 28 Alkira Services 62 Your Business Community Ltd 29 Eight Wealth Management 63 Kingston Smith LLP 30 Dot Squares 64 Streamline Taxis 31 Beta Futures 65 Sussex HR Ltd 32 Limpio Storage Solutions 66 Mid Sussex Golf Club 33/34 Howlett Clarke 67 Sutton Winson Insurance Brokers 35 Lisa Halliwell Design 68 The Pensions Regulator 36 Grosvenor Casino 69 Sussex Pages 37 Worldpay BRIGHTON BUSINESS EXPO 2016 FLOOR PLAN BRIGHTON RACECOURSE (SET-UP DATE: 19 OCTOBER, LIVE DATE(S): 20 OCTOBER) B2B 70 Focus Group 38 Rivervale Leasing Main Exhibition Hall, Brighton Racecourse 39 University of Brighton - Brighton Business School

expos

EXHIBITOR ACCESS

Social Media Advertising Uncovered

4

2

18

2

19

2

20

2

25

26

3

3

27

28

3

29

3

CAFE BAR

3

30 3 32 2 33

22

21

2

2

2

31 2 35 34 2 2

36 2

39

2

37 40

3 2

38 3 41 2 42

2

CAFE NETWORKING AND SEATING ZONE

TOILETS

(Laughton & Co)

14

Essential Ingredients for

13

Business Success

3

3

23

17

15 4

1.50pm – Neil Laughton

24

SPEED NETWORKING ZONE

16

4

44

3

45

3

43 3

46

47

3

3

48

2

49

2

53

2

54

2

50

2

51

2

52

2

4

57

2

4

2

65

2

59

58

56

55

60 6

3

61

2

62

2

63

2

64

2

4

68

2

69

2

70

67

66 4

04

05

6

4

4

02

03 6

6

6

TOILETS

NETWORKING WALL

01 10

11 6

6

6

WORKSHOPS

09

3

ACCESS TO KEYNOTE THEATRE

2.40pm – Martin Searle (FSB)

08

2

07

2

06

6

2

VISITOR ENTRANCE

What is behind business cost and profit?

REGISTRATION AREA

3.00pm – Sas Huntwood Fear of selling? Get over it!

This floorplan is subject to change at the discretion of the event organisers NOT TO SCALE

© COPYRIGHT MEMO EVENTS LTD 2016

3.30pm – Clive Bonny Intellectual Property: How to protect your business value EVENT SPONSOR: Silver Lining Convergence Ltd CAFÉ AREA SPONSOR: Porsche Mid Sussex

41

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

Rose pops across the channel to Gay Paree and finds style and substance in their availability of fascinating conference locations, meeting spots and exhibition space. As they fight for two major sporting events, the City is set to blossom. John Burroughes from Uniglobe offers some eye-watering statistics about international airlines.

PLATINUM THIS MONTH:

Paris

Travel

FOUR STARBUCKS DOUBLE-ESPRESSOS the Average Profit per Passenger

by John Burroughes Managing Director, Uniglobe Preferred Travel

cannot think of another industry where this would be tolerated. We all know from our own business experiences that we would long ago have been closed down. But this is true!

Moreover, the aviation industry is in raptures over the projections for 2016 when the current return on invested capital (9.8%) will exceed the cost of capital (estimated to be 6.8%). This is the minimum expectation level for investors as the airline industry is beginning to generate profits that would be expected in any normal industry.

❝

Let’s not beat around the bush Airline travel is sexy, most of us love to get on an aircraft

W

e all read the media headlines concerning huge profits being made and massive multi-million pound bonuses being paid through dubious tax havens. By contrast, most of us fly at some time or other, many of us more than we would like for business, so let’s take a look at air travel as a global company.

Let’s not beat around the bush. Airline travel is sexy, most of us love to get on an aircraft, most, if not all, would love to turn left or go up those stairs into the upper echelons of this beautiful, slimline beast, where only the chosen few get to go, or get on the 1st or 2nd door of an A380 as opposed to the 3rd door!

44

The reason we love it is it’s the means of catapulting us away from what are sometimes our dreary, mundane lives. As you exit the door you can be on the other side of the world looking at iconic landmarks that you have never seen before, or at beautiful sun-kissed beaches full of hunky, healthy individuals that we wished we looked like. Of course, if it’s on business and you’ve got the short straw, it undoubtedly will be somewhere slightly less salubrious.

However, if I told you that in 2015, for the very first time in the history of the global airline industry it made a return on invested capital, I am sure you would be shocked. I

❞

But this is where I need to strike a note of caution. If we consider the history of the aviation industry and the fact that it has never globally made a profit until 2015, we have to ask what changed? In a nutshell, it was 15 years ago when 9/11 happened. The airline industry has proved remarkably resilient through its short history, however, this event was a body blow and everybody could feel the shock waves. Things had to change, and quickly; wise heads immediately started to cut capacity whilst at the same time investing in new, expensive but very necessary safety measures.

Travel

What you might get nowadays It was the cutting of capacity that caught the attention of the business analysts and bean counters. By cutting capacity, when people did start to fly it was difficult to get on a plane as there were fewer seats. This in turn pushed up the air ticket price (cleverly, now being controlled with new algorithms) and this increased their load factors and yield per seat considerably.

In my view this was the turning point of the aviation industry from loss into profit.

Previously the focus was on flatbed versus a put-you-up-seat, plonk versus fine wines and champagne, red uniforms with high heels (optional for males) versus the more traditional classic style of British Airways, the latest culinary cuisine presided over by the most prestigious TV chef of the moment or a snack box with some marginally edible contents.

Now the talk was of load factors, yields per seat, the advantages of overbooking a flight, the weight of luggage, both in the hold and the cabin, a focus on cargo capacity and the thought of ‘what else can we sell to our clients?’

Nowadays you have to pay for the privilege of being able to book a seat so you can travel together with your partner, extra legroom seats, exit aisle seats even more (this is where in case of emergency you take the place of the crew and open the aircraft door - good news that you’re first out), extra luggage etc. It may astonish you to know that on some scheduled airlines, even if you have booked and paid for a business-class flatbed seat for you and your partner, if you do not hold the appropriate

The 1960’s meal service. coloured airline loyalty card, you can still be charged a total of £220 extra to book the seats of your choice on a return flight.

❝

We need our airline industry to make a good profit so that it can reinvest in the products and services in which it has continually invested since its inception.

❞

The reduction in oil prices has clearly also been a factor in current profit projections.

The average price of a barrel of Brent crude this year is $45 a barrel, the overall fuel costs of global airlines this year is expected to be 19.7% of the industry’s expenses, down from my recent high of 33.1% in 2012/13. Again, a note of caution: the markets predict over the coming years that oil prices will once again move upwards, so do not expect the airlines to absorb this cost as they have done before. Undoubtedly, ticket prices will rise broadly in line with the increased cost of fuel.

As the saying goes, there is strength in numbers, airlines are merging and forming ever bigger and stronger alliances, they are working together in a

much more open fashion and they have been actively lobbying to get changes to legislation to allow them to share pricing information on more transparent platforms.

You might well feel much of the above is not good news, but I would counter by saying it is exactly that! The airline industry that I enjoy so much working within is coming-of-age, but it is a business and must be treated as such. Profit must not be a dirty word.

We need our airline industry to make a good profit so that it can reinvest in the products and services in which it has continually invested since its inception. Having already talked about the price of fuel, the airline industry is expected this year to take delivery of 1,900 new aircraft, about half of which are projected to replace less fuelefficient aircraft.

So back to coffee. On average, airlines will make $10.42 for each passenger carried.

That’s about enough to buy four double espressos in Starbucks. Looked at from a different angle, Starbucks will earn about $11 for every $100 in sales while airlines make $5.60. Setting taxation issues aside, we don’t begrudge Starbucks their profitability, and nor should we begrudge the airline industry their profits. If you need time to contemplate that statement I recommend you stand by any runway and watch the current marvels of the skies, the Airbus A380 or the Boeing Dreamliner, take off or land. One can only marvel at the sheer technical genius contained within this industry.

So let’s keep enjoying flying and help push the airline industry’s profits way above a grande latte with an extra shot!

45

Travel - Paris

Shake hands in...

PARIS Despite a tough time, the French capital is very much open for business, with plenty of promising developments taking place. Rose Dykins reports

I

t’s a summery Saturday in Paris, and the French capital’s spellbinding architecture is baking in the 37-degree heat. As I schlep around the gentile Marais district, I pass empty boutiques glinting with impossibly delicate jewellery, their owners loitering outside chatting to friends. It’s a peaceful time of year; many Parisians have evacuated the city for the balmier temperatures by the coast.

That afternoon, I dip my toes in the cool water of the Louvre’s fizzing fountain and make return visits to reviving gelato parlours, before heading for Jardin d’Acclimatation – a

The Louvre

46

sprawling park complex 8km northwest of the city centre.

At the park’s main gates, there is airportstyle security, complete with plastic trays and scanners. The same occurs at the at the Louis Vuitton Foundation art museum around the corner, my bag is scanned by a machine, and I’m asked to take my sunglasses off. Paris is taking no chances when it comes to safety.

The atmosphere feels so benign that it’s almost surprising to see, until you remember what’s occurred here over the past eighteen months or so. Then, you understand this cautious approach.

With the perception that Paris is now suddenly a risky destination to visit, unfortunately, the city’s tourism industry has taken a hit. For example, Lena Le Goff, General Manager of the Grand Hotel du Palais Royal, a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World tells me hotel bookings from the Japanese market – normally a safe bet for Paris – were down 50% on the first quarter of this year compared to 2015. “The entire Parisian hotel market is down 11%, across all markets – and for the five-star market, it’s an average of 30%,” says Le Goff, “Generally the long-haul markets are the first to be affected. I think

Travel - Paris and Toronto, all known for their innovation and excellent facilities. But with its long history of hosting world fairs – the Eiffel Tower itself is a souvenir from the 1889 World Expo held here – Paris is an old hand at this.

Louis Vuitton Foundation

Paris suffered not only from the terrorist attacks we’ve had here, but also those that happened in Brussels in March. Then there was Nice….”

On the other hand, it seems business travellers have been largely undeterred by the attacks. People are still coming to Paris to work, and hotel bookings relating to business travel are experiencing an upward curve.

“Business travel hotel bookings have actually gone up by 14% in the first quarter of the year, which gives a lot of hope,” says Le Goff.

Looking firmly forward, Paris is throwing itself into bidding to host the two largest global events – both the 2024 Olympics and Expo 2025. Bidding for just one of these is no mean feat, and it’s a testament to the city’s determination to enter a new chapter, and to show the world once again that it is open for visitors.

And for British business travellers, having either of these world events on our doorstep would potentially be extremely advantageous – be it due to investment opportunities or for entertaining international clients.

international business,” said Nicholas Egloff, Director of Sales and Marketing at Small Luxury Hotels of the World property, Relais Christine Hotel. “Seine-Saint Denis – we call it Zone 93 – doesn’t have a good reputation, but it is close to the Stade de France and there are many company headquarters being built there. And Havas Worldwide, one of the world’s largest advertising companies, just opened up its headquarters in Pantin, in the northeast of Paris. So all these areas are being completely redone, and are developing a lot.”

Its plans include the redevelopment of Paris expo Porte de Versailles. Set 7km southwest of the city centre in Porte de Versailles, and currently the largest exhibition park in France, it was built for the 1900 World Expo. Its regeneration would transform it into “a model of sustainable development – a living space as much as a place of business.” Boasting a whopping seven pavilions for exhibitions, the current convention centre would also be transformed – judging by the renderings, it would do away with the current 1960s Brutalist structure, and replace it with a sleek undulating glass edifice. Impressively, despite the scale of the change, the plan is for the venue to continue to host events throughout the project.

Next September, Paris will find out whether its Olympic 2024 dreams will be realised, while a decision on Expo 2025 will follow in 2018.

If the French capital is successful in either or both of its bids, it will signify a restored faith in Paris, and an exciting, hopeful new era for France.

Should France be chosen for Expo 2025, the nation would receive eight million visitors over six months, visiting sites in both Paris and its surrounding region. Other cities likely to bid for the event are Manchester, Osaka

Grand Hotel Palais Royal

Stade de France

Paris’s €3.2 billion Olympic bid seems solid.

Fending off competition from Budapest, Hamburg, Los Angeles and Rome with a theme of “The Power of Dreams”, its bid states that 95% of the Olympic infrastructure is already built, and the plan is to repurpose existing infrastructure and sports venues. There would be two “core zones” – the Paris Centre Zone and the Paris Saint-Denis Zone.

The northern district of Saint-Denis is one of many Parisian suburbs currently undergoing a facelift – Olympics or no Olympics. “There are a few areas in the north of Paris that are investing a lot to attract both French and

47

Travel - Paris

FIVE TOP PLACES FOR MEETINGS/EVENTS LOUIS VUITTON FOUNDATION

➠

A Frank Gehry creation, this eye-catching museum next to Jardin d’Acclimatation park is roughly modelled to look like a boat, with sweeping sections of curved glass mimicking billowing sails. There’s a stunning auditorium with a rainbow stripe feature wall, and the space has transparent sides offering views of the mesmerising waterfall feature that flanks the museum. fondationlouisvuitton.fr

PARIS EXPO PORTE DE VERSAILLES

➠

France’s largest venue for exhibitions is set in Paris’s southwestern Porte de Versailles district. It covers 227,000 sqm in total, and is usually the venue of choice for international trade shows. paris-expoportedeversailles.com

ELEPHANT PANAME

➠

This dance academy’s elegant foyer and galleries look like something out of a Degas painting, with intricately carved wall panels and huge arched windows. elephantpaname.com

CARREAU DU TEMPLE

➠

An atmospheric blank canvas, this repurposed covered market dates back to 1863. It can host cocktail receptions for 2,000 people. carreaudutemple.eu

GUSTAVE EIFFEL ROOM

➠

Located on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower, and featuring 6.8-metre-high floor-to-ceiling window walls on two sides, this smart space was renovated a couple of years ago. It can seat 130 people for dinner. toureiffel.paris

48

Travel - Paris

HIDEAWAY HOTELS Planning on extending your business trip for a weekend in Paris? Here are some luxurious boltholes with plenty of privacy:

LE PAVILLON DE LA REINE

➠

A thick forest of ivy trails down the stone walls of this boutique hotel, in the upscale Le Marais district. You enter via a peaceful courtyard with seating, drenched with sunlight in the late afternoon, where you can sit with a glass of champagne from the honesty bar and listen in on the busking opera singer outside the hotel’s walls. The 54 rooms feature neutral boudoir-style decor, such as velvety fleur-de-lis wallpaper.

GRAND HOTEL DU PALAIS ROYAL

➠

Situated minutes from the Louvre, this chic 68-room property in a former Royal Palace building is well set-up for business travellers, with friendly staff and a smart yet comfortable bar. Le Lulli restaurant opens up onto a cobbled courtyard, and is perfect for a drinks reception. Meanwhile, its airy Panoramic suite has a terrace with a coveted view of Paris’s gothic rooftops – and would also work well for an intimate product launch.

HOTEL DU PETIT MOULIN

➠

Housed in a converted 17th-century boulangerie that maintains its original facade, this quirky hotel has just 17 rooms, with décor by Christian Lacroix that blends thick wooden beams with neon green work desks. It’s set in Le Marais district, and will appeal to those with an eccentric streak.

HOTEL RELAIS CHRISTINE

➠

Set in a former relais building in the Latin Quarter – and home to two adorable cats - this property will complete its ongoing refurbishment in February, with an indoor pool and new spa offering Guerlain products. The 48 rooms are furnished with carefully chosen antique pieces and decadent wallpaper, creating a real sense of place.

These properties are all part of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World portfolio, visit slh.com or call 0800 0482 314

49

Travel - Paris

DISTRICT DINING If you’re passing through either of these areas of Paris, stop for food at:

LATIN QUARTER: L’ATLAS Although it’s known for its generous seafood platters and Moroccan dishes, it’s the location of this bustling eatery on Rue de Buci that makes it. Grab two outward-facing chairs on the terrace to see street performers and musicians competing for your attention. latlas.fr

➠ Buskers outside L’Atlas

➠

LE MARAIS: CAFÉ DE L’INDUSTRIE Warm, vibrant and divided into two sections on opposite sides of Rue Saint Sabin, this excellent brasserie is a great place to sample French classics. I recommend the creamy potato gratin, and the tender steak tartare, which is served up with a selection of herbs and chives. cafedelindustrieparis.fr

➠

1ST ARRONDISSMENT: L'ESPANDON Fresh from its reopening this summer – after a $200 million facelift – the Ritz's Paris's signature restaurant is the epitome of elegance. Its refined menu features carefully crafted dishes such as John Dory fish with snow peas, enoki mushrooms, lime and coconut foam. ritzparis.com

MONTMARTRE: LES PETITES GOUTTES

➠

With its down-to-earth, industrial-chic decor, this informal option offers outdoor seating and well-done comfort food, from hamburgers to delectable chef's platters. It also regularly hosts live music. lespetitesgouttes.com

MONTPARNASSE: LA COUPOLE Formerly frequented by the likes of Picasso and Sartre, it's the striking Art Deco interior of this eatery that draw in the diners. Its seasonal menu is more varied than your typical Parisian brasserie, and features dishes such as fried phyllo-wrapped prawns with mango chutney. lacoupole-paris.com

➠

GETTING THERE

50

Eurostar operates up to 21 daily services from London St Pancras International to Paris Gare Du Nord, with one-way fares starting from £29, and a fastest journey time of two hours and 15 minutes.

Visit eurostar.com or call 03432 186 186

www.uniglobepreferred.co.uk

0845 180 7817

sales@uniglobepreferred.co.uk

For All Your Business Travel Needs UNIGLOBE Preferred Travel is part of the largest single brand Travel Management affiliation in the world.

Our unique structure allows for entrepreneurial leadership in each of our locations, ensuring a committed local ownership at the point of sale.

We are where you are

6103

PIER

recruitment

Pier Recruitment Bringing Service Back Into The Industry customer service, dustry come lost in the in ething which has be

100% and unrivalled som

Make it our business to understand you and your business am

g you build your te

Dedicated to helpin

We are expanding and now have two branches, Crawley and Brighton & Hove – successfully recruiting all over Sussex Have a large database of loyal candidates and clientele

Provide flexible bespoke recruitment packages to suit your business’ budgets Experienced team of 20 consultants w ho are dedicated to a max imum of 5 clients at a time, allowing for the be st possible service

www.pierrecruitment.co.uk info@pierrecruitment.co.uk

Bringing 100% customer service back into the industry

Recruitment

CORPORATE RECRUITMENT

by Amanda Menahem formerly, HR Director, Hastings Direct Insurance

R

ecruitment – it’s a love / hate thing isn’t it? As business owners and leaders we all know it’s the most important thing we do. After all, businesses are really just a collection of people and success dependent upon their skills and will. And so you have to get it right. Or at least try your best. But you don’t have time do you? It’s a self–defeating cycle that I’ve witnessed countless times in my career as a corporate HR Director; line managers swamped and desperately need to hire someone. But they’re too busy to focus sufficient time and attention to this important task…because they’re too swamped!

This is when you need a trusted advisor to keep you focused and take some of the legwork out. Whether it be your HR partner or a trusted Recruitment consultant, here are my top tips: Be flexible. You are much more likely to find talented individuals if you can offer flexible work patterns or arrangements. This is increasingly common and is increasingly expected.

Take a long term approach. Build networks with groups of people that are your target future employees. Become a ‘talent magnet’.

You do this by engaging in activities that attract future employees. For instance, speak at industry conferences, publish articles on-line and in industry publications, mentor others

– get out there! People should want to come and work for you without you having to go out and find them Only use exceptional recruitment consultants, otherwise you’re better off doing it yourself.

I have to admit, as an HR Director, my heart would sink when l’d get a cold call from a recruitment agent. I’ll go out on a controversial limb and say if an agent isn’t already within your network , then they’re probably not good enough - or you don’t have a good enough network. A good recruitment consultant will be immersed in your business industry and network and will be adept at building relationships. The best agents do not sell to you.

They build relationships with you and become trusted advisors. Choose your agents wisely in this respect. I would say the top 3 qualities to look for are: 1. They don’t sell, they get to know you, challenge you and you genuinely like them as people 2. They are creative in how they find candidates (such as getting involved in some of the activities I’ve outlined above) in addition to using social media and technology in advanced ways.

3. They should do a proper interview with candidates and should only be putting people in front of you who are clearly suitable (including culture fit and personality)

and should pre-empt any obvious questions you may have about a candidate.

Sadly, I have found these qualities quite rare amongst the agents I have come across but they are out there.

Spend sufficient time getting a really good ‘feel’ for your preferred candidates.

This means, getting to know them as people. Whilst an individual may have the competence/skill to do a certain task or job, this is not enough. They need to be motivated to use those skills and competencies.

This comes down to personality (and the underlying drivers of their behaviour) and culture fit. These can be revealed by asking open, general questions. I often ask them to tell me about colleagues they’ve stayed in touch with, what they’ve enjoyed the most and the least from previous jobs, what puts them outside their comfort zone, what was their last piece of feedback (good and bad) – and many other questions to get them talking generally about themselves. The trick then is to LISTEN very carefully and look out for the attitude, ethos, values and decision making that will suit or not suit the job you’re hiring them for. Finally, trust your gut feel and intuition. If in doubt DO NOT HIRE.

Do you agree? What are your recruitment nightmares? Email me at amanda@platinumbusinessmagazine. com

53

Recruitment

THE HIDDEN BRAIN DRAIN

by Emma Cleary, Director , Ten2Two Sussex emma@ten2two.org www.ten2two.org

The UK is missing out on up to £170bn worth of economic benefits by not having enough women in employment.

T

he annual ‘Women in Work’ Index from accountants PWC shows that the UK could boost its GDP by 9% (£170bn) if it could increase the number of women in work to match that of Sweden, the highest performing country.

There are significant opportunities for business to leverage the skills experience of women returning to work through flexible working. Part-time working and jobshare opportunities can encourage women who would prefer to work fewer hours, committing

54

❝

Office of National Statistics data shows that there are over 1.5m women in the UK who want to work more hours than they currently do

❞

to a job alongside their family responsibilities, to return to work and increase female employment levels.

It’s a big opportunity. Office of National Statistics data shows that there are over 1.5m women in the UK who want to work more hours than they currently do and a Government commission highlighted that the opportunity is significant amongst those with professional and managerial skills.

Recruitment

❝

Around 60% of candidates that register with Ten2Two are not otherwise active in the jobs market and do not register with other agencies.

❞

Conflict of Interests

A Compelling Business Case

Mothers with young children are a third less likely to be in work than fathers. Amongst the challenges women face is the availability of affordable childcare. In many cases full-time childcare can cost more than a parents’ posttax income, making work uneconomical.

There is a clear business case for employers offering greater flexibility. Reducing working hours of a role from a standard five day week to three days a week or to five hours a day reduces the salary requirement by 40% or more without compromise on the experience or abilities on offer. And if you’re clear about what you want this person to achieve, a lot can be done in 20-25 hours a week by an experienced person.

Ten2Two research also shows that women working full-time with young children in full-time childcare experience real challenges in managing and balancing work and family.

They often feel they have to compromise on both fronts and therefore don’t do either job as well as they could. Around 75% of working women with children are the primary carers so until the recent shared parental leave legislation matures and workplace attitudes change, it’s a female issue.

However, the situation can change when children start full-time education. Women who have taken a career break to start and care for their family often turn their attention to returning to the workplace when their children start school. The predictable hours, boosted by the range of breakfast and after-school activities, creates space for work.

Flexible Solution For over six million women in the UK, flexible working is the solution and for women with professional skills and experience, a part-time role allows them to re-enter the workplace, continue their career, use and maintain their hard-won skills and experience and care for their families, a situation many didn’t think possible.

Basing working hours around the school day hours or working several full-days a week with less childcare support makes work a viable option. Women in this situation also prefer to work locally. Long commutes and the unpredictability of travel can make balancing childcare and work problematic so working close to home or school completes the solution.

❝

For over six million women in the UK, flexible working is the solution

❞ Research has also shown that offering flexibility increases business efficiency by more closely matching hours and salary to the requirements of a job and increases business effectiveness through supporting seasonal or business peaks and troughs. Increases in employee satisfaction and retention has also been proven.

Employers’ attitudes about flexibility are important for women returning to the workplace. In a 2015 Ten2Two survey conducted amongst 650 women returning to work, 80% of respondents felt an employer’s attitude towards flexible work was an important factor in their decision to work for a company.

Finding the Win-Win Ten2Two was established ten years ago with a single purpose: To connect local businesses of all sizes with local professionals in their area seeking professional part-time and flexible work.

Based in local areas with real teams of

business professionals, Ten2Two has built a community of thousands of professionals who have asked for Ten2Two’s support in their flexible job-hunting. In exclusively specialising in flexible working and supporting candidates with free professional development events in areas such as working flexibly, CV writing, presentation skills, social media and networking, Ten2Two has privileged access to a community often invisible to other recruitment agencies.

Around 60% of candidates that register with Ten2Two are not otherwise active in the jobs market and do not register with other agencies. Candidates feel the recruitment industry is not interested in them as part-time professionals and that quality professional part-time and flexible opportunities are not easily visible to them.

Ten2Two has introduced flexible working to hundreds of businesses, many of whom have returned to find more talented people time and time again. They provide a full end to end service, handling every step of the recruitment process on behalf of their client and often consult on refining job descriptions, identifying the right part-time working pattern for the job and even on-boarding job-share partners.

Flexible working has no boundaries.

Sectors have ranged from Advertising and Digital Media to Pharma and Manufacturing, professional services to not for profit. Roles ranges from HR and Finance to Marketing and Sales. Even Surveyors and Food Scientists have been sourced.

The Future’s Flexible New generations of employees think flexibility is a natural aspect of their job.

They can connect and work from anywhere and expect a balance between work and play.

UK businesses still have some way to go to achieve this position but in the meantime Ten2Two is playing a part in bringing people and businesses together, flexibly.

www.ten2two.org

55

Recruitment

THE BRAVE NEW WORLD OF RECRUITMENT

By Stephen Barham Director, Harvey John Recruitment

I

believe, with advances in science, big data and technology, we are at a tipping point of change in the world of hiring and getting people to be happy and perform in their new roles. I have been in recruitment for over 15 years and have seen many changes, but I have never been as excited about the opportunity that lies ahead.

Most people think that doing things the same way they always have done works.

Sorry, it does not!

If people are so accurate in hiring and retaining the right people, why are 75% disengaging from their work? We all know people who are not happy in a job or company and they often are the candidates who are most active in the market place. In my view, hiring managers and applicants find it hard to have the confidence to hire or be hired without mitigating the risk of the things that are making them unhappy today.

Recruiting is often done on gut feel, with hiring people being based on competency and skills. The job does not work, and the data does not support that. Look no further than the chemistry group’s YouTube channel. www. thechemistrygroup.com With a world full of ‘high potentials’ and with the on-demand society that has been driven by big data and social media connecting everybody, social channels are nevertheless often just filled with white noise. People can

56

get what they want, when they want, how they want. Applying for a job has never been easier, but I would argue that candidate experience has never been so poor!

Hiring people based on “fit” or gut feel works because your brain is complex and runs lots of different criteria at once, which gives you your outcome. The difficulty is that much of the time people have conflicting agendas.

For example, the boss who is intimidated by a super-strong candidate and fears “they will want my job.” And there is the hiring manager who thinks that because a candidate went to the same school as himself, they must be a good fit.

Hiring in your own shadow is always dangerous, and when overlaid by the need to devise your attraction strategy, that is one of the biggest blockers.

So I have come up with three paradigms that, in my view, will change the recruitment industry forever; the three things you need to

Recruitment

❝

Most people think that doing things the same way they always have done works.

❞

Sorry, it does not!

do to make the most of the changing world we live in.

THREE PARADIGMS .... THAT ARE CHANGING THE WORLD OF RECRUITMENT: 1. Quality Data, not Big Data .

Data is everywhere and Big Data is the fad, but as Dr Gorkan Ahmetoglu from UCL suggests, it is not Big Data but Quality Data which provide the interesting insights. He has found that IQ, online profiles and psychometric testing are all better correlated to performance as the measure of future success than are CVs or interviews! Traditional interviews DON’T work, neither does CV selection. Even Facebook likes are a better measure of future success than the CV. 2. Complex and layered assessment, including reliable and valid testing That leads me to think about a conversation I had with Ron Tanner from Shirlaws about The Chemistry Group and how they see a lower correlation than expected of skills versus talent/success and ‘how previous performance is the least good predictor of future performance.’

GMA (General Mental Ability) and alignment to vision and values rank much higher as correlations. Ron suggested to me that a company is developing a system to test your drivers correlated to future performance. Now, is this a brave new world? As drivers are hard to change and are socially imprinted at a very young age, how does that align to diversity and equal opportunities?

3. More and more technology Technology has been changing with agile working and ‘bring your own device’ (BYOD). Read The Shift by Lynda Gratton and you will have a scare looking into what the world of work will look like in the future: PAs who work on algorithms.

Google is nearly there already, and two years ago, when I read the book, I would not believe that it could happen within ten years.

Social media is everywhere, and access to anything, anytime through mobile

system that includes alignment to your true, authentic value base. As a council leader once said to me, “I don’t believe the marketing-led values that are on our website have one value that underpins everything we do: To be fabulous!”

If you can’t measure it, don’t assess people on it. Making data-based decisions will always be fairer and more consistent.

technology means that people are consumed by technology: Emails, LinkedIn, databases, PPC, SEO, SaaS, SIP phone system apps that measure your activity and productivity. No wonder we are seeing the emergence of fitness, health camps and mindfulness, just to get some time away from the four to five screens that rule our lives!

3.

THE THREE SHIFTS .... YOU NEED TO MAKE: 1.

2.

Hire with vision Without looking at vision, the danger is that you recruit somebody who could be too close a match for the role from a skills perspective and therefore lose the critical element of personal development and stretch in a role that drives motivation for many people. Or worse, somebody who does not share the same vision or values as the team. Both can be costly mistakes.

With “80% of employee turnover due to bad hiring decisions” (The Harvard Business Review), the average cost of hiring being over twice the first year’s salary and 67% of individuals, once hired, not fully engaged in the workplace all definitely give food for thought and reflection!

Have a system that works, is measurable against engagement and performance in your hiring strategy If performance is your measure of success and engagement and happiness at work drive success, then these two measures should be your focus. Have a recruitment

Value the experiential side of the process I have seen many changes in technology and communication channels, moving from the fax and phones to having communications across multiple channels, including Twitter, LinkedIn, email, SMS, Google+, to name but a few. What drew my attention is that all these ‘bells and whistles’ have detracted from the service that recruitment agencies should offer.

That is making sure that everybody gets the best possible experience they can. That starts at reading the advert through to ongoing engagement and talent management.

So what is the solution? As with many things in life, it is back to basics! Simplify, know what you can do well and do it brilliantly!

Communicate in the way that the applicants, customers and stakeholders will respond to best, but ONLY if you can use these systems efficiently and effectively. Don’t overcomplicate things and focus on keeping people engaged in what is normally a delicate process. Big Data has made this more difficult as we all operate in an environment of countless emails, calls and interruptions and things that fall outside of our control, but the art is ensuring the candidate’s experience is paramount.

Harvey John Recruitment stephenbarham@harveyjohn.com www.harveyjohn.com Tel: 01273 827472

57

Recruitment

TIMES ARE CHANGING

by Katie Gibson Founder and Director, Pier Recruitment

P

ier Recruitment was founded in 2012 by myself and other industry experts who decided it was time for a change.

As I’m sure many will appreciate, recruitment is a very fast-paced and often cutthroat industry and it therefore becomes easy to succumb to the demons of the sector; you become driven by figures, meeting targets, making sales calls and hitting your KPIs. Of course, there is no doubt that this is important and comes with the territory, however it is easy to forget other crucial components of being a recruitment consultant. First and foremost, you are there to provide a service; finding candidates’ jobs and helping businesses grow and retain their workforce.

Sadly, the ‘service’ aspect of the industry

58

is often neglected, leaving clients with a bad taste in their mouth and placing candidates in jobs they dislike. Indeed, there are numerous consultants who provide an excellent service to

❝

we fill approximately 80% of all vacancies given to us when the industry average is just 33%.

❞

everyone they work with, but their reputations are sometimes tarnished. This is why I decided

to make a stand and open Pier.

Pier Recruitment is a bespoke Recruitment Agency designed to diverge from the large corporate agencies who are generally only interested in how many candidates are on the books, the number of jobs consultants are working on and how many CVs have been sent to a client. We want to ensure that we aren’t labelled as just ‘another recruitment agency’ but are appreciated as a dedicated group of professionals who will deliver the service all clients and candidates deserve.

The core of our ethos is to provide 100% customer service to both clients and candidates by offering a consultative, honest and transparent approach. My consultants only work with a maximum of five clients at

Recruitment a time, which ensures that they offer the best service possible. We also have consultants who specialise in specific industry divisions such as Property, Travel, Finance, Marketing and Legal (to name a few) which means that they have an in-depth knowledge of vacancy details and jargon found within those sectors.

Consequently, we are able to find suitable candidates more effectively and efficiently than our more generalist counterparts. In cases where we need to find an incredibly ‘rare’ candidate for a notoriously difficult-to-fill job, we have an executive search consultant who is adept at sourcing for such vacancies.

Where we also differ from other agencies is that we endeavour to meet every single candidate and client which solidifies our ability to successfully match candidates to their perfect role. This simple solution means that we can assess how our clients work, what their ethics are and how their team operates, meaning that we can place candidates in vacancies by gauging both their skill set and team fit. However, our thoughts are also very much with our candidates. We meet everyone to make sure we get their requirements correct. If we understand candidates career paths, ambitions and basic requirements, we can ensure they are satisfied with the job opportunities we approach them with.

Our commitment seems to have struck a chord across the board, outlined by our numerous testimonials and reviews which can be found on Google, our social media sites and new website. Furthermore, recent statistics also suggest that our service driven approach seems to work as we fill approximately 80% of all vacancies given to us (both temporary and permanent), when the industry average is just 33%.

I am confident that the business will

continue to grow from strength to strength as in just 4 years we have expanded from two to fifteen, and we now have two branches, having opened our Crawley branch in the summer of 2016. We are so grateful that the demand for our services has enabled us to

❝

As I’m sure many will appreciate, recruitment is a very fast-paced and often cut-throat industry and it therefore becomes easy to succumb to the demons of the sector

❞

expand so quickly, as we can now register more and more candidates, resulting in more and more local jobs being filled. Knowing that we are helping people find work whilst growing the local economy really makes the tough days so much easier – and trust me, we have our fair share of tough days!

As I’m sure many in the industry will

agree, recruitment is highly temperamental as the market is driven either by scarcity of candidates, or scarcity of vacancies. Depending on the economic environment, there is usually a shift in the volume of jobs available verses the candidates looking for work. With this in mind, our job becomes a balancing act to ensure we work to what the industry demands of us.

Our team’s experience of working through recessions and booms means we understand the changing market. We are interested in working with clients’ long term, helping them retain their best staff as well as attracting excellent new recruits.

We are not a company to rest on our laurels and I am keen to keep pushing the company forward. Our next goal is to open a local branch in the Worthing area to support our growing client portfolio and candidate pool, in Sussex.

If you wish to contact Pier Recruitment, please email info@pierrecruitment.co.uk or call 01273 874154 (Brighton) or 01293 223800 (Crawley). We look forward to hearing from you!

59

Part-time Professionals.

Rich Talent.

Aordable Cost.

Businesses...

Need talented people to help you aordably grow and improve your business? Talk to us about recruiting the best local part-time professionals.

Find out more:

www.ten2two.org/location/sussex

07810 541599 emma@ten2two.org

OUR SPA IS YOUR SPA

SPA MEMBERSHIP

(Available 5 days a week – Monday to Friday – within spa opening hours)

3 MONTH MEMBERSHIP - £80 PER MONTH (payable upfront in full) Joining Fee: £50. If you choose to extend your membership your joining fee will be returned in the form of spa credit to the value of £50. Your monthly fee will also reduce to the 12 month cost from the 4th month.

12 MONTH MEMBERSHIP - £68 PER MONTH (payable upfront in full or by Direct Debit) Joining Fee: £70. Your joining fee will be returned at the end of the 12 months in the form of spa credit to the value of £70.

Membership Terms and Conditions apply. Full details will be supplied on application.

For details and enquiries call 01273 224398 or email spateam@grandbrighton.co.uk THE GRAND BRIGHTON, 97-99 KING’S ROAD, BRIGHTON, EAST SUSSEX, BN1 2FW www.grandbrighton.co.uk |

The Grand Hotel Brighton

@GrandBrighton

Coast to Capital lep

ENTERPRISE ADVISER NETWORK Preparing the workforce of the future

by Georgina Angele Enterprise Coordinator

I

n last month’s edition of Platinum Business, Careers & Enterprise Company (CEC) and the Enterprise Adviser Network was introduced as having launched in the Coast to Capital region. The Careers & Enterprise Company is an employer-led organisation that has been set up to inspire and prepare young people for the fast-changing world of work. The role of the CEC is to act as a catalyst in the fragmented landscape of careers and enterprise, supporting programmes that work, filling gaps in education and training provision and ensuring tailored coverage across the country.

Over the course of the past 2 academic years, 37 of the 39 Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) in England have embarked on a national initiative to recruit, support and coordinate a regional volunteer network of senior business leaders – Enterprise Advisers (EA’s) - from local private, public and voluntary organisations, to work strategically with school and college leaders on the creation of careers education plans and meaningful, quality encounters for students and teachers with local, regional and national employers, training providers and apprentices.

Our schools and colleges work with dedication to inspire and prepare young people for the fast-changing world of work.

Across all employment sectors and sizes of organisations, employers are eager to help and support. They want to make sure that people leave education and seek employment, they

❝

Over the past 10 months, 20 schools and colleges in the Coast to Capital region have already engaged in the creation of an Enterprise Adviser Network

62

❞

are confident about what they want to do and are as ready as they can be for what is ahead.

Employers look for effective national and regional recruitment strategies and growing pipelines of local talent directly from our schools, colleges and universities is critical to the success of these strategies.

Our young people have no shortage of aspiration, ambition and desire to succeed.

However, whilst there are excellent, local examples of engagement between education and business; we are still some way from ensuring that all young people are given the inspiration, information and support they need to enter the world of employment.

❝

Most young people do not expect to have jobs like their parents. They are right.

❞ Academic attainment is improving; many of our regional schools, academies and colleges recently publishing the fantastic GCSE and A level results of their students. Yet, employers remain concerned about young people’s readiness for the workplace. Although, national unemployment is declining, young people are three times more likely to be unemployed than the rest of the population.

Most young people do not expect to have jobs like their parents. They are right. The workplace and the skills employers need are changing… and in most sectors they are changing fast due to the advances and increased use of technology in business. Small and medium sized companies now account for the majority of employment opportunities in the UK. In the Coast to Capital region, 99% of registered businesses are SME’s.

❝

Research conducted shows “More encounters with employers whilst at schools means young people are significantly less likely to be unemployed and will earn up to 18% more” *Source ‘Percy, C & A Mann, A, 2014 Understanding Employer Engagement in Education.

❞

Over the past 10 months, 20 schools and colleges in the Coast to Capital region have already engaged in the creation of an Enterprise Adviser Network. Funding to upscale the EAN across the entire region is in place and therefore Coast to Capital LEP is now actively recruiting senior business leaders and employers to join the local EAN and become an essential part of a national Enterprise Adviser Network that is already over 850 people strong across the country. The EAN will have a priority sector focus in line with those of Coast to Capital Skills Strategy, including Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering, Creative Digital & IT, Construction, Health & Social Care and Visitor & Rural Economies. In this first phase of the EAN, Coast to Capital are thrilled to have been supported by volunteer Enterprise Advisers in the following organisations: Amplicon, Bowers & Wilkins Group, Business in the Community, Cap Gemini, Chichester College, Glaxo SmithKline, Go Crimson, Hayden Consulting, John Young Media, Kingsley Group, Parafix Holdings Ltd, Parsons Brinckerhoff, RiiG Ltd, RARE Business, Saga Healthcare, Southern Water, STEMSussex, Sussex County Cricket Club, The Body Shop, URT Group Ltd, Work & Learning Opportunities C.I.C and Young Enterprise.

To find out how you and your organisation can be involved, contact Georgina directly on georgina.angele@coast2capital.org. uk or 07879 980444.

Coast to Capital lep COAST TO CAPITAL LEP is working with the Careers & Enterprise Company to establish a network to make it easier for schools and colleges to connect with employers and education providers and vice versa. At the heart of this network is a set of full-time Enterprise Coordinators, each of whom works with a cluster of 20 schools and colleges. Part of their role is to recruit organisations and individuals into the network, either as Enterprise Advisers or to deliver activities or encounters in a school or workplace setting that can strength the Careers Education strategy being delivered to students. At full coverage there will be 175 Enterprise Coordinators working with the 3500+ secondary schools and colleges across England. Coast to Capital are recruiting a number of Enterprise Coordinators to support the upscale of the EAN across West Sussex, Brighton & Hove, East Surrey and Croydon.

In addition to the Enterprise Coordinators, each school or college is supported by a senior and strategic volunteer – their Enterprise Adviser. Their role is provide strategic counsel to the Head Teacher and/or Principal and their senior team, unlocking relationships with other businesses and providing guidance on the how best to connect with employers so that activities can be built into the school or colleges careers plans for their teachers and students.

This is how the world of work is shaping the careers education delivered locally in our schools and fuelling the aspirations of young people for local jobs and apprentices. Organisations are able to showcase and promote routes into their organisations directly to young people who are attaining skills and qualifications that business needs

OAK GROVE COLLEGE In the first year of the EAN, Oak Grove College was identified as the SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disability) college to be invited to join the network.

Rebecca Tonks is the Enterprise Adviser for the college and has been working with them for the last few months. Rebecca has recently sold her music business and has also done some business education delivery with Young Enterprise as well as having a background in recruitment, training and sales. She has worked with a number of SEND groups and individuals as part of her music business.

“I was delighted to be asked to be Enterprise Adviser for Oak Grove College. I am passionate about giving all young people the very best opportunities in life and being able to use my experience and provide support for the college is a real privilege.”

The journey so far..

Georgina introduced Rebecca to Philip Potter, Head of the College, and his team Carol, David and Laura. They talked through the work of the Careers and Enterprise

Company and how that could translate to provide the best support for young people with SEND. Rebecca and the Senior Leadership Team at the college worked together to audit the current enterprise provision in the college in order to scope the creation of a careers education strategy that would provide the most value for their students and teachers.

The college is already doing some great work including their Plant Sale which runs for two weeks every year and involves many of the students in different roles. Some help to grow the plants in the college nursery, some help to sell them and many of the students work in the café. The café is a great resource that is open to the public during the sale. The young people prepare and serve the food which gives them great experience in dealing with others as well as helping with their numeracy skills.

Building on this, the college have signed up to do the Team Programme with Young Enterprise. The programme is aimed at 14 – 19 year olds who have mild to moderate learning difficulties or are studying for Entry Level or Level 1 qualifications. A team of students form their own company and run it for one or two years under the guidance of

their teacher, local business volunteer and Young Enterprise Manager.

Each student takes on a job role and works as part of a team to be responsible for an area of business such as Finance, Sales or Marketing.

Philip Potter is delighted with the work so far and says “Being involved with the Coast to Capital EAN and Rebecca is giving our students a greater range of choices in preparation for the world of work and independent living. The activities planned will have a huge impact on their ability to get work in an industry where they can really excel.”

Rebecca is also supporting the excellent work being done by David Alderton who is responsible for organising the work placement opportunities for the students.

Together they are planning to expand on the number of placement opportunities. “We would love to speak with local employers to discuss how a young person with SEND would be a real asset to their business”.

63

Anger Management

ANGER MANAGEMENT

WE ARE ALL DOOMED

by Maarten Hoffmann

I

t was not so long ago that we were warned that if the British public had the temerity to vote to leave the EU, the world would end, our houses would be worth squat, our economy would shrink to the size of the Isle of Wight and the boogie man would come and get us.

The British public stuck two fingers up to that and voted leave, as you might have noticed. There is no doubt that some sectors are suffering; equally, we do not really know what is round the corner, but the signs today are that the Project Fear stormtroopers were talking out of their collective arses out of selfinterest and the political imperative of clinging onto as much personal power for as long as possible, regardless of the consequences for the country.

How tunes have changed: • JP Morgan, June 3rd: “Brexit is a terrible deal for the British economy and jobs.”

• JP Morgan, Sept 5th: “The rebound in August takes out the risk of recession.”

• Goldman Sachs, June 26th: “We now expect the economy to enter a mild recession by early 2017.”

• Goldman Sachs, Sept 5th: “We now expect the UK economy to avoid even the technical recession that we had foreseen immediately after the referendum.”

• Credit Suisse, Jan 5th: “If the UK votes to leave the EU it is likely to entail an immediate and simultaneous economic and financial shock for the UK.” • Credit Suisse, Sept 6th: “The impact on

the UK economy of the UK’s vote to leave the EU seems to be materially less negative than we expected.”

The Swiss banking giant UBS issued shrill warnings that up to £350 billion could be wiped off the value of the FTSE100. Since the vote, it has risen by more than 11%.

Morgan Stanley, who donated £250,000 to the Remain camp, said that there would be a sharp recession and recently stated that since then ‘performance has been much better than expected.’

Sterling has risen above £1.34 against the dollar for the first time since mid-July, having fallen from $1.50 to $1.28 following the Brexit vote.

The two doom-peddlers-in-chief were David Cameron and George Osborne. Two gentlemen who are now unemployed and unemployable. Cameron stated that to leave would be to “put a bomb under the economy” and Osborne stated that it would cause a “DIY recession.”

If l had another 30 pages to write, l could list all the other doom mongers, but suffice it to say there were lots of them, and they were all wrong.

Were they wrong or were they lying for their own self-interest? The banks and investment houses have history here. If we recall the 2008 recession (the next person l hear call it a ‘credit crunch’ will get hit with a wet kipper), this was caused by US banks sticking their heads in the sand, giving money away like confetti and then being as surprised as the rest of us when it all went tits up. On that occasion, they were as wrong as Michael Fish in 1987, when he stated there was no hurricane coming, but regarding Brexit, l feel

64

Anger Management

they lied out of self-interest and the thirst for power. The power that comes from being at the EU table; the power that comes from keeping the UK in the EU so that they can flog goods and services to a wider range of people and the health of the UK can go hang.

There was no thought of what was best for the country, just what was best for them and how they could make another couple of billion. It was best for them that we stayed, not for us.

❝

The EU is a bungling, overloaded train full of lightweights, incompetents, illiterates and wasters who, outside of the Brussels bubble, would struggle to get a job saying ‘would you like fries with that?’

❞

So who the hell do we listen to now?

That’s the problem. We need leaders, both corporate and political, who can be trusted to lead in the best interest of the country. Corporates will always have only their shareholders’ interests at heart, but politicians should be bound by a moral code to carry out their duty to the country.

The erosion of trust is, ultimately, the erosion of civilised society. If we cannot trust our leaders, then who the hell can we trust?

I think the vote to pop Theresa May into Downing Street was an excellent move, and l

have high hopes, but this is tinged with a small piece of me that says ‘watch out, they are all at it.’ We trusted Blair, we trusted Cameron and now we are to trust May. The EU is a bungling, overloaded train full of lightweights, incompetents, illiterates and wasters who, outside of the Brussels bubble, would struggle to get a job saying ‘would you like fries with that?’ or cleaning windows, and it is, in my humble opinion, heading for the buffers at breakout speed.

Now, wouldn’t that be a novelty?

This piece could be seen as a tad rash as we have little true understanding off what will occure once Article 50 is triggered but to date, many august bodies have been plain wrong and l believe the future of the UK economy is in OUR hands. Work even harder, export more and be creative and above all, let’s stop talking the country down. The power of positive thinking is a mighty thing and we are really quite good at it.

The subject of immigration alone will likely see the demise of Merkel, Rutte (Holland), Renzi (Italy) and Rajoy (Spain) and will usher in hard-right parties that will lead the continent closer to war, not further away.

This, of course, was the EU’s founding principle, and one they have handled so spectacularly incompetently that it quite beggars belief.

The UK can stand alone as we are a nation that have always punched well above our weight and perform best when our backs are against the wall. What we deserve are leaders who put the country first, before their own self-interests, and who are right more often than they are wrong.

65

Motoring

MOTORING NEWS MOST POWERFUL AUDI TT The much-loved Audi TT has a new family member - the 2.5 TFSI RS with a sevenspeed S tronic transmission producing 400PS, a 0-62 of 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 174 mph. It comes with the fabulous ‘virtual cockpit’ and Google earth street view and earth mapping. Its a lot of car for £51,800. Available late September

ELECTRIC VEHICLES ARE TAKING OVER With the UK EV market currently at around 80,000 vehicles and rising rapidly, the UK’s leading EV charging platform Zap-Map passed a significant milestone in August by attracting over 40,000 users.

These figures cement Zap-Map’s position as the UK’s number one EV charging platform, covering all charging networks and providing EV drivers with key charge point information. Integral with the mapping service is ZapChat, a real-time peer-to-peer comms channel allowing users to provide status updates and last-mile information.

CUSHTY MOTOR

BACK TO THE 60’S

A very special 1973 Jaguar E-Type Series III Roadster, that starred in the second ever episode of legendary BBC sitcom Only Fools & Horses, sold for an impressive £115,875 recently at auction. Invited to appear in the episode titled “Go West Young Man“, and forever since been known as “Boycie’s E-Type” the car was hard fought over by several buyers in the room. The largely original and one owner car, sold for more than £40,000 over its lower estimate.

Caterham Cars has built a variant of its iconic Seven that was seemingly planned in the mid-1960s but never launched – the Caterham Seven Sprint.

As though dug up in a time capsule, the retro detailing of the Caterham Seven Sprint will delight Seven purists and provides the perfect scene-setter to the brand’s ‘60 Years of the Seven’ anniversary, which will be celebrated next year.

The Sprint, priced from £27,995, will finally be available to order from September 9th, when the car will be launched at the Goodwood Revival, a fittingly retro setting for a car with one wheel firmly planted in the ‘60s. Remember The Prisoner TV show? The balloon is an optional extra.

SCOOTER SATNAV TomTom has created the world’s first scooter smartphone-connected satnav called TomTom VIO. The VIO is highly functional but makes a strong visual statement - once you’ve seen it on a scooter the bike looks naked without it. The circular glove-friendly touchscreen device acts as an extension to a connected smartphone, which uses the well-developed app as the brains. No more taking a phone out of the pocket while riding, finally.

66

BMW Business Partnership

A FLEET OF BENEFITS. AWARD-WINNING, SIMPLE FLEET MANAGEMENT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES. If you manage a fleet of fewer than 50 company cars, the award-winning BMW Business Partnership has been designed specifically for you. The full range of BMW models are available to order, along with compelling contract hire rates and comprehensive service and maintenance packages.

For more information, contact Dean Eaton, Local Business Development Manager, on 0800 915 4700.

Vines of Gatwick, Stephenson Way, Three Bridges, Crawley RH10 1TN 0800 915 4700 www.vinesofgatwickbmw.co.uk/business

AWARD WINNING. • The BMW Business Partnership Programme voted ‘Best SME Company Car Programme’ at Business Car Manager Awards 2015

PROGRAMME BENEFITS. • Compelling contract hire rates • Your own dedicated Local Business Manager • Comprehensive service & maintenance packages available

Official fuel economy figures for the BMW range: Urban 13.8-72.4mpg (20.5-3.9l/100km). Extra Urban 30.4-91.3mpg (9.3-3.1l/100km).

Combined 21.1-470.8mpg (13.4-0.06l/100km). CO2 Emissions 325-0g/km. Figures may vary depending on driving style and conditions.

Motoring

VAUXHALL GTC

By Motoring Editor, Maarten Hoffmann

T

he Astra sells like hotcakes but is not, to my eye, a particularly inspiring design although l must say it is getting better and better every time they offer a re-design.

Wait no longer if you are a Luton fan as the GTC is here with bags of style and a clean, perfectly proportioned body. Although it is based on the Astra’s Delta platform that is where the sharing of the parts bins stops as the door handles and and roof aerial are the only two body items shared between the models. It also gets the front suspension from

68

the Insignia VXR which is what makes this a nifty little mover.

The stiffer suspension makes it ride well and the HiPerStrut front suspension reduces the dreaded torque steer and helps it glide and gives a responsive feel through the wheel.

Power plant choice is quite important here as the turbocharged 1.4 and 1.6 are pretty good but it is the preferred 2-litre that does the job and gets you up the road at a good lick. What you do notice is the accuracy and crispness of the steering and the agile chassis giving the

❝

This really is endlessly annoying and one would presume can be fixed with a tenner and a bit of ingenuity from the design team.

❞

Motoring

car a purposeful drive that matches the stylish rake of the exterior.

❝

It also gets the front suspension from the Insignia VXR which is what makes this a nifty little mover.

❞

The interior is very much Astra and not very inspiring but it has all the gizmos you need and has a very logical and well-planned layout.

The coupe feel is further imprinted with a lower seating position and there is a surprising amount of room in the back for a coupe although your rear seat passengers will suffer from a slight lack of anything to look at.

As with all such stylish coupes, there are

come sacrifices you will have to make. A small rear window, large and heavy doors and a surprisingly small turning circle. On the plus side is the look of the thing. It really is good looking and try as l might as l circled the thing like a ravenous vulture seeking out a weakness, l couldn’t find one. It looks damn good from every angle.

What is surprising for a coupe is the size of the boot. It really is quite cavernous and will take three full size suitcases with ease. What is also surprising are the front seats. Tilt and slide them forward to allow passengers to climb aboard and they don’t then return to the same position leaving you to re-set them every time.

This really is endlessly annoying and one would presume can be fixed with a tenner and a bit of ingenuity from the design team.

In this sector and price range, the competition will come from the the Scirocco,

Mégane Coupe, Audi A3 and BMW 1 Series and l must say that the GTC stands up really well. It will never be a Germanic piece of clockwork engineering and you might be somewhat disappointed at the re-sale value after a year or two but all in all, Luton has turned out a little corker.

TECHNICAL STUFF Model tested: GTC Limited Edition 1.6 CDTi ecoFlex Engine: 1.6-litre Power: 136 bhp Performance: 0-60mph 9.5 seconds Top Speed: 123 mph Economy: 65.7 mpg combined Price: £25,860.00 As tested: £28,140.00

69

Motoring

THE FUTURE IS HERE

By Motoring Editor, Maarten Hoffmann

Mercedes-Benz has never been a company to rest on its laurels and their continuous updating and refreshing of their model line-up continues apace.

Here are the most exciting new models coming:

GLC COUPE A few years back we saw the advent of a new class of car - the Coupe SUV, and here is the Mercedes-Benz contribution to the sector. Not long after we saw the hugely popular GLC land in the showrooms, now we have the long-awaited Coupe variant with swooping lines and a rugged stance. Like its bigger brother, the Coupe benefits from more than just a curvy roof. It’s 76mm longer, 40mm lower and 40mm wider than its sibling affording it a more aggressive look. At launch, we will have two engine options - a 4-cylinder or 6-cylinder diesel, whilst l will be looking forward to the coming V6 AMG GLC43. The entire range will benefit from four-wheel drive and that just about rounds off a spectacular package that, l am sure, will fly out of the showrooms.

Priced from ÂŁ40,580 and available now.

70

Motoring

C-CLASS CABRIOLET Technically, this is the first time that Mercedes-Benz have launched a convertible version of the C-Class. The CLK certainly filled the gap but was never really a true C-Class. Wait no longer as one of the prettiest cars l have seen for a while is indeed the new C-Class Cabriolet.

And they have not skimped on the variants as it is available with two diesel engines, two petrol engines and three high powered AMG models. Not content with that, they also offer four-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive and the choice of automatic or manual. The model that will likely take the lions share of the sales will be the C250d, offering 210bhp and very lively performance. The most remarkable thing is the total lack of any wind noise when the roof is up. Drop the roof, which can be done up on the move to 30mph, and you have a beautiful, luxurious cruiser with lashings of refinement and an interior that is so well put together that you might never want to get out of it.

Priced from £36,200 and available now.

E-CLASS ESTATE Few cars can do it all. The E-Class Estate is certainly one of them. As commodious as a cathedral, smooth as silk and reassuringly stylish, it is also one of the very few estates that offers a third row of seats (arriving with the new model next year) and this extra space cannot be taken for granted, as if it is purchased for shipping children around, the difference between hauling five and seven is highly significant. The other design item that the Mercedes-Benz geniuses have managed is to make it look quite compact at the same time as making its interior cavernous. The boot opening is 1.1 metres wide and it will take a 3.2 metre load and of course, it has that famous sweeping dash that looks delicious.

Available with 191bhp 4-cylinder and 254bhp V6 turbodiesel married to a nine-speed auto transmission you have it all, but that is never enough for Mercedes.

Try the 395bhp 3-litre V6 petrol in next years fourwheel drive AMG E43 and you will soon come to realise that there is a model from every buyer.

Prices from £37,935 and available now

Stuart Head, Group Head of Fleet Sales, Sandown Group, Mercedes-Benz Tel: 01483 654541 Mail: stuart.head@sandown-mercedes.co.uk Basingstoke • Dorchester • Guildford • Hindhead • Poole • Salisbury • www.sandown-group.co.uk

71

Motoring

GOLF GTI

By Motoring Editor, Maarten Hoffmann

W

❝

ho hasn’t had a GTl? Well, those of you with your hands down have missed a lark.It was the first affordable hot hatch we could get hands on that did 0-60mph in 9 seconds. There was also an excellent wheeze whereby it was cheaper to buy it from Germany in RHD, go collect it and get a tour of the factory for less than you could buy it in the UK. We did it in our thousands before they slammed that loophole shut.

The GTl was groundbreaking in many respects and therefore it was with great trepidation that l took delivery of the first one l have driven for over 20 years.

The GTl was groundbreaking in many respects and therefore it was with great trepidation that l took delivery of the first one l have driven for over 20 years.

This Mk 7 version is punchy and powerful

72

❞

with a chassis that’s smooth in everyday mode and grips like a leech in the corners.

And it’s German, so that bullet proof quality leeks through every pore. It hasn’t changed,

in the main, since launch in 1974. It rides flat and smooth, departs the lights like a startled greyhound and will last a lifetime - or more likely see you out if you look after it.

It ain’t cheap but then quality never is. Its competition would be the Megane Sport, Astra VXR, Ford Focus ST and BMW135i and you would need to be certified if you went for the Renault or Vauxhall. The BMW is a different type of car and the Ford, although very good, doesn’t quite carry the badge cache so, in short, it’s in a class of its own. The Focus RS would give it a run for its money.

As standard, the GTI gets a strong turbocharged 2.0 litre petrol engine but you

Motoring

can add VW’s performance pack which boosts power and adds performance-orientated features such as a front differential. It’s an expensive option though, so l might just stick with the standard car given it’s so capable.

A twin-clutch automatic is also available but again, unless you’re dead determined, l’d go for the six-speed manual.

One thing that annoys me of modern midrange fast cars is that first gear is a waste of space. You need it but the legs are so short that you are grabbing second in a jiffy, and, with front wheel drive, suffering detestable tire scrabble. Not so the GTl. It has great first gear stretch and feels smooth through the power band - all the way to 153 mph. It is firm and that has been a characteristic of the GTl

since time began but the trade off is the great handling, secure in any hands, and great rate of acceleration.

Inside, l chuckle to see the Jacara check cloth interior. I hate non-leather interiors but here, it would of been a travesty to change it.

Everything in here is as it should be (they’re Germans), the layout is superb (they’re Germans) and the quality is top notch (they’re …oh, you get the idea!)

The other novelty back in 1974, was the hatch concept that didn’t make the profile of the car look like a Zephyr estate yet provided this yawning chasm at the back. This one will take a huge load and with a 40/60 rear seats split and a low loading lip, it fits the bill.

Being a very immature speed freak, l would plump for the R variant and with 296bhp and four-wheel drive - it’s a barnstormer. For you mere mortals, the GTl is every thing you will need to be stylish, fast, safe and cool, in whatever order you so desire, all in one automobile.

A place in my fantasy 7-car garage?

Probably.

TECHNICAL STUFF Model tested: 2.0-litre TSI 220PS Engine: 2.0-litre Power: 220 PS Performance: 0-62mph 6.5 seconds Top Speed: 152 mph Economy: 47.10 mpg Price from: £27,495.00

73

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.

DAILY EVENTS

Over 100 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.

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 12.00 The Freedom Revolution | Penina Shepherd of Acumen Business Law 13.00 Speaking in Public Seminar | By Ges Ray 14.00 5 Key Strategies to profitable growth | By Stephen Elliott of Advice 4 Business

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.

Business Awards

GLITTERING KINGSTON Kingston is getting set to celebrate the biggest event on its business calendar the Kingston Business Excellence Awards 2016 in association with NatWest.

T

he glittering, black-tie Gala Awards Dinner at the Holiday Inn, Kingston upon Thames on Thursday, 13th October is the hot ticket of the year, with tables at the event virtually selling out within weeks.

Guests at the sparkling evening will enjoy a three course meal with wine, as well as entertainment and speeches from special guest speakers.

organisations and individuals who contribute to Kingston’s dynamic and vibrant economy.”

Independent adjudicator, Ross Sturley, said. “I think it shows that Kingston, as a centre of enterprise, is well positioned to grow and prosper.”

More than 50 shortlisted companies are in line to win awards across 12 categories, covering every aspect of business. The winners will be exclusively announced at the Gala dinner.

Katharine Glass, Director of organisers White Label commented: “This year’s glittering Gala Awards Dinner promises to be a wonderful evening, celebrating and highlighting the many fantastic businesses,

The 2016 shortlist Commitment to the Community Sponsored by DoubleTree by Hilton 1 ABLE (The Academy for Business Leaders & Entrepreneurs) 2 Genuine Solutions Group 3 Kingston Pound Community Association 4 Kingston Race and Equalities Council 5 Kingston Vineyard and Growbaby 6 London Ambulance Service Best Business for Customer Service Sponsored by McDonalds 1 Autotec Workshop 2 Cornucopia Event 3 Genuine Solutions Limited 4 Holiday Inn London-Kingston South 5 IQ in IT Ltd. 6 Ismails Barbers 7 Meeting Point UK 8 The Cheeky Pea 9 The Terrace Eatery 10 Warren Evans Beds Best Start-Up Business (under 2 years) Sponsored by GSUK

1 A and G Hairdressing 2 Community Motors CIC 3 Dickie Wilkinson DickieSays 4 Greenwoods Residential 5 Pangea | Connecting Everything 6 Prestige Business Solutions 7 Sartorial 8 The Fellowship Barber Shop

2 Caterpillars Cafe 3 CD Jennings & Sons Butchers 4 Food for Thought 5 Glutopia Bakery 6 Natterjacks 7 The Cheeky Pea 8 YK Beauty ltd

Entrepreneur of the Year Sponsored by CNM Estates 1 Clare Garner, Prestige Business Solutions 2 Ian Brigden, Meeting Point UK 3 Katerina Damcova, IQ in IT LTD 4 Mini Vohra, Cornucopia Events 5 Sara Osborne, Glutopia Bakery 6 Steven Grant, Figment Agency

Best SME Business (turnover under £15m) Sponsored by Antoinette Hotel Group 1 Caterpillars Cafe 2 Cornucopia Event 3 GSUK Ltd 4 IQ in IT LTD 5 Meeting Point UK 6 Speclean

Best Business for Food and Hospitality 1 Al Forno 2 Glenmore House 3 Jack’s Kitchen at the Holiday Inn London - Kingston South 4 Ravens Ait 5 The Boaters Inn 6 The Cheeky Pea

Best Business for Staff Training & Development – Sponsored by Kingston University 1 Cornicopia Events 2 Genuine Solutions Limited 3 IQ in IT LTD 4 Meeting Point UK 5 Speclean 6 Tax Assist Accountants

Independent Retailer of the Year Sponsored by Kingston First 1 Banquet Records

Apprentice Employer of the Year Sponsored by Kingston College 1 Holland, Hahn & Wills

2 IQ in IT LTD 3 Meeting Point UK 4 Speclean 5 Tax Assist Accountants Best Charity or Social Enterprise 1 Community Motors CIC 2 Kingston Rotary Club 3 Milaap Centre 4 Momentum Children’s Charity 5 Story Storks 6 The Community Brain 7 YMCA London South West 8 Young Enterprise Richmond & Kingston Tech Innovation of the Year 1 Hao2.eu 3DNovations 2 IQ in IT LTD 3 Pangea | Connecting Everything 4 Zed One Technology Best Business for Marketing and Social Media Sponsored by GSL 1 Banquet Records 2 Cornucopia Events 3 Figment Agency 4 Ravens Ait 5 YA2C LTD

75

Table Talk

And so to Food

By Amanda Menahem

W

ell what a wonderful sunny August

the highly-regarded Hoffmann and Rathbone,

anything about the menu) but food-wise

we’ve had! I’ve realised that where

another Sussex sparkler. I found it too acidic,

they rarely put a foot wrong. Their early

most people fancy a nice cold beer

austere and one dimensional.

inconsistency seems to have been ironed out.

when its hot, I fancy a nice cold glass of fizz.

Which I then proceed to guzzle as if it were beer.

I have been trying out quite a few different bottles over the month. Highlights were the excellent rose La Vida al Camp Cava from Fourth and Church which was the star of the show in an impromptu gathering on my roof terrace one sunny Friday afternoon. I also cracked open a bottle I brought back from Puglia, a sparkling wine made from the Negromaro grape – usually reserved for dark, sumptuous reds but working brilliantly here as a sparkling rose. Look out for it (they have it at Polpo) if you like smooth big reds and structured rich Rose.

My only disappointment was a bottle of

76

Away from sparkling I also discovered what

On this day, accompanied by an immensely

has become my favourite still Rose; Pasquiers -

fascinating and fun companion, our meal was

a Grenache/Cinsault blend from the Langedoc

faultless. We created our own tasting menu by

available from Butlers and Fourth and Church.

ordering four starters. We started with a dish

And so to food. Highlights were; an amazing peanut butter cake at Café Salvage on

of Salmon, Verjus, Pickled Grapes, Celeriac, and Cob Nuts , followed by Octopus with

Western Road (and it did salvage an otherwise

Nduja, Almonds, Dill, and Cucumber. Third

dire coffee date), and a great curry with my

up was King Oyster Mushroom, Artichokes,

old boss at The Raipur in Pevensey Bay.

Iberico Ham, Crispy Egg, and Truffle (seriously

But two events really stand out.

First, a boozy lunch at the Saltroom. I

impressive) and finally Coal-Roasted Ox Cheek, Garlic, Beetroot, and Mushroom Ketchup. I don’t have the word count to describe each

used to go all the time until an unfortunate

dish, but every part of each dish was cooked to

interaction with the owner. But I love the place

perfection with the accompanying elements all

too much to stay away. Service can be patchy

adding flavour, texture and working in perfect

(and on this day the waitress announced

harmony. Presentation was also Michelin

she was ‘new’ as a reason for not knowing

standard. We followed all this with cheese

Table Talk

❝

I also cracked open a bottle I brought back from Puglia, a sparkling wine made from the Negromaro grape – usually reserved for dark, sumptuous reds but working brilliantly here as a sparkling rose.

❞

and then a Chocolate Ganache, with Frozen Blackcurrant Meringue,

Jetty. While the service was excellent, the food was not. However I

Compote, Liquorice Ice Cream, and their famous chocolate ‘pebbles’.

am confident that this was just teething problems, after all they have

For drinks we started with Champagne, then Pinot Noir and finally Espresso Martinis (which were overly sweet and were definitely the cause of drunken texting to an ex-boyfriend – don’t judge). We were

a great team. All good restaurants need time to bed in and I look forward to returning in the Autumn.

Im really looking forward to autumn food and wine, bring on the

there for five glorious hours while the rain pelted down outside. I can’t

game and pinot noir! Read about how to do it properly in Jonny’s

think of a better way to spend a wet Friday afternoon.

article on page 80.

The second main highlight was dinner at Drakes. I took my wonderful parents who also both love their food and wine. Here we had excellent service from Kevin who was extremely knowledgeable and friendly but not intrusive. He kept an eye on us (and he was easy on the eye) all evening from a distance, approaching at exactly the right times to enquire if we needed things.

After a generous and delicious salmon amuse bouche and freshly made bread, I tucked into a starter of Selsey Crab with Avocado and Heritage Tomato Salsa Topped with a Gazpacho Sorbet. Inspired.

Beautifully fresh and light yet full of flavour. I followed this with Locally Caught Red Mullet, Samphire, Saffron Potato Gnocchi, Mussels and Bouillabaisse Sauce, a well thought through dish and perfectly executed.

An exquisite pre-dessert arrived – impressively complex. And then the finale, a Rose Soufflé, Lychee Sorbet Served on a Bed of Almond Crumbs and Poached Lychee. Rose is an unusual choice for a soufflé but it worked well – like a cloud of Turkish delight. My parents chose the beef and lamb dishes as their mains and a beetroot ravioli starter. They could not fault it.

The décor and ambience have improved since my last visit, less airport lounge and more intimate bistro. Head Chef Andy Vitex has been recognised in the 2017 Good Food Guide, achieving the highest rating for cooking amongst their Brighton listings. A fantastic and deserved achievement.

The only surprise disappointment in the month was dinner at the

77

Table Talk REVIEW

Isaac@

By Amanda Menahem and Luca Bercelli

D

ear Readers, this month we have a

His Highness... or whatever it is Alan calls

is appropriate, the paintings on the wall hit

guest contributor who accompanied

himself these days delivers his verdict in the

the spot, the tables and presentation are

me to the re-launch of Isaac@ in

boardroom, this one gets delivered at the foot

all well thought out and executed, and the

of the page.

food mileage chart is a winner (even if it does

Gloucester Road Brighton, one of the growing ‘set menu fine dining’ concept restaurants that are popping up here and there.

My friend Luca is not obsessed with food like me (but is obsessed with wine like me) but he has written professionally and so when he offered to do this piece, I happily agreed…..

Here’s what he had to say.

A visit to new ‘Fine Dining’ restaurant Isaac@ is similar to sitting through an

❝

contain a couple of errors). But....and there

Stumbling block number one, however, is describing your eatery as a fine dining establishment.

❞

An episode of The Apprentice in which

are a few buts.

The kitchen is almost as big as the dining room, the plastic chairs would be an embarrassment in a comprehensive dining hall, there are no prices on the food menu at table

episode of The Apprentice’. Lots of youthful

the contestants were tasked with knocking

or online (always

enthusiasm, embarrassing situations, stress,

up a ‘fine dining’ room within a week would

disturbing), and

and the odd triumph along the way. In both

result in an end product similar to this (with

there are one or

cases, a verdict is delivered that can make

less complex food). Don’t get me wrong,

two staff who,

or break a team and/or individual. Sir, Lord,

some things are done really well; the music

how can

78

Table Talk

❝

When I was barely out of my teens making cheese on toast without calling the fire brigade was a major achievement.

❞

I put this nicely, may have greater strengths in non-customer facing capacities. A tip....when someone asks you a question, they don’t want the answer to be everything you have ever known about a certain subject, they want a brief explanation so they can get back to the person they really want to talk to...their dining partner.

Lets get something straight, however. This venture is brave, because lets face it, ‘Fine Dining’ is not easy...it’s a very tough gig to pull off, especially if you can still remember the days when you were in short trousers (which appears to be the case for the entire Isaac’s workforce).

Stumbling block number one, however, is describing your eatery as a fine dining establishment. Most fine dining outfits don’t call themselves that...they don’t need to. That’s what we, the customers do...if we feel it is warranted.

The thing about Isaacs is this: it seems as if they are running before they’ve even taken a stroll. If they didn’t aim at fine dining and just

The main problem, I’m afraid to say is that this is not fine dining. It’s

learnt their trade (all aspects of the restaurant business - not just the

close, but no cigar. Food is about taste, and taste is about flavour, and

cooking) in a more relaxed atmosphere with lower expectations, they’d

that unfortunately is lacking in too many of the dishes on offer here.

be on to a winner and everyone would be pulling for them. It’s very

And no, we’re not talking about subtlety or delicate nuances here,

difficult to go into any business sector and think that you can start

we’re talking about good old-fashioned blandness.

at the top. Experience needs to be gained, skills honed and lessons

So - in a nutshell: the Butternut Squash dish was bland, and without the excellent seeds would have been a complete washout. The Monkfish was overcooked and pretty much tasteless. The Pork Belly

learned. Lesson number one - drop the ‘fine’ mess you’ve got yourselves into and earn the label via the journey, not self-proclamation.

When I was barely out of my teens making cheese on toast without

was excellent. The roast chicken was lacking punch, and the desserts

calling the fire brigade was a major achievement, so I salute these

were uninspiring. Every dish looked like a work of art... but I go to art

ambitious upstarts and have to think that His Royal Alan would have

galleries, not restaurants for that.

seen the potential and concluded: ‘Isaac, you’re hired’.

ISAAC @ 2 Gloucester Street, Brighton, BN1 4EW Tel: 07765934740 EMAIL: info@isaac-at.com TWITTER: @isaac_at_

OPENING TIMES Tuesday to Saturday 6.00pm to 10.30pm Saturday lunch 12.30pm to 2.30pm

79

Table Talk

Wine Masterclass AUTUMN WINES FOR MUSHROOMS AND GAME

by Jonny Gibson

I

love the subtle shift of the seasons as we

and Yarra Valley. Something to do with a

Room at The Grand Brighton was the perfect

move from summer into autumn. There

large percentage of current plantings being

setting for a get together of wine lovers,

never seems to be any consensus on exactly

able to trace the parentage back to an intrepid

wine merchants and wine producers from

when autumn starts but for me something

Aussie who charmed his way around the Cote

Brighton & Hove and the Sussex countryside

changes around the September equinox.

de Nuits in the 1880s and took lots of cuttings

beyond. My personal highlights from a hugely

Blackberries are giving way to sloes in the

back home with him.

enjoyable afternoon tasting around the room

hedgerows and it’s harvest time again at my secret mushroom spots. On that note, a friend from France has promised to take me truffle hunting but says the best time of year is December. Apparently he can do it by sight alone. No trained snuffling pigs or dogs for him. We shall see.

Mushrooms are perfect with pinot noir.

If you like game then this is the time of year to think about buying wines that go well with partridge, pheasant, wild duck and venison.

If you are searing your duck or venison in a pan and then cooking it through in the oven then try Cabernet Sauvignon or a red from SW France like Madiran or Cahors. These wines go particularly well when you add a bit

If you haven’t experienced the joy of a

of pan fried fruit or sweet fruit based jelly or

mushroom omelette with flat leaf parsley

condiment on the side.

and a glass of red Burgundy or a pinot noir from Oregon, Martinborough or Otago then you need to sort that out straight away this weekend. Add some bacon or pancetta too if you want to go all out. There is a real buzz around pinot noir wines from Australia at the moment too. They chaired the annual get together of winemakers and lovers of all things pinot in Oregon this year and I have read some very complimentary quotes from respected

and talking to producers and owners included the sparkling wines from Court Garden and Ridgeview, the still whites from Albourne Estate, Ten Green Bottles’ cheeses and south of France reds, the interesting Eastern European wines from Pacta Conect and the wines from Seven Cellars and Twenty One wines. Make sure you book tickets for next September at www.brightonwinefair.com as soon as they come out.

If you are pot roasting a bird then you need

Jonny Gibson is the head tutor and owner of Sussex Wine School, an independent company that runs regular tastings and courses including WSET Levels 1-3 in Brighton, Lewes and Tunbridge Wells.

to keep things moist with the lid on with a couple of veggies like celery or carrot and a glass or two of Marsala or Vermouth in the pot. The game can be local but I’d go for a northern or central Italian red like Barbera d’Alba or Chianti Classico here or maybe a northern Rhone Syrah.

Talking of Sussex produce, the 2016

American winemakers about the high quality

Brighton Wine Fair earlier in September was

of the pinot noirs from Mornington Peninsula

the best one yet. The high ceilinged Albert

www.sussexwineschool.com

SOME SUGGESTED WINES FOR AUTUMN FOOD: Wither Hills Marlborough Pinot Noir 2012 – The Wine Society £10.50 Domaine Treloar Cotes du Roussillon Three Peaks Red 2014 – Ten Green Bottles £12.50 Barbera d’Alba Sucule Lo Zoccolaio 2013– Majestic £10.49 Madiran Odé d’Aydie 2013 – The Wine Society £9.95 And if you are looking to celebrate ...

Court Garden Blanc de Blancs 2010 – Quaff Wines Fiveways £30.99 Ridgeview Fitzrovia Rose 2014 – Butlers Wine Cellar £25.99

80

Welcome to Woking’s Annual Business Exhibition Wednesday 5th October 2016

H.G. Wells Conference & Events Centre, Woking

FEATURING 70 exhibition stands Pre-Show Breakfast Forum with Woking Borough Council A series of Workshops for Start-Ups Lunchtime reception on Woking Works stand Afternoon drinks reception sponsored by Barnbrook Sinclair Superb seminar programme

with Penny Power OBE, local entrepreneur Doug New, public speaking guru Ges Ray and Richard Woods from BBC TV’s The Apprentice

Register to attend free or book your stand online at:

www.wokingmeansbusiness.com

Institute of Directors

BACK TO THE FUTURE 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

A

s an avid follower of both cricket and rugby, I’m often found channel hopping watching old clips and highlights from the 70s and 80s when sport was undoubtably better! One of things that’s really noticeable on these programmes are the advertising hoardings around the ground. Names like DER, Rumbellows, Radio Rentals and Visionhire will ring bells with older viewers but will be unknown to the current generation.

These companies made their trade predominantly by enabling customers to hire the new colour TV sets that were arriving on the market in the early seventies. These sets retailed at about £3-400, much as they do now. They were expensive and also pretty unreliable, so the hire companies had teams of technicians motoring around the country repairing and replacing TV sets constantly. Additionally, as well as TV sets they also hired out a comprehensive range of domestic appliances to those who preferred to rent or chose not to take on debt.

If we fast forward 40 years, we live in a totally different world, where home domestic appliances, especially TV sets, are ridiculously cheap compared with prices in the seventies. They are also designed in a modular way that makes it uneconomical for them to be repaired. When they stop working and are out of warranty, we dispose of them to be recycled and most last us a maximum of ten years.

All of this is going to change as manufacturers begin to embrace “Industry 4.0”. This term has been coined to refer to the fourth industrial revolution which is well underway. Readers will know doubt be aware of technologies such as 3D printing and the “Internet of things” (IOT), these are some of the technologies that are driving

manufacturers forward. This will result in the “servitisation” of manufacturing industry, where companies will no longer just ship boxes to the distributor or retailer but will be involved in the long term support of the product, or if they are a component supplier deep in the supply chain, they will be responsible for supporting their customer.

❝

If we fast forward 40 years, we live in a totally different world, where home domestic appliances, especially TV sets, are ridiculously cheap compared with prices in the seventies.

❞

Manufactured products will increasingly be connected to the web, providing information to the supplier on how the product is being used, how it is performing and what sort of repair or maintenance it might require. A car will know when it needs to be serviced and will probably be able to book itself in. It may even drive directly to the service station to receive a replacement part which will be made and then fitted there and then. That part may have been 3D printed at the service station.

Mercedes Benz truck division already has 30 parts that can be produced when required, at service stations in the USA using this technology. The car will also receive software updates when and where required to fix faults and create extra functionality.

A Tesla car bought 18 months ago will have more capability and be a better car than when it was purchased. GE is making aero engine parts all over the world to support its service operations. It’s cheaper to move data to the 3D printer than ship parts around and the parts can be fitted when needed, not at designated service intervals.

All of this change means that in future our domestic and industrial products will probably be paid for on a continual, service based basis rather than buying something outright. They will also be designed to last longer and be less modular, with replaceable parts.

Technology and management of data will enable us to have reliable and economic service from them. Although the fourth industrial revolution will enable our daily lives to be better it will also take us back to a bygone age of service rather than outright purchase and that will be a major disruptor for manufacturers everywhere.

82

New E-Class Estate: dynamic, innovative

Available soon from Sandown Group At Mercedes-Benz we appreciate the importance of detail, the new E-Class Estate is the most intelligent estate that Mercedes-Benz has ever built. In terms of the space on offer, the E-Class Estate continues to be one of the favourites in its segment.

You’ll find that the model E 220 d SE prices start at £37,935 and the E 350 d and Mercedes-AMG E 43 will be announced later in the year.

As standard, SE models has some of the features below: · 17” 5-spoke alloy wheels · Parking Pilot including PARKTRONIC · Reversing camera · Garmin MAP PILOT · Rear split folding seats Please call 0330 159 2090 for more information.

Mercedes-Benz of Basingstoke Mercedes-Benz of Poole

0330 159 2090

Mercedes-Benz of Hindhead Mercedes-Benz of Guildford

Mercedes-Benz of Dorchester Mercedes-Benz of Salisbury

Opening a world of business opportunities With over 40 airlines and more than 200 destinations, London Gatwick is better connected

To find out more, visit gatwickairport.com