Surrey Business Magazine - issue 74

SURREY

BUSINESS THE OFFICIAL SURREY CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE MAGAZINE

ISSUE 74

SUSSEX INNOVATION

Funding success

MOTORING

BYD EV TRAVEL

Sailing around Antigua

AspiringHR

The power of the people SURREY BUSINESS AWARDS

Entries now open Navigating R&D Tax Relief

THE BIG STORY

PROFESSOR

SASHA ROSENEIL VICE-CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SUSSEX

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@WWW.SURREY-CHAMBERS.CO.UK @WWW.SURREY-CHAMBERS.CO.UK

@SURREYCHAMBERS @SURREYCHAMBERS

01483 735540 01483 735540

@SURREYCHAMBERSOFCOMMERCE @SURREYCHAMBERSOFCOMMERCE

@SURREYCHAMBERSOFCOMMERCE @SURREYCHAMBERSOFCOMMERCE

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30 BIG INTERVIEW

CONT ENTS CHARITY

EDUCATION

30 Professor Sasha Roseneil Maarten Hoffmann sits down with the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sussex to discuss her life and career

26 Heartbeat Supporting relatives of patients undergoing cardiac interventions

50 Hurstpierpoint College Learning to use AI safely

SURREY CHAMBERS

NEWS

22 International news A round up of the important business stories from around the world

52 Sussex Innovation Double Innovate UK funding success for Sussex Innovation members

LEGAL

64 Anger Management So many children receiving medication for mental health concerns is ridiculous, argues Maarten Hoffmann. The problems, and solutions, lay elsewhere

7 Surrey Chamber News A round up of Surrey Chambers of Commerce members’ news 12 Local Skills Improvement Plan Careers factsheets launched at LSIP forum

28 Loch Associates HR’s role in harnessing AI ‘hallucinations’

17 Surrey Business School Surrey professionals reap the benefits of an EMBA

40 DMH Stallard Dilapidations in commercial leases

18 Surrey Chamber Events What’s on for Surrey Chambers members

EVENTS

20 Platinum Club Now in its 16th year, it remains the preeminent networking forum in the region 24 Central South Business Awards Tickets are on sale for this prestigious event. Have you got yours?

36 Surrey Business Awards Do you have a business with a Surrey address? Entries are open for this highly respected event 51 Property Professionals Lunch An afternoon’s networking with like-minded professionals 58 Sussex Business Awards Announcing the 36th annual Sussex Business Awards, which are now open for entries

PLATINUM MEDIA GROUP

47 DMH Stallard commentary Things to know to get the money to grow

INNOVATION

OPINION

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56 Mayo Wynne Baxter Making energy efficiency work for commercial landlords

BUSINESS

36 Gatwick Airport New taxiway opens to cut aircraft waiting times 42 Aspiring HR How Aspiring is leading the charge in human-centred workplace solutions 60 Creative Pod Spring clean your marketing efforts 63 Cleankill How do we navigate a sustainable future?

FINANCE

44 Kreston Reeves Navigating R&D tax enquiries

TRAVEL

66 Antigua Lesley Alcock navigates the Caribbean island of Antigua – on a yacht

MOTORING

70 BYD Seal Maarten reviews the latest Chinese foray into the EV market, and feels this is a work in progress

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. Surrey Business Magazine is owned and published by Platinum Media Group Limited.

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BUSINESS SUPPORT ACROSS SURREY There have been some exciting developments in the local business support landscape recently. Following the transfer of responsibilities formerly held by LEPs (Local Enterprise Partnerships) into the local authority (Surrey County Council), there has been an opportunity to look at the way Business Support is delivered across the whole county.

One of the outcomes was the development of a new brand, website and integrated Customer Relationship Management system - all at the same time - ready for launch at the start of April. Congratulations to Chambers members, Akiko, who led the project to deliver a slick, user-friendly and intuitive website in an incredibly short time.

In spite of the time constraints, a number of businesses and business organisations like Surrey Chambers have been involved in the creation of this overarching website, which provides access to some intense support but also provides a platform for all business support providers to be listed. It also proactively hosts our activities on the website in just a few

Research by the BCC Insights ❛❛ Unit shows that while recruitment

difficulties have significantly eased, 66% of firms say they are still facing challenges hiring staff

❜❜

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clicks. We are encouraging businesses to take a look at the website and provide feedback so that it soon becomes the place to go if you are running a business in Surrey.

Click here to give it a try Business Surrey, a gateway to free and accessible support for all businesses in Surrey. Or type www.businesssurrey.co.uk Surrey Chambers will be running a roadshow of four events to share across the county this exciting new service. Check our website and book for the one most convenient as all four events will be very similar. There will be the opportunity to meet the business advisors, specialist advisors and the organisations who support businesses on a daily basis (Ourselves, FSB, IoD and Gatwick Diamond Business).

SKILLS

As part of our regular meet up with Chambers of Commerce across the country, we were recently joined by the Education Secretary, The Rt Hon Gillian Keegan MP. She talked about Improving skills and tackling labour shortages and acknowledged the great work being delivered by the Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs).

Surrey Chambers leads on this initiative in Surrey and North Hampshire and, through collaboration with local skills providers and other stakeholders, we have been making a real impact. Accessing staff with the right skills remains a challenge for many businesses.

WELCOME

Research published in April by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Insights Unit shows that while recruitment difficulties have significantly eased, 66% of firms say they are still facing challenges hiring staff. We are certainly hearing this locally, and are helping to bring employers and training providers together to tackle skills shortages.

We continue to encourage businesses to visit the Opportunities tab on our Future Skills Hub, which helps to bring businesses and providers work together to solve skills gaps and develop the workforce of the future.

Over the last few months, we have received over 50 commitment forms from businesses keen to work with skills providers to fill some of the recruitment gaps.

For quick skills fixes, we have also been promoting some excellent free courses available on the Innovation South Virtual Campus, There are over 30 free courses featured, all aimed to fill skills gaps and well worth a look.

Surrey Chambers of Commerce can be reached on 01483 735540, info@surrey-chambers.co.uk; @surreychambers on X (formerly Twitter); www.surrey-chambers.co.uk

Louise Punter CEO Surrey Chamber of Commerce

AND WHILE YOU’RE HERE...

Platinum Media Group enjoys the largest circulation of any business magazines in the UK, reaching over 720,000 readers across the South East and this includes 468,000 online readers. If you can’t wait for the next issue then jump onto our social media platforms and join the conversation.

@platbusmag Platinum Media Group www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

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SURREY

MANUFACTURING AND ENGINEERING

NETWORK

ABOUT

A dynamic new platform to Network, Learn, and Collaborate

The Surrey Manufacturing and Engineering Network aims to foster collaboration among local manufacturing and engineering businesses.

Our mission is to facilitate shared learning, create supply chain opportunities, and offer business support to elevate innovation and stimulate growth in Surrey.

Launching initially in Surrey Heath, we will establish a network where businesses can exchange knowledge, explore synergies, and collectively address challenges through sector specific events, workshops, and tailored support services.

We will seek to combine training and academia with industry to:

EVENTS Bi-monthly events hosted by a manufacturing or engineering business located within Surrey Heath. Kicking off with:

21st May - 8-10am - Amazon Filters Albany Park Estate Frimley Road, Camberley, Surrey GU16 7PG

Address local skills gap Convene industry experts to support net zero objectives Look ahead at future technologies and AI to improve productivity within the sector.

To register interest, email:

giorgia.burgess@surrey-chambers.co.uk

01483 735540

CHAMBERS NE WS and how we can attract that GAMING INDUSTRY cluster growth in the area.

GETS UNIVERSITY “We have seen a huge amount of SUPPORT grant income coming into the county, The University for the Creative Arts (UCA) in Surrey is trailblazing a new regional initiative, PixelRise, which aims to create a thriving ecosystem in gaming and become a beacon for creativity, innovation and inclusivity.

PixelRise is a Surrey-based games development cluster that will grow, diversify and support the gaming industry by raising industry standards, establishing new studios and helping develop new talent.

particularly in the CreaTech sector, so it’s a truly exciting time for Surrey’s games industry.”

The report, compiled by Steve Cuss of The Game Plan Consultancy, recognised the exciting potential of Surrey’s games cluster and how it could harness the region’s collective expertise and resources to capitalise on significant

innovation, talent development and economic growth opportunities.

“There is a potent case for collaboration,” said Steve. “If we look at the priorities of games developers in the region and the commercial environment, what we need is an initiative that unites and unlocks this potential across a diverse range of stakeholders. We believe that PixelRise provides this strategic solution, fostering an environment to address the challenges of the industry and take advantage of the massive potential in the cluster.”

Councillor Matt Furniss, Surrey County Council Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport & Economic Growth, said: “We do need to recognise that strategic collaboration is critical for all of us to work together to develop the talent that we need in this industry, which is why we collaborated with UCA to commission a report to understand the barriers and opportunities to our local games

NEW ADULT COURSES AT EAST SURREY COLLEGE East Surrey College has launched a range of adult learning courses. They are designed to support the local community and further afield, providing a great opportunity for businesses or students to upskill, develop a hobby or progress career aspirations.

The college offers a choice of daytime, evening, online and short courses, allowing the flexibility to fit learning around existing family, work or study

commitments. The college also offers free parking on site.

The college says it is an opportunity for it to support more employers and employees across its campuses to be able to receive high quality education to retrain or upskill staff, and gain industry recognised qualifications.

courses include maths, English, and health & social care, plus more specific areas such as sustainability and retrofitting. www.esc.ac.uk

It also offers a range of foundation courses with extra qualifications. These

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NEWS

BRING NEW SKILLS INTO YOUR WORKPLACE WITH HTQs From September 2024, Activate Learning is offering Higher Technical Qualification (HTQs) in Leadership and Management, Construction and Digital Technologies, via a flexible learning approach.

HTQs are recognised Higher Eduction level 4 and 5 qualifications such as Higher National Certificates (HNCs), Higher National Diplomas (HNDs) and Foundation degrees, sitting between A Levels/T Levels/BTECs and undergraduate degrees.

They can be topped up to a full BA/BSc degree qualification dependent upon individual university entry requirements.

Students learn in their own time for just ten hours, with two hours of online classes per week. HTQs are an option for gaining new skills while working. They provide a useful alternative route where apprenticeships might not be available.

Activate Learning’s HTQ courses have been designed around the skills employers say they need. There is no impact on day-to-day work, apart from employees learning new skills that could help businesses prosper. Employees

can also fund the cost of the course themselves, using tuition fee loans subject to individual eligibility, meaning employers do not necessarily need to contribute any funding. https://he.activatelearning.ac.uk/htq

SURREY TRANSLATION BUREAU CELEBRATES 40 YEARS Surrey Translation Bureau (STB), a longstanding member of Surrey Chambers of Commerce, celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2024. Since its formation in 1984, STB has upheld a steadfast commitment to excellence, innovation and client satisfaction, which has driven its growth and success over the years.

“Surrey Translation Bureau has been a valued member of Surrey Chambers of Commerce for over seven years, during which time the company has supported many of our exporters with their translation requirements. To be celebrating 40 years in business is testament to the friendly, professional and experienced team at STB and its ability to be a resilient, sustainable business in a challenging economic climate.” – commented Sarah Butcher, Head of Membership at Surrey Chambers of Commerce.

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The company has been recognised for its commitment to quality and industry standards, achieving and maintaining three ISO certifications and winning multiple awards, solidifying its position as a trusted partner to its clients.

“We have been working with STB for the last ten years on several challenging multi-language projects and they have always delivered quality work in a timely manner. In the field of healthcare, it is of primary importance that work is accurate, and we have every confidence in STB in delivering on that front. They are very professional and efficient and it’s always a pleasure to speak to their team.” – PatientView, a long-standing client.

Despite facing external challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and Brexit, STB has demonstrated resilience

and adaptability, ensuring operational continuity and continued client satisfaction.

Looking ahead, George Cooke, Managing Director of STB, underscores the company’s commitment to innovation and a client-centric service, stating, “Central to STB’s growth is our unwavering commitment to supporting clients not just as suppliers, but as an extension of their teams. That’s probably the reason why over 35% of our clients have been with us for over a decade.”

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS 16TH MAY 2024

About:

09:30 AM - 11:00 AM VIRTUAL

Join us for a transformative webinar hosted by the Surrey Chamber of Commerce, where former CFO of Siemens IT Solutions UK, Oliver Stich, shares his wealth of experience in conquering late payments and optimising cash flow.

2ND JULY 2024

About:

Boost Your Cash: Proven Techniques for Successful Invoice Recovery DELIVERED BY: OLIVER STICH, BIZZCTRL

Sales Lunch and Learn 12:00 PM - 13:00 PM VIRTUAL

DELIVERED BY: ANITA SAINI, HX SOLUTIONS

4TH OCTOBER 2024 “PROFIT ACCELERATION” WORKSHOP FOR BUSINESS OWNERS. 09:30 AM - 11:00 AM VIRTUAL

DELIVERED BY: BRENDA & MARTIN, GILBRO GROUP LLP

Learn about the best way to start planning and strategising, as well ask executing your sales activity. This session will enable you to focus and improve how you are growing your business through more sales and clients or customers.

About:

Not only will we share our many years’ experience in helping business owners build multi-million pound businesses, but you will be attending with a cross-section of your fellow business owners eager to share their real life experiences and successes so that we can all discover what IS working and what is NOT working locally.

Surrey Chambers Golf Society SCGS 2024 Golf Fixtures

28th May: Coombe Hill Golf Club Member rate £180.00 + VAT

9th July: Hayling Island Golf Club Member rate £125.00 + VAT Sponsored by Maris Interiors

3rd September: New Zealand G. C. Member rate £160.00 + VAT Golf day sponsor: No Grey Area

7th November: Swinley Forest G.C.

Member rate: TBC Sponsored by Commtel

SCGS vs Hampshire Chamber Member rate £175.00 + VAT Sponsored by CD Surveys

20th August: Hankley Common Member rate £180.00+ VAT Sponsorship available

16th October: Worplesdon G.C. Member rate £190.00+ VAT Golf day sponsor: Lester Aldridge Solicitors

10th December: Woking G.C.

Member rate: TBC Sponsored by Cintriq

Order of Merit sponsored by:

Nearest the Pin sponsored by:

Surrey Chambers Of Commerce

12th June: Hindhead Golf Club

Surrey Chambers Of Commerce

@surreychambersofcommerce

@surreychambers

01483 735540

NEWS

STUDENT PLACEMENTS ‘A Year in Business’ case study Royal Holloway’s Year in Business programme is good for students and good for business. The School of Business and Management at Royal Holloway, University of London, offers all undergraduate degrees and one postgraduate degree with a Year in Business option, allowing students to spend a year of their studies employed in a work environment gaining invaluable practical and professional skills.

One company, also a member of the Surrey Chambers of Commerce, with which we have worked closely, is Menzies LLP. The company recently attended this year’s Speed Recruitment event at the University to meet prospective placement students for the year ahead.

A number of our Year in Business students have undertaken placements at Menzies’ Heathrow Branch. Students are always very positive about the rotational aspect of the placement which allows them to move through departments such as Accounts, Tax and Not for Profit.

Menzies also highly rates the close relationship with Royal Holloway, with the Menzies Talent Acquisition Manager saying, “We have a collaborative and symbiotic working relationship with the university which involves close communication, mutual respect, and a shared goal of identifying and nurturing talent.

This partnership facilitates the exchange of insights, resources, and opportunities, ultimately benefiting both Menzies, the university and the students.”

Royal Holloway Year in Business students undertake placements in areas such as accounting and finance, human resource management, marketing, sales, project management, procurement, supply chain, strategy and digital innovation. They gain invaluable work experience which will help set them on a successful career path. Many come out with a graduate job offer and a much clearer idea of their employment options.

They also return to our School of

Business and Management at Royal Holloway with increased confidence and enhanced professional skills and a high proportion graduate with First Class degrees.

Companies benefit from the opportunity of having a smart and talented student bringing fresh ideas and skills into their organisation. At Royal Holloway, we consistently receive overwhelmingly positive comments from employers about our students and what they bring to the company.

Both large and small companies benefit from this arrangement. Many students go to companies like Deloitte, GE, IBM, L’Oréal, Microsoft and The Walt Disney Company. But students have also joined smaller companies such as Ascot Wealth Management, Peterson James & Co, E-Com and PiXL. Students are encouraged to consider all options when applying for placements as it is the experience which they can gain while on placement which is so key to their success.

If you would like to know more about our Year in Business placement programme or already have a suitable scheme in place to offer our students, please do get in touch with Dr. Kerrie Howard, Year in Business Director (Kerrie.Howard@rhul.ac.uk) or Katharine Radford from the Placement team (MN-YIB@rhul.ac.uk).

We would be happy to promote any placement openings directly with our students. Students have until July 15th to secure a 9-12 month placement for 2024/25 and are available to start working anytime between June – September 2024.

More details: www.royalholloway.ac.uk/research-and-teaching/departments-andschools/business-and-management/your-future-career/placements

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NEWS

Careers factsheets launched at LSIP forum Young people don’t know what they don’t know. And this is particularly true for insights into careers. This is one reason why the latest Future Skills Forum was a great place to launch a suite of new careers factsheets, aimed at young people, careers advisers and teachers.

Colleges from across the area provided updates on how government skills investments will support closer working relationships with employers to help ensure training is taking place for current and future skills needs in exciting sectors such as Space & Satellite and CreaTech.

Each sector factsheet gives answers to classic questions from young people such as: ■ What sort of jobs can you do?

■ Where are the jobs and who are the businesses?

■ How much do they pay?

Following on from the first Future Skills Forum in Farnham, the second event touched down at the Aviator Hotel in Farnborough on Tuesday March 26th.

The event welcomed over 70 representatives from local businesses, colleges and other organisations to catch up on and feed into the latest developments in skills across the local area.

Delegates were also treated to the launch of a suite of new jobs and careers factsheets, linked to the ten LSIP sectors, and illustrating labour market information supplied by local big data company, Lightcast.

Both the Hampshire and Surrey Careers Hubs now have these factsheets and will be using them as part of their work with careers professionals in schools and colleges – a great example of true collaboration not possible without the Local Skills Improvement Plan team at Surrey Chambers of Commerce.

Young people ❛❛ don’t know what they don’t know ❜❜

The factsheets were funded by the Department for Education as part of the Local Skills Improvement Fund programme.

During the event, the two CEOs from Surrey and Hampshire Chambers were grilled by Barney Ely, Managing Director from Hays Recruitment and LSIP Steering Group member, on why and how businesses are getting more involved in the local skills system.

To find out ways you as an employer can get involved with future events and feed into future reports, please contact lsip@surrey-chambers.co.uk

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We are Surrey's largest not-forprofit business support and networking, organisation We act as a catalyst by connecting you to opportunities, skills, knowledge and valuable contacts.

All of our services and products are directed by the business community for the business community.

As a member, there are many marketing opportunities available to you, designed to help you maximise your membership

DON'T JUST JOIN JOIN IN! www.surrey-chambers.co.uk 01483 735540 Please email our Head of Membership for further details sarah.butcher@surrey-chambers.co.uk

NEW MEMBERS

Surrey Chambers of Commerce welcomes its latest member companies When you join Surrey Chambers of Commerce, your company details automatically get listed on this page alongside fellow new members.

What a fantastic way to let the Surrey Business community know you are out there and ready to get those all-important connections.

AUDITEL (UK) LTD www.auditel.co.uk 01962 863 915

GREENFIELD NOTARY LIMITED

www.greenfieldnotary.co.uk 02076 920 838

BAE SYSTEMS – SUBMARINES www.baesystems.co.uk/en-uk/baesystems-submarines

PARADIGM BUSINESS SOLUTIONS

www.paradigmbusiness.co.uk 03302 368 369

CRYSTALEYES

www.crystaleyes.me 07557 916 996

RIVEN ASSOCIATES LIMITED

www.rivenassociates.co.uk 01784 486 720

ST. GEORGE’S WEALTH MANAGEMENT www.partnership.sjp.co.uk 07595 828 776

All new Chamber members are entitled to a one-off 50% discount for a company profile within this magazine.

Contact lesley@platinummediagroup.co.uk for more details

If you are looking to join Surrey Chambers, then please do get in touch: sarah.butcher@surrey-chambers.co.uk or call 01483 735540. We look forward to hearing from you! @surreychambersofcommerce @surreychambers @surreychambersofcommerce

www.surrey-chambers.co.uk 01483 735540 @surreychambersofcommerce

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SURREYSurrey CHAMBERS COMMERCE Chambers ofOF commerce

EXECUTIVE PARTNERS EXECUTIVE PARTNERS & PATRONS & PATRONS Learn more about executive partner membership or patronage at www.surrey-chambers.co.uk

Learn more about executive partner membership or patronage at www.surrey-chambers.co.uk

@surreychambersofcommerce www.surrey-chambers.co.uk @surreychambers 01483 735540 www.surrey-chambers.com @surreychambersofcommerce @surreychambersofcommerce

BUSINESS

By Adrian Shanks, Business Engagement, Surrey Business School

Surrey professionals reap the benefits of an EMBA In a competitive job market and an ever-evolving business landscape, professionals seeking growth and satisfaction in their careers are increasingly turning to study.

Surrey Business School, ranked in the top 10 Universities for business and economics in the UK, offers a coveted E xe cu tive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) programme that focuses on advanced topics in leadership, management, and the digital economy. Surrey EMBA students benefit greatly from a blend of academic rigour, practical insight and networking opportunities.

One local employer recently described the EMBA graduates as ‘highly capable and motivated individuals, committed to continuous learning and professional growth’.

Unlike traditional MBA programmes which typically cater to recent graduates, an EMBA is designed for skilled professionals, those with significant work experience under their belt and who are already established in their careers. An EMBA offers them the opportunity to enhance leadership skills and strategic thinking capabilities, providing participants with the tools and agility needed to navigate everyday business challenges and drive organisational success.

Moreover, Surrey’s cohor t-based learning model encourages collaboration and peer-to - peer learning, which enables EMBA students to gain fresh perspectives, leverage collective expertise, and build invaluable relationships.

It’s not just personal stories that show the value and relevance of an EMBA - the data paints a very clear picture too.

According to various UK studies, EMBA graduates enjoy a high employment rate and career mobility. On average, 90% of EMBA graduates change roles within three months of completing the programme, around 63% change sectors, and over 60% report a salary

increase as a result. Additionally, data shows that career progression achieved post-EMBA can result in a salary 30% higher than before.

www.surrey.ac.uk

❛❛

The Executive MBA curriculum at Surrey provides me with a broad range of business disciplines that I can immediately apply to my current career. Beyond the curriculum, there’s been a huge opportunity to strengthen my professional network through engaging with and learning from a high calibre of individuals Dervla Carty, Enterprise Account Manager HashiCorp, and winner of the 2023 EMBA Scholarship Competition

❜❜

SURREY EMBA SCHOLARSHIP COMPETITION 2024 In partnership with Surrey Chambers of Commerce and Surrey Research Park, Surrey Business School is running a competition to win several scholarships for the 2024 Executive MBA programme. Entrants can win scholarships worth up to 80% and 60% of the programme fees.

To find out more about visit: https://bit.ly/SurreyEMBA2024 or e-mail: mba@surrey.ac.uk

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SURRE Y CHAMBERS E VENT CALENDAR MAY 2024 ONWARDS...

PROPERTY AND CONSTRUCTION LUNCH & EXPO

Wednesday May 1st – 12:00-14:00 Sandown Racecourse, Sandown, Portsmouth Road, Esher, KT10 9AJ Come along to our Property and Construction Networking Lunch, sponsored by Curchod & Co and get free entry into the South-East Construction Expo, which are both taking place in the idyllic Jockey Club, Sandown Racecourse on May 1st. Between networking and enjoying a light lunch, we will hear from our knowledgeable sponsor Piers Leigh, a Partner at Curchod & Co, who will provide an overview of the office and industrial markets in Surrey.

BOOST YOUR CASH:

PROVEN TECHNIQUES FOR SUCCESSFUL INVOICE RECOVERY Thursday May 16th – 09:30-11:00 – Online Don’t let unpaid invoices drain your business! Join us for a webinar hosted by the Surrey Chambers, where ex-CFO of Siemens IT Solutions UK, Oliver Stich, shares his experiences in conquering late payments and optimising cash flow. Register now and unlock the secrets to mastering your cash flow! Open to all business owners, finance managers, consultants, bookkeepers and accountants.

Xero clients will benefit the most.

BUSINESS BREAKFAST

Tuesday May 14th – 08:00-10:00 Clandon Wood Nature Reserve and Burial Ground, Epsom Road, West Clandon, Guildford, GU4 7FN Running from 08:00-10:00, our bi-monthly Business Breakfasts are a wonderful opportunity to meet a range of Surrey businesses over a delicious breakfast. With a calendar bursting with interesting and stimulating events, we are sure you will find topics that are current and relevant to you and your business. We acknowledge that making new contacts is rather high on your priority list, so start your day with networking, hearing from a possible guest speaker, whilst most importantly, all over a breakfast!

SURREY MANUFACTURING AND ENGINEERING NETWORK

Tuesday May 21st – 08:00-10:00 Amazon Filters Ltd, Albany Park Estate, Frimley Road, Camberley, GU16 7PG Join us at the launch of the Surrey Manufacturing and Engineering Network, a dynamic initiative aimed at fostering collaboration and growth within the manufacturing and engineering sector in Surrey Heath and beyond. This first meeting will offer an opportunity to look around Amazon Filters’ factory as well as focusing on any skills gaps that may be emerging in this sector.

MEMBERS NETWORKING EVENING

ANNUAL SUMMER BBQ

Thursday May 30th – 18:00-20:00 Reigate Manor, Reigate Hill, Reigate, RH2 9PF Join us for our monthly Members Networking Evening where we invite our current members to catch up on the happenings of the previous month’s business calendar.

Running from 18:00-20:00, Members Networking Evenings are the perfect opportunity for an informal, relaxed gathering with members you already have relationships with and those you don’t.

We also welcome those who are not currently members to join us at this event. If you are thinking of joining us or would like to know more about what we do, then this is the perfect event for you.

Wednesday June 26th – 17:00-20:00 Royal Automobile Club, Woodcote Park, Epsom, KT18 7EW Surrey Chambers of Commerce arise delighted to present its Annual Summer BBQ 2024, at The Royal Automobile Club.

We look forward to this fabulous summer event where you can expect some entertainment, delicious BBQ food, a glass of bubbly and a charity raffle.

The Summer BBQ will be the perfect opportunity for you to catch up with clients, colleagues, and other Surrey Chamber members. Kick off summer with some tasty food, lovely weather, and great networking!

MEMBERS NETWORKING EVENING

SALES LUNCH AND LEARN SESSION WITH ANITA SAINI

Thursday June 27th – 18:00-20:00 Fetcham Park Ltd, Lower Road, Fetcham, Leatherhead, KT22 9HD Join us on the last Thursday of every month for our Members Networking Evening! The event runs from 18:00 to 20:00 and offers an informal and relaxed atmosphere for both familiar and new faces among our membership.

Non-members are also welcome to attend and learn more about our activities and offerings. Whether you’re considering joining us or simply curious about our work, this event is tailor-made for you.

Tuesday July 2nd – 12:00-13:30 Online Join Anita to learn about the best way to start planning and strategising, as well as executing your sales activity.

This session will enable you to focus and improve how you are growing your business through more sales and clients or customers. We will even cover areas from a sales leadership and management perspective. Time permitting, please bring any sales challenges and questions you have!

★★★★★ PLATINUM CLUB IS A REALLY WELL ❛❛ THE ORGANISED NETWORKING GROUP, WITH THE HOSTS HELPING TO FACILITATE TO ENSURE WE ALWAYS MAKE USEFUL, NEW CONTACTS AT EACH EVENT LLOYDS BANK

❜❜

Kerry Lockwood (Manager, Plus X Innovation), Marta Janiszewska (Plus X Innovation), Alice Marples (Founder, Marples Cakery), Dr Zoe Schaedel (Co-Founder, Myla Health)

★★★★★ Simply the most ❛❛ efficient and fun event in the region. The only networking event l ever attend.

❜❜

Mercedes-Benz

Dee Mathieson (CEO, Elekta) and Maarten Hoffmann (CEO, Platinum)

Dr Olivier Hum (Director, Myla Health), Mary Kemp (Consultant, Simpler with AI), Lesley Alcock (Director, Platinum), Ian Trevett (Marketing Director, Rubix VT)

WWW.PLATINUMMEDIAGROUP.CO.UK

★★★★★ ALL BUSINESS IS BASED ON RELATIONSHIPS AND PLATINUM GIVES YOU THE ❛❛ PLATFORM TO CREATE THE MEANINGFUL HUMAN CONNECTIONS THAT MATTER ❜❜ BAILEY AND FRENCH

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NEWS

HIGH STREET RETAILER SHEDS HUNDREDS OF JOBS High Street fashion chain Ted Baker is to close 15 UK stores and cut 245 jobs, administrators have said.

Eleven stores closed on April 19th, leading to 120 job losses.

In addition, 25 head office roles will go, and four stores that had been set to close prior to the administration will shut shortly, affecting 100 posts.

The firm behind Ted Baker’s UK shops, No Ordinary Designer Label (NODL), hired administrators in March. At the time of falling into administration, Ted Baker had around 975 employees in the UK, and ran 46 shops, plus an e-commerce platform and department store concessions.

NEWS BULLETIN JASON TARRY ANNOUNCED AS NEW JOHN LEWIS PARTNERSHIP CHAIR The former head of Tesco has been announced as the new chairman of the John Lewis Partnership, one of the biggest and most high-pressure jobs in retail.

Jason Tarry was at Tesco for 33 years and served as UK and Ireland chief executive for his final six years at the supermarket. He is to take the reins of the company behind Waitrose and the John Lewis department stores in September, when Dame Sharon White steps down. In so doing he will become only the seventh chairman in John Lewis’s history.

HMRC BOSS CAUGHT OUT OVER HOTLINE CLOSURE In March, HMRC announced the telephone helpline it operates would be closed between April and September, only to reverse the decision within 24 hours. (See last month’s Platinum News Bulletin).

Around half of the 12 million people who complete self-assessment forms every year call HMRC for assistance. HMRC’s strategy is to move queries onto online services – including a chatbot. However, its original announcement that it would close the helpline for six months of every year was met with criticism from tax professionals and MPs. At the Commons Treasury committee, senior figures at HMRC were pushed on what had led to such a “screeching U-turn”. “The strength of feeling was not what we had been expecting,” was the insipid response from Jim Yarra, HMRC’s permanent secretary.

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NEWS

❛❛ Growing old is no more than a bad habit, which a busy person has no time to for ❜❜

Andre Maurois, French author 1940

WATCHDOG BANS NATIONWIDE ADVERT A Nationwide advert featuring actor Dominic West that claimed the building society was not closing branches has been banned.

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said in fact that Nationwide had been closing branches. One of the complaints against the ads had been made by Santander.

The bank had been referenced in the ads, but said it had closed fewer branches than Nationwide in the year before the ad campaign.

NETFLIX PROFITS SOAR Netflix says its profits have soared in the first three months of this year, partly thanks to a crackdown on password sharing.

The streaming giant said it added 9.3 million customers in the first quarter, bringing its total number of subscribers to almost 270 million. Its profits in the first quarter jumped to more than $2.3bn (£1.85bn), while revenue for the first quarter rose by nearly 15% year-on-year to $9.37bn.

The firm also credited a “drumbeat” of hits, such as crime drama Griselda. Analysts said the company also benefited from its global footprint, which helped it maintain a relatively strong pipeline of new shows, despite strikes that rocked Hollywood last year.

The ad campaign featured Dominic West as the boss of a fictional big bank who mocks customers while planning branch closures. The ads ran on TV, the radio, and in the press. In the ad, the fictional bank is contrasted with Nationwide, with the slogan: “Unlike the big banks we’re not closing our branches.”

❛❛ Newsflash to all potheads: go giggle elsewhere! ❜❜

Diederik Boomsma, Amsterdam councillor after the city banned cannabis in public

BARNES BANNED AS BOSS Ex-Liverpool and England footballer John Barnes has been banned from acting as a company director after his business failed to pay £190,000 in taxes.

Barnes, 60, was the only listed director of ‘media representation’ firm John Barnes Media Ltd, which went into liquidation in 2023. The Insolvency Service began investigating the firm and found that between November 2018 and October 2020 it had paid no tax at all despite a turnover of £441,798. Barnes has now signed a disqualification undertaking which bans him from acting as a director for three-and-a-half years, starting from April 24th.

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CHARITY FOCUS

OFFERING HELP IN A HEARTBEAT Heartbeat, formerly known as Wessex Heartbeat, is a Southampton-based cardiac charity, established for over 30 years. It is fortunate enough to have a Royal Patron, HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh, who has been very invested in the charity for over 25 years.

The charity is based at Heartbeat House, Tremona Road, Southampton, and is situated directly opposite the University Hospital Southampton (UHS), specifically the Wessex Cardiac Unit, which is one of the UK’s leading centres of excellence for cardiac care.

Hear tbeat’s core purpose is to accommodate and look after the relatives of patients who are undergoing serious cardiac interventions at the Wessex Cardiac Unit, in its home-fromhome 24-bedroom house. The relatives initially pay a small key deposit, and can then stay at the house free of charge for as long as they need to, being only five minutes away from their loved ones.

Such is the expertise in specialist cardiac treatment that patients are receiving at UHS, they are being referred from as far west as Devon and Cornwall, as far north as parts of the Midlands, as far south as the Channel Islands, and as far east as West Sussex. There are therefore people from a large number of communities that benefit from the comfort of Heartbeat House who are able to share their anxieties

❛❛ Heartbeat’s core purpose

is to accommodate and look after the relatives of patients who are undergoing serious cardiac interventions ❜❜

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with those going through similar situations. As a result, many lifefriendships have been formed.

In addition, the charity fundraises and funds pioneering research and projects that are emanating from some of the leading cardiologists and surgeons in the country. These projects initially benefit local people in Hampshire, Dorset, and the Isle of Wight, and can then be rolled out to other trusts in the UK, hence the re-naming of the charity from ‘Wessex Heartbeat’ to ‘Heartbeat – supporting Wessex and beyond’.

The team of nine is headed up by CEO, Mark Ind, who has been in post for a year and a half. Mark has run hotels in London, the Home Counties and the South for over 25 years. He has a son, aged 25 years old, who was born with congenital heart disease, and who has undergone four bouts of major open heart surgery throughout his life at the Wessex Cardiac Unit in UHS. He is acutely aware, not only of the amazing care and expertise that UHS provides but also the anxieties and stress that relatives go through. Mark and his family have also been fundraisers for the charity for over 20 years, raising over £150,000 to support various projects. Also part of the team is Tina Richardson, Head of Operations,

CHARITY FOCUS

❛❛ Heartbeat has no

government or local council funding, so income to support projects comes directly from donations from individuals and corporate partners ❜❜ who has been with Heartbeat for over 24 years, and Tina Tolley, Head of Business and Donor Development who has over six years’ service. They are affectionately known as the ‘Two Tinas’ and are key in how the charity evolves to do even more exciting things in the future.

Heartbeat has no government or local council funding, so income to run and improve Heartbeat House or to support projects comes directly from donations from individuals and corporate partners.

Monies are raised through quality events such as dinners, golf days and gala performances. It is very important to the charity that any donor knows exactly where and how their money is going to be spent, and it is hugely proud of its ability to support the Wessex Cardiac Unit in helping both save and change lives with both preventative and reactive cardiac care. It may be a small charity, but it does big things. ‘#everyonehasaheart’

Mark Ind, CEO, Heartbeat

For more information on the charity and how to donate, please visit www.heartbeat.org.uk

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LEGAL

The introduction of AI systems promises beneficial changes for the workplace. As a result, businesses are becoming increasingly more receptive to AI tools to harness the benefits they bring. However, there are potential risks if AI is not used responsibly, writes Pam Loch of Loch Associates Group

HR’s role in harnessing AI ‘hallucinations’ Given the significant impact upon businesses – good or bad – AI should not be perceived as just an “IT” or compliance issue. Instead, it should be treated as a core “HR” issue. After all, HR would usually be dealing with any misuse or breaches that occur in the workplace and managing human resource; so does it not make sense for this function to be leading from the front and recognising the crucial role that HR plays in ensuring the responsible application of AI?

RISKS AND CLAIMS

While there are potential business benefits to using AI, such as increasing efficiency and boosting productivity and wellbeing, often there is a lack of understanding about AI and how organisations can harness this tool to reap the rewards. If the limitations of AI and expectations have not been set out to staff, and if no one – other than the business itself - is held accountable for any misuse, issues will arise. The fundamental areas of potential risk are:

❛❛ While there are potential business

benefits to using AI, often there is a lack of understanding about AI ❜❜

n AI can perpetuate bias and unlawful discrimination AI is only trained on the information it’s given and, therefore, algorithms are only as unbiased as the data provided.

Any biased data can then be amplified and inadvertently perpetuate bias or unlawful discrimination in decisionmaking.

For instance, if used as part of a recruitment process, the AI system is provided with information from a company that has historically hired men and therefore lacks diverse data, it may then ultimately ‘learn’ to prefer male candidates. Many AI systems are also lacking data in ethnicity and therefore, this in turn could result in discrimination against not only female candidates, contrary to the Equality Act 2010, but also create unequal opportunities for people from diverse backgrounds. n Employee privacy and data privacy AI use will often involve the collection and processing of huge amounts of employee data and may contain sensitive or personal data. If mishandled, this could lead to employee privacy and data security breaches, or the unauthorised access or misuse of personal information. AI systems are also increasingly being used to monitor people, for example, through facial recognition systems. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has issued guidance and, in some instances, is banning their use due to concerns around the data risks.

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LEGAL n Unfair dismissal and breach of implied trust and confidence Where AI tools are relied upon when determining an employee’s dismissal, there is the potential for irrational or unfair decision-making. It might not always be clear or transparent as to the reason for the determination, and managers may not understand how to interpret algorithms and data. It’s therefore important to retain some human involvement.

There is also an implied obligation of trust and confidence between employer and employee. Case law has established that employers need to provide clear reasons for important decisions and changes being made, and ensure that any such decisions are made lawfully, rationally and in good faith – even if the decision-making has been delegated to an AI tool. Where trust and confidence are breached, the employee may be entitled to resign and claim constructive unfair dismissal where they have two years’ qualifying service. n ‘Lack of empathy and human connection It’s also important to appreciate that whilst AI may assist in many ways, it will lack human intuition, empathy and the ability to understand the nuances of human behaviours. Allowing AI to make all of the decisions relating to staff and their future careers can leave employees feeling disengaged, alienated and resentful. This, in turn, could result in a lack of job satisfaction and a workplace that is incapable of dealing effectively with conflict and staff issues.

There will always be a need for a ‘human solution’ in HR, to ensure that staff are given the appropriate level of support according to their individual needs, rather than a ‘one-size-fits all’ approach.

Employee wellbeing and engagement should remain at the heart of HR.

❛❛ AI is only trained

on the information it’s given and, therefore, algorithms are only as unbiased as the data provided ❜❜ MANAGING RISK

To minimise potential risk and to achieve responsible and ethical use of AI, businesses should consider the following: n C arry out an AI audit and risk assessment for using AI systems n Train HR and managers to understand algorithms and check data accuracy n Regularly audit and test AI systems and data inputs for bias n C onsult with staff and undertake pulse surveys n Transparency regarding data use and collection and employee privacy n Consider if reasonable adjustments are needed in respect of the use of AI for individuals with disabilities. n Balance AI with the ‘human’ touch n Ensure a ‘human’ manager has final responsibility for any decisions.

POLICY AND AUDIT

Carrying out an AI Audit is an important first step to checking and establishing how AI is used in the business.

Whilst many companies will have existing policies relating to social media and IT use, it would also be advisable to have a standalone AI policy to ensure ethical and responsible use.

An AI policy should outline what level of use is allowed, how improper use will be dealt with, signpost employees to where they can raise concerns and spell out the employer’s expectations and overall approach on employee AI use. An uncontrolled or unfettered use of AI could potentially expose a business to copyright issues and inadver tent sharing of proprietar y company information. With the introduction of any new policy, it’s important to remember that clear and transparent communication and implementation is the key to its success.

In view of the potential risks involved in the misuse or unregulated use of AI, for which the business would ultimately be liable, it would appear logical for HR to be leading the way on internal AI use, just as it would for other internal practices and procedures. HR is able to address and review the potential risks of AI use in the workplace and can be central in releasing AI’s potential whilst navigating the company and its staff through these unchartered territories.

It’s paramount that HR effectively manages and harnesses AI usage in the workplace, rather than allowing AI to ‘hallucinate’ – leaving companies open to risk and possible claims.

GET YOUR FREE AI AUDIT CHECKLIST Loch Associates Group has developed a new AI Audit Checklist, designed to assist you in ensuring that any new or current AI systems in your workplace are operating ethically legally and effectively.

To get your copy or for more information on AI Audits and Policies, please contact our team of expert solicitors and HR consultants at info@lochassociates.co.uk or call 0203 667 5400.

www.lochassociates.co.uk

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BIG STORY Professor Roseneil is the ninth – and the first female – Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Sussex.

She is a highly respected academic who has written and edited eleven books on sociological themes, predominantly around feminism and gender issues.

She sat down with Maarten Hoffmann to discuss her academic journey which has now led her to Falmer

THE BIG INTERVIEW

PROFESSOR SASHA ROSENEIL Maarten Hoffmann: Let’s start with some background. What was your journey to your current post?

Professor Sasha Roseneil: I was born and mostly grew up in London. I did apply to Sussex, but didn’t end up coming here. I was offered a place at Cambridge but, considering what I wanted to do, compared to what Cambridge would’ve wanted me to do with my studies, I decided not to go there.

I actually went to the London School of Economics (LSE) for a number of reasons. The main one was I wanted to study social sciences. I also ideally wanted to stay in London, so my first degree was from LSE, followed by my PhD. After LSE, I got my first academic job at Leeds University in 1991, and spent 16 years there, starting off as a lecturer in sociology. In 2000, I became Professor of Sociology and Gender Studies.

Personal circumstances meant I needed to move from Leeds back to

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London, so I got a job at Birkbeck (part of the University of London). For me, this was the perfect fit because it’s a special institution, focused on widening access to higher education, where almost all of the teaching is in the evenings. Birkbeck afforded me the opportunity to develop my research interests in what became the new field of Psychosocial Studies.

I was there for nine years, before being offered the role of Executive Dean at the University of Essex. I worked there for two years, before moving to University College London (UCL) as Executive Dean of the Faculty of Social and Historical Sciences. I later became Pro-Provost For Equity and Inclusion as well.

MH: At that point, were you just going where life took you or did you have a vision to step up to the top job?

SR: I didn’t. What galvanised me was the pandemic. We had to go, almost overnight, online. Doing this enabled me to think bigger than I had had

to before, especially on the operational and planning side.

I was on the ‘gold command team’ at UCL during the pandemic and, through that experience, it became conceivable that I might do the ‘top job’.

MH: Were you excited by that idea?

SR: I was. I loved UCL and I wasn’t looking to leave; I was very immersed in what I was doing there. It was totally absorbing, but then I got approached about the Vice- Chancellorship at Sussex.

I don’t think I would have been interested in another university as I had spent a lot of my childhood visiting Brighton, and I absolutely loved it.

My Dad said he’d loved to have retired here, but sadly, he didn’t get the chance.

MH: This must have resonated with you, given your childhood memories?

SR: It did. But more importantly, it was Sussex’s mission and its reputation

BIG STORY People at Sussex are very warm. And one of the university’s values is kindness. And we actually have people here who are committed to that value. It’s not just a strapline. One of the first things that I discovered when I got here, at the end of week one, was when the Director of Estates told me we’ve got a problem. There is a RAAC* issue on the campus – (reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete). I’d never heard of it at the time. It now slips off the tongue, but I really wish I’d never heard of it.

We’ve got a fair bit of it and it meant that there were significant estate challenges in my first week. *RAAC is a lightweight form of concrete commonly used in construction between the 1950s and mid-1990s. It is found in many school and college buildings. It is estimated to cost billions to replace nationally.

MH: It’s a fiscal issue, isn’t it?

The maintenance bill, which people don’t see, has always been there.

SR: We have to produce an operating margin to reinvest in the future of the university. And those margins are very hard to maintain. There are a very large number of universities in that serious deficit position.

I don’t think I would have been ❛❛ interested in another university.

I had spent a lot of my childhood visiting Brighton, and I absolutely loved it ❜❜

that interested me. Plus, there’s one thing completely non-work related – I love cold water swimming.

In London, I’d swim in a reservoir near my home. Brighton obviously has the sea. However, I don’t go as often as I’d like due to the sewage discharge concerns. So the wonderful Sea Lanes it is.

MH: So you were asked to come to Sussex, and you came down for your first visit. What happened from there?

SR: When I was first invited down here, I did a bit of a recce. I drove around the city. I’m vegetarian, and my favourite restaurant in the world is Terre à Terre, which I’ve been going to every time I visited Brighton, so that was also a draw!

Sussex has a reputation, sometimes a challenging reputation, as being a university that has really pushed the boundaries intellectually, developing new ideas and ways of thinking. It has been at the forefront in so many disciplines, and that was very appealing.

Plus it’s a university that’s strong in the social sciences and as I’m a social scientist, that appealed to me. So there were all sorts of attractions for me.

MH: How long have you been here now?

SR: I arrived in August 2022. I was made to feel very welcome. My first day was in August, so it was quieter than usual. It was a good time to start, because I could find my feet during a calmer period.

MH: So that first month or two was quite a rollercoaster for you. With the RAAC problems, the students coming back during the Queen’s funeral, the pandemic, and the huge task you must have had in front of you at a university with a considerable reputation.

It must have been quite daunting…

SR: It was daunting and exciting.

I wanted to meet as many people as possible as quickly as possible. I really do believe that a successful university is a community of people who work together. So I wanted to meet everyone as quickly as I could, including people in the schools and in the different professional ser vices divisions.

The challenge is to continue talking and listening to people when you’re very busy. I want to keep hearing from people across all the different roles inthe university.

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BIG STORY UNIVERSITY OF SUSSEX ARCHITECTURE In 1958, the government approved Brighton Corporation’s scheme for a university at Falmer, on the outskirts of Brighton. The following year, the Basil Spence & Partners company began planning and designing the campus, to be built over 15 years. By 1971, 17 buildings had been built, winning numerous awards, including from the Royal Institute of British Architects and a Civic Trust award.

Interior of the Meeting House, University of Sussex

Spence connected the buildings by a series of ‘green, interlocking courtyards that created a sense of enclosure’.

The university received its royal charter in August 1961, the first of the so-called ‘plate glass’ universities. Today, many of these structures are Grade I and II Spence designed the campus as listed buildings. a series of low buildings so as not to disturb the natural scenery around. Sasha herself is utterly enamoured by the Brick was chosen throughout as it was campus architecture. “I had been here the dominant material used across many times before, but not for a while, so Sussex. As the campus developed, I looked around the place; to re-acquaint MH: Do you feel you have managed that?

SR: Probably not as much as I would like to. I have regular open staff meetings once a term, and meetings with different schools and divisions, at different times.

There are so many different parts of the university – the students; the staff, the estates teams; the schools; the labs.

A university is a really complex organisation because we’re doing all sorts of things. Here we are, teaching students across a huge range of disciplines, all of which have different methods of operating. There are trade offs at times between the needs of different areas, but the success of a university is the ability to integrate.

MH: You have a responsibility to the students; for them to have a great experience, achieve what they’re aiming to achieve to the best of their ability, getting high grades, having had a great time doing so, with the highest satisfaction. That’s such a multifaceted challenge; one you’ve obviously risen to and enjoyed?

SR: We are here for the students, to educate them, and to carry out research for the wider public good. So we have to centre ourselves around their needs.

And those needs are always changing and the pandemic introduced a new set of unique challenges.

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We are here for the ❛❛ students, to educate them, and to carry out research for the wider public good ❜❜

For instance, we have higher levels of mental distress amongst students – the cost of living crisis, and student maintenance levels are lower than they ever have been, and our students are working more than they ever had. Of course, students have jobs, but they shouldn’t be doing too much of it, as it starts to impinge on their studies. We really do need, as a society, to think very consciously about how to support young people as well as we can.

For example, at Sussex, we offer support financially where we can, so we introduced £2 meals. These have been hugely popular. For that, the students and staff can get a healthy, hot, cooked, vegetarian or vegan meal with a gluten free option, all through the day on campus. We have sold hundreds of thousands.

The meals are subsidised, and being vegetarian and vegan, which is something we encourage, they fit with our ethos of sustainability. Additionally, our chefs are getting more and more innovative, which is fantastic.

myself. I was reminded just what an amazing campus Sussex has; these beautiful listed buildings. It is really the most special of the 1960s universities.

Sir Basil Spence was a fantastic architect.

I’d been to a wedding of someone who worked at the University of Sussex in the Meeting House. It was the first time I’d been in that building, and it is an incredibly special building. It’s the equivalent of a chapel, but a circular building and there are rainbow coloured, stained glass windows all the way around. Inside, you MH: If I may turn to funding.

It’s a universal problem across all education establishments. There does seem to be a real crisis; a funding gap which the university has to make up. How are you currently dealing with the funding issues?

SR: Like all universities in the UK, we are facing serious financial headwinds.

At the moment, things have been getting progressively more challenging because the home student fee hasn’t gone up since 2017. £9,250 sounds like a lot, but it doesn’t cover the cost of education and services. In 2012, when the £9,000 fee was introduced – increased by £250 in 2017 – it was about right to enable universities to have extra income and be able to invest.

However, inflation means our costs have risen, but the fees have remained the same. So that fiscal boost has now been radically eroded.

International student fees have always been higher than home fees, and they are essential to run a university. But Sussex has been ‘global’ since it opened. One of the things I think the university is most proud of is that one of its earliest students was Thabo Mbeki, who went on to become President of South Africa.

We’ve recently been told that we are number one in the world – for the eighth consecutive year – for Development Studies. That’s something we’re very

BIG STORY look up and there’s this amazing eye, looking down on you. And then there are just beautiful quarry tiles.

If you like modernist architecture, it’s an absolute gem.

“It’s very symbolic of Sussex; the circular space; there’s something about equality that’s invoked by having a circular building. Then there’s the Library, another beautiful modernist building. I love it”

UK in the world when people suggest inter national students are not welcome. It becomes all the more distressing and fundamentally wrongheaded, because higher education is one of Britain’s great success stories.

MH: With the very real challenges and deficits faced by a lot of universities, do you feel that the university system needs to embrace fundamental reforms, for instance in the form of mergers or partnerships? Do you think that’s where we’re going?

One of the greatest privileges of the job has been meeting our alumni.

They’re running major businesses around the world. They are running governments and civil services and major NGOs.

SR: I don’t think that mergers are the solution to the challenges we’re facing. Merging two freestanding, autonomous institutions is incredibly complex, and it doesn’t necessarily save any money in the immediate future, unless you’re shrinking the provision of one of them. These mergers we are seeing are not necessarily being driven by financial imperatives; there are other factors at work.

MH: Is there a concern that international students might be draining university resources from home students? It’s a concern the man or woman in the street occasionally raises.

Grade I listed Falmer House proud of. There are only a handful of universities in the UK that are number one in the world for a subject, and Sussex is one of them.

Development Studies is about global equity, social justice and sustainability.

That number one ranking is so fundamental to what we are about. We haven’t gone out to find international students just to help to balance the books; we want them here because they bring so much to the university.

They are a vital part of our community.

It undermines the standing of the

SR: British students are not being turned away because of international students. Most international students are Masters students, not undergraduates. They’re actually helping to fund the universities, in order that we can give a better context for UK students, enabling us to do research, especially when there isn’t full funding for research. Research undertaken by British universities is absolutely fundamental to the health of the UK economy. So there’s a complex ecosystem and interrelated set of dynamics in university finances, and international students are part of that; they are fundamentally supporting the British economy.

❛❛ We have recently been told that we are

number one in the world – for the eighth consecutive year – for Development Studies ❜❜

Certainly collaboration and partnership between regionally situated universities is absolutely vital. We have a joint medical school with the University of Brighton – Brighton and Sussex Medical School. It’s a joint venture between the two universities that’s 20 years old now, and it’s a huge success.

MH: One advantage being you’re sharing the cost?

SR: Well, we work together. We’ve got a division of labour between the two universities, and we come together and ensure that our shared medical school is working with both our fundamental science, and our psychology at Sussex, and with allied health professionals at University of Brighton. It’s a great model. Similarly, we’re working with the University of Chichester in relation to our postgraduate teacher training.

We’ve also just recently joined the Eastern Academic Research Consortium (ARC), which includes University of East Anglia, University of Kent, University of Essex, and now Sussex.

We’re going to collaborate around issues of the coast and coastal c o mmunities , issues of so cio economic challenge and deprivation as well as opportunities in coastal communities. We are also researching coastal biodiversity and environmental sustainability.

Sasha in discussion on ‘SABC Morning Live’ (South African Broadcasting Corporation)

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BIG STORY MH: One major concern I have is that the next government, assuming it’s a Labour government, is going to remove VAT exemption and charity status from private schools. Do you have similar concerns for universities?

NOBEL PRIZE WINNERS Sussex has had five Nobel Prize winners: SIR ANTHONY LEGGETT Lecturer at Sussex 1967-82.

Awarded the 2003 Nobel Prize in Physics for pioneering contributions to the theory of superconductors and superfluids.

SIR PAUL NURSE Research fellow at Sussex 1979-84. Awarded the 2001 Nobel Prize in Medicine for their discoveries of key regulators of the cell cycle ARCHER MARTIN Professor at Sussex 1973-84.

Awarded the 1952 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the invention of partition chromatography.

SIR JOHN CORNFORTH Research Professor at Sussex 1975-2013. Awarded the 1975 Nobel Prize for Chemistry for his work on the stereochemistry of enzyme-catalysed reactions SIR HARRY KROTO Teacher, researcher and professor at Sussex 1967-2004. Awarded the 1996 Nobel Prize for Chemistry for the discovery of fullerenes, an allotrope of carbon There have also been 15 Fellows of the Royal Society, 10 Fellows of the British Academy, 24 Fellows of the Academy of Social Sciences and a winner of the Crafoord Prize among its faculty. Alumni include heads of states, diplomats, politicians, eminent scientists and activists.

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SR: I don’t know, because the Labour Party is keeping its cards very close to its chest about Higher Education policy.

But I have written a manifesto for Higher Education. It suggests – assuming tuition fees are not going to increase – grant funding, especially for mental health issues among students.

I advocate for a Covid Premium for universities.

MH: Given the lack of repayment of tuition fees, the cost of nonrepayment is expected to hit £460bn by 2040. Surely this is unsustainable?

SR: I think that’s more of an accounting issue. Before we had student loans, there was a sense in which students were funded through revenue. Today, this is now considered to be ‘debt’.

And that is effectively an artefact of the funding structure.

We could do with a radical re-think of how universities are funded.

Another part of my manifesto suggests a major review of university funding, that operates something like a ‘Citizens’ Jury’. We would bring together young people, prospective students, graduates who have student loans, alongside ordinary taxpayers, people who work in universities – a cross-section of stakeholders – to interrogate financial experts about this, and really think through how to fund universities.

But the bigger question is, how do we understand universities? This manifesto points out that universities are institutions for the public good; we should be

seeing them for what they generate. To me, they produce all of the professionals who keep the country running.

Every teacher, social worker, medic, nurse, physiotherapist, almost every business leader, politician – you name it – has been through university.

Universities are generators of the country’s economic prosperity; our wealth, a source of ideas and innovation.

So the current thinking of universities as being these enormous sources of debt is totally incorrect. They’re enormous sources of creativity, innovation, and the future of the country.

MH: Is it not actually a result of when we originally star ted to charge university fees in the first place?

It was once all premised on the long term view of these highly skilled people, highly educated people go into the workforce, collect increased tax receipts, enhance the economy, and so on. Was it not the imposition of fees for universities in the first place that caused this issue to bloom?

SR: I agree. But we’ve got some great minds in this country and it’s not an impossible problem to solve. It needs careful thought because, whichever way you look at it, the current system isn’t working well.

We’ve got students who can’t afford to live because they’re just not getting enough to live off. Parents who can

OTHER RANDOM ALUMNI INCLUDE…

KEMI BADENOCH Politician Computer Systems Engineering, 2003

TONY BANKS Keyboard player Genesis Physics, 1970

FRANKIE BOYLE Comedian English, 1994

THABO MBEKI President of South Africa Economics, 1965

BIG STORY and psychotherapy are not the whole answer. Very often what people need is a supportive network, a community, on a personal, human level.

They need to be able to find the resources to build friendships, because social media has something to answer for. It may offer people a lot of connection but it’s not the same as real human, in-person interaction.

We must ensure that we enable students to meet and hang out together.

The arts have a role too. We’ve got a fantastic musical theatre society, we’ve got a lot of creative activities happening on campus, and a lot of music making.

And that is really vital to students’ well being.

❛❛ Universities are

generators of the country’s economic prosperity, our wealth, a source of ideas and innovation. ❜❜

afford it are subsidising students very heavily, but there are a lot of parents who can’t afford it. So students are working too much, and really struggling with their mental health as a result.

There needs to be a different way of thinking about it. Instead of saddling students with debt, perhaps we might consider a ‘graduate tax’; a separate tax that graduates would pay because – and there is plenty of truth in it – those individuals who go to university benefit enormously from it personally. There are personal benefits and enormous public benefits.

LORD PETER HAIN Politician and activist Politics/International Relations, 1980

BOB MORTIMER Comedian Law, 1980

MH: Moving on to EDI, do you feel that the university is achieving equality and diversity across the board, or do you still have a long way to go?

SR: We’re working hard on it. But no university has achieved anything like full parity for all the different groups.

Universities are diverse communities and Sussex is a very diverse community, but we’re not as diverse as we would like to be.

MH: Most councils around the country are spending up to 85% of their entire budget on adult social care regarding mental health issues. You’re in your own mini-city here. How do you deal with that?

SR: Speaking as a psychotherapist and a social scientist – again, there’s no magic bullet. We need universities to provide robust psychological services, and I think we do that at Sussex but we’re always stretched but I think we also have to recognise that counselling

JULIA SOMERVILLE Journalist and newsreader English Literature,

MH: Final question. What’s the future for you?

SR: Sussex’s future is bright. For me, personally, I’m really immersed in the job in the here and now. Every day is very full and I’m definitely thinking about the next ten years here at Sussex. The whole community is developing the Sussex 2035 strategy. So we’re looking ahead over the next ten years of the university. It’s very exciting.

MH: Many thanks for your time Sasha and now that you have inspired me regarding the campus architecture, l am off to the Meeting House.

www.sussex.ac.uk

VIRGINIA WADE OBE LUCY WORSLEY OBE Wimbledon champion Historian and presenter Ancient and Modern Mathematics History, 2001 & Physics, 1966

ZHANG XIN Philanthropist, founder Soho China Economic, 1991

35

BUSINESS

Gatwick’s runway has had some new ‘slip roads’ added. The pilots, it seems, love it

New taxiway opens to cut aircraft waiting times London Gatwick has recently completed its latest infrastructure project, the new Echo Romeo Rapid Exit Taxiway (RET), which will help reduce delays and go-arounds, while supporting the airport’s sustainability targets.

The RET addresses issues which were causing some aircraft to spend longer on the main runway than necessary, resulting in delays to other incoming aircraft, or those waiting to take off.

The existing taxiways were too far apart, meaning if a pilot missed the chance to exit the runway via the first taxiway – as could be the case due

For aircraft exiting the runway, it is like the speed of turning onto a motorway slip road rather than onto a suburban street

❛❛

❜❜

to landing later than anticipated, weather conditions making braking more challenging, or flying with a heavier load than normal - the aircraft would end up travelling slowly along the runway to the next taxiway exit, which could take an extra 20 seconds or more.

The new taxiway – located in a more helpful position and able to safely handle aircraft exiting at higher speeds – has been in the pipeline for several years. Now complete, it’s already proving a big hit with pilots, with an impressive 56% of arrivals utilising it within the initial four days of opening in February.

G av i n S i l l i t to , Tr a n s fo r m a t i o n Programme Lead at London Gatwick, said: “Every project where you are building next to a live runway is complex, but we have a great result thanks to fantastic teamwork across the airport and with our contractor, PJ Hegarty.

MARK JOHNSTON APPOINTED LONDON GATWICK CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Mark Johnston, an experienced and seasoned airport leader, has taken on the role of Chief Operating Officer (COO) at London Gatwick.

Mark joined London Gatwick having served as the COO of AGS Airports, the owners of Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton airports, where he was in post for more than three years.

He brings more than two decades’ worth of highly relevant technical and professional experience; having led security,

36

BUSINESS

“For aircraft exiting the runway, it is like the speed of turning onto a motorway slip road rather than onto a suburban street. Putting an exit in a place which is natural for how pilots normally brake, and which can handle aircraft exiting safely at higher speeds, increases resilience, reduces delays, and limits carbon and noise emissions.”

Andrew Isted, Senior Project Manager, reflected on the project’s journey, highlighting the team’s commitment to excellence amidst challenges.

“We were delighted to complete the project with no impact to or complaints from the local community, with our

contractors operating carefully and safely, and often at night, in a busy operational environment.”

Commencing construction in 2020, the project underwent a significant redesign during the pandemic, resulting in a reduction of over 10% in construction carbon emissions.

Despite being a 24-hour airport, operations continued during construction, with aircraft utilising the existing N o r th e r n Ru nway as n e e d e d .

This project stands as a testament to London Gatwick’s dedication to enhancing efficiency, sustainability, and passenger experience.

technical, infrastructure and airport terminal departments.

As COO at London Gatwick, Mark will play a critical leadership role, ensuring the safe, efficient, and smooth day-to-day operations of the airport. He will oversee key departments such as passenger operations, security, and aerodrome management. Additionally, he will drive strategic projects, including the implementation of next-generation security measures and improvements in aerodrome performance.

Mark’s background includes roles in the global semiconductor industry before joining Glasgow Airport in 2004. He held positions such as Operations Director and was later appointed Managing Director in May 2018. In November

Find out more via www.gatwickairport.com

2020, Mark became the Chief Operating Officer of AGS Airports.

On his first day in the role, Mark Johnston said: “I am thrilled to be joining the UK’s second busiest airport where we operate the world’s most efficient runway.

“London Gatwick has exceptional people who work hard every day to deliver a personalised experience, that is easy and efficient for all.

“It is an incredibly exciting time to be joining London Gatwick and I am thoroughly looking forward to getting started and meeting all the team.”

37

BUSINESS

London Gatwick expands Asia connections London Gatwick will be offering passengers more than 90 weekly flights to Asia and the Middle East this summer, following the launch of new routes to Baku, A zerbaijan; Ashgabat, Turk menistan and Tashkent in Uzbekistan.

The airport has welcomed new carriers Azerbaijan Airlines, Turkmenistan Airlines and Uzbekistan Airways recently, with three services per week to Baku starting in March, and twice-weekly flights to Ashgabat, and a weekly flight to Tashkent commencing in April.

The new routes mean London Gatwick now serves 12 destinations across Asia and the Middle East, including markets in China, India, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and UAE, with more new services to Beijing (Air China), Guangzhou (China Southern) and Singapore (Singapore Airlines) due to start this summer.

38

S te p h a n i e We a r, V P Av i at i o n Development, London Gatwick said: “We are delighted to welcome three new flag carriers to London Gatwick, providing excellent connectivity to previously under-ser ved markets in Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

“We are continuing to develop our long-haul options at London Gatwick and these new routes, while fantastic destinations in their own right, also provide passengers with excellent onward connectivity across Asia.”

Find out more via www.gatwickairport.com

Selling, buying or starting a business?

Call us on 0800 84 94 101 Offices across the South East

www.mayowynnebaxter.co.uk

LEGAL

Many consider dilapidations liability towards the end of the term of their lease, as the property will by then normally need some work, and this is also the point at which a dilapidations schedule is typically served by the landlord.

By Ben Price, Partner and Emily Wood, Partner and Head of Real Estate Dispute Resolution, DMH Stallard

DILAPIDATIONS IN COMMERCIAL LEASES However, a tenant’s treatment of the property during the term is only half of the story, as dilapidations are effectively breaches of the lease terms relating to condition. Therefore, as the ‘rulebook’ that governs the relationship between landlords and tenants, the lease is the reference point for a tenant’s obligations, and these terms of reference are fixed at the beginning, and not the end, of the term. It is the initial negotiation between landlord and tenant that is key.

A well drafted lease ❛❛ can ease the settlement of dilapidations disagreements between landlord and tenants

❜❜

40

One of the most important clauses of a lease when it comes to dilapidations is the one relating to repair. Intuitively, a tenant may consider they will have no dilapidations liability to the landlord for disrepair, if they return the property in the same condition as they found it.

However, that is not the case, and clear drafting is required to avoid paying to improve the landlord’s property.

Dilapidations includes more than just repair. If a tenant has carried out fit out works for instance, they will often be obliged at the end of the lease to put the property back to the way it was, or incur a dilapidations liability if they fail to do so. This can be the case even if the tenant considers their alterations to have improved the property, as the landlord will be mindful of future

LEGAL

tenants who might want to use the property differently and would expect a ‘blank slate’ on which to make their own mark. Landlords too will need to take care that their rights are clearly defined through the lease drafting.

For example, they may have provided for reinstatement when originally consenting to the tenant’s fit out works, but if there has been a subsequent renewal of the lease, that right may be lost without careful drafting.

Nowadays, sustainability is a key consideration for landlords and tenants alike when drafting leases. This is even more so since landlords could become subject to fines and other penalties for letting properties that are substandard in terms of energy efficiency. Although the legislation in this area is intended to make landlords liable for the cost of upgrading properties, it is possible to pass the cost of those works to a tenant through the lease, and these costs could potentially form part of a dilapidations claim should the tenant fail to comply.

More generally, a tenant’s liability for dilapidations will often be limited by statute, but the lease terms can allow a landlord to claim dilapidations beyond

A tenant’s liability for dilapidations will often ❛❛ be limited by statute, but the lease terms can allow a landlord to claim dilapidations beyond that

that. Tenants will need to be mindful of such provisions. It is also common practice for a landlord to add their professional costs to a dilapidations claim, but the extent to which they are able to do so is also governed by the lease, and the landlord will clearly want these provisions to be drafted as widely as possible.

A well drafted lease can ease the settlement of dilapidations disagreements between landlord and tenants.

If the clauses clearly set out where the respective responsibilities lie, then when the lease end is on the horizon, a landlord can engage a specialist surveyor to inspect the property and draw up a clearly referenced terminal schedule of dilapidations, covering any disrepair and reinstatement for which the tenant is responsible.

Equally, from the tenant’s perspective, they too can put in place a plan when the end of the lease is in sight, to either give themselves time to carry out

❜❜

those repairs and reinstatement for which they know they are responsible, or hand the property back to the landlord in an ‘as is’ condition, knowing what, if any, liability they will face.

Whether you are taking a lease of trading premises, or letting properties as an investment, dilapidations liability starts with the negotiation of the lease.

It is at that point both parties have the opportunity to ensure that the obligations relating to condition are clearly set out and understood. Leases which reflect the true intentions of the parties are the best tool to minimising the risk of later disputes. When it then comes to the end of the lease, armed with the ‘rulebook’, a swift and amicable settlement can be more readily achieved.

www.dmhstallard.com

41

BUSINESS

How Aspiring is leading the charge in human-centred workplace solutions.

By Liz Beck, CEO, Aspiring HR

THE POWER OF PEOPLE In the hustle and bustle of the corporate world, it’s easy to lose sight of what truly matters – the people who deliver the results. Enter Aspiring, a trailblazer in leadership coaching and HR solutions, promoting the human experience in the workplace like no other.

“At Aspiring, we’re not just in the business of leadership and HR; we’re in the business of transformation,” says Liz Beck, Founder and CEO of Aspiring. “We believe that when you put people first, your customer is delighted and your results speak for themselves.”

Liz Beck founded Aspiring to bring integration and humanity to the complexities of organisational performance. “I created Aspiring with the belief that true success lies in the seamless integration of business objectives and human values.

“I wanted to create a company that not only helps businesses thrive financially but also develops a culture of enablement, collaboration, and growth. The whole Aspiring team believes that anything is possible, and potential is everywhere, it just needs to be unlocked – and that is where we come in,” says Liz.

I created Aspiring with the belief that true ❛❛ success lies in the seamless integration of business objectives and human values

42

❜❜

But why should leaders care? Simply because it makes great business sense. A happy, motivated workforce isn’t a nice-to-have; it’s the key to performance and growth. Aspiring understands this, and it’s here to show businesses the results of investing in their people.

“Investing in your people isn’t just morally right; it’s a smart business move,” Liz continues. “Happy employees are more engaged, more productive, and more likely to stick around. And that means lower turnover, higher profits, and an excellent reputation.”

BUSINESS BUILDING LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE

Fundamentally, Aspiring is about changing the landscape. It’s about developing leaders who inspire and lead by example. Aspiring’s leadership coaching puts executives through their paces helping them shine a light that inspires and enables others, not cast a shadow that diminishes potential.

“We believe the true measure of success is not just in profits, but in the impact we have on people’s lives,” says Liz. “And that’s why we’re committed to helping businesses thrive.”

Fundamentally, Aspiring is about changing ❛❛ the landscape. It’s about developing leaders who inspire and lead by example COMPREHENSIVE HR EXCELLENCE

In today’s fast-paced world, reputation is everything. One wrong move, and it can all come crashing down. But with Aspiring by your side, you can rest easy knowing your reputation is in safe hands. “We help businesses navigate the complexities of human interaction and employment law, ensuring every decision is guided by integrity,” remarks Liz. Aspiring’s services serve as the grounds for building strong organisational structures. Whether providing full HR services or collaborating with zan in-house team, Aspiring provides tailored solutions to meet the unique needs of each client.

By helping companies focus on employee relations, engagement and performance management, businesses can create a motivated and highperforming workforce.

❜❜ EMPOWERING MANAGEMENT AND TEAM DEVELOPMENT

Aspiring doesn’t stop there. The company is not just about avoiding pitfalls; it’s about helping businesses reach for the stars and get them there.

With its tailored solutions, Aspiring takes your business from good to great, from mediocre to high performing.

“We don’t believe in settling for mediocrity. We’re here to help businesses realise their full potential and achieve greatness. At the heart of Aspiring’s philosophy is the belief that every individual has untapped potential waiting to be unleashed,” Liz explains.

“That’s why our values are ‘Imagine: Learn: Grow’. We inspire learning to deliver powerful leadership, helping to ensure business growth.”

Aspiring provides bespoke programmes designed to help teams sharpen up their performance and ensure businesses grow, enabling people to thrive and bring their greatest minds and contributions to work.

Through coaching and development programmes, Aspiring helps senior executives refine and develop their leadership styles, encourage collaboration, and align strategic objectives.

“Leadership is not just about individual capabilities; it’s about growing a culture of excellence that spreads throughout the organisation,” Liz reveals. “By nurturing strong leadership and promoting a positive culture, organ-isations can drive performance and achieve their goals.”

With Aspiring by your side, the possibilities are endless. Whether a startup is looking to make its mark or a seasoned enterprise is aiming for new heights, Aspiring has the tools, the expertise, and the passion for success.

And unlike many other consultants or advisors, the Aspiring team has walked its talk, so it deeply understands the business challenges. It is a team with fascinating and varied corporate backgrounds, from startup to global enterprises.

“People are the heart and soul of any organisation,” Liz concludes. “At Aspiring, we’re committed to helping businesses unlock their full potential and make a greater contribution to the world.”

Find out more about Aspiring by visiting www.aspiringhr.com Aspiring can be contacted by calling 01903 477950 or emailing hello@aspiringhr.com

43

FINANCE

Lydia Southern, Tax Disputes Senior Manager

Randeep Dhaliwal, Corporate Tax Senior Manager

The landscape surrounding Research & Development (R&D) tax claims in the UK is evolving, marked by a notable increase in enquiries initiated by HMRC. This article provides an overview of HMRC’s approach and offers guidance on how we can assist clients in managing these enquiries effectively

NAVIGATING R&D TAX ENQUIRIES The UK’s R&D relief schemes offer substantial tax credits to both SMEs and large corporations. Recent HMRC statistics reveal a significant rise in R&D claims, with 90,315 claims, amounting to £7.6 billion in relief for the fiscal year 2021/22.

However, alongside this growth, concerns regarding fraud and abuse, particularly within the SME sector, have emerged. Reports of dubious claims have prompted HMRC to take action, with an estimated 16.7% (£1.13 billion) error and fraud rate recorded for the fiscal year 2020/21, with SME schemes experiencing a particularly high level of 24%. Previously, HMRC estimated the level of fraud and error to be £336m, so the HMRC estimate is now three times larger than it was previously.

In response to these concerns, HMRC announced policy changes aimed at addressing fraud and abuse, including: n R eduction of cash credit rates available to SMEs, effective from April 1st 2023. n Reintroduction of a PAYE/NI cap for SMEs claiming cash credits. n I mplementation of mandator y documentation requirements for R& D a c ti v i ti e s an d ad van c e notification for claim submissions, effective from specific dates.

44

OPERATIONAL CHANGES WITHIN HMRC

In addition to policy changes, HMRC has implemented operational adjustments to enhance compliance among claimants: n I ncreased deployment of R&D inspectors to tackle non-compliance.

n E stablishment of a dedicated “volumes” team within the Individuals and Small Business Compliance (ISBC) directorate to target SME enquiries, including a Mandatory Ran d o m E n quir y P ro gr am m e (MREP). n I ssuance of thematic letters to companies targeting sectors prone to fraudulent practices.

❛❛ Reports of dubious claims have

prompted HMRC to take action, with an estimated £1.13 billion error and fraud rate recorded for 2020/21 ❜❜

FINANCE

IMPLICATIONS

These changes have resulted in a notable increase in R&D enquiries.

HMRC is now checking over 20% of claims compared with 1% of claims previously. This over twenty times more than they did previously and therefore the risk of enquir y is significantly higher than previously.

Notably, the ISBC team has adopted a new approach to checking compliance, characterised by the issuance of enquir y let ters withou t name d caseworkers, limited correspondence opportunities, and a tendency to close cases prematurely. Consequently, rejected claims often lead to penalty assessments and appeals, contributing to a growing backlog of cases.

HMRC’S RESPONSE

Recognising concerns raised by industry stakeholders, HMRC has acknowledged the need for improvement and has initiated internal process reviews and training programs for caseworkers.

HOW WE CAN HELP

Our Corporate Tax and Tax Disputes Departments synergise their expertise to deliver tailored solutions for clients navigating R&D tax enquiries.

Offering a full spectrum of services from enquiry resolution to litigation, our multidisciplinary team excels in R&D tax relief claims, ensuring strict adherence to regulator y standards.

We also have a Tax Investigation Ser vice that covers R&D claims prepared by our firm. We strongly recommend that this service is taken out for all R&D claims as it should cover the cost of tax enquiry.

❛❛ Concerns regarding fraud and abuse, particularly within the SME sector, have emerged ❜❜

As HMRC intensifies its scrutiny of R&D claims, it becomes imperative for businesses to maintain meticulous documentation and compliance.

Leveraging exper t suppor t and adopting transparent communication strategies can mitigate risks associated with HMRC enquiries, safeguarding the integrity of R&D claims.

Please contact Lydia Southern or Randeep Dhaliwal to discuss your situation and circumstances in more detail: Call: +44 (0)33 0124 1399 Email: enquiries@krestonreeves.com Visit: www.krestonreeves.com

45

ADVERTORIAL

HOW DO YOU PLAN FOR TOMORROW WHEN YOU HAVE NO TIME TODAY? As a business owner, your time is precious. Every decision often comes down to you. What’s more, you’re probably balancing running your business with spending time with your family and doing the things you want to do.

No matter how much we love doing what we do, running a business can often be challenging.

Have you taken time to stop and ask yourself some key questions:

n Why do you do what you do? n How long do you want to do it for? n Are you on track to achieve the lifestyle you deserve? n What do you need to do to stay on track?

Retirement might seem like a long way off, but it’s important to see the bigger picture and plan for the future to ensure you can enjoy the lifestyle you deserve after working so hard on your business.

FINANCIAL ADVICE FOR BUSINESS OWNERS

Financial planning or retirement planning can seem like another laborious task to add to the list. You could be so busy working on your business that you don’t have time to work on your own future. However, taking time to focus on your long-term goals will help you achieve your life goals and make the right decisions in the present.

Because that is what financial planning is about. It is about achieving your goals both now, in the future and during your legacy.

WE CAN HELP.

If we can work out what your ideal financial future looks like, we can look at where you are now, what you have in place and work out how likely you are to get there.

You’re busy, let us help.

Call: 01306 742200 E: hjpcfp@sjpp.co.uk www.hjpcfp.com

HJP Chartered Financial Planners is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the group’s wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the group’s website www.sjp.co.uk/products. The ‘St. James’s Place Partnership’ and the titles ‘Partner’ and ‘Partner Practice’ are marketing terms used to describe St. James’s Place representatives.

HJP Chartered Financial planners is a trading name of HJP Wealth Management Ltd. which is registered in England & Wales. No.10490173, registered office: 176 South Street, Dorking, Surrey, RH4 2ES.

SJP approved 27/03/2024

46

SENIOR PARTNER OF:

Corporate Commentary Welcome to this monthly series for business owners, where DMH Stallard Corporate Team members aim to demystify the corporate market and highlight trends in a non-technical manner

Mark Diamond Partner, Corporate Team DMH Stallard

Things to know to get the money to grow DATA ROOMS

For start-ups looking for funding, investor readiness is key and the focus of the last Corporate Commentary.

In this second part, Mark Diamond highlights three more key issues worth considering.

CORPORATE HYGIENE

Ensure that your company’s statutory registers are accurate. This extends to minute books, filings at Companies House, and your accounts. Investors will want to know that you respect governance, because it builds trust and a willingness to rely on you.

RIGHT INVESTMENT

In looking for an investor, consider the right investment: n Equity can be institutional or ‘angel’ and is often used if security is unavailable.

You will dilute your ownership, but if investors are well connected, you’ll gain access to networks, markets and expertise. n Debt, a repayment term for capital plus interest, but if you grow quickly this is easier to manage. You don’t dilute your ownership, but it normally requires security. n A mix of debt and equity, which may offer the best of both.

AS WELL AS THE RIGHT INVESTMENT, CONSIDER THE RIGHT INVESTOR

n Venture capital, often for pre-revenue capital and ‘riskier’ investments, typically an investment of £2m to £10m; n ‘Angel’ investors, individuals experienced in business who can offer strategic guidance alongside investment. Often the only equity option below £1m. n Private equity, funds with the ability to deploy debt, as well as equity, to open new markets and support growth at all stages of the business cycle. Normally, investment of £5m+; n I ndustry, larger players in your market, looking to disrupt industry by backing innovative business models and products.

Often a feature of the investment process, these can be a useful tool. Some tips: n If investors are competing, why not set your own due diligence questionnaire and populate a data room with corresponding information and documents, saving time and cost? n Keep it clean! Your data room should only include relevant information and documents should be indexed. n Be aware of your data protection and confidentiality obligations. n The cost can vary wildly, so be sure to know your requirements and how providers will best meet those.

For start-ups looking ❛❛ for funding, investor readiness is key ❜❜ To know more about investmentreadiness, please do get in touch.

Mark Diamond Partner T: 01293 558530 E: Mark.Diamond@dmhstallard.com www. dmhstallard.com

47

EDUCATION

By Oliver Pocknell, Director of Digital Technologies and AI, Hurstpierpoint College

Learning to use AI safely In the eyes of many in the education sector, technology is the ever-present enemy; tiny rectangles that distract and corrupt students who would otherwise be studying for their weekly pop quiz. In some schools, where teachers scramble to establish whether or not homework has been plagiarised, blanket bans have been issued on AI platforms such as Chat GPT. At the other end of the spectrum, AI is heralded as the silver bullet that will enrich learning, remove marking, and revolutionise the back office. Teachers might become free to fulfil their wildest dreams in the classroom, as they escape the administrative nightmare presently holding them back.

As is often the case, the reality of the situation lies somewhere between these two extremes. When used as a safe and effective learning tool, AI is definitely something to be curious about, rather than afraid of. In many ways, it has the potential to unlock new possibilities for teaching and learning as well as equip students with key digital skills; ones that they will inevitably need to enter the everevolving workplace.

As educators, it will be our responsibility to firmly take hold of the wheel and steer a course towards this much brighter digital future for schools, all the while keeping in mind its potential pitfalls. AI platforms, like the notorious Chat GPT, must not become ways to cut corners or make school life easier— they are not ends in themselves.

Students must always be able to stand on their own two feet in the real world, without relying on technology to do everything for them.

If you flip the learning, you can get the upper hand on AI. You might challenge your students to mark an essay written

by AI, and then come up with a better input. You could get more creative, asking English students to create themselves as characters using generative AI. The better the description, the closer the image will be to the character that they have imagined.

At Hurst, over the next few years, our aim will be to fully incorporate AI into taught curriculums, whilst always prioritising the pupils’ experience first.

Staff and pupils, with all of the Hurst Education Trust schools included, will be trained in how to use this new

te c h n o l o g y a p p r o p r i a te l y a n d effectively, and we intend to collaborate with other leading independent schools to keep ahead in this digital landscape.

The opportunities for using AI in education, from essay writing and revision planning to Learning Support and Careers Workshops, will be ours for the taking.

Whether we like it or not, the future of artificial intelligence is already with us.

It’s down to us to decide how best to use it.

When used as a safe ❛❛ and effective learning tool, AI is definitely something to be curious about, rather than afraid of ❜❜ www.hppc.co.uk

50

FINANCE EVENTS

Are you a property professional looking to expand your network, forge long-lasting connections, and gain insights from industry leaders? Look no further than July’s Property Professionals Lunch AN AFTERNOON OF NETWORKING WITH

PROPERTY PROFESSIONALS LUNCH This event, hosted by Sophie CampbellAdams from Brit ton and Time Solicitors, promises a vibrant and dynamic experience, bringing together professionals from Brighton’s bustling property scene and beyond.

With previous events featuring talks from esteemed celebrity chef Rustie Lee, Check-a-Trade Founder Kevin Byrne, and award-winning author Donna O’Toole, our July event promises a new expert to share their insights and experiences.

The line-up for the day promises a complimentar y welcome drink, a delicious three - course meal accompanied by wine, a riveting talk from our guest speaker, followed by casual networking for those who wish to continue their conversations.

The Property Professionals Lunch is an opportunity to give back to the local community. Our charity par tner, Rockinghorse, will be back selling raffle tickets, with all proceeds going towards life-changing services and equipment for children.

April’s event welcomed Christopher Coleridge Cole of Gresham Street Partners, and Community Wills Sussex as our event and drink sponsors.

Christopher spoke about how Gresham

Street Partners can offer a solution to landlords concerned about Capital Gains Tax and high rates on rental income.

Community Wills Sussex is a free Willwriting community initiative brought to you by fi ve Sussex-based charities in partnership with Britton and Time. The scheme is open for those aged 55 and over and runs twice a year in April and November.

Our April sponsors shared the stage with our resident sponsors for 2024: n My Getaways provides amazing rental accommodation across Sussex. Not only this but they also provide top-notch recommendations for things like food and drink, nightlife, and places to shop.

n Connect Media is a team with years of i n d u s t r y k n o w l e d g e a n d experience bringing together the latest technology with traditional methods to produce creative printed marketing solutions. n Rockinghorse Children’s Charity raises m o ney fo r life - saving equipment, specialist projects and enhanced services for sick babies, children and young people throughout Sussex. n Platinum Media Group is the leading voice of business in the Southeast, specialising in magazine publishing and event management. Platinum publishes the largest circulation business magazine in the UK and owns all the major business award events across the region.

You can book your tickets via Eventbrite by scanning the QR code.

Alternatively, for an exclusive invitation, feel free to reach out to Sophie at sca@brittontime.com Ensure you don’t miss out on another memorable gathering of industry professionals.

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INNOVATION Based on campus at the University of Sussex, Sussex Innovation’s tenant businesses gain the credibility of an academic address as well as unparalleled access to a community of research expertise on their doorstep. Joseph Bradfield shares news of two of the organisation’s members which are embarking on collaborations with University partners

Double Innovate UK funding success for Sussex Innovation members Two Sussex Innovation members were successful in the latest round of seed funding from the Innovate UK Accelerated Knowledge Partnerships programme, after submitting bids alongside the University of Sussex Innovation and Business Partnerships team to collaborate with researchers at the University.

Emotion measurement and analytics te chnology company Emteq is

collaborating with Professor Martin Yeomans from the School of Psychology after being introduced to each other at one of Sussex Innovation’s regular community socials.

of chewing. Ultimately, the project will lead to the development of more advanced tools for researchers, to monitor food consumption and eating behaviours.

Emteq’s hardware, which incorporates biometric sensors and a range of other tools into VR headsets and smart glasses, will be used to provide proof of concept datasets for a machine learning model to automate the measurement

“A chance conversation with Sussex Innovation’s Peter Lane about our glasses being able to accurately detect jaw movements led to him introducing us to Professor Yeomans, one of the world’s leading exper ts on the psychology of eating,” said Dr Charles Nduka, founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Emteq Labs.

The University of Sussex’s Innovation and ❛❛ Business Partnerships team is actively seeking local businesses to benefit from its Connect to Expertise programme ❜❜

“This has opened a whole new market opportunity for us, and highlights one of the many benefits of working here. It’s the intersection of clinical needs identified via the medical school, scientific research at the University, and start-up innovation.”

Emteq technology prototypes

Dr Charles Nduka

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INNOVATION

only advance our AI capabilities but also significantly contribute to our overall business growth.”

Virtual sports gaming platform Fantasy Football Hub will work with Dr Ivor Simpson’s team at the School of Engineering and Informatics to develop an industry-first probabilistic deep learning model that will transform Fantasy Premier League points predictions. This will provide Fantasy Football Hub subscribers with superior insights, enhancing their chances of success in fantasy football through a more accurate and sophisticated experience.

“We are incredibly excited to embark on a partnership with the University of Sussex and work closely with Dr Ivor Simpson and Dr Oliver Thomas from Sussex AI,” said Will Thomas, founder of Fantasy Football Hub. “Special thanks go to Nile Amos, Tina Perrett, and Kate Thorpe from the IBP

“We are delighted to be working with Fantasy Football Hub on the challenging p r o b l e m of p r e d i c t i n g p l ay e r performances in Fantasy Premier League,” said Dr Ivor Simpson, senior lecturer in Artificial Intelligence at the University of Sussex.

Micah Richards (Fantasy Football Hub brand ambassador) team, whose invaluable assistance has been instrumental in getting this project off the ground. We are confident that this will mark the beginning of a long-term collaboration that will not

“This project takes advantage of our experience in developing machine learning approaches for problems that depend on a complex set of factors and intrinsically have a lot of randomness.

It’s a great example of the kind of inte rdisciplinar y and indus tr ial collaborations that Sussex AI can do, and we hope to create many more of these across the centre in the near future.”

Does your business have an innovation challenge that you’d like to explore with the support of an academic research partner? The University of Sussex’s Innovation and Business Partnerships team is actively seeking local businesses to benefit from its Connect to Expertise programme. Access match funding to deliver mini projects such as proof of concept, feasibility studies and new product development, leveraging the University’s expertise to work on new ideas and drive longer-term ambitions for collaboration. Get in touch with Sussex Innovation to find out more.

Fantasy Football Hub team

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INNOVATION NHEALTH.AI RECEIVES DOUBLE AWARD IN ANNUAL STARTUP SUSSEX COMPETITION

the Business Award for her product Satin, a unique haircare product for Black women and women of colour.

Third place went to Anthropology and International Development graduate Berta Santos for her company Social Impact Newbie which helps graduates land their first social impact role. Finally, the second place prize for the Social Impact Award went to Conflict, Security and Development student Nemat Ahangosh for Stretch More, a social enterprise devoted to teaching survival skills to disabled people.

The annual University of Sussex entrepreneurship competition was held with a twist last month. Startup Sussex 2024 saw the first ever live pitches and awards ceremony with the judges, finalists and audience all present for an evening of entrepreneurship celebration.

Startup Sussex is underwritten by the University of Sussex as part of its commitment to suppor t student entrepreneurship, backed by a generous private donation from a Sussex alumnus. Every year, shortlisted finalists pitch to secure funding to take their startups to the next level.

Dr Shuaib Karmani

Taking part in ❛❛ Startup Sussex has been

an amazing journey of learning supported by the entrepreneurship team at Sussex ❜❜

Artificial Intelligence and Adaptive Systems MSc student Dr Shuaib Karmani took home top prize in both the Business and Social Impact Awards.

Karmani is the second person to win a double award and received £10,000 to move forward with his business Nhealth.Ai, a smart wearable patient health monitor that could save up to 50,000 lives a year, and save the NHS £227 million a year.

supported by the entrepreneurship team at Sussex,” said Karmani. “Winning is a validation of our idea and has opened the doors to new opportunities to help realise the goals and ambitions of our company.”

“Taking part in Startup Sussex has been an amazing journey of learning

Law and Social Science BA student Lase Salu received the second prize in

StartUp Sussex finalists

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The Head of Careers and E n tre p re n e u r s hi p, E m il y H u ns , congratulated all eight finalists who all received funding, adding that “the quality of applications this year was very high, and there were a record number of applications, up 44% on last year’s number. This growth is the result of several years of strategically-led work to enable all students to develop their ideas, explore venture creation and develop their entrepreneurial skills.”

www.sussexinnovation.co.uk

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LEGAL As a landlord in the UK commercial property market, compliance with energy performance regulations is not just a legal obligation but also a matter of strategy, says Melissa Roberts, Partner, Mayo Wynne Baxter

COMMERCIAL LANDLORDS

Making energy efficiency work for you Understanding the workings of energy performance legislation and taking proactive steps with a view to improving your properties’ energy efficiency can enhance proper ty values, attract tenants, and mitigate risks.

In 2024, the main points that all commercial landlords navigating energy per formance regulations should consider are as follows:

1

FAMILIARISE YOURSELF WITH KEY REGULATIONS Make a point of knowing your obligations under the Energy Performance of Buildings (England and Wales) Regulations 2012 and the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES).

These regulations confirm your obligations in respect of the assessment and certification of energy performance for commercial buildings as well as setting minimum efficiency standards that properties must meet to be let or sold.

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2

CONDUCT ENERGY AUDITS Undertake energy audits for all your commercial properties to assess their current energy performance and to identify areas for improvement.

You should then engage qualified professionals to perform comprehensive assessments, including energy usage analysis, building envelope inspections, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system evaluations.

3

OBTAIN ENERGY PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATES (EPCs) Ensure that all your commercial proper ties have valid EPCs with acceptable energy efficiency ratings.

EPCs not only provide valuable information to prospective tenants and buyers about a property’s energy performance but are also essential for compliance with your regulator y obligations.

4

IMPLEMENT ENERGY EFFICIENCY MEASURES Take proactive steps to improve the energy performance of your properties by implementing energy efficiency measures. This does not always have to include large scale costly changes but may include upgrading lighting systems, installing energy-efficient appliances, improving insulation, and improving HVAC systems. The benefit of this is twofold – not only will you enhance energy performance, but also reduce operating costs which will not only make your property more desirable to prospective tenants but also improve existing tenant’s satisfaction.

All businesses are ❛❛ now being forced to

consider their own social and environmental performance

❜❜

LEGAL

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7

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MONITOR AND MAINTAIN PERFORMANCE By regularly monitoring and maintaining the energy performance of your properties, you will ensure ongoing compliance with regulations. Installing systems to track energy usage, conducting regular maintenance checks, and addressing issues promptly will all pay dividends here. Taking a proactive approach to maintenance should not only preser ve your property’s energy efficiency rating but also prevent costly repairs and downtime between tenants.

INCLUDE ENERGY PERFORMANCE IN LEASES When drafting commercial leases, it is important to consider incorporating p r o v i s i o n s r e l a te d to e n e r g y performance. These provisions should allocate responsibilities and promote energy efficiency. Potential lease clauses can require tenants to comply with energy performance regulations, maintain energy-efficient practices, and allow access for energy audits and upgrades.

EXPLORE THE BENEFITS OF ‘GOING GREEN’ You could consider pursuing green certification schemes such as BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) or LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) to highlight your properties’ sustainability credentials.

You could also explore incentive programmes and grants available for energy efficiency upgrades, renewable energy installations, and sustainable building initiatives.

STAY INFORMED AND EVOLVE Keep up to date with developments in energy performance regulations, m a r ke t tre n ds , a n d e m e rgi n g technologies so that you can adapt your business’ strategies accordingly.

As part of this process we would always advise consulting with legal and energy performance experts to stay ahead in what remains an ever changing landscape.

All businesses are now being forced to consider their own social and environmental performance in order to build a more inclusive and sustainable economy, and commercial property businesses are no different.

By making energy performance and sustainability a matter of business strategy, landlords will not only meet regulatory requirements, but also distinguish their properties in the market, attract quality tenants, and enhance long-term value.

As a B - Corporation cer tified organisation Mayo Wynne Baxter understands the challenges faced by commercial landlords in the current market. If you are a commercial landlord granting a commercial lease and considering how to incorporate energy efficiency provisions to protect your business assets, then please contact our Commercial Property Team today who will be happy to assist you.

www.mayowynnebaxter.co.uk

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BUSINESS

Spring is here, and just as you prepare for the warmer months, it’s the perfect opportunity for you to spring-clean your marketing efforts. By Stella Powers Price, Marketing Assistant, Creative Pod

Spring clean your marketing efforts with Creative Pod Just like cleaning up a physical space, it’s also good to clean up your marketing, as this helps you to get on top of those areas that may often get neglected in the everyday hustle.

This process can help you to optimise performance and discover new growth opportunities.

BRANDING

Spring is a great time to consider refreshing your brand identity, communicate updated values and missions, and align these with your new business goals for the year ahead. Spring also presents opportunities for seasonal marketing campaigns, making it an ideal time to unveil a fresh brand image and engage with customers in innovative ways.

WEBSITE - MAKE SURE YOUR HOMEPAGE PASSES THE “GRUNT TEST”

The “grunt test” is used to assess the effectiveness of a webpage.

It’s a concept that emphasises the importance of quickly and clearly communicating key messages to audiences in a way that is easily understood and memorable.

The term “grunt” refers to a basic, instinctive reaction – similar to the sound one might make when something is immediately understood. In the first five seconds of looking at the page, you should be able to answer 1. What do you offer?

2. How will it improve my life, or why should I care about what you sell?

3. How do I buy?

EMAIL - CLEAN UP YOUR EMAIL LIST

Cleaning up your email list is an important process to maintain email deliverability and engagement rates.

It’s important to identify and remove inactive subscribers – these are subscribers who haven’t engaged with your emails for a long time (six months or more). Having inactive subscribers can negatively impact your email deliverability and open rates. Most email service providers will put together a list of addresses that haven’t been opened.

Before you remove these inactive subscribers, it may be worth sending them a re-engagement campaign.

Encourage subscribers to re-engage by offering special promotions and valuable content or simply asking them if they still want to receive emails from you. Those who don’t respond or show interest can be removed.

You can also remove any email addresses that consistently bounce, as they can harm your sender’s reputation.

Spring is a great time ❛❛ to consider refreshing your brand identity, and communicate updated values and missions ❜❜

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BUSINESS

SOCIAL - EVALUATE YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE

It’s important to regularly assess what platforms are working for you and are delivering the best results. It may be worth stripping down your social media presence, as it’s common for businesses to just jump on every new platform to keep up, but some platforms might not be right for your brand.

When going through your platforms, ask yourself: n Is this a platform where I can best serve my customers? n Do I have enough time to manage this site?

It’s important to consider that social media isn’t just about putting posts out into the abyss and expecting your platform to grow. Community management matters now more than ever because of the ever-changing social media landscape. It’s not just about creating content but about nurturing relationships with your followers by embracing two-way communication.

It’s a great idea ❛❛ to take some time out

to re-evaluate your paid-ad performance ❜❜ Once you have decided which platforms are working for you, now would be a great time to ensure that you are utilising them and their different functions. For example, you could go through your Instagram profile, delete any old highlight content that is no longer relevant, and update your highlight covers to align with your page and fit your branding. You can also update your reel covers, so they are relevant! This will help make sure your feed is easy to navigate for those who visit your page.

You can try carousel posts, as these are great for engagement; or polls on LinkedIn can help harness the community engagement element of social media as you can get a sense of your followers’ opinions on topics of interest.

PAID SOCIAL

It’s a great idea to take some time out to re-evaluate your paid-ad performance.

Ad fatigue can occur for many reasons, such as overexposure, decreased relevance and audience saturation.

To help combat this, think about ways to refresh your paid ad strategies, it can be as simple as changing up your ad copy or graphics.

If you’d like to find out a bit more about how we could help your business with design and marketing to maximise your opportunities and increase your brand presence, then get in touch at hello@creativepod.uk.com or visit our website at www.creativepod.uk.com

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Is your business achieving optimal results?

The key to a successful business is the right advice provided at the right time.

These are just some of the business needs we can help with: • Restructuring and transformation • Raising finance • Buying a business • Valuations • Tax efficient solutions To find out how we can help you and your business, contact Dipesh Galaiya from our business advisory team.

For more than accountancy, business and wealth advice.

Call: +44 (0)33 0124 1399 Email: enquiries@krestonreeves.com Visit: www.krestonreeves.com

PEST CONTROL

As a leader in sustainability practices and winner of many awards, Cleankill Pest Control Managing Director Paul Bates was asked to give a talk at PestEx – the national conference for the pest control industry.

Here he offers some thoughts from the talk on this important topic

HOW DO WE NAVIGATE A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE? CREDIT: NATIONAL PEST AWARDS 2023

not generate profit at any cost. Treating staff well means they will stay which, in turn, will produce profi t which equals sustainability.

Left to right: Awards host Emmanuel Sonubi; Cleankill Directors Jon Whitehead, Clive Bury and Paul Bates and Michael Sims, UK, ROI, Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa area manager, Bell Laboratories Is sustainability just today’s ‘in phrase’ and the government’s flavour of the day? For me, personally, sustainability is about what you believe is right and doing your research as best as you can.

Sustainability is about reducing your environmental impact, improving the reputation of your company and your profession and, ideally, producing more profit.

For Cleankill, one aspect of CSR is working with charities and the local community. We donate and help where we can, whether it’s to Seaford Rugby Club or Riddlesdown Tennis Club, or sponsoring a festive tree to raise money for a hospice, these activities all help to establish our business as sustainable and caring while generating positive PR.

A common statement about sustainability is that “it is about meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations – our children and their children – to meet their own needs.” So…how do we navigate a more sustainable future?

LOOKING AFTER YOUR STAFF

T hat phrase C o r p o rate S o cial Responsibility, or CSR, is something that no business can ignore - whatever size they are. Your customers, potential customers and, very importantly, your potential employees will all be interested in CSR, or should be.

In reality, the more socially sustainable we become, the more we become economically viable as a business.

Social sustainability also means looking after your staff; for instance paying them fairly, giving them access to good benefi ts and being fl exible when you can. You cannot run a successful business with unhappy staff and you should

Diversity and inclusion are also important to become economically sustainable as a business. While our admin team is female, our operational workforce has been white male dominated in the past. But this is changing with more female pest controllers, and our first Chinese employee on the team.

They give a different perspective, bring new ideas, and make Cleankill a more interesting place to work.

To be a sustainable business you need to employ quality staff and make a profit. The Investor in People framework has helped Cleankill by looking at every aspect of our staff – from day one into the company, through the training and the benefits and the prospects. We have now achieved our Gold accreditation for the third time.

If you believe you are doing things right, take the time to tell people about it. Enter as many awards as you can – they make you look at different aspects of your business. If you win, then you can use it in your marketing and you will be seen by your potential clients as a professional company. If you lose, then look at the people who have won.

What are they doing that you are not?

Can you use their skills to improve your business?

Need pest prevention advice?

Go to www.cleankill.co.uk or call 020 8668 5477 to arrange a free survey.

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ANGER MANAGEMENT

IT’S CALLED GROWING UP

By Maarten Hoffmann DISCLAIMER: All views stated here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this publication

In case you hadn’t noticed, our children are going through a mental health crisis.

The school gate topic of the year is the supposed anxiety that our kids are going through and, of course, this is nothing new. I think there are frescoes in Pompeii showing concerned parents debating the state of their children’s lives. But these times are different as we have the tools to do something about it and boy, are we becoming paranoid about the subject.

It used to be blamed on helicopter parents, or Gen Z themselves, or social media, or too much time on their phones, or video games or a host of other hot topics.

The 21st Century answer? Medicate them. Nearly 500,000 antidepressant prescriptions are being doled out each year to children despite guidance that they should never be used except in the most severe cases. Last year, 3,920 such prescriptions were given out to children under 10! The National Institute for

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Health and Care Excellence advises that NO child should be put on antidepressants until they have been assessed by a specialist child psychiatrist, yet research shows that only one in four have been referred – the rest are just given the prescription and sent on their way, likely to a life of drug dependence.

Majorie Wallace, the Chief Executive of the charity Sane, states, “We have created a generation of lost, lonely and disconnected children. We should not be handing out antidepressants to children simply because there is nothing else to offer.”

Anna Williams, 24, from London, started struggling with depression and anxiety aged 13 and was put on antidepressants. At 24, she tried to wean herself off them but had to restart after suffering terrible withdrawal symptoms. “My anxiety shot up and l couldn’t even leave

the house. I had extreme temperature fluctuations, nausea, panic attacks and suicidal thoughts. It feels like the NHS doesn’t want to say ‘we can’t help,’ so they just dole out tablets that can leave you hooked for life.”

Reading the existential theologian Paul Tillich, anxiety comes in three exciting flavours – moral (from guilt of failure), spiritual (from a meaningless life), and ontic (fear of the future and death).

Tillich’s conclusion on anxiety? “It is part of the human condition, there is no cure.”

Now l have to turn to the columnist Caitlin Moran, who feels she has the answer to the current trend of ‘drug ‘em till they shut up’ and l quote, “As a kid in 1992, sharing a bed with my sister with parents living on £110 a week, l think l had all those anxieties, and there is a cure for them - l think l just needed hope and money. I just needed to get out of there.

It is part of the human condition, ❛❛ there is no cure ❜❜

Paul Tillich’s conclusion on anxiety

ANGER MANAGEMENT

❛❛ I don’t think Gen Z

are either badly parented or internet-addicted snowflakes who need therapy and pills

❜❜

“Two years later – with a job, a flat in London and enough money for the essentials of chicken, cider and fags – my suspicions were confirmed. In this new, happy, well-paid life, my anxiety had shrunk from ‘my primar y characteristic’ to ‘the odd wobble around French words on menus, and boys’.”

Anxiety might well be part of the human condition, but it’s a smaller, much more manageable part when life feels like it’s getting bigger and better, when life is full of paid bills and adventures, and there’s a feeling you’re living through

a golden age when you have money and a country that feels hopeful.

I don’t think Gen Z are either badly parented nor internet-addicted snowflakes who need therapy and pills.

I suspect that what they actually need is money and hope. They need to get out of here, they need a golden age too.

Everyone’s job makes them anxious and depressed at times. But if you’re working 9-5 and, at the end of it you’ve still built no future; if you will never be able to afford a house or a baby; if going out clubbing is too expensive; if you’re still living with

your weary parents; if you can afford neither fun now nor stability later, well, the results are obvious. Spiritual, moral and ontic anxiety, caused by that most classic of problems: being poor and seeing no future. And if this is how the parents might be feeling, what hope do the kids have of feeling chipper?

For a few, there is a genuine mental health crisis but for the many, it is essentially gaslighting to have this presented as a mental health crisis, when it’s so obviously, at root, an economic crisis.

These kids aren’t broken. They’re just... broke.

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TRAVEL

Charter a crewed boat or do as we did and get your Skipper’s licence – whatever it takes – just do it! By Lesley Alcock

ANTIGUA FROM THE WATER Having completed our Royal Yachting Association Day Skipper exams last year, we rewarded ourselves with the sailing holiday of a lifetime. And where better than the magical waters of the Caribbean? Sailing around the picturesque island of Antigua, with its 366 stunning white beaches and sparkling, clear waters. Simply breath-taking.

We joined our friends, Tanya Sullivan and Bob Mechem, who run the school Ventus Sailing in Hamble, Hampshire. They had sailed their 50 ft Grand Soleil yacht, Sidney II, across the Atlantic while competing in the famous ARC sailing rally. This is an iconic rally which starts in Gran Canaria, and finishes in Saint Lucia, spanning 2,700 miles of the Atlantic.

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Each November, around 250 yachts set sail from Las Palmas to participate in what is the biggest trans-ocean event in the world. The race takes between two to three weeks, depending on the conditions and finishes in the Caribbean island of St. Lucia. The ARC is a definite bucket list race for most sailors. Tanya and Bob have now successfully completed this rally twice, taking a crew of novice sailors along with them and very quickly turning them into seasoned crew.

You’ll have noticed that I said we joined them. No, not on this epic race – maybe one day. At this point, we lean toward champagne sailing, looking to sail from bay to bay, enjoying the more relaxing pleasures that the Caribbean has to offer. We joined them at Cat Marina in

Antigua’s Falmouth Harbour, to perfect sunny weather and perfect seas. As we boarded ‘Sid’ again, it brought home the reality of our trip, we were actually here, we were actually doing it - we were going to sail the Caribbean seas in perfect weather and beautiful clear waters with some great easterly winds; sailing at its very best.

TRAVEL

Antigua offers even more than its wondrous nature. The warm and generous people, with their laid-back attitude to life, captured our hearts on the first evening. We ended our day over beers at the cheerful Cloggys Bar overlooking the seas and Falmouth Harbour.

That night, we slumbered to the soothing rocking of ‘Sid’ on the gentle, lapping waves – heaven!

Waking up to the next perfect day, we headed up the beautiful west coast of Antigua toward Jolly Harbour, intending to moor up in the marina for the night.

All went according to plan, we had a strong easterly wind with an average of 20 knots and, having plotted our course to make sure we avoided the reef, we spent the journey on the helm finding our sailing boots again.

The sun was shining, the sea a mix of perfect azure and turquoise, and thrillingly we were accompanied by a family of sea turtles along the way.

What more can a novice sailor possibly ask for?

Jolly Harbour is a sweet little marina resort dotted with a range of restaurants plus a gorgeous marina swimming pool thrown in. Following a swim and

❛❛ Some nights are just pitch black, so dark you can barely see the front of the boat with just a compass to confirm your heading in the right direction, other nights we had a super moon, so bright it was like a search light from way up high in the sky illuminating the sea for miles around us with all of the stars and planets clear to see ❜❜ Bob Mechem who sailed across the Atlantic twice sunbathe we prepared the boat to leave for Hermitage Bay, known for its stunning white sand beach, a few miles further up the coast. It really is lovely, this luxury resort nestled on the hillside of a hidden sandy bay, where the scent of fragrant frangipani fills the air and the sound of waves rolling on the shore surrounds you. Sailing conditions were once again ideal, the sun blazing, and within a few hours we were

anchoring for another splendid night on board ‘Sid’. But first, a snorkel and a couple of beers as we watched the sun set upon the tranquil waters of the Caribbean Sea.

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TRAVEL

❛❛ By day it was watching out for the dolphins who like to come and play on the bow waves made by the boat as we ticked off the miles to our destination or spotting the flying fish who leap out of the waves and literally fly inches above the waves before dropping back in again, hoping they don’t get it wrong and land on the boat or worse still flap down below! We did have a couple of encounters with the flying fish in the dark! ❜❜ Bob Mechem

Next day, another leisurely morning swim and snorkel, and off we set once more, this time sailing south, down the glorious west coast to Pigeon’s Point Beach. It’s a sparkly, white, sandy beach with coconut palms beckoning, and waters so clear that you can see the fish swimming over the seabed – no gear needed! It’s a great place for walking too, with scenic trails leading from the beach.

However, I chose to fulfil my island fantasy by lazing under the swaying palms, book in hand and cocktail by my side. Hunger did call though.

Not a problem, there’s the infamous Catherine’s Café, tucked away in this corner of paradise, where we lazed away the afternoon over a lovely lunch.

Our final anchorage was a short sail to the beautiful Galleon Beach and the fantastic Loose Cannon bar and restaurant, just a stone’s throw from Nelson’s Dockyard Marina and National Park. We ended our holiday here with a three-night stay at the delightful Admirals Inn Hotel and Gunpowder Suites. Set in four historic buildings, dating all the way back to the 18th Century, are two fabulous restaurants, a spectacular infinity pool, a spa, lush gardens plus a small beach while a free five-minute boat shuttle takes you to a swimming beach in the outer harbour.

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The hotel building has an interesting history; planned in 1785 (the year after Nelson arrived in English Harbour as Captain of HMS Boreas) and completed in 1788. The ground floor was used to store pitch, turpentine and lead, while the engineers’ offices were upstairs. Bricks used in the building were brought over from England as ship’s ballast, and it is said that the ballast used on the return trip was mostly rum!

The round pillars on the grounds once supported a large boathouse where vessels came in for repair. Nelson’s

Dockyard still functions. In fact, it is the only continuously working Georgian era dockyard in the world. Not only is English Harbour one of the most beautiful and safe natural anchorages in the Caribbean but with 200 years of Royal Navy heritage alongside stunning beaches, Nelsons Dockyard is unique and a ‘must visit’.

Inevitably, our last day dawned. The impact of the fact was definitely lessened by another perfect-weather day, sparkling sands, lapping seas and a long lunch at Loose Cannon. This trip had been everything we had hoped for, good food, great sailing, superb weather, stunning white and pink sand beaches, and the beautiful clear turquoise and azure waters of the Caribbean sea.

We will never forget the incredibly warm and generous people of Antigua and the many friends we made along the way, with heartfelt thanks to Bob and Tanya who made it all possible.

GETTING THERE www.ventussailing.co.uk Direct flights from Gatwick to Antigua starting from £467 for a return flight during May.

MOTORING

By Platinum Motoring Editor, Maarten Hoffmann

BYD SEAL

We have heard lots recently about the huge dent in Tesla sales due to the Chinese launching into the electric car market. So what is this car all about and is it worth the hype – or is it just a cheap knock-off?

The BYD company, standing for ‘Build Your Dreams’, is its third EV to make it to the UK. The first was the Atto 3 Crossover, followed by the Dolphin hatch. Now we get a sport saloon that might not prove to be the biggest seller of the trio, but which adds some zest to the rather bland range.

It looks smart and neat and, as is the Chinese way, they have spent a lot of time copying elements of existing European cars to produce this. As with all things ripped off, though, they have failed to match Tesla’s quality, chassis and build quality.

Established in 1995, BYD was not even a car company originally, but a battery producer for phones and gadgets. That didn’t mean that, when it moved into automotive production in 2005, it would only build electric cars; it built hybrids

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and ICE as well. And it’s huge; shifting 1.86 million cars in 2022 and employing some 600,000 people across its electronics, new energy, automotive and rail sectors.

The Seal launches in both rear-wheeldrive and all-wheel- drive (AWD) iterations, each using the same 82.5kWh battery. The former is £45,695 and offers a 354-mile WLTP range alongside a 308bhp peak, achieving 0-62mph in 5.9 seconds. £3,000 more will get you a dual motor, AWD version whose power peaks at 523bhp, taking a chunk out of both its range figure (323 miles) and 0-62mph sprint (3.8s).

P L ATI N U M

To hammer the point home, this version wears a ‘3.8s’ badge on the boot lid.

Gone are the days of a chrome ‘GLX’ providing the company car park kudos.

It’s not a cheap car coming from a largely unknown brand; pricing is broadly in line with the Hyundai and exceeds the Tesla, demonstrating that this Chinese marque isn’t interested in being perceived as a budget alternative.

There’s more originality inside, with the same curious steering wheel design BYD has used elsewhere, alongside a rotating 15.6in touchscreen. Press a button on the steering wheel or screen and it turns 90º between portrait and landscape.

TECH STUFF

MODEL REVIEWED: BYD SEAL 230kW Design POWER: 308 bhp SPEED: 0-62 - 5.9 secs TOP: 111 mph RANGE: 354 mls. Actual 270 mls.

PRICE FROM: £45,640

MOTORING

❛❛ You can tell it

comes from a firm that is trying to find its feet and hasn’t quite figured out what works yet ❜❜

There’s a full-length panoramic roof to help increase the sense of space inside; something BYD claims is already strong thanks to its ‘blade battery’, assembled onto the frame of the car to both increase body stiffness (the equivalent of a supercar’s, we’re told), keep the floor low and boost legroom for passengers (though it’s not noticeably generous).

Too much tech has been added. Each one has three driving modes – Eco, Normal and Sport – and a whole plethora of active safety systems as standard.

They’re pretty standard stuff – lane keep, crash detection, speed limit warnings – but prove a dominant part of the driving experience.

personality, and grates as much as it soothes. Consider its rivals: the Tesla Model 3 is affordable, and (oddly) cool and desirable, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 and Polestar 2 represent well-priced, individually styled and distinctive alternatives, while the BMW i4 staunchly defends driving thrills.

While nowhere near as packed as the EV crossover marketplace, the plug-in saloon pack are all much more talented,

and BYD doesn’t have competitive enough pricing to upset the applecart.

You can tell it comes from a firm that is trying to find its feet in the European market and hasn’t quite figured out what works for its potential audience yet.

Don’t bet against BYD figuring it out in short order, but in the meantime, this is a car that lacks the charm or character to win your heart; and doesn’t quite stack up for the head either.

Charging is up to 150kW, which is hardly industry leading, but at least snares you a 10-80% charge in under half an hour.

Oh, and customer feedback has led to UK cars getting a subtle ‘BYD’ badge on the back rather than the full ‘BUILD YOUR DREAMS’ script titillating those sat behind you in traffic. Phew!

The Seal is a solid entry in the EV saloon market, but doesn’t have a strong

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ISSUE #36

THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR WOMEN

THE AWARDS 2024 THE HIGHEST ACHIEVERS

IMAGES AND RESULTS INSIDE MEET RADIOTHERAPY TRAILBLAZER

DMH STALLARD

Dee Mathieson MD, Elekta Ltd

Championing diversity

Female fund managers

TRAVEL

DINING

The Permit Room

Fabulous new hotels for 2024

CONTENTS

10

16 EVENT

FEATURE

Finances for life

Dynamic Awards 2024

Female investment fund managers

BUSINESS Alison Jones, Partner at Kreston Reeves highlights the need for good financial control and planning ahead in life and in business

❛❛

Exclusive images of the winners, highlights and celebrations from this most prestigious of women’s awards nights

There are two things people want more than sex and money: recognition and praise Mary Kay Ash, Founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics

PLATINUM MEDIA GROUP

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ISSUE 36

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More female fund managers are wanted in the industry. Here, the industry itself encourages new recruits

45 million

The number of imaging tests – various forms of radiography – reported in England in the year to March 2023 SOURCE: NHS ENGLAND

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. Dynamic Magazine is owned and published by Platinum Media Group Limited.

REGULARS News

BIG STORY

6 Upfront: The top international news stories involving women in business 30 In The Right Direction: Good news stories from around the world

12 Dee Mathieson Dynamic charts the career of a technological pioneer, and recipient of the Dynamic Lifetime Achievement Award

Spotlight

32 Highlighting two professional businesswomen whose work deserves greater attention than it currently receives

Health & Wellbeing

36 Are salon hair straightening treatments safe? Tess de Klerk looks at the evidence

Further Reading

36 Reviews of books by Dr Anastasia Dedyukhina and others on the subject of pivoting

Art Scene

40 Kellie Miller discusses the works of Dawn Stacey

❛❛

People work for money but go the extra mile for recognition, praise and rewards Dale Carnegie, Leadership Training Guru

Travel

44 Fabulous new hotels for 2024

Fine Dining

46 Dishoom Permit Room in the Lanes, Brighton

What’s On

48 A brief snapshot of art and culture cross Sussex and Surrey

FEATURES 22 DMH Stallard A local solicitor that prides itself on championing diversity in the workplace

FEATURE 42 Wyld Experiences A company that stands out by integrating the ancient wisdom of nature with the strength of female leadership

24 Lewis Brownlee An introduction to the West Sussex-based chartered accountants 25 Tisshaws The legal firm representing clients with a broad range of assets

CONTACTS

26 ISON Travel The corporate travel company where efficiency meets the challenges of global growth

EDITOR: Tess de Klerk tess@platinummediagroup.co.uk

28 How to self-promote It’s easy to feel you’ve lost some self-respect when you tell others about yourself. Helen Tuddenham helps you tackle that issue

PUBLISHER: Maarten Hoffmann maarten@platinummediagroup.co.uk MOTORING EDITOR: Fiona Shafer fionas@platinummediagroup.co.uk COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR: Lesley Alcock lesley@platinummediagroup.co.uk EVENTS DIRECTOR: Fiona Graves fiona@platinummediagroup.co.uk EVENTS MANAGER: Žaneta Bealing zaneta@platinummediagroup.co.uk HEAD OF DESIGN: Michelle Shakesby design@platinummediagroup.co.uk SUB EDITOR: Alan Wares alan@platinummediagroup.co.uk

WWW.PLATINUMMEDIAGROUP.CO.UK www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

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Rockinghorse Children’s Charity Rockinghorse is the official fundraising arm of the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital in Brighton. We fund and deliver life-saving equipment, specialist projects and enhanced services for sick babies, children and young people throughout Sussex.

With your help we can continue to support more than 380,000 children each year.

There are lots of ways to get involved and help, just scan this code or visit www.rockinghorse.org.uk

Find out more about us here:

Registered charity no: 1018759

EDITOR’S NOTE We’re still buzzing from a fantastic evening at the Dynamic Awards!

A great time was had by all while celebrating the achievements of so many incredible women. You’ll find great photos on pages 16-19.

This month, we get to know Dee Mathieson in our Big Story, Dee was the recipient of the Dynamic Lifetime Achievement Award. Our heartiest congratulations go out to you and wonderfully deserved.

A huge congratulations also to all the finalists and winners, as well as a shout-out to all who entered.

Of course, we are all for championing women here at Dynamic, and we try and do that in many ways. We also know that it can often feel so much more natural to champion others than ourselves. To sell ourselves can feel daunting. Therefore, we asked Helen Tuddenham for advice this month on how to self-promote without losing self-respect.

Alison Jones from Kreston Reeves shares savvy financial advice for our readers, while we hear from several top-achieving women in the funding industry on why they think women are still under-represented today.

Our regular features bring you more reading, including Spotlight, Wellbeing and our eye-candy Art section.

We hope that you enjoy what we created for you this month.

Editor, Dynamic Magazine tess@platinummediagroup.co.uk

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WOMEN OFFERED NO EXTRA SAFETY PROTECTION IN MUSIC INDUSTRY The UK Government has rejected the recommendations of the Misogyny in Music report to increase protections for women working in the music industry. The Misogyny in Music report, published by the Women and Equalities Committee in January 2024, was widely welcomed across the creative industries. Its findings confirmed the level of sexual harassment and abuse – including sexual assault of female performers while on stage – in the music sector.

In its official response to the report, despite stating that ‘everyone should be able to work in the music industry without being subject to misogyny and discrimination’, the DCMS has refused to take any of the actions recommended by the report. Instead, the Government has put responsibility for legal protections back on the music industry, without offering support.

UPFRONT THE LATEST BULLETINS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

GYM OWNER WINS ‘THE APPRENTICE 2024’ After weeks of tasks, firings and cringe-inducing moments, for the fifth year in a row, a businesswoman has won BBC’s ‘The Apprentice’. Gym owner Rachel Woolford beat Bognor Regis pie-maker Phil Turner in the final reckoning to Lord Alan Sugar’s £250,000 largesse in the programme broadcast in April.

It is also the second-year running that Lord Sugar has announced a gym owner as the winner. Woolford’s next plan is deciding the location for her third gym, which she says is likely to be in Newcastle or Yorkshire.

❛❛

Chance is the first step you take, luck is what comes afterward Amy Tan

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UK TECH GENDER PAY GAP WIDER THAN NATIONAL AVERAGE The gender pay gap at 15 of the 20 best-funded UK tech companies is wider than the national average — in some cases considerably.

Across the country, companies with over 250 employees pay women 9.1p less for every £1 earned by their male counterparts (see ‘In The Right Direction’).

But in the UK tech scene, the situation is worse. With 75% of tech companies paying women, indulging in a greater gender pay differential. UK tech darlings like neobanks Revolut and Starling, alongside many others, all had a wider gap than the national average. Only Octopus Energy, within this sector, pays women, on average, more than men.

WOMEN’S RUGBY WORLD CUP 2025 VENUES ANNOUNCED The venues for the tenth Women’s Rugby World Cup have been announced. The tournament will kick off on August 22nd 2025 and conclude with the World Cup final on September 27th 2025.

For the first time ever, the elite women’s rugby tournament will be hosted across eight venues around the country with 16 teams competing to be crowned world champions.

• • • • • • • •

Brighton & Hove – Brighton & Hove Albion Stadium (pictured) Bristol – Ashton Gate Exeter – Sandy Park London – Twickenham Stadium Manchester – Salford Community Stadium* Northampton – Franklin’s Gardens Sunderland – Stadium of Light York – York Community Stadium

*subject to final confirmation

❛❛

Women belong in all places where decisions are being made. It shouldn’t be that women are the exception Ruth Bader Ginsburg

GENDER-BASED DISCRIMINATION STILL RIFE AMONG LEADERS A survey by social enterprise Code First Girls has found that 40% of female entrepreneurs have faced gender-based discrimination whilst in a leadership role. 61% also agreed that, in terms of the challenges faced by women when breaking into senior roles, stereotypes still exist – with leadership continuing to favour men. When asked about barriers to business leadership, more than half (51%) of Code First Girls’ community also stated that confidence is the main challenge facing female entrepreneurs today.

And, with the Government’s annual Small Business Survey showing that there are just 18% of SMEs led by females, it is clear that the industry needs to address the leadership gender gap by encouraging and supporting women into such roles.

❛❛

My daily challenge to myself is to be part of the solution, to be a joyful warrior in the battle to come Kamala Harris

TOP TEN UK FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS

BY INWARD INVESTMENT

Addy Loudiadis

Company data specialist, Beauhurst has compiled its list of ’50 Female Entrepreneurs to Watch’ in 2024. Here are the top ten of the most high-potential and successful entrepreneurs in the UK today – ranked by the total amount of investment they’ve secured for their companies over the past year.

1. Addy Loudiadis CEO and Co-Founder, Rothesay Life 2. Anne Boden Founder and CEO, Starling Bank 3. Chenesai Darcy Co-Founder and Company Secretary, Africa Mobile Networks 4 / 5 Eccie and Gini Newton Co-Founders, Karma Kitchen 6. Guan Dian – Co-Founder and Asia Pacific Senior Vice President, Patsnap 7. Kit Kemp Co-Founder, Owner & Creative Director, Firmdale Hotels 8 / 9 Professor Giovanna Lombardi / Emma Morris Co-Founders, Quell Therapeutics 10. Fiona Canning Co-Founder and Chief Product & Marketing Officer, Pollinate www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

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Financial advice, built around you.

• Personal finance advice • Retirement planning • Business support • Generational planning • Tax year-end advice

I’m proud to represent both male and female clients. And, while it goes without saying that both can experience the same stressors, there’s no avoiding the fact that women face several unique challenges.

My 20 years’ experience has shown that women can therefore greatly benefit from highly personalised financial advice, which takes these challenges into account. This is why I’m so passionate about empowering women with the confidence and tools to help them achieve their long-term financial goals.

So, whatever your financial journey so far, let me give you the guidance, support and stability to help you plan a happy and financially secure life.

Call me for a no-obligation initial meeting on 01444 712672 to find out more.

SJP approved: 18/04/2024

Wellesley House, 50 Victoria Road, Burgess Hill, West Sussex, RH15 9LH 01444 712672 | info@wellesleywa.co.uk | wellesleywa.co.uk

Wellesley is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the group’s wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the group’s website: www.sjp.co.uk/ products. Wellesley is a trading name of Wellesley Investment Management Limited, registered in England & Wales No. 6530147. Registered Office: 44 The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 5TN.

Does your power team include a financial adviser?

Financial adviser

Therapist

inner circle e h T Your

circle of support will include people who empower you and make your life more fulfilling – like your family, friends, personal trainer or therapist. What’s more, a good financial adviser will get to know you as well as your loved ones do, bringing a level of tailored specialist support you simply can’t get from anyone else in your network.

Friends & family

We can give you back the luxury of time, as well as the peace of mind of knowing a seasoned professional is keeping a watchful eye on your finances. We can help to remove some of the mental load that comes with things such as meeting tax deadlines, planning for retirement, keeping on top of changing pension rules or optimising your investments.

It’s a collaborative, long-term relationship – we’re there to support you in making your own choices.

Full circle We women are masters of keeping plates spinning – and our power teams are formidable tools in helping us boss our careers, home lives and financial goals.

So, if you don’t yet have a financial adviser in your power team, now’s the time to seek one out!

Childminder

Cleaner

Personal trainer The value of an investment with St. James’s Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds you select and the value can therefore go up as well. You may get back less than you invested.

FINANCE

By ALISON JONES, Partner of Kreston Reeves

FINANCES FOR LIFE I really enjoyed being involved with the judging for the Dynamic Awards again this year. It was a good opportunity to meet other likeminded business women, and to listen to their stories. I am always fascinated to hear how they got to where they are in their business and any lessons they learnt on the journey.

I also asked them what three words their friends would use to describe them, and there was a common theme of being passionate, determined and being kind and considerate with a good sense of humour. All of which I believe that my friends would also say about me.

Another common theme during some of the conversations was whilst many women understand the need for tight financial controls in their business, they were aware that many of their friends or business colleagues did not give their own personal finances the same attention.

We all agreed that there should be more emphasis placed on financial planning for women to help them to understand

and prioritise what they will need at different stages throughout their lives – regardless of whether they have a life partner or not.

In an ideal world we would have all started being financially savvy once we started working or if we were lucky enough to be gifted wealth from a young age, but life isn’t like that. I met a successful 60 year-old recently who doesn’t have any private pension provision because no one had explained their value (compound interest is your friend) and the tax benefits of having one.

We need to be savvy financially so we protect ourselves in our later years as who knows what life will bring. I think many women are surprised by how menopause makes them feel and, of course, for some women, it can be very debilitating, and they may not want to work as hard during this time.

Here are my top tips for women at different ages to start thinking about building, managing and enjoying wealth:

We all agreed that there should be more emphasis placed on financial planning for women

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In an ideal world we would have all started being financially savvy once we started working 20s

In your 20s, you will reach milestones such as finishing education, getting your first job, renting/buying a home and enjoying life. It is important to think about your short, medium and the longer-term goals and start putting in place structures that will help you to reach them, such as buying a house, setting up a business etc.

Starting to invest for your longer-term goals gives savings, investments and pensions more time to grow.

30s

At this age, many business owners use pension contributions to also reduce both personal and corporate tax liabilities, so make sure you maximise the tax reliefs available to you.

If you can buy a commercial property to run your business from then there are considerable benefits to it being owned by a Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) so that the rent paid by the business is paid into the SIPP, building an asset for the future.

You may, by now, have a family so planning for childcare costs, school fees and university fees needs to be factored in.

I would also encourage women to have a savings pot of their own – rather than pooling everything into the family finances, as easy access to money gives you flexibility and freedom should you decide you want to move life in a different direction.

40s

Have a budget which looks at how much you need to live on each year and then if you have surplus cash, make sure you are using your personal savings allowances. At the time of writing, we are still awaiting further details on the new British ISA mentioned in the recent budget but there are useful tax benefits to these savings schemes.

Whilst I would hope all women start paying into a pension in their 20s when they begin their career, it’s important to remember that workplace enrolment only began in 2012. It isn’t too late to start a personal pension or to increase your payments into an existing one but think about how long you would like to work for and what your longer-term goals will be.

50s

Fifty is a great age to begin a ten-year plan. By now you are likely to have more surplus cash, children may have left home (and will hopefully be financially independent), so think about what changes you want to make and work towards them, whether you want to start up a business, succession planning if you want to sell a business, retrain for a new career, downsize your home etc.

A lot of women in their 50s want to carry on working but also want to have greater flexibility to allow them to enjoy travel or time with family, so part time and more flexible working could be considered.

If you receive an inheritance from family members, take independent advice regarding investments and your exposure to Inheritance Tax. Think about your own future security and make sure you have an up-to-date Will and consider a Lasting Power of Attorney so you know your wishes (health and financial) will be carried out if you no longer have the capacity to do so.

60s

Before you reach your 60s, you need to think about your needs after leaving the workplace. We are all living longer, so having an active and rewarding retirement is a goal for many of us.

Don’t just rely on there being a state pension, but if it is going to play an important role in funding your retirement, make sure you have enough qualifying years. You need 35 qualifying years receive a full state pension.

Ultimately, we are all different, all have different incomes, financial responsibilities and goals we would like to achieve, so starting thinking about them as soon as you can and remember it’s never too late to start.

Alison Jones can be contacted at: Call: +44 (0)33 0124 1399 Email: enquiries@krestonreeves.com Visit: www.krestonreeves.com

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STORY BIG

Oncology is a branch of medicine that deals with the study, treatment, diagnosis, and prevention of cancer. The etymological origin is the Greek word (ónkos), meaning ‘tumour,’ ‘volume’ or ‘mass.’ It is also something most of us would not wish to spend too much spare time thinking about, given its somewhat unnerving and distressing nature.

It makes the work undertaken by Dee Mathieson – someone with the opposite view to this attitude – all the more impressive.

She has had a long career in the advancement of cancer care, starting in the clinic, and moving to industry.

Dynamic tells the story of an award-winning pioneer…

MEET RADIOTHERAPY TRAILBLAZER

DEE MATHIESON

D

ee was educated at Sutton High School from 1970-77. In 1979, she enrolled to study Radiation Therapy at Guy’s Hospital, London, earning a DCR(T) degree in 1981.

She completed a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Physics from London South Bank University from 1984 to 1987.

Soon after she graduated with her BSc, Dee joined – well, was headhunted by – Dutch international giant Philips Electronics as a Technical Training Specialist, to educate engineers about the clinical aspects of radiotherapy and the physics and technology behind the cancer treatment systems they produced – linear accelerators or linacs.

During her training and work experience, she realised the technology could be significantly improved to increase the accuracy of radiation targeting, while also improving patient comfort. Together with the Medical Physics team she was working with, she produced some transformative ideas.

One example she cites is a vacuum moulding system which could replace the sticky tape and foam used to position and stabilise patients’ heads for treatment with a simple plastic mask.

By her own admission, her career with Philips was varied, holding global roles in oncology and neuroscience, including service engineering, product management, marketing, commercial operations, and service operations.

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In late 1996, Philips gathered its staff together to inform them that Swedish company Elekta had signed a letter of intent to buy the Radiotherapy Division from Philips.

Dee herself remembers the meeting. “When we heard Elekta was planning to buy the radiotherapy division from Philips, there were quite a few of us who looked at each other and said ‘who?’ – and I was one of them. At the time, I was not aware of the benefits of Gamma Knife radiosurgery nor the rich history of the Leksell family,” she says.

+

THERAPEUTIC RADIOGRAPHERS

Therapeutic radiographers are responsible for the planning and delivery of accurate radiotherapy treatments using a wide range of technical equipment.

Radiotherapy is used in the treatment of cancer.

During her training and work experience, Dee realised that the technology could be significantly improved to increase the accuracy of radiation targeting

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STORY BIG Prof. Lars Leksell was a pioneering Swedish neurosurgeon who invented Gamma Knife and whose family founded Elekta in 1972. The company was started at the suggestion of his then 20-year-old son Laurent (Larry) who – when Prof. Leksell believed only five Gamma Knife systems would be enough for the world’s needs – realised his father had seriously under-estimated his own invention.

The name Elekta – from the Greek word ‘elektos,’ meaning chosen or elected – was kept from a previous company Prof. Leksell set up. It was into this company that the Radiotherapy Division of Eindhoven-based Philips Electronics was acquired in 1997 by Elekta, and Dee with it.

She flourished at the Swedish company.

Dee’s achievements and projects within the company are far too long for this magazine to list; her story is a book in its own right. Suffice to say, 30-odd years of research, development and innovation in the radiotherapy field have seen enormous leaps forward in patient care. During this time, Dee has been directly or indirectly involved in setting product strategy for groundbreaking innovations which not only improved the accuracy of radiation treatment, but the experience for patients and clinicians.

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As Elekta made massive leaps forward in cancer care and treatment, you could find Dee at the very heart of those innovations. She is now Senior Vice President, and the first female Managing Director of Elekta Ltd in the UK. Prior to that, her long tenure at Elekta has included Senior VP, Business Line Linac Solutions; Managing Director, Senior Vice President of Product Quality & Service; Senior Vice President of Portfolio Management; Senior Vice President of Global Commercial Operations; Senior Vice President of Business Line Management; and Vice President of Global Product Management.

Dee’s achievements and projects within the company are far too long for this magazine to list

PROFESSOR LARS LEKSELL (1907-86) AND GAMMA KNIFE® After receiving his doctoral degree in 1945, the University Hospital in Lund recruited Leksell to set up the first neurosurgical clinic in Sweden outside of Stockholm. In 1949 Prof.

Leksell created the Leksell MicroStereotactic System, which permitted the mechanical placement of a needle, cannula or electrode at precise locations within the brain without direct visual guidance.

Prof. Leksell recognised the need for a tool to allow for treatment of deepseated intracranial structures without opening the skull and the hazards of open surgery. In 1951, externally applied X-rays were substituted for the instruments in the open stereotactic procedures.

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By coupling a source of radiation with a stereotactic guiding device, the first radiosurgical procedure was thus performed. Leksell found that by administering a single dose of radiation, it was possible to successfully destroy deep brain structures.

He called this technique “stereotactic radiosurgery.”

During the 1950s and 1960s, Prof. Leksell conducted intensive research to identify the ideal radiation source and equipment for stereotactic radiosurgery. Linear accelerators (photons) and synchrocyclotrons (protons) were tried and evaluated.

In 1994, Elekta started experimenting at Karolinska Hospital in Stockholm with a stereotactic frame

Dee is, in her own words, “a highly motivated healthcare professional with over 40 years’ experience, with an in-depth knowledge of clinical techniques, physics and applied technology supporting her employer to grow their business and reputation in the field of radiation therapy.

She is a sought after and regular media commentator and motivational speaker for a range of audiences including businesses, Key Opinion Leaders and the financial and business analyst community.”

Almost four decades, and several different roles later – each one with more responsibility than the previous one, and with scientific breakthroughs not even thought of at the outset, Dee has been a central part of it all. If there has been a pioneering procedure in the world of cancer care and treatment, Dee has almost certainly been pivotal in that process.

In 2022, Dee became a Member of the Board of Trustees for The Mary How Trust for Cancer Prevention, and the following year, she accepted the role of Chairwoman of Gatwick Diamond Business.

In February this year, Nescot (North East Surrey College of Technology) celebrated student success at the annual Higher Education (HE) Awards graduation ceremony at Epsom Downs Racecourse. The college awarded her an Honorary Fellowship. Sharing her journey, she said, “I am very grateful to Nescot for helping me on my way to what has been a fantastic and varied career in cancer care.”

But her story does not finish there. Into the future, she intends to continue striving for ever-better care, treatments and, ultimately, outcomes. “At Elekta, our Access 2025 strategy is built on four pillars: innovation; partner integration; customer focus and driving adoption of radiation therapy across the globe, reflecting Elekta’s vision to create a world where everyone has access to the best cancer care,” states Dee. “We can and must do better to improve access to radiotherapy for those who will truly benefit from the therapy.”

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DYNAMIC LIFETIME AWARD

On April 30th, 2024, Dee was the proud recipient of the Dynamic Lifetime Achievement Award. With a career like that, it is both unsurprising, and very well deserved. Our heartiest congratulations to Dee on this award, on behalf of Dynamic Magazine, and her peers on the judging panel who worked hard to keep the award quiet before the day!

for the whole body (and not just for the head), using a linear accelerator as the radiation source. The trials were a success and Elekta decided to acquire its own linear accelerator technology. It was time to embrace broad-based radiation therapy and fully become a cancer treatment provider in the field of radiation oncology.

The radiotherapy business was churning out products. Eventually, all the Philips legacy linac products were replaced by innovative designs developed by Elekta in Crawley.

The sales and support network had been revamped and quality across the full product and sales process had improved significantly.

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THE AWARDS 2024 The winners of the Dynamic Awards 2024 have been announced at a sensational gala event, held at The Grand Brighton on April 30th.

The annual event is the region’s premier businesswomen award scheme, celebrating the remarkable achievements of female business leaders throughout the South East.

Over 400 guests, from across the business community, attended the sell-out event which was organised by Platinum Media Group, and hosted by comedian, Suzi Ruffell.

The ceremony was made up of 16 categories and recognised accomplishments made across all aspects of business, from personal successes to outstanding contributions.

Maarten Hoffmann, Managing Director of Platinum Media Group, said: “The high standard of entries, the extraordinary businesswomen and accomplishments that have been presented to us this year are truly inspirational.

“I’d like to congratulate all the winners and shortlisted finalists.”

The event charity partner was the Rockinghorse Children’s Charity, the charity that has been supporting children across Sussex for over 50 years, and who raised over £10,000 on the night.

To view the 2024 winners, visit: www.platinummediagroup.co.uk/events/ the-dynamic-awards/winners-2024

A wonderful evening spent celebrating amazing female leaders in business Paul Rolfe Chichester College Group

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THANK YOU TO OU

MAGA ZINE

IN AI D O F

What a spectacular event – really it was just incredible. It was well-run, beautifully staged and fun!

Donna Holland, Rockinghorse Children’s Charity

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As always, we had a brilliant time at The Dynamic Awards!

Many thanks to Platinum for organising this fantastic event celebrating the outstanding achievements of female business leaders across the South East Samantha Kaye, Wellesley

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UR 2024 SPONSORS

PLATINUM ME DIA GROUP

THE 2024 WINNERS These awards are not only an opportunity to celebrate some incredible female leaders in the South East but they also provide a platform that really elevates the pioneering businesses that surround us.

All the judges were so impressed with the calibre of talent who entered each category Pam Loch, Loch Associates Group

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Businesswoman of the Year

Large Business of the Year

Sponsored by DMH Stallard IRIS JACKSON OG Kicks

Sponsored by Loch Associates Group NAOMI ROBERTS Flare Audio

We were proud to support such an important and fun celebratory event.

Being involved in the judging meant we knew the amazing stories of the shortlisted businesses, and how much they all deserved the recognition Melanie Dumelow, University of Brighton Help to Grow

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Medium Business of the Year

Sustainability Champion Award

Sponsored by University of Brighton Help To Grow RACHEAL HUGHES Green Mop

Sponsored by Legal & General CHRISSIE BECK Worlds Better

Professional Services Award

The Dynamic Awards blew all other awards ceremonies out of the water!

Emma Cleary, Flexibility Matters

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Sponsored by Tiny Box Company KATHARINE ARCHER Ridgeview Wine Estate

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What an amazing event and experience, to be surrounded by all those amazing women, something I will never forget Katharine Archer

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WWW.PLATINUMMEDIAGROUP.CO.UK CEO of the Year Sponsored by FRP Corporate Finance JO REDFERN EVANS Education Cubed Winning an award for your achievements ❛❛ at work is special. It feels like a reward for the

days of hard graft and worry – a recognition that you have done a decent job and that it has worked. It was an honour to have shared the stage and the room with other professional women who have worked hard, been bold and delivered. Thank you so much to Platinum Media Group for creating and delivering this event. It was a blast!

Jo Redfern Evans

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Future Talent of the Year Sponsored by Surrey Research Park CHAMIAH DEWEY DEWEY This prestigious award makes the hard work, passion, and dedication worth it! We are currently overwhelmed with investment opportunities, and I can’t wait to see where DEWEY will be in another year’s time.

Thank you Dynamic Awards for providing such an empowering space for women in business Chamiah Dewey

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Thank you to all those ❛❛who joined us, and to

Platinum Media Group Ltd for hosting a wonderful event.

I am proud to be part of a woman-led team at Surrey Research Park with great female and male allies who all want to support an equitable future Kat Mack, Surrey Research Park

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It was an honour to recognise others who share our values as outstanding employers.

As a judge, I’m inspired by employers who prioritise the well-being of their teams, recognising that such dedication not only drives business success but also nurtures personal and professional growth.

A heartfelt congratulations to all the finalists and winners Helen Cannon, ISON Travel

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Employer of the Year Sponsored by ISON Travel JULIE KAPSALIS Nescot www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

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THE 2024 WINNERS Company of the Year Sponsored by Wellesley SARAH ALEXANDER Lewis Brownlee Chartered Accountants As a female-led accountancy firm (a traditionally male dominated profession!), we are immensely proud to have been chosen to receive this award.

Thank you once again to everyone involved in The Dynamic Awards, it is an incredible event Sarah Alexander

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I am passionate about supporting women in business, and I am always truly inspired and humbled by the women that I meet through our Inspirational award.

It is crucial that we honour and showcase such talented women in order that they are recognised and so that we can provide inspiration and role models to the next generations Alison Jones, Kreston Reeves

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Inspirational Award Sponsored by Kreston Reeves SUSANNAH ATHERTON The English Soap Company

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To win a Dynamic Award has been exciting and humbling.

Congratulations to all the finalists and winners, it is a privilege to celebrate women in business across the South East Susannah Atherton

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The quality of female entrepreneurship in Sussex is exceptional and it was such a challenge to pick our winner!

Massive well done to all the finalists and winners.

A truly inspiring event Matt Turner, Creative Pod

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Business Growth Award

Property Professional of the Year

Sponsored by Creative Pod CHARLOTTE MELIA Dazzle & Fizz

Sponsored by Lewis Brownlee Chartered Accountants SHARRON DOMANSKA Arena Offices

WWW.PLATINUMMEDIAGROUP.CO.UK Best New Business Award Winner 2024 Sponsored by Tisshaws Family Law Solicitors DR OLIVIA HUM AND DR ZOE SCHAEDEL Myla Health We are honoured to be chosen from such an incredible group of candidates. What a fantastic, inspiring evening!

Dr Olivia Hum and Dr Zoe Schaedel

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An evening of glitz, glamour and entertainment – celebrating all that’s been achieved by a variety of inspirational businesswomen in our region.

What a great cause, a fantastic evening filled with great company and inspirational stories Priavo Security

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What a night! I have never met so many incredible female business leaders spread over so many industries across the whole of the South East Mary Cullen Mary Gold Property & Investment Solutions

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Innovator of the Year

Sponsored by Spabreaks.com DR SHAKARDOKHT JAFARI TRUEinvivo

Community Hero Award Sponsored by Plus X Innovation JULIE KAPSALIS Nescot

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Lifetime Achievement Award Sponsored by University of Sussex Business School DEE MATHIESON Elekta To be presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award is an incredible experience and one that I am so grateful to have had. I look back on my long and varied career in cancer care and feel very fortunate to have always enjoyed it. The recognition of my achievements at the Dynamic Awards 2024 was one of the proudest moments of my life Dee Mathieson

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At DMH Stallard, we pride ourselves as being a great place to work – a supportive firm with a modern culture.

This includes championing the diversity of our workforce at all levels of our structure, and notably the recruitment and promotion of women into senior leadership roles within the firm.

By Emily Wood, Partner and Group Head of Real Estate Dispute Resolution, DMH Stallard

DMH Stallard championing diversity in its workforce

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ost law students, according to UCAS, are women. In fact, female applicants outstrip their male counterparts by two-to-one.

However, tables are turned at the top of the ladder. Latest figures suggest that only about 35% of partners in law firms are women. And yet diversity in leadership and management leads to better balance, provides a wider outlook, and results in more balanced decisions.

DMH Stallard aims to be an employer of choice with a forward thinking and diverse culture. This plays a big role in the firm being a great place to work.

To achieve our aims, we, like many other law firms, are looking to increase our numbers of female partners, and women in leadership roles. We have always supported women in our business to achieve their full potential and, indeed, encourage all our employees to balance their careers alongside their family lives and personal commitments.

Our track record is good, but we can improve.

We are providing even more focused support for our fantastic female employees and partners throughout their

careers with us. Our aim is that over the next three to five years, we see an even greater balance of women as partners and leaders in our business.

We are encouraging the recruitment and promotion of both men and women at all levels, from trainees to partners, and in our support teams. We are championing the elimination of any gender pay gap.

We are reviewing our career development framework to ensure it is fit for a truly diverse workforce.

Alongside this, the power of mentoring cannot be underestimated. We want everyone who works at DMH Stallard to have support and guidance from the right people around them, particularly for our female colleagues returning from maternity leave.

The pandemic has had one good outcome – it has made flexible working more the norm. More women than men choose part-time working or flexible hours. Their contribution to the legal sector is invaluable. We recognise that and accommodate flexibility wherever we can.

We have also set up our DMH Stallard Women in Law Group, a forum to share views, exchange ideas, and make plans to achieve equality at all stages, levels and roles within our award-winning firm.

A big thank you to all our hard working and dedicated female and male colleagues across DMH Stallard. The firm is great because of you.

DMH Stallard aims to be an employer of choice with a forward thinking and diverse culture

www.dmhstallard.com

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BUSINES S

Introducing…

LEWIS BROWNLEE

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t Lewis Brownlee Chartered Accountants, we understand that to excel in a dynamic economy, your business requires a partner, not just an accountant – a partner deeply invested in your aspirations and equipped to elevate your enterprise to new heights.

Our philosophy is simple yet profound: to provide a comprehensive suite of services that transcends the traditional scope of accountancy. As Xero Platinum Partners, we are at the forefront of Cloud Accounting, a paradigm shift that marks a revolution in engaging with financial data.

Imagine having the power to harness real-time insights, employ intuitive interfaces, and integrate operations seamlessly. These are the tools we bestow upon businesses to fortify decision-making processes, streamline operations, and stimulate growth.

Our expertise also extends far beyond the realms of accounting into the strategic territories of Business Advisory services. Our dedication to tailored, progressive advice underpins our reputation. We dive deep into the unique intricacies of your business to emerge with strategies that are as cutting-edge as they are effective. Whether it’s growth planning or financial forecasting, our advisory is the engine that propels your business into the future – one that’s resilient and adaptable to the ebb and flow of the market.

We don’t just tally numbers, we make the most of what really counts At Lewis Brownlee, our dedication to excellence extends out into enriching the communities that sustain us.

So, we are proud advocates of Mental Health Awareness, Women in Business, and Sustainability! Our endeavours in these areas stem from our core belief that our partnership with clients is also a partnership with the community.

As such, our Chichester, Midhurst, and Whiteley offices are not just business hubs but beacons of community spirit and environmental stewardship. By choosing us, you’re not just gaining an accountant; you’re aligning with a firm that matches its financial acumen with a heart for societal and ecological betterment!

So, join us at Lewis Brownlee, where we don’t just tally numbers, we make the most of what really counts.

We’re not just partners in your financial journey; we’re co-navigators in crafting a legacy of success, community well-being, and environmental care – true ‘partners in our clients’ success!’

Lewis Brownlee Chartered Accountants, Appledram Barns, Birdham Road, Chichester PO20 7EQ Chichester: 01243 782 423 Midhurst: 01730 817 243 Whiteley: 01489 287 782 LetsTalk@LewisBrownlee.co.uk www.LewisBrownlee.co.uk 24

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By Gilva Tisshaw, Director Tisshaws Family Law Solicitors

TISSHAWS

increasing diversity in the legal profession

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isshaws Family Law Solicitors is an enthusiastic supporter of the Dynamic Business Awards and, having won Lawyer of the Year at last year’s awards, Gilva Tisshaw was keen to sponsor this year’s New Business Award.

“Starting a new business involves a lot of hard work, as well as a degree of risk taking,” she explains. “Given this, I feel it’s important to recognise those women prepared to put their talent, ambition and vision on the line in establishing a new venture.”

Having successfully built specialist family law firm, Tisshaws Family Law Solicitors, which she founded in 2012, Gilva understands the pressures of setting up a new business. Built on an ethos of legal expertise within a culture of care, Gilva has grown her business through providing exceptional levels of client service and compassion.

Since then, the firm has gone from strength to strength, and Gilva is proud to have built a team who all share her dedication to client care.

“People are at their most vulnerable during family breakdown, and it’s important they feel that they are represented by someone who genuinely cares and can help them to navigate the divorce process in the most positive way possible.”

The depth and breadth of Tisshaws’ experience means the firm can represent clients with a broad range of assets To achieve this, Tisshaws is committed to non-court resolution approaches, offering mediation, collaborative law, and arbitration – all approaches which save clients the cost, time, and stress of resolving their issues in court.

What’s more, the depth and breadth of Tisshaws’ experience means the firm can represent clients with a broad range of assets, from those with small budgets, to those with significant financial assets and properties abroad.

These services put Tisshaws on equal footing with larger London law firms, but with far more competitive fees.

Recognised and ranked as a leading UK family law firm by both Chambers and The Legal 500, Tisshaws was also delighted to win two British Chamber of Commerce Awards for Trailblazing Equality. Committed to helping a diverse range of clients, Gilva is also a champion of increasing diversity within the legal profession and has supported those from underrepresented minority backgrounds taking non-traditional routes in forging a legal career.

www.tisshawssolicitors.co.uk

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BUSINES S

In the bustling world of corporate travel management, where efficiency meets the challenges of global growth, ISON Travel stands out for our unwavering commitment to our employees. By Alan Wares

ISON Travel celebrates the next Employer of the Year

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s the proud sponsor of the Employer of the Year category at the prestigious Dynamic Awards 2024 hosted by the Platinum Media Group, ISON Travel brings more than just a business ethos to the table - we bring a philosophy centred on the well-being and empowerment of our team.

In 2020, during the challenges of the pandemic, ISON Travel remained steadfast in our dedication to our workforce. Despite the turbulent business landscape, marked by losses and uncertainties, we continued to hire new employees, prioritise their needs, ensure their security and foster a supportive environment. ISON Travel exemplifies the mantra of an employee-first approach, which is what motivated us to sponsor this year’s Employer of the Year Award.

Our CEO, Helen Cannon, a remarkable leader and a mother of five, has been recognised for championing gender diversity and supporting women in business wholeheartedly.

She has been instrumental in empowering working mums with entrepreneurial dreams by establishing an incubator structure within her company. She also spearheads initiatives to elevate women into leadership roles, reflecting her commitment to inclusivity and empowerment.

Helen Cannon

As we reflect on this year’s entries, it is heartening to see so many outstanding submissions

As we reflect on this year’s entries, it is heartening to see so many outstanding submissions. The standard of entries has set new benchmarks, motivating others to bring their best foot forward. As one of the judges, Helen feels inspired by the employers who think about their employees’ needs first and prioritises their growth and well-being. Helen believes that organisational success is not just measured in profits, but also in the ethical and sustainable workplace.

Helen knows very well, when employees feel valued and empowered, they can unlock their full potential, and significantly contribute business growth.

As we approach the award ceremony, we look forward to celebrating a new era of workplace culture – one where individuals are valued, supported, and empowered to thrive both personally and professionally. We congratulate this year’s winner for its commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment.

https://isontravel.com

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FE ATURE

Have you ever felt that you don’t get the credit you deserve? That job opportunities are given to others, even though you would be ideally suited? By Learning & Development Consultant, Helen Tuddenham

How to self-promote without losing self-respect

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ccording to Tara Mohr, in her book “Playing Big”, girls in particular learn at school to keep their heads down, do a good job, and assume their work will speak for itself. When success involves getting good marks in homework and exams, that works. But in your career, not everyone sees the good work you do. And with so many distractions in the modern age, you need to work smarter to make an impact.

But self-promotion can feel a little, well, ‘icky’. Many of us are taught that boasting about our achievements is a

Instead of thinking of it as selling yourself, think of it as sharing information to help others solve their problems

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cardinal sin. When we see others do it, it can jar. So, how do you make sure that everyone knows about your great work in a way that’s authentic to you and without feeling that you’ve lost your self-respect?

Well, before you do anything else, if the term “self-promotion” sends shivers up your spine, you need to reframe how you see it. Instead of thinking of it as selling yourself, think of it as sharing information to help others solve their problems.

How can you do this effectively? Here are five suggestions:

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THINK CAREFULLY ABOUT THE POSITIONING How do you want this to come across? What is your reason for telling the person, and what do you need to say? For example, if your aim is to show that you are improving your leadership skills, then make sure the story demonstrates this. If it is a team success, point out the role you played.

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BE STRATEGIC IN WHO YOU TELL This will depend on your career and business goals, but generally, think about where you want to be visible and who is influential in that space. Harvard Business Review research found that employees who put in the groundwork to build solid relationships with their seniors were 82% more likely to get promoted than colleagues who hadn’t stayed in touch*.

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MAKE WHATEVER YOU SHARE RELEVANT AND INTERESTING TO THAT PARTICULAR PERSON What is at the forefront of their mind right now? Is it keeping up team morale? Then share something you’ve done to make your team feel happier and more connected. Is it about bringing a fresh perspective to help them solve a problem? Share how you have solved that problem for another client and the benefits it brought.

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BE SPECIFIC Telling someone about your achievements or skills has a multiplier effect, so make it easy for the person you speak to. To promote yourself to others. Be succinct and include only what they need to know. Plan the conversation and use the STAR mnemonic to help you with this. Situation and Task - briefly outline the context and your role. Action - mention one or two key things about what you did, giving enough information to clarify that you are behind the success. Spend most of your time talking about the Result - what was the successful outcome, and why is it helpful for this person to know?

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SHARE POSITIVE STORIES ABOUT OTHERS Advocate for your team and business partners by sharing their successes in an appropriate way. This has three benefits: firstly, by advocating for others, you’ll feel more confident advocating for yourself; secondly, those you advocate to will see you as a positive person who is looking out for their colleagues and associates; and finally, it may encourage the person you are talking about to reciprocate by sharing positive stories about you.

Finding the right time and place to implement these strategies is essential. However, remember that it’s not about having one conversation but a series of them. Therefore, plan.

To start with, you could practice sharing positive stories in forums such as team meetings, where people are specifically asked to share successes, making it feel more natural.

Then go for the targeted conversations. Make the most of that awkward moment by the coffee machine or at a networking event. Asking an influential person how work is going for them will probably elicit the same question in return - that’s your opportunity.

And the result? By speaking with a few key people and sharing your successes, you will create a positive story around you. This will improve your visibility and your chances of being tapped on the shoulder next time that promotion or sales opportunity comes up.

Frame it as if you are sharing information to help people solve their problems - and then step forward in confidence! https://hbr.org/2021/06/ dont-let-wfh-get-in-the-way-of-your-next-promotion www.helentuddenhamconsulting.com www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

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Everyone starts as a Leftie – then wakes up after either starting to make money, working, trying to run a business or trying to buy a house Holly Valance, Pop star and wife of billionaire Nick Candy

GLOBAL LIFE EXPECTANCY RISES BY 6.2 YEARS A recent study revealed a significant increase in global life expectancy – by 6.2 years – following declines in fatalities caused by stroke, diarrhoea, and respiratory infections.

These reductions in mortality rates, particularly notable in regions such as Oceania, East Asia, and Eastern sub-Saharan Africa between 1990 and 2019, have been attributed to improved healthcare and enhanced disease prevention measures.

Specifically, there has been a marked decrease in deaths from enteric diseases like diarrhoea and typhoid, as well as a notable reduction in mortality rates related to respiratory infections. However, the positive trajectory was disrupted during the pandemic years due to government-mandated lockdowns and business closures, which disrupted global supply chains and led to a temporary reversal of this trend.

IN THE RIGHT

DIRECTION PATIENTS LESS LIKELY TO DIE IF THE DOCTOR IS FEMALE

Hospital patients are less likely to die if a female doctor treats them, a UCLA study has found. The research also found that female patients were less likely to be readmitted to hospital in the 30 days after discharge if they had had a female physician. The new research is part of a growing field of study examining why women and minorities tend to receive worse medical care than men and white patients. For example, women and minority patients are up to 30% more likely to be misdiagnosed than white men.

Dr Yusuke Tsugawa, the senior author of the study said: “What our finding indicate is that female and male physicians practice medicine differently, and these differences have a meaningful impact on patient’s health outcomes.”

FIRST BRITISH ASTRONAUT IN A DECADE GRADUATES Rosemary Coogan, who grew up in East Sussex, and completed her doctorate at the University of Sussex, has become Britain’s first qualified astronaut in ten years.

This former Royal Navy reservist who graduated from the European Space Agency after gruelling training, will fly into space before the end of the decade.

“From dreaming about space to being one step closer to reaching it, I’m filled with gratitude and determination to make the most of this opportunity” Rosemary said.

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Rosemary’s appointment sends out a huge message, not just to our students, but to every girl in primary school who will think, ‘that could be me!’

Kathy Romer, Professor of Astrophysics, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences

MICHELIN STAR AWARDED TO ADEJOKÉ BAKARE Adejoké is the UK’s first black female chef, and only the second black female chef in the world, to receive this accolade. Her London restaurant, Chishuru, specialises in modern west African cuisine and culinary styles typical of Nigeria’s Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo ethnic groups.

“I’ve always cooked from my heart, and I suppose you could say I have a mission: to present and honour the food of my heritage,” Bakare said.

She hopes that her achievement will inspire a new generation of chefs from minority ethnic backgrounds.

HOPE FOR FASTER SEPSIS DETECTION Researchers from Sweden propose that combining a basic blood test with artificial intelligence (AI) screening could aid in identifying sepsis patients at highest risk of severe complications. Sepsis claims roughly 11 million lives globally each year, with 50,000 deaths in the UK alone.

Typically triggered by infection, sepsis can quickly escalate into septic shock, causing organ damage. Lund University scientists analysed plasma samples from over a thousand suspected sepsis patients, identifying immune response patterns.

They trained an AI model with these results to predict septic shock likelihood.

Lead researcher Dr. Lisa Mellhammar hailed the tool as “the future of early sepsis detection,” potentially predicting individuals at greater risk of poor outcomes.

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Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?

Mary Oliver

RIVER BARRIERS REMOVED Nearly 500 river barriers were removed across 15 European countries in 2023, according to Dam Removal Europe (DRE). The coalition aims to restore freeflowing waterways and biodiversity. France led with 156 barriers dismantled, while the UK ranked fifth with 36. The efforts reconnected 4,300 kilometres of watercourses, improving safety and habitats. DRE’s report also highlighted the dangers dams pose to recreational river users, with 129 fatalities linked to them in recent years. Herman Wanningen, director of the World Fish Migration Foundation, praised the investment in removing outdated barriers to enhance river health for communities and nature across Europe.

UK EDGES CLOSER TO PAY EQUALITY The gender pay gap in the UK has shrunk to its lowest level in seven years. Big employers have been compelled by law to publish pay gap statistics since 2017. The April 2024 figures reveal the gap is the smallest since reporting began, but despite the progress, women still earn 91p in the £1 compared to men. The situation is worse in the public sector, where there’s still a 14.4% pay gap. Men earn more than women in nearly nine in 10 public sector organisations, compared to just over three-quarters of private companies.

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In our exclusive Spotlight feature, we highlight women who are doing good things in their community.

They’re not always seen but we think they should be

SPOTLIGH T Kate Griggs Kate Griggs is the Founder and CEO of the global charity Made By Dyslexia, host of the Lessons in Dyslexic Thinking podcast and the author of This is Dyslexia One in five people are dyslexic – that’s 20% of the global population. And despite knowing exactly how to spot it, 80% of dyslexics still leave school unidentified.

Despite being a ‘classic dyslexic’, my first school didn’t spot my dyslexia. Instead, I was a ‘must try harder’, ‘quiet girl’ who HATED school because I felt like a failure. It was only after I was sent to a new school that my life was transformed by dyslexia trained teachers who finally helped me understand and value my dyslexic strengths.

The same thing happened years later with my son Ted. I was genuinely shocked that after all that time his teachers still didn’t know how to spot and support his obvious dyslexic struggles or his amazing Dyslexic Thinking skills.

I’ve made it my mission to change this. My first campaign led to the UK Government’s Review of Dyslexia in 2008. In 2017, I founded the global charity Made By Dyslexia, which we launched with Sir Richard Branson to teach the world the brilliance of Dyslexic Thinking and to empower it in every home, school and workplace.

In 2022, we successfully campaigned for LinkedIn to add ‘Dyslexic Thinking’ as a workplace skill on its social platform.

Within one week, 10,000 people had already added it to their profiles! In the same year, Dyslexic Thinking was added to the dictionary too.

Despite being a ‘classic dyslexic’, my first school didn’t spot my dyslexia.

Instead, I was a ‘must try harder 32

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My work with Made By Dyslexia, my books, This Is Dyslexia (a practical guide for adults) and Xtraordinary People (which helps kids understand dyslexic superpowers), and now the podcast, are creating global momentum behind our dyslexia movement, which has only continued to grow.

Last year we launched our Lessons in Dyslexic Thinking podcast – interviews with some of the world’s most inspiring dyslexics – which returned for season two in March 2024.

Dyslexic minds are naturally curious, highly creative, and have an ability to unconventionally connect the dots and think laterally. So, it’s no wonder some of the world’s most successful people are dyslexic, including Sir Richard Branson, space scientist Maggie Aderin-Pocock, and titanic explorer Bob Ballard, (who are all guests on my podcast).

Workplaces of the future will depend on Dyslexic Thinking skills. That’s what all the research is telling us – because AI can’t replace the soft skills or power skills that every organisation needs like innovation, lateral thinking, complex problem solving and interpersonal skills. And these are all Dyslexic Thinking skills.

That’s why our mission to empower Dyslexic Thinking in every school, every home and every workplace is so vital.

Dyslexia is a superpower – not something to hide! madebydyslexia.org

Sophie Davenport Introducing Sophie Davenport, Co-Founder and Managing Director at SFE Services.

She excels in the male-dominated heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) industry What have been the greatest challenges in your career so far, and how have you overcome them?

The greatest challenge in my career is being female in a heavily male-dominated industry. In some ways, you do have to prove yourself and show you know what you’re doing.

When we started SFE Services, I was only 30 years old.

Very early on, I found age was a big barrier to overcome. So, I ended up working twice as hard to show my worth. For example, I am an avid networker and when I first started going to networking events, there was an assumption from other attendees that I worked in sales or marketing. When I introduced myself as the Co-Founder and Managing Director, there was always a big shock on their faces!

What have been your proudest moments in your career, and why?

Like many industries, HVAC is facing a labour shortage.

There is a significant challenge in developing new talent due to a limited number of educational providers offering relevant courses. With fewer than 20 HVAC apprenticeship providers nationwide, there’s a glaring disparity in opportunities for aspiring professionals, exacerbating regional inequalities and hindering industry growth. So, for me, it’s crucial we support young talent. One of my proudest moments was taking on our first apprentice, Ben. This was the moment our team started to grow. I was, and still am, proud to be supporting the next generation of HVAC engineers.

Another career highlight was taking on, Lauren. Being a mum myself I appreciate the challenges working parents face, so taking on our first part-time employee felt like I was paying it forward. I wholeheartedly believe in flexible work.

When someone is doing well in life, they do well in work, which is why it is vital to support both aspects. I wish more businesses adopted a similar approach with flexible working for parents.

It’s crucial we support young talent. One of my proudest moments was taking on our first apprentice, Ben. This was the moment our team started to grow…

What is it like working in a male-dominated industry?

It’s challenging and there are two extremes. You get people who just assume you’re not as good at your job as your male counterparts. But then, on the other end of the spectrum, you get those who are extremely supportive. There isn’t much of a middle ground.

Do you have any advice for young women wanting to go into HVAC?

The biggest problem for young people is they do not know the opportunities are out there. As an industry, it’s our duty to make young people aware. Whilst I think government and education providers have a responsibility to encourage girls into engineering roles, ultimately, if we as an industry don’t do something about it, it will be us that comes up short and misses out in the future.

If a young girl does decide she wants to go into HVAC, my advice would be, you must work harder. Prove that you know what you’re doing, and you’ll be taken seriously.

I’d be over the moon if my two daughters chose to go into the industry. Of course, our industry can be physically demanding but do not buy into the ‘you’re not as physically strong’ mentality. There is lots of specialist equipment which helps overcome this, so there’s no reason a young woman can’t physically do the job. It’s a huge misconception. sfeservices.co.uk www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

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FE ATURE

One in six men want the ability to invest in funds managed by female fund managers, according to a poll

by DIY investment platform, TILLIT

People want female investment fund managers

“We need more women in the industry” The poll found that 17% of men said they would like the option to invest in funds managed by women, compared to 16% of women. Ethnic minorities are almost twice as likely to invest in funds managed by women (27%), compared to 15% of white people.

But only 12% of investment trust managers are female, according to research from the Association of Investment Companies (AIC). This figure remains unchanged since 2022 and is in line with the global average for the funds

We need more women in this industry, and research demonstrates that women are superior investors

industry, according to Citywire data. However, the good news, is that 41% of investment trust directorships are held by women, up from 36% in March 2022.

Clearly progress has been made when it comes to gender diversity of investment trust directors but much more work needs to be done to increase the number of female fund managers. Annabel Brodie-Smith, Communications Director of the AIC says, “We need to break down the barriers that stop women progressing – whether that’s welcoming flexible working and parental career breaks for both genders, or doing more to tackle unconscious bias.”

The AIC spoke to leading female investment trust managers, asking their opinions.

Tamara Gillan

Georgina Brittain

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Helen Steers

Why aren’t there more female fund managers?

“I think it’s a combination of two things. When I started as a graduate in fund management 20 years ago, there was still a lack of appreciation of the benefits of diversity, and the industry is not good at articulating what the role involves.Therefore, amongst young people, there’s often misunderstanding about what a fund manager does. That’s why at Baillie Gifford, rather than describing the role as financial, we describe it as being about deep qualitative and quantitative research, with a requirement for curiosity and creativity.”

KATE FOX Co-Manager of Keystone Positive Change

Kate Fox

“The picture is getting better, but traditionally there have not been enough women entering the fund management business, and even when they do get into the profession, the industry has not been good at retaining and promoting women.

Speaking particularly about private equity, the pipeline of female candidates is now better than ever, but in the past, recruitment has focused too much on people coming from investment banking or accountancy, and the wider talent pool of capable women has not been sufficiently tapped. That is changing, and at the more junior levels, many private equity firms now have almost equal intakes of men and women.”

HELEN STEERS Co-Lead Manager of Pantheon International

What would you say to women considering a career as a fund manager?

Why is fund management a good career for women and what is the best part of your job?

“Embrace it! Have the confidence to be authentic: your perspective on the world, your approach to analysis and your risk appetite will be of great value. It’s about being you, not trying to conform to a financial stereotype.”

KATE FOX Co-Manager of Keystone Positive Change

“Fund management is a great career for anyone. It is a privilege to be entrusted with client and shareholder capital to grow it on their behalf, so they can save for a better future.

The work is fascinating and full of variety. There are endless opportunities to learn about the world, emerging industries, evolving technologies – and to meet inspiring people.

Furthermore, through channelling capital towards innovative companies, you can help support societal progress.

That’s incredibly exciting. For me, the best parts are the variety and ability to drive progress – this is why I am still so passionate about it, two decades in.”

KATE FOX Co-Manager of Keystone Positive Change

“Don’t buy into the stereotypes that portray our industry as male-dominated. Instead, proactively connect with females who work in investment roles and seek their insights based on their own experiences.”

ABBY GLENNIE Co-Manager of abrdn UK Smaller Companies Growth

“To any women considering a career in fund management, I say – go for it! We need more women in this industry, and research demonstrates that women are superior investors.”

GEORGINA BRITTAIN Portfolio Manager of JPMorgan UK Small Cap Growth & Income

“I always try to get across the buzz and the excitement of this career. The purpose of this job is to help people have a happy retirement, buy their kids a car, help them with their first house and support many other milestones in life.”

GEORGINA BRITTAIN Portfolio Manager of JPMorgan UK Small Cap Growth & Income

“Our research has consistently shown that women invest more consciously. Women are more than just a diversity tick box exercise, they can add a different way of looking at investments.”

TAMARA GILLAN Founder of female finance group, WealthiHer

Abby Glennie

Women are more than just a diversity tick box exercise, they can add a different way of looking at investments www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

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WELLBEING

By Tess de Klerk

Are salon hair straightening treatments safe?

Initially, the known problem was only formaldehyde used in products for hair straightening and relaxing, but it is now clear that commonly used glyoxylic acid can cause acute kidney injury.

The UK has long since banned the use of formaldehyde in cosmetic products after it was linked to an increased risk of uterine, ovarian and breast cancer but there is ambiguity around chemicals such as oxomethane and paraform which turn into formaldehyde-like fumes during hair smoothing treatments. Disturbingly, formulas containing these chemicals can be labelled ‘formaldehyde free’. But today, we are looking at a different chemical altogether.

When it became undeniable that formaldehyde was toxic and lawsuits started piling up, manufacturers of some hair straightening and smoothing products turned to the thought-to-be-safe glyoxylic acid to do a similar job as formaldehyde. But now glyoxylic acid has been reported as a causal factor in a series of cases of acute kidney injury (AKI). Israel has already banned a host of products and France is poised to follow suit.

What we saw was that glyoxylic acid can absorb into the skin, and once in the bloodstream it can metabolise to oxalate, then go to our kidneys and cause damage 36

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Israel was the first country to document numerous cases of straightening-induced illness. According to the study’s lead researcher, Professor Linda Shavit, 26 cases of acute kidney injury were recorded over three years, eventually rising to 38 cases. She reiterated to The Times of Israel, “we suspect this is just the tip of the iceberg for Israel, and believe there are many cases elsewhere.”

The patients in the study experienced abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and scalp rash after using the hair straightening products. The average age was 28, most had no previous medical problems, and one of the women – all patients were female — was pregnant. None of the cases were fatal but three women had to have several weeks of dialysis treatment, some spent time in intensive care and many needed kidney biopsies.

“What we saw was that glyoxylic acid can absorb into the skin, and once in the bloodstream it can metabolise to oxalate, then go to our kidneys and cause damage,” Shavit explained, adding that this conclusion is based on detailed research on multiple patients, including via biopsies. Oxalate is a naturally occurring molecule, which in excessive quantities can cause kidney failure.

She said that since dozens of patients who used the products had to undergo medical treatment in hospital, it is likely that the chemicals have already damaged the kidneys of many other people who are unaware.

“What we documented may only be some of the cases,” Shavit suggested. “There were probably a lot of mild cases that didn’t get to a hospital. There may be many women who are asymptomatic but who have kidney damage as a result of these products”.

French researchers conducted their own animal-tested research after the report of a young woman, with no prior health history, suffered three episodes of acute renal damage over the span of a year. Each episode occurred shortly after a salon hair straightening treatment that contained glyoxylic acid.

Their study on mice concluded that the use of hairstraightening and smoothing products containing glyoxylic acid is associated with a risk of acute kidney failure.

“The results on mice are striking,” study author Emmanuel Letavernier, MD, a nephrologist at Tenon Hospital in Paris, said. “They develop extremely severe acute kidney failure within 24 hours of applying the straightening cream.

Samples show the presence of calcium oxalate crystals in all renal tubules.”

Given the potential nephrotoxicity of glyoxylic acid through topical application, products containing this compound should be avoided and ideally withdrawn from the market, the researchers suggested in a letter published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

If it smells like poison, it probably is

ARE THERE SAFE STRAIGHTENING TREATMENTS IN THE UK?

Who knows? At first, we were happily having the formaldehyde-laced Brazilian blow-outs. After that, I’d simply ask my hairdresser if a formula was formaldehyde free, only to later discover that numerous permitted ingredients today turn into formaldehyde vapour. And now this.

Naturally, I went on to search for a formula without glyoxylic acid only to find that manufacturers were anything but forthcoming with their ingredient lists. A good example is where the seller states only the ‘leading ingredients’ online.

It is a pity as I believe that there must be some formulas safer than others. Unfortunately my go-to Kerasilk treatment does contain glyoxylic acid. The popular Keratin Complex Smoothing Treatment doesn’t, but I for one have decided that if it smells like poison, it probably is. www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

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RE ADING FURTHER

HOW I BUILT A CAREER IN TECH FROM OUTSIDE THE INDUSTRY

Tips on how to thrive after job pivoting Dr Anastasia Dedyukhina is a digital wellbeing expert, keynote speaker, author of Homo Distractus, and the founder of Consciously Digital If anyone had told me ten years ago that, by 2024, I would be running a global network of 130+ digital wellbeing coaches and speaking at international conferences, I would never have believed them. My job pivot wasn’t planned, but I’ve learnt so much from moving into a new industry and building my career in something I’m passionate about. Here are my three tops tips for anyone looking to enter and thrive in a new career path on how to do it.

UNCONVENTIONAL STRATEGIES FOR REINVENTING YOUR CAREER

By Herminia Ibarra Harvard Business Review Press (2023) In this update of the classic, bestselling author Herminia Ibarra presents a model for career reinvention that flies in the face of everything we’ve learned from ‘career experts’ – and is tailor-made for changing careers in today’s uncertain world. Career transition is not a linear path toward some predetermined identity, according to Ibarra, but a crooked journey along which we try on a host of ‘possible selves’ we might become. Successful reinvention comes not from deciphering and analysing our past, but from inventing and testing our possible futures.

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Firstly, forget the rules and don’t be afraid to reinvent yourself. I’ve done it several times – having first trained as a pianist then moved into business journalism and digital marketing before arriving at where I am today. Don’t trap yourself into thinking that you’re stuck in one direction.

Look for small ways to gain experiences and show your mastery – like with internships, online courses or freelance work. The exciting thing about sectors like digital wellbeing is that this is still an emerging field, so you can easily create your own role within it by finding what interests you most about this new line of work and applying the transferable skills gained in your previous experiences to thrive in these positions.

THE SQUIGGLY CAREER:

DITCH THE LADDER, DISCOVER OPPORTUNITY, DESIGN YOUR CAREER

By Helen Tupper, Sarah Ellis Portfolio Penguin (2020) Career ladders and jobs for life are a thing of the past. Today, we’re living in a world of squiggly careers, where moving frequently and fluidly between roles, industries, locations, and even careers, is becoming the new normal.

Squiggly careers can feel stressful and overwhelming, but if you know how to make the most of them, they can be full of opportunity, freedom and purpose.

Packed with insights about the changing shape of work and inspiration from highly successful people, this book will fuel your growth and help you be happier, and ultimately more successful in your career.

This book was a No.1 Sunday Times Business Bestseller in 2020.

PHOTO: ANGELINA MOSK ALENKO

My second tip is to stop planning. Everything is changing so quickly at the moment because of the rate of innovation and technological development that staying curious and being receptive to new opportunities can help you find new ways into an industry which may once not have existed. Keep your eyes wide open. Go to industry events in your area and outside of it, and talk to different people and allow yourself to

PIVOT:

EIGHT PRINCIPLES FOR TRANSFORMING YOUR BUSINESS IN A TIME OF DISRUPTION

By Will Page Simon & Schuster (2023) A new insight into how the most crucial lesson you can learn in today’s challenging business environment is how to change the fundamentals of what you do, rather than carry on fighting a battle that is already lost. The near destruction of the music industry at the hands of online piracy and its subsequent recovery on the backs of digital streaming platforms is more than just the biggest story of disruption and reinvention of the digital age. It is also a trove of insights. Will Page, Spotify’s first chief economist, extrapolates music’s journey into eight guiding principles for pivoting through the ubiquitous disruption in nearly all industries.

grow with the opportunity. You never know where or when you are going to have the next synergy which could lead you to an exciting new path or way of thinking.

Finally, I’d recommend developing your USP and raising your profile in the sector you’re hoping to move into. When I started my pivot, I attended small meet-ups to network and share my story about going smartphone-free for over a year, which then grew into paid speaking opportunities and my first of two TED talks. Having this organic growth gave me contacts and experiences to leverage and learn from. Forging these relationships when you’re starting out can put the path to success much quicker than if you go it alone.

HAPPEN TO YOUR CAREER:

AN UNCONVENTIONAL APPROACH TO CAREER CHANGE AND MEANINGFUL WORK

By Scott Anthony Barlow Happen Publishing (2022) Career coach, podcast host, and CEO Scott Anthony Barlow shows you that it is possible to find your way to a career that feeds you and fulfils you. Drawing from his years of studying Happy High Achievers—high performers who are fulfilled in their careers—Barlow delivers a series of real-life case studies and insights to help you join their ranks. You’ll learn how a lawyer who’d spent a decade trying to remove himself from law successfully transitioned to content strategy. How an engineer made a career change upwards instead of laterally while moving cities, jobs and industries. And many more.

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SCENE ART

By KELLIE MILLER

NEVER ALONE THE WORKS OF DAWN STACEY Dawn Stacey’s paintings are an amalgamation of everything she loves and has studied. With degrees and diplomas in textile design, horticulture, and sequential illustration, her studies have permitted her to make sense of the world through her paintings.

Her layering techniques hark back to her textile background, whereas the influence of her illustration course tells of the journeying narrative in her paintings.

Reading her works, with their multiple layers, one can sense time and memories. One can almost hear the chorus of bird song echoing from her canvases.

Her paintings evolve from walks in gardens, her allotment, woodlands and lakes, absorbing the sounds of wildlife, noticing how cherry blossom scatters on the ground, detail in flowers or reflections in the water, resulting in rich landscapes featuring nature, wildlife, children, and people.

She says, “I constantly observe people interacting with each other, noticing intimate moments and how perhaps a couple or friends may walk together in companionable silence or chat. The work often portrays a peaceful and tranquil landscape; it’s an opportunity to become lost in the atmosphere of a place with an element of mystery.

“You can see children playing; the mother-child bond is often depicted in her works. Many of her pieces show a mother and child walking together. The mother figure is visibly significant to Dawn; she is questioning her motherhood or reflecting on her relationship with her own.

The menagerie of animals and the encounters of people portrayed in her paintings say that if you embrace nature and its offerings, you are never alone.

Dawn’s artworks can be seen and enjoyed at Kellie Miller Arts Brighton.

Kellie Miller is an artist, curator, critic and gallery owner. www.kelliemillerarts.com

Reading her works, with their multiple layers, one can sense time and memories

In the Moment Acrylic on Canvas

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Fading Lake Dream Acrylic on Canvas

The menagerie of animals and the encounters of people portrayed in her paintings say that if you embrace nature and its offerings, you are never alone

Glowing Flower Garden Acrylic on Canvas

We Walked a Dream Acrylic on Canvas www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

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BUSINES S

In today’s rapidly evolving corporate landscape, where diversity and empowerment are more than just buzzwords, Wyld Experiences stands out by integrating the ancient wisdom of nature with the strength of female leadership

Wyld Experiences fosters female leadership in nature’s classroom Over the past five years, Wyld Experiences has evolved from local community groups dedicated to supporting mothers on their new journey into parenthood by hosting weekly groups and events outdoors for families. With our roots firmly planted in community support, we’re now ready to extend our nature connection concept further afield. After all, who doesn’t want to learn how to make fire using flint and steel? This new venture offers transformative outdoor experiences that transcends traditional corporate retreats, with a particular focus on enhancing female leadership skills.

Unlike conventional team-building exercises, our programmes are about much more than survival – they’re about ‘thrival’

ROOTS IN NATURE, BRANCHES IN LEADERSHIP

At its core, Wyld Experiences is about the connection between humanity and the natural world. Unlike conventional team-building exercises, our programmes are about much more than survival – they’re about ‘thrival’; working in cohesion with nature to build long lasting knowledge of our natural world and how we can work with it, not against it.

Led by women, these retreats delve deep into the heart of teamwork and personal growth, set against the serene backdrops of the forest. The programmes are designed to challenge both the physical and emotional resilience of participants, blending adventure with introspection through a variety of activities such as fire lighting workshops, nature crafting, and mindfulness sessions.

A DAY WITH WYLD EXPERIENCES

Imagine a day that begins with the tranquillity of a morning nature walk, the air fresh with the promise of growth.

This is followed by engaging, hands-on activities like crafting your own basket from foraged materials or mastering the ancient art of fire-making. Lunch is prepared by a Campfire Chef, with meals prepared over an open flame. The afternoon might unfold with a group coaching session or a storytelling workshop, where the focus is on personal development and weaving the individual successes into a collective narrative of achievement.

Each activity is thoughtfully curated to reinforce team bonds, improve resilience, and emphasise the development of leadership skills within a supportive environment.

These experiences do more than foster professional relationships; they boost personal wellbeing, which is a critical factor in managing today’s high stress business environments.

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HOW TO BOOK

With three different packages to choose from, we can tailor your experience to suit you.

Whether it’s just for a day, two days or multi day.

ESSENCE OF WYLD from £295pp • One day retreat • Lunch: Campfire Chef • Three activities & workshops • Nature breaks COUNTRY WYLD from £395pp • One or two day retreat • Lunch: English Country House • Three activities & workshops • Sauna session WYLD ESCAPE from £590pp • Multi-day retreat • Retreat on location • Multiple activities & workshops • Campfire Chef-catered Contact us on connect@wyldexperiences.com to discuss and book your experience today.

WHY A WOMEN-LED INITIATIVE?

The female-led team at Wyld Experiences brings a unique blend of empathy, intuition, and a nurturing approach to leadership training. This leadership style creates a space where all participants – women and men alike – feel equally valued.

www.wyldexperiences.com

IMPACT BEYOND TEAM BUILDING

A portion of the proceeds from each retreat supports community groups in Sussex, like Wyld Mothers Fire, which offers mental health and wellbeing support groups for new mothers, outside in nature.

SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES AND LONG-TERM BENEFITS

We are committed to sustainability, not just environmentally but in our business practices and community contributions.

By participating in our retreats, companies invest in sustainable practices that enrich their teams while also benefiting broader societal goals. This dual impact fosters a deeper sense of purpose and commitment among participants, enhancing team morale and unity.

JOIN THE WYLD JOURNEY

For businesses looking to invest in meaningful teambuilding that offers lasting benefits, Wyld Experiences provides an exceptional opportunity. It’s more than just a day away from the office; it’s a profound journey into selfdiscovery, a testament to the power of nature and female leadership in crafting a successful corporate culture.

Whether you aim to inspire your team, boost morale, or seamlessly integrate new members, consider Wyld Experiences for your next corporate retreat. Let nature be your classroom, and females be your guide, to not just meet but exceed your business goals. www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

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TR AVEL This year is a real treat on the travel front with exciting new luxury hotels opening across the world. Whether you’re looking for something new in London or something far flung, we have fantastic options for any discerning traveller. BY TESS DE KLERK

Fabulous new hotels for 2024 MANDARIN ORIENTAL MAYFAIR, LONDON

Not yet open but taking bookings, this sleek sister property to Mandarin Hyde Park is expected to become a buzzing space filled with art and luxury. Expect fantastic service, a gorgeous spa, rooftop bar and exceptional cuisine from the Michelin-starred chef Akira Back. mandarinoriental.com/en/london/mayfair

THE EMORY, LONDON

The Emory opened its doors only in April but is already the talk of the town. Ten years in the making, it’s the fourth London hotel of the Maybourne Group who certainly know luxury, with Claridge’s, The Connaught and The Berkeley on their books.

Set in a quiet enclave of Knightsbridge, with its own discreet entrance, it was conceived by the architects Richard Rogers and Ivan Harbour of RSHP to deliver the same sense of intimacy as a residential address. Each room is a suite, adding to the residential feel while every stay includes generous extras such as the use of the Emory house car and the services of an Emory Assistant. the-emory.co.uk

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SINGITA MILELE, TANZANIA If your 2024 wishlist includes indulging in ultra-luxurious getaways or embarking on thrilling off-grid adventures, the masterminds behind Singita Lodges – recipients of the 2023 Flor de Caña Eco Hotel Award – have got you covered. Nestled deep within the wilderness of Tanzania’s Grumeti Reserve, this distinctive private sanctuary is opening its doors this month, in time for guests to witness the wondrous Great Migration up close. Taking a plum spot on a hilltop overlooking the evocative expanse of the savannah, it’s an immersive ode to Africa championing a level of exclusivity that sits outside the usual remits. Leaning in on local craftsmanship, creative high design that breaks down the barriers between guests and nature leads over five inviting, uniquely styled rooms.

Rest assured, this isn’t a case of style over substance. Shining a spotlight on high-level personalised service, a butler, private field guides, a private chef, a host of activities and full use of game vehicles at guests’ leisure are a given. singita.com

Taking a plum spot on a hilltop overlooking the evocative expanse of the savannah, it’s an immersive ode to Africa

SONEVA SECRET, MALDIVES When visionary hoteliers Sonu Shivdasani and Eva Malmström Shivdasani start a new project, we know we’re in for a treat.

Soneva Secret won’t disappoint. Promising soulful sanctuary and setting the benchmark for modern, private-island escapism, it’s a boutique affair of just 14 ultra-luxe, oversized villas – each with their own private gym, private spa and second bedrooms for children and guests. Set amidst tropical flora on the Maldives’ furthest flung atoll, Haa Dhaalu. The Soneva group has been leading the way in sustainability practices in the region for a number of years while also partnering with various marine conservation organisations to protect the precious habitats around their resorts. As an equal opportunities employer, the group works to provide safe and respectful living and working conditions for women while offering career progress. soneva.com

COLLEGIO ALLA QUERCE FLORENCE

Auberge’s latest European escape takes inspiration from the artistry of the Renaissance greats with a curated art gallery and five level terraced Baroque gardens all tucked away down a cypress-lined entrance north of Florence’s cobblestoned centro storico. The hotel sprawls across a trio of 16th-century, UNESCO buildings – a former boarding school, chapel and theatre, with 81 guest rooms, a restored chapel, Tuscan restaurant and dedicated wine tasting room. Views are splendid, either towards the iconic Duomo or on the other side, miles of lush Chianti winelands.

Collegio alla Querce may well be the most refined hotel opening this summer. aubergeresorts.com/collegioallaquerce

ONE&ONLY ONE ZA’ABEEL, DUBAI You know no expense was spared when J.Lo and Mark Ronson perform at an event. The star-studded February opening of One&Only One Za’abeel, in the heart of Dubai, was an introduction into what to expect from the gleaming duo of skyscrapers, where the traditional horizontal resort was reimagined vertically. Sitting at a lofty 100m, The Link is the world’s longest cantilever where you’ll walk along a futuristic boulevard, dine till your heart is content, lounge in a chic rooftop pool or dance the night away – all with breathtaking views. oneandonlyresorts.com/one-zaabeel

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DINE & WINE

DISHOOM PERMIT ROOM BRIGHTON

Good food, good drinks, and good company.

By Tess de Klerk Dishoom, renowned for its Bombay-inspired cuisine, opened its first standalone bar in Brighton towards the end of last year. The Permit Room is situated in the heart of Brighton’s vibrant Lanes district; this spot is all about laidback vibes and delicious food.

Don’t expect your typical korma or tikka masala just because the concept is Indian. The food here is far more creative and tastier 46

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Slightly labyrinth-like, the premises has the feel of both bar and café, with a buzzy yet laid back atmosphere, as if people are hanging around pre- or post-party, helped by the playlist spanning funk, hip hop, disco and soul, setting the perfect mood for a casual night out with friends. Or, indeed, the place to be for a bacon butty the morning after.

The concept of a “permit room” traces back to the post1949 Bombay prohibition era when clandestine front-room establishments could obtain permits to serve alcohol. Th is homely aesthetic and café-style seating are expanded upon in this bustling Permit Room, exuding a speakeasy charm.

Walls are adorned with artwork by local talents and it feels like a much-loved passion project.

The food menu is designed to complement its wide selection of drinks that takes pride in supporting local producers and breweries. Collaborations with nearby breweries ensure that guests can enjoy unique and locally crafted beers such as the exclusive Pineapple & Black Pepper Crumble sour beer from UnBarred Brewery, while many cocktails feature spirits from regional distilleries as well.

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MEAL FOR A MEAL

Dishooms Permit Room operates on a MEAL FOR A MEAL basis meaning that for each meal they serve they donate a meal to a child, working with Magic Breakfast in the UK and The Akshaya Patra Foundation in India.

“We’ve been going to Bombay for decades now, and have had many a merry time in permit rooms whilst on our travels – hours have been spent with friends huddled over chakli and chilli chips (food is always at the centre of the table in permit rooms!), all washed down with ice cold beers or Old Monk and Thums Up (a brand of Cola). It was clearly about time we put those late nights to good use.”

Shamil Thakrar, co-founder of Dishoom

The food menu is designed to complement its wide selection of drinks that takes pride in supporting local producers and breweries

I wholeheartedly suggest trying the Aunty’s Anjeer Manhattan, a nod to the clandestine ‘aunty bars’ which existed in private homes before permits became available, or a Feni Martini made with an Indian spirit distilled from fermented cashew apples that was bootlegged during the era of the aunty bars – a martini like no other.

The menu focuses on shareable snacks and small plates, with over half of all dishes dedicated to vegan or vegetarian.

No red meat here, but you will find everything from dhal to patties to sweet treats bursting with creativity. Whether you’re craving something spicy and flavourful or something light and refreshing, you’ll find it here.

Don’t expect your typical korma or tikka masala just because the concept is Indian. The food here is far more creative and tastier. Signature dishes like the crispy-fried spinach chaat with its punchy, yogurt dressing is to die for and the kali mirch chicken salad is sure to tantalise your taste buds and keep you coming back for more.

Truth is, as we were settling our bill I regretted not having ordered just about the entire menu. Especially

when the total came to a reasonable £75 – for two of us – a welcome surprise, particularly in the Lanes.

If you’re looking for a casual spot to enjoy delicious food and drinks with friends, look no further than The Permit Room. With its focus on locally sourced ingredients and laid-back atmosphere, it’s the perfect place to unwind and savour the flavours of Bombay right here in Brighton’s bustling Lanes. And the casual, welcoming atmosphere extends to booking too – no need – just show up, just the way you are. permitroom.co.uk www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

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EASTBOURNE

EASTBOURNE CARNIVAL The biggest Seafront Carnival in the South East will return this year.

More than 1,500 walkers are expected to take part with some 25,000 fans and supporters.

The Carnival will be from the Western Lawns to Princes Park on the Eastern end of the seafront.

Live music and entertainment throughout the day.

Eastbourne seafront May 25th www.eastbournecarnival.com

WHAT’S ON...

A brief snapshot of art and culture in Sussex and Surrey

ROBERTSBRIDGE

GREAT BRITISH DOG WALK A sponsored walk to transform deaf people’s lives. Take part in this sponsored dog walk, and raise funds to train more hearing dogs who alert to life-saving and important sounds and break down social barriers for deaf people.

The venue itself is stunning, and walkers will have the opportunity to walk within the castle’s beautiful surroundings.

Bodian Castle, Nr Robertsbridge May 19th www.hearingdogs.org.uk/ support/events/gbdw-2024-bodiam-castle

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CHICHESTER

COOMBES, NR LANCING

CHICHESTER CHEESE AND CHILLI FESTIVAL

GLASTONWICK 2024

Experience the mouth-watering combination of cheese and chilli at the Chichester Cheese and Chilli Festival.

In addition to the culinary delights, visitors can enjoy live music, cooking demonstrations, and other entertainment.

There are also activities for children, making it a fun day out for the whole family.

The Music Festival with Good Beer The Beer Festival with Good Music.

Glastonwick returns to. Church Farm for its 27th year. Bands, poetry, music, including the legendary John Otway, and national poets Henry Normal and Brian Bilston – and more female performers than ever before.

Oaklands Park, Chichester June 22nd-23rd www.cheeseandchillifestival.com

Church Farm, Coombes May 31st - June 2nd www.glastonwick.uk

BRIGHTON

BRIGHTON FESTIVAL 2024 Established in 1967, Brighton Festival is the largest and most established annual curated multi-arts festival in England. Taking place over three weeks in May, the Festival is a celebration of music, theatre, dance, art, film, literature, debate, outdoor and community events in venues and locations across Brighton, Hove and East Sussex. Since 2009, Brighton Festival has attracted inspiring and internationally significant Guest Directors who bring cohesion to the artistic programme.

Frank Cottrell-Boyce

The inaugural Guest Director was Anish Kapoor (2009) and has subsequently included prominent cultural figures such as Brian Eno (2010), Laurie Anderson (2016), Kae Tempest (2017), David Shrigley (2018), Rokia Traoré (2019) Lemn Sissay OBE (2020/21) and Marwa Al-Sabouni & Tristan Sharps (2022).

With critically acclaimed screenwriter Frank Cottrell-Boyce as Guest Director for 2024, the Festival promises a three week celebration of “Hope, Wonder, Magic and Fun.” Across the city May 4th-26th www.brightonfestival.org

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