Surrey Chambers Business Magazine - issue 10

SURREY CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

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SURREY’S BIGGEST GROWERS HOW BUSINESS AWARDS HELP YOU SUCCEED

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Issue 10 - August/September 2018

THE CITY OF GUILDFORD? Interview with Anne Milton MP

PLUS FOCUS ON GUILDFORD

WHY PEOPLE START A BUSINESS MIAMI

The East Coast’s answer to Silicon Valley?

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Welcome

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THE BIG INTERVIEW ANNE MILTON MP Anne talks to Molly Enser about apprenticeships and skill - and why Guildford should be a city

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26 30 34 42

WHY DO PEOPLE START BUSINESSES? The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor reveals the differing motivations

BECOME AN AWARDWINNING BUSINESS Sam Farrow is a fan of business awards, as long as they are credible

SURREY BIGGEST GROWERS We reveal the fastest growing businesses

BUSINESS TRAVEL - MIAMI The East Coast’s answer to Silicon Valley

FOCUS ON GUILDFORD A celebration of the town - and its business scene

At a Glance 9 11 12 14

The President’s view

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NatWest Entrepreneurship – Why start a business?

20 24 25

Interview – Anne Milton MP

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Farrow Creative – Eyes on the prize

28 30 33 34 38 39 40 42 47 48 50 51 55 56 58 61 62

DMH Stallard – News

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Interview – Mike Herd, Executive Director at SINC

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Motoring – The legacy continued

Policing Surrey Member News Herrington Carmichael – The Buyer must satisfy himself?

The Waverley BIG awards Wilkins Kennedy – Distinctly Disaggregation

Haines Watts – How cloud accounting will benefit your business

Surrey Super Growth Awards 2018 Eagle Radio – It’s the Biz Shake hands in Miami Travel Check-in Travel Insider Luxury Travel – Fiji Guildford profile Spaces launched in Guildford Penningtons Manches Broadwater Pavilion HR Dept – a ‘First Aid Kit’ for HR Sandhurst – Leadership Course Farnham Castle Growing a UK Tech Hub De Vere Horsley Estate Q&A – Professor Marco Mongiello from Surrey Business School

Member News New Members Chamber Events Surrey Chambers Golf Society Sponsor a Surrey Chambers event Join the Chamber

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 Chambers Business Magazine is published and owned by the Platinum Publishing Group Limited.

Cover Image Credit: Official UK Parliament portrait SURREY CHAMBERS

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The Deep End of the Talent Pool Practical. Flexible. Creative. Problem-solvers.

Meet the future of your business with our new postgraduate placement scheme. At Surrey Business School, our postgraduate programmes attract brilliant business minds. And now, through our postgraduate placement scheme, you can put their knowledge, skills and enthusiasm to work in your business. For you, it’s a great way to bring in new ideas, fresh perspectives and an effective approach to problem-solving; and for our students, a valuable opportunity to sharpen their skills and gain real-world experience.

“…the exchange with the leading academics at Surrey Business School has delivered real value to our business in terms of service level improvements, personnel development and supply chain management knowledge gained.

We would highly recommend such collaborations between industry and academia to other firms.”

Tilda Ltd

Unlock the potential for your business – together.

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Ready to take the plunge? Then please call: 01483 688766, or email: Adrian Shanks a.shanks@surrey.ac.uk SURREY CHAMBERS

Issue 10 - 2018

A word from the CEO Encouraging our politicians As our politicians head off for the summer recess we have been busy suggesting what we need them to do to support our business community once they return. Sometimes the voice of business is not loud enough. That’s where the strength of Chambers can be demonstrated because we can pull together the business views and deliver them in a helpful, succinct and, hopefully, influential way. It is key for our MPs to make even more time to learn about the realities of the local business environment, and the challenges and opportunities facing those who create jobs and prosperity in their area.

Our members don’t care about the comings and goings of ministers around Brexit. What they really need to know is who they’ll be able to hire in future, how they’ll pay VAT, whether their goods will be stopped at borders, and whether the contracts they enter into will be enforceable. They need clarity, precision and reassurance.

The longer businesses wait to understand what the future UK-EU relationship will be, the bigger the hit to nearterm investment, expansion and confidence. That said, Brexit isn’t the only thing where business needs action.

Even the best possible Brexit deal is worthless if we don’t get the fundamentals for growth and prosperity right here at home.

Challenges for businesses The biggest current barrier to growth is people. Chamber research shows we’re currently in the midst of a mass labour shortage, as firms struggle to find the people they need. In our most recent quarterly survey the percentage of firms looking to recruit jumped from 67% to 77%, while the number of those struggling to recruit also rose, to 71%. Businesses recognise they have a role to play in creating a pipeline of future talent, but for too long Westminster has been tinkering with the training system and introducing piecemeal policies, undermining the stability and coherence of the system, and causing companies to disengage. What we need is a stable apprenticeship and training system – one where we have a coherent long-term strategy and an end to constant upheaval.

With the government set to publish its Immigration White Paper in the autumn they need to listen to businesses of all sizes and sectors and think about how the local economy will suffer if access to skills is restricted by heavy costs and Home Office bureaucracy in the years ahead.

The Chamber delivers Surrey Chambers is busy planning 2019 events as well as refreshing the rest of 2018 to make sure we are keeping our members up-to-date with anything affecting their business. We are working with the Local Enterprise Partnerships (EnterpriseM3 and Coast to Capital) to ensure that any support for businesses is made easily accessible. We have also been very well entertained by the Guildford Fringe and the Guildford Shakespeare Company. Networking around these performances has proved very popular and we continue to think of more innovative ways to make connections.

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

Louise Punter

CEO Surrey Chambers of Commerce

The Team PUBLISHER The Platinum Publishing Group Limited

Head of Design: Amanda Harrington Travel Editor: Rose Dykins Sub Editor: Kate Morton Motoring Editor: Maarten Hoffmann

GROUP

PLATINUM PUBLISHING

Website: www.platinumpublishing.co.uk

CHAMBER EDITOR Molly Enser Molly.Enser@surrey-chambers.co.uk Tel: 01483 735545 Web: www.surrey-chambers.co.uk If you have a news story for publication, email molly.enser@surrey-chambers.co.uk

Directors: Maarten Hoffmann maarten@platinumpublishing.co.uk Tel: 07966 244046 Ian Trevett Ian@platinumpublishing.co.uk Tel: 07989 970804

Advertising Director: Lesley Alcock Tel: 07767 613707 lesley@platinumpublishing.co.uk

For Surrey Business Awards enquiries email fiona@platinumpublishing.co.uk For editorial and advertising enquiries email lesley@platinumpublishing.co.uk

SURREY SURREY CHAMBERS CHAMBERS

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APPRENTICESHIPS Good for Business Services to Business is part of the Guildford College Group and supports local businesses in taking on apprentices. We have established an outstanding reputation for our commitment and knowledge towards Apprenticeships and provide ongoing support to both yourselves as an employer as well as the apprentice throughout their training.

We ensure a flexible approach to remove barriers that may stand in your way of recruiting new members of staff and our dedicated Business Development Team would be happy to help and provide you with details.

An apprenticeship offers a structured learning programme which integrates both on and off the job training as well as assessment.

Your commitment to supporting an Apprentice is to be able to offer them a contract of employment, the working environment that will support their studies as well as providing them with the opportunity to learn and develop within your industry.

Apprenticeships deliver real returns to your bottom line. The majority of our employer’s feedback that Apprenticeships have helped to improve productivity and to be more competitive in their field. It is a cost effective way of hiring new and dedicated staff!

Our Services to Business team are here to provide support and information on taking the next steps to taking on an Apprentice.

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OF OUR EMPLOYERS WERE EITHER VERY SATISFIED OR SATISFIED WITH THE INFORMATION WE PROVIDED THEM PRIOR TO THE APPRENTICESHIP STARTING

Fact source: Apprentice Employer Satisfaction Survey 2016, Services to Business, Guildford College Group

For more information, please contact us on: 01483 44 85 30 or email us: employers@guildford.ac.uk

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Guildford College Stoke Road Guildford Surrey GU1 1EZ www.servicestobusiness.net

President’s Column

The President’s view Surrey Chambers of Commerce President, Steve Coburn

The importance of downtime

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have a confession… I missed the deadline for this column!

For a start, it was my own fault for leaving it to the last minute – but, hey, I work better under pressure (well, that’s what I always tell myself!).

Then, when I was chased by Molly, I promised her I would write the column that evening. You may remember the particular Monday night I’m talking about. It was the one where the weather forecasters, my old colleagues, were predicting that the Max Temp was going to be above 30 degrees every day of the week.

You see, there was something else about this Monday evening that stood out… Virgin Media wasn’t working in our area.

So, no internet!

That meant no Fortnite, no YouTube, no emails – and we weren’t even able to check IMdB to settle an argument about which Marvel Phase 4 film will come first.

Instead, we ate our dinner, drank the wine, watched the sun go down, and the moon come up. And just enjoyed each other’s company.

Driving into work this morning, I couldn’t remember the last time that had happened.

Not with all four of us at the same time.

I hope Molly is OK with my column this month. Sometimes, a bit of downtime can be a great way to reconnect with your purpose. I’m hoping that you’ll have a similar opportunity yourself this summer.

And, I’m wondering whether I can turn off the internet next Monday night too.

OK, so you might not remember it… there’s been quite a few hot sunny weeks this year!

And, there wasn’t anything significant that I could use to narrow it down. Maybe I could reference that it’s the day after Sebastien Vettel cried after a 10mph crash prevented him from winning his home Grand Prix, handing victory to Lewis Hamilton. Or maybe I could say it was the day after the Open, when Francesco Molinari held his nerve to keep the chasing pack of Woods, Rose, McIlroy and others at bay in Carnoustie.

Anyway, the day itself was irrelevant. I arrived home full of good intentions, ready to write this column. Then I found out that we didn’t have anything for dinner. My wife and my son had gone for a long afternoon bike ride and had just returned home themselves.

My daughter was with me, having spent the summer working on our Helpdesk in the office.

So, off I went to Waitrose to pick up something simple. Fresh pasta, tomatoes, mozzarella, olive oil and black pepper. Oh, and a nice bottle of Valpolicella Classico.

We popped the cushions on the patio sofas, lit a fire in the Kadai, opened the wine, and chatted about our day.

SURREY CHAMBERS

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Policing Surrey

Breaking the reoffending cycle David Munro, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey

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ne of my key priorities as the Police and Crime Commissioner is to hold Surrey Police to account for preventing and solving more crimes and pursuing those offenders responsible for them.

The public rightly expect our police to catch the criminals and put them before the courts to be given the appropriate punishment, which can often lead to a prison sentence. Of course helping to bring criminals to justice is a really important part the police play in keeping our communities safe.

But what happens once those people have served their sentences and are released back into society? Sadly, we all too often see these individuals drift back into a life of crime, getting in trouble with the police again and ultimately returning into the criminal justice system.

A really important area of focus for my office over the last year has been steering those who have previously committed offences away from reoffending.

Often people on probation have complex needs but I strongly believe if the right services are offered to those who have been to prison or are serving community sentences then we can help stop them falling back into their old ways. This means the communities in which they live will also benefit.

My office has a Community Safety Fund which has ring-fenced around £250,000 to finance projects in this area and I am pleased to say we are making good progress through schemes we are helping fund across the county.

Around 50 Surrey residents per month are released from prison back into society and often face issues around a lack of stable accommodation and the ability to find employment.

We are helping fund projects around accommodation and what is known as ‘Through the Gate’ services where prisoners

are supported in the final stages of their sentence through projects which continue following their release.

We‘ve been supporting a pilot scheme in Surrey known as ‘Behind Bras’ which is helping women released on licence from prison attend college and learn new skills in the fashion industry where they will ultimately be offered work placements. Funding from my office is currently assisting five local women through this programme.

Another pilot project in Surrey we have recently pledged to support involves teaming up with an independent charity called ‘Clean Sheet’ who focus entirely on supporting ex-offenders, both men and women, into sustainable employment.

We are the first PCC office in the country to be partnered with the charity who work

months in Surrey handling around ten workready referrals per month.

Finding employment can be a crucial step for those who have recently been through the criminal justice system in trying to get their lives back on track.

It is not always easy to find businesses who are willing to take on those who may have a criminal record but with the help and support provided by Clean Sheet, I think this is a really worthwhile project and hope to see it succeed here in Surrey.

If your business wants to know more about becoming a Clean Sheet employer then please do visit their website at www.cleansheet.org.uk or contact my office.

with national and local businesses and employers to refer and support ex-offenders into appropriate employment. It is proposed the scheme will run for an initial period of 12

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News

Member News Record Attendance at G3 Futures Over 170 people from across the games industry in Guildford and the surrounding areas attended the fourth annual G3 Futures event, reflecting the support for continually strengthening the Guildford games cluster.

Games developers from over 90 studios of all sizes including Electronic Arts (EA), Supermassive Games, Criterion, Figment Products, Mojiworks and Media Molecule were amongst the delegates at the event, organised for the fourth consecutive year by Centre for Vision, Speech and Signal Processing (CVSSP) at the University of Surrey, Ukie (UK Interactive Entertainment trade body) and technology law specialist Charles Russell Speechlys.

This year’s event at the University of Surrey’s 5G Centre included key note speeches about Games of the Future, with presentations from Jon Francombe, BBC R&D about immersive audio, and Jonathan Newth, Focal Point VR about immersive VR. Panel discussions focused on two highly topical themes: the importance of diversity and generating revenue through new business models. There was also an exhibition area, showcasing a range of new technologies and locally developed games.

“A picture is worth 1,000 words, but it uses up 3,000 times the memory.”

Embracing the Digital At 83 years old, Roffe Swayne is going from strength to strength. Having spent time on how their brand supports their key messages and need to connect digitally in an effective way with both clients and referrers, their new website is built for their clients first and foremost. With plans to feature a client portal, an area where clients can transact certain types of business more easily with the company online, this function will enhance and embrace technology, making life easier for clients to do business with them. The website also features content from drivers of growth campaign, which aims to provide business owners with insight into how other businesses have achieved their growth potential.

Spelthorne Means Business Awards

All is Well for local Cafe

The first Spelthorne Means Business Awards were launched by Spelthorne Borough Council earlier this year. Designed to celebrate local businesses and to highlight their achievements; the awards are free to enter for all businesses based in the borough.

This May saw the opening of the brand new Guildford Wellbeing Cafe on Haydon Street.

Mental health charity Oakleaf Enterprise has partnered with Guildford Action and Voluntary Action South West Surrey to open the Wellbeing Cafe every Monday from 6pm-9pm. The cafe is a friendly, communal space open to anyone who may wish to focus on their wellbeing. A range of activities is provided including art therapy, mindfulness, nutrition talks, sound therapy, mindful colouring to name but a few. There is also an opportunity for people to take part in structured but nonetheless informal discussions about their wellbeing.

The awards will be presented at a sparkling gala dinner hosted

by Shepperton Studios on 11th October. The online entry form is simple to complete and can be found on the council website with all the categories and sponsors listed on page 73. To enter or to find out more please visit: www.spelthorne.gov.uk/SMBA

Oakleaf have said that the aim of this project is not only to help those they already support in the area but to open the opportunity to those who are in employment and can therefore not attend activities during normal working hours. The cafe is a relaxed environment where people can spend an evening focusing on themselves and their wellbeing.

Online entries close on 31st August.

To find out more information about the cafe please contact Oakleaf Enterprise for further details info@oakleaf-enterprise.org or 01483 303649.

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News

Something Big wins Big Woking-based marketing and creative communications agency, Something Big, has scooped two big wins at the Toast of Surrey Business Awards 2018. The fastgrowing small business was crowned Company of the Year and Creative Communications & Digital Business of the Year at the black tie award ceremony on 27th June at Mercedes-Benz World, Weybridge.

The Toast of Surrey Business Awards highlights outstanding and innovative people and companies throughout Surrey who are boosting the economy and contributing to the local community. The Company of the Year award is particularly sought-after as it recognises a company that has stood out from the others.

Company of the Year category judge and sponsor, David Haines, partner, Charles Russell Speechlys, said: “Something Big is a real Surrey success story and very deserving of their Company of the Year win. Judges from Charles Russell Speechlys were impressed by their growth, approach to customer relationships and involvement in the local business community.”

The Something Big team also picked up the Creative Communications & Digital Business of the Year award which recognises dedication to developing highly creative projects across a variety of industries.

New site for Smith & Williamson The Guildford office of Smith & Williamson, the accountancy, investment management and tax group, has moved into newly renovated offices at Onslow House in Guildford. Maggie Lowe, head of Smith & Williamson’s Guildford office said: “We are excited to have moved into our new premises in Onslow House, which have been specifically

Roffe Swayne assists with Creative Investment Roffe Swayne’s corporate finance team has assisted private equity firm Rockpool on its recent investment into Smyle, the winner of UK Event Agency of the Year for a record fourth time in the last decade.

Founded by Rick Stainton and Matt Margetson in 2003, Smyle is a leading creative agency delivering live and digital experiences to business and consumer audiences around the world, employing 70 full time staff with global brands as clients from sectors including tech, media, IT, finance and pharmaceutical. Smyle has delivered numerous international events for clients such as Samsung, Facebook, Salesforce, EY, BT and ARM. Its recent work has included client projects delivered at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Mobile World Congress, the UEFA Champions League Final and producing the opening and closing ceremonies of the Ryder Cup. The investment sees Rockpool become the majority owner of the new group, with the current Smyle management team continuing to run the business while retaining a significant minority stake.

Chad Lion-Cachet, formerly of the Events International Group, has been appointed as Executive Chairman to strengthen the board with his deep knowledge of the global events industry.

“Money can’t buy friends, but you can get a better class of enemy.”

designed to meet the ongoing needs of both our clients and our Guildford team of nearly 90 people.

Our people have been widely involved in the process of creating an inspiring working environment and our new office will be utilising a number of new aspects that we expect to be rolled out across the Smith & Williamson office network in the future.

The modern office includes features such as sitstand desks, focus areas and staff breakout areas as well as a dedicated seminar space, all of which will be conducive to a healthier and more productive workplace.”

The new office is conveniently located in the town centre, five minutes walk from the main train station, at the following address: Onslow House, Onslow Street, Guildford, GU1 4TL.

SURREY CHAMBERS

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Legal

The Buyer must satisfy himself?

When selling or leasing a property, Non Reliance Clauses and Misrepresentations will generally end in tears, says Frankie Tierney - Partner, Head of Disputes & Claims at Herrington Carmichael

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t is well known that when dealing with the sale or lease of property a seller/landlord must give accurate replies to pre-contract enquiries raised by the buyer/tenant.

It has become common for replies to enquiries asking about possible problems, to say e.g. “The Seller is not aware of any but the Buyer must satisfy himself”.

In dealing with commercial property it is also common to find contractual clauses

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that require the buyer to acknowledge that they have not entered into the contract in reliance wholly or partly on a statement or representation made by or on behalf of the seller.

Such non-reliance clauses cannot operate to exclude fraudulent misrepresentations – but how far can they go to place the emphasis and responsibility for checking things entirely on the buyer?

The Court of Appeal recently had to grapple with that in the case of First Tower Trustees Ltd –v- CDS (Superstores International Ltd [2018] EWCA Civ 1396 The Claimant (“Tower”) had leased commercial warehouse premises to the Defendant (“CDS”). As part of the pre-contract enquiries CDS asked about the existence of hazardous materials including asbestos.

The reply was that “the Buyer must satisfy

Legal itself”. A separate enquiry asked for details of any notices or correspondence relating to environmental problems affecting the property including issues of contamination.

The replies stated “the Seller is not aware of any such notices but the Buyer must satisfy itself”. A third enquiry asked about any actual, alleged or potential environmental problems (including actual or suspected contamination) affecting the property. The answer given was “The Seller has not been notified of any such breaches or environmental problems relating to the Property but the Buyer must satisfy itself”.

The replies were supplied to CDS’s solicitors on 16 February 2015. However on 16 April 2015 Tower’s agents received a report indicating there was asbestos in the property and on 20 April 2015 their specialist contractors confirmed that there was a health and safety risk caused by asbestos and they could not enter the property until the site was safe.

There is an obligation on a seller to notify a buyer if anything said in the replies to pre-contract enquiries becomes incorrect in the period after the replies are supplied and before contracts are exchanged or the transaction concludes (if there is no contract).

The Lease however contained a clause that stated “The tenant acknowledges that this lease has not been entered into in reliance wholly or partly on any statement or representation made by or on behalf of the landlord” The Lease completed on 30 April 2015 but none of the information that had become known by Tower earlier in April was disclosed to CDS. CDS moved in on 6 May 2015 and started to carry out various agreed works whereupon on 14 May 2015 the asbestos was discovered.

CDS could not use the warehouses but had to spend £356,000 plus vat on remedial work which commenced in November 2015 and were completed in January 2016. In the meantime they had to rent alternative premises.

CDS refused to pay rent during that period and Tower rather boldly sued for it. CDS lodged a counterclaim for the recovery of the remedial costs and the costs of finding and paying for alternative accommodation which they put at £1.2 million. Oddly by the time the matter came to trial Tower had abandoned the claim for rent and only the Counterclaim remained. The Judge in the High Court found in favour of CDS and awarded it £1.4 million plus interest.

Tower even more boldly appealed and argued, amongst other things, that the clause in the Lease did not fall within the scope of section 3 Misrepresentation Act 1967.

This was crucial because if Tower were correct in that argument, under common law a contracting party could not be liable in damages for misrepresentation unless that misrepresentation was fraudulent. Proving fraudulent misrepresentation; as opposed to innocent or negligent misrepresentation is a very high bar to get over. The 1967 Act was designed to fill that gap.

Section 3 of the 1967 Act confirms that if there is a contractual clause which seeks to limit or exclude liability for misrepresentation, that term will have no effect unless it is a reasonable term.

In the Court of Appeal the Judges agreed that section 3 should be interpreted so as to give effect to its evident policy – namely to prevent contracting parties from escaping liability for misrepresentations unless it is reasonable for them to do so.

The Court of Appeal decided the lease clause was caught by section 3 of the 1967 Act and that they then had to consider whether the clause was reasonable. It is for the party relying on the exclusion clause to satisfy the Court that it is reasonable.

Each party was a commercial entity of some substance; each had been represented by solicitors and each had similar bargaining power when negotiating the terms of the Lease. In those circumstances the Courts are supposed to be wary of saying that contract terms negotiated by commercial parties are unreasonable.

The concern of the Judge in the High Court was echoed by the Court of Appeal – if the lease term was the start and end point of Towers liability, then it rendered the important function of pre-contract enquires completely worthless. English law attaches great importance to the freedom of parties to contract on whatever terms they choose but that depends crucially on the assumption that their consent to those terms has been obtained fairly.

The Court of Appeal dismissed the Appeal agreeing with the Judge in the High Court that section 3 applied and the lease clause attempting to exclude liability for the undeniable misrepresentations was unreasonable.

The sting in the tail for CDS was that the High Court judge had reduced the damages down to £1.4 million plus interest from the £1.5 million CDS had been claiming, because he found it unreasonable that they had waited for 5 months before starting the remedial works.

The important point is that correct replies must be given and those replies should be updated if new information comes to light that changes the accuracy of them. Don’t be cute and hope that you can pass responsibility to the buyer by using “stonewall” responses and don’t expect a non reliance clause to rescue you from a misrepresentation.

If you want any help with this please contact us on drteam@herringtoncarmichael.com

SURREY CHAMBERS

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Entrepreneurship

Why start a business?

The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor reveals differing motivations for starting a business

By Gordon Merrylees, Head of Entrepreneurship, NatWest Entrepreneurship is an area that clearly defines us at NatWest and we are delighted to be sponsoring this year’s Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM). The report’s insight into the motivations and aspirations of the UK’s entrepreneurs is invaluable as we work to create an environment in which their businesses can thrive.

Earlier this year we announced that we were bringing the running of our UK-wide network of 12 Entrepreneur Accelerator hubs in-house.

This is the UK’s largest fully-funded business accelerator network and is capable of supporting 1,000 entrepreneurs simultaneously across the hubs.

As the country’s biggest supporter of small businesses, NatWest understands that helping businesses succeed, not just through traditional lending but with full wraparound care, connectivity and know-how, is crucial for a strong economy.

Global Entrepreneurship Monitor

United Kingdom 2017 Monitoring Report

“Two-thirds of women said they started a business to contribute to society, while just under 40% of men had the same motivation.”

At the heart of our support for entrepreneurs is our comprehensive programme of free mentoring, insight and bespoke coaching, specifically designed to meet the needs of entrepreneurs who want to grow and scale their business.

For the first time this year, the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor has measured the different motivations that entrepreneurs have for starting their own business.

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Mark Hart Karen Bonner Jonathan Levie and Laura Heery

Entrepreneurship While making money and working for yourself will always be important, making a difference to society and “creating meaning” are as important, if not more, among a variety of demographics, particularly women, ethnic minorities and entrepreneurs under 30.

Two-thirds of women said they started a business to contribute to society, while just under 40% of men had the same motivation.

By having this insight into the motives of entrepreneurs, we have developed support programmes that are able to address the specific needs of the individual.

Through the NatWest Women in Business programme we now have 500 accredited women in business specialists who are experts in understanding the specific support needs and motivations of female business owners.

With women still much less likely than men to take the leap and start their own business, this type of specialist support is crucial for female entrepreneurs to succeed.

I’m particularly proud that women make up 48% of the entrepreneurs currently in our Entrepreneur Accelerator hubs.

In addition to our Women in Business programme, we have developed specialist programmes for fintechs, scale-ups and highgrowth businesses. We understand that their needs are different from early stage start ups and have designed these programmes accordingly.

All of this support is provided to entrepreneurs fully funded with no strings attached. We don’t take equity, a stake in their businesses or charge any fee and whilst we would love them to, the entrepreneurs don’t even need to bank with us. The aim is to support them to be successful and ultimately drive their growth and that of the economy.

We understand that if these businesses do well the economy benefits and the bank does well. To us, this is truly sustainable banking.

With SMEs and micro businesses making up 99% of the UK’s record number 5.7 million businesses, it is vital that we all work to create an environment where entrepreneurs can start, scale and succeed.

The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor is the largest and most comprehensive study on entrepreneurship globally, collecting data on entrepreneurial activity in 54 countries, covering two-thirds of the world’s population.

To download this year’s Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, please visit https://www.rbs.com/ rbs/news/2018/07/global-entrepreneurshipmonitor-2017-uk-report.html

CODE CALLING LED TO STARTUP SUCCESS Equipping the next generation with the tools to succeed in a digital world was the prime motivation for Elizabeth Tweedale in setting up her firm, Cypher.

Originally from Iowa in the US and now resident in London, Elizabeth believes getting all children and young people learning how to code is an essential skill in the 21st century.

Cypher holds fun but intensive coding courses for children aged 4 to 14, often in school holidays to allow youngsters to really get to grips with computer science and prepare them to play leading roles in the future world.

“The English school system is unrivalled for its quality and rigour, however often the busy schedule does not leave time to nurture the creative entrepreneurial spirit that can in fact be fostered through project-based exploration during the holidays,” said Elizabeth, who has two primary school-aged children herself. “I was really inspired to fill in the missing pieces that the schools struggle to provide.”

“A lot of English start-ups seem to talk about themselves with a sense of ‘imposter syndrome’ despite the fact they have brilliant ideas.”

In the past nine months, Cypher has staged over 1,500 ‘camper days’ for budding computer scientists and is gearing up for a busy summer holiday, with sessions running at five venues in London with between 10 and 30 students per day.

Elizabeth is on the NatWest Entrepreneur Accelerator programme and is based at the scheme’s shared office space in Islington in London. This has brought her into contact with other early-stage entrepreneurs where she’s been able to observe the cultural differences with British start-ups.

“You can definitely see a difference in mindset between English entrepreneurs versus American ones,” she says, “A lot of English start-ups seem to talk about themselves with a sense of ‘imposter syndrome’ despite the fact they have brilliant ideas. Whereas with Americans, their ideas might be much less well thought-through, but they have so much confidence and are so outgoing that they convince themselves and others that they’re going to be a success.”

Elizabeth believes the combination of British know-how with the American ‘can-do attitude’ which is at the heart of Cypher’s approach to ensure children are future-ready.

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Interview

The City of Guildford?

Molly Enser met with Anne Milton MP to discuss apprenticeships, Brexit, airport expansion, and why Guildford should be a city.

N

ot only has Anne Milton been Guildford’s Conservative MP since 2005, but she is also the current Minister of State for Skills and Education. There’s no doubt Anne Milton is passionate, especially when it comes to education and apprenticeships.

Beginning her career as a nurse and then moving into politics after 25 years in the NHS, Anne was appointed to the Health Select Committee, serving until December 2006, following her appointment as Shadow Minister for Tourism.

In the summer of 2007 David Cameron appointed her Shadow Minister for Health. Between 2010 and 2012 she served as a Parliamentary UnderSecretary of State (Public Health), Department of Health and was appointed to the government as a whip with responsibility for HM Treasury and HM Household. She also served as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Women) before becoming the current minister of State for Skills and Education.

At a time of real change for the UK, resignations of ministers, reappointing of ministers and, of course, Brexit, it is key to find out not only the government’s plans but the businesses too. Businesses in the UK are beginning to face skills shortages leading to employment issues, and the impending fear of Brexit is not helping business stability. British businesses need to feel stronger than ever, especially when thinking about growth but one thing to tackle this is hiring an apprentice.

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Interview

Anne Milton Q & A What do you think the Government should do to change the perception of apprentices/apprenticeships?

It’s changing, that’s the most important thing, and I think the Apprenticeship Levy makes a big difference to how organisations (the levy payers in particular) view apprenticeships. The positive side is that potentially any retail or hospitality outlet that has casual staff working on tills/receptions, can now say that they have apprenticeships available for them.

For older people, or those young people who leave school with A-Levels but maybe don’t necessarily get the grades for university, it gives them a second chance to do something that can actually build up a career. For women I think it’s a particular issue that about 89% of the people that take time off work for caring responsibilities are women. Going back into the workplace they might not want to return to their old job because of the hours. They often take a job locally, the organisation itself then becomes really positive, because you are recruiting locally. Apprentices feel very loyal to these organisations and it’s a win-win all round.

How do you let businesses know that this is a fantastic opportunity for them?

We use the chambers, we use the FSB (Federation of Small Businesses) and we use trade organisations. The apprenticeship

reforms only came in just over a year ago, but they’re bedding in.

We’re looking at when we move small employers onto the apprenticeship system and we are working with non levy payers, so we can make sure the system works for them. The important thing to note is that levy payers can now pass on 10% of their levy to other employers. So if you’re a small business and you know you are in the supply chain of a levy payer, talk to them about taking on an apprentice because they can pass on their 10%.

For a lot of Chamber members who have not been levy payers, it’s a bit of shift for them and at the moment they are not on the apprenticeship system. Small businesses don’t realise the opportunity it gives them; apprentices bring enthusiasm, passion and new ideas, and it’s the new ideas I think are really important. So the next stage is watching organisations weave apprenticeships into their workforce planning, which is a really positive thing.

Where can businesses find case studies of this fantastic work happening?

There is the apprenticeship network, YAAN (young apprenticeship ambassador network), which is for apprentices who work in a network on a regional basis. If businesses want an apprentice, these networks are a good place to start. The national apprenticeship service will certainly help an employer who is struggling with the system, and they will also

provide support for any events businesses run.

Another way for a small employer to get into it is simply researching ‘find an apprenticeship’, you can see what is being offered in the local area and what wages businesses are paying.

“If you’re a small business and you know you are in the supply chain of a levy payer, talk to them about taking on an apprentice because they can pass on their 10%.”

How do you think Brexit will change things locally in Surrey?

Until we’ve got a deal we don’t know, that’s the bottom line. I’m very mindful that if I look at Surrey over 95% of businesses are SME’s, and they probably don’t have good access to government, so we are very mindful of those smaller businesses.

What matters to me as a constituency MP is that those concerns are heard. The apprenticeship system is one way of filling the skills gap and, with or without Brexit, we have a skills gap.

Locally it’s not just about higher skilled workers. The University of Surrey and the Research Park are high skill, high tech and industry but it’s also the lower skilled workers that are important to Guildford and the county, particularly in the high streets and the hospitality sector. The apprenticeship system is one way to work around that.

Brexit will change things, but how much it changes them depends on the kind of deal we get, businesses want to carry on as seamlessly as possible. So it’s simply a balance between seamless trade and what has to be given up to achieve that. It depends how far that rulebook goes. The trouble is if you read

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21

Interview

Anne Milton with Theresa May, Prime Minister

the government headlines it tells about 10% of the story, there’s another 90% that sits below.

One should be prepared, be mindful and watchful, think about the options that are out there. Businesses are holding back, they are making less investments until they know what the future is going to hold. For businesses certainty is very important and they need certainty.

In this job I have dealt with businesses more than any other time in my life, I do a lot of round tables with businesses of varying sizes, they are remarkable about how they adapt, businesses are incredibly flexible, incredibly agile, they will adapt. We just need to know.

How do you find being a female in a political environment?

I think being a women in the political environment is great. Women tend to conduct themselves differently from men, it’s not better it’s just different. I think women are instinctively more consensual, they look for

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compromise rather than confrontation so that would be the big difference.

start to do it differently from men that ladder doesn’t stay there.

“Apprentices bring enthusiasm, passion and new ideas, and it’s the new ideas I think are really important.”

Therefore, as a women the opportunities are great, because in an environment where not many people are looking for compromise or consensus, women come in and look for those two things and people welcome that.

For any woman, in a very male-dominated environment it’s quite tough, it can be lonely.

There are very few women to mentor each other and I think mentoring is quite important, you need to know how to get over the hurdles and how you should mould yourself to succeed.

The big question for women in a maledominated environment is do you emulate men or do you stick to your guns and say ‘I’m going to do this differently’? I felt more confident to strike out and say no, I’m going to do this differently. I’m going to do it in the way I think lots of women would want it.

What matters to me is that I leave the ladder in place for other women to get on. Unless you

When you talk about women in business there tends to be a focus about women on boards, and this is a good proxy for what’s happening elsewhere, but I think it’s important that we talk about role models at middle management, it’s not just about women on boards it’s about women at every level, and the role models need to be at every level.

Interview Is there much flexibility for women in politics?

I think it’s a lot about measures of success, men generally have two main measures of success; what job they do and how much they get paid. Women have multiple measures of success, so they judge themselves on a number of things. For a lot of women it will be being relatively successful in a career that is part time, not salary-related or position-related.

Managing that career alongside bringing up children, baking a cake for a school sale, and keeping their house clean. So women might have three or four measures of success.

For businesses now we have gender pay gap reporting, you don’t have to be over the threshold of 250 employee’s to report your gender pay gap. The whole point about gender pay gap reporting was not to point the finger, it’s the first step in changing how business operates. It’s a way of declaring.

Depending on your pay gap, the next stage is the plans put in place to reduce that. The way you reduce it is to build your pipeline.

“With or without Brexit, we have a skills gap.”

What’s your favourite thing about Guildford and do you think it should be a city?

It’s a busy lively town, it has easy access to both the countryside and to London. Those

Anne Milton with Molly Enser

are my most favourite things. It’s a fabulous place to live and work; great town, great access and great villages around it. It really has got a bit of everything.

I think we ought to consider city status, because we have a cathedral and a university, and there are some benefits of doing so.

In Surrey we have some fantastic businesses, do you enjoy working with local business?

I love it, local businesses are the economic driver of our county. We enjoy a very nice lifestyle we love the high streets, the pubs and the shops. We can only do that because it’s an economically viable area to live. Local businesses are the engine of that and I think a lot of local people forget, without the businesses in our town and in our villages we would not enjoy a very attractive lifestyle.

“In business, women are instinctively more consensual, they look for compromise rather than confrontation.”

What are your views on the Heathrow Expansion and also potential Gatwick expansion?

I live in Guildford and I sit equidistant (in terms of travel time) from both Heathrow and Gatwick. We need more airport space, that’s for sure. We have to have airport expansion and you could argue that we are very late in the day doing this. It’s key for exporting and a great creator of jobs.

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Business Awards

The big Awards just got bigger

www.waverleybigawards.com

F

irst there were the Cranleigh Big Awards - now meet The Waverley BIG Awards, open to all businesses in the borough.

The awards ceremony is at the Lythe Hill Hotel on October 19th. There is still time to enter - the deadline is September 1st.

The categories are:

PRESIDENT’S BIG AWARDS 2018 Each Chamber of Commerce will present an award to an organisation from within their catchment area. The judging criteria will be the same for all four Chambers. We are looking to reward and recognise a wellrounded organisation which strikes a balance between delighting customers, engaging and developing employees, innovation and social / community partnership.

WAVERLEY BIG AWARD FOR COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP 2018 We are looking for that organisation whose business ethic includes ‘giving back’ via the ‘Partnerships’ they have formed with the council and their community. If your Organisation and/or your employees creates and/or supports council/community projects, we want to hear about it.

WAVERLEY BIG AWARDS FOR INNOVATION 2018 Innovation can come in lots of different guises.

It could be a new product, a new service, a new process, technology or something we haven’t even thought of! This could be a startup with a brand-new product or service (our own local Uber or Airbnb) or an established organisation that’s found an innovative way of working with their customers.

WAVERLEY BIG AWARDS FOR CUSTOMER DELIGHT 2018 Do you have a reputation for ‘delighting your customers’? Is it the quality of your customer service, or the quality of the product/s you sell that delights your customers? Do you delight your customers in person or online – or both?

“We were delighted to expand the original Cranleigh BIG Awards to cover the whole of the Waverley Borough with the inaugural Waverley BIG Awards. It is fabulous the way that the four Chambers of Commerce in Cranleigh, Farnham, Godalming and Haslemere have collaborated to create these local awards. We encourage Cranleigh businesses to enter and showcase our vibrant business community.”

Rosemary French – President Cranleigh Chamber of Commerce

WAVERLEY BIG AWARD FOR EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT, EDUCATION & EMPOWERMENT 2018 How do you engage, educate and empower your workforce? What steps do you take to ensure your workforce is working with you as well as for you? What educational opportunities (such as apprenticeships) does your organisation provide? And lastly, how do you empower your workforce to influence success and deliver the results your organisation needs?

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Finance

Distinctly Disaggregation Some business owners may seek to separate their activities in order to fall below the VAT registration limit. This is known

by HMRC as Disaggregation and it is surprisingly common – despite the fact that HMRC have significant powers in this area and can impose penalties if registration is in fact required.

Mark Doherty, VAT Director at Wilkins Kennedy, looks at disaggregation in more detail.

O

ver the years, I have encountered a number of ways business owners have sought to separate businesses into several smaller businesses as a means of avoiding the VAT registration limit. For retail businesses the advantages of this can be significant. There was, for example, a launderette chain where each laundrette was individually owned by a different family member each trading as a sole proprietor. I have seen a number of husband and wife businesses where the husband ran one part of the business, e.g. a pub, with the wife running another part, e.g. the pub catering or accommodation. These businesses appear to have avoided the VAT net with varying degrees of success, but what is apparent is that HMRC will almost certainly challenge such splitting where they believe that this is in fact artificial.

Where HMRC believe that the business has been artificially split they have the power to issue a direction that the “Disaggregated” businesses must all be treated as one for VAT purposes, with the VAT registration limit applying on this basis. HMRC will say that an artificially separated business will typically display links across three different areas: • Financial links – for example, using the same bank accounts or accounting records • Economic links – such as the same circle of customers, using the same advertising or phone numbers • Organisational links – such as common management, staff or equipment.

The problem here is that many businesses

will structure themselves in a particular way for any number of reasons, which have little or nothing to do with VAT or tax. For example, property developers/investors may hold each property or class of property in a separate company to mitigate risk or to meet banking requirements. Family owned/ managed businesses are also likely to have much closer links in the three areas above as replicating banking, assets and administrative arrangements is likely to be far more costly.

with a VAT advisor at Wilkins Kennedy in the first instance could save significant pain later on? Contact us at our offices in Guildford and Egham for more information.

Guildford office 01483 306318 Egham office 01784 436561 Mark.doherty@wilkinskennedy.com

The moral of the story is that danger lurks for anyone trying to be overly inventive and needless to say, there are expensive sanctions for getting it wrong. Perhaps a quick chat

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Branding

Eyes on the prize Awards are an important way of establishing credibility, recognising achievement and binding people together – so be choosy about which ones you seek, advises SAM FARROW

E

veryone, it seems, has picked up a gong for something these days; or at least, that’s what we’re led to believe. Because increasingly, ‘award-winning’ is becoming just another bland piece of corporate filler, used with the same lazy, careless abandon as ‘quality’, ‘passion’, ‘dedicated’, ‘luxury’, ‘caring’, ‘solutions’, ‘service’ and ‘bespoke’. And, like them, it’s in danger of losing its punch, power and true meaning through simple overuse.

“‘Award-winning’ can cover the whole spectrum from a bronze swimming certificate to Chamber Member of the Year at the highly prestigious Surrey Business Awards.”

It’s partly because there are simply a lot more awards out there than there used to be. It feels as though you could, if you so wished, be submitting entries and attending ceremonies on an almost weekly basis.

The other reason is that ‘award-winning’ is a claim that’s easy to make, quite difficult to disprove, and can cover the whole spectrum from a

bronze swimming certificate to Chamber Member of the Year at the highly prestigious Surrey Business Awards.

For us as a business community, this is a real problem. Awards are – or should be – an incredibly powerful management and marketing tool. To customers, partners and competitors, they provide objective endorsement and mark of approval for our skills, capabilities and offering. Internally, they recognise individual and collective achievement, inspiring and uniting your team in the knowledge that their efforts are seen, appreciated and valued. To win an award is to have made a difference, and there are few more potent sources of motivation than that.

The risk is that the sheer number and scope of the awards out there turns them into mere rubber stamps, trophies collected for their own sake, or self-congratulation.

Putting yourself up for an award should feel slightly scary.

Completing the entry form is a chance to reflect on and judge your own performance, so it can be a highly revealing and useful exercise, regardless of whether you win, or even submit it.

It’s also important to choose which of today’s plethora of awards you go for. Look for those that align with your brand values, help you build your brand story, and mean something to the audiences and markets you’re trying to reach. Then, having decided to try, hold nothing back: if it’s going to mean anything to your market, it has to be a big deal for you, too. Remember that ultimately, it’s for them, not just for you. That way, everyone’s a winner.

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Accountancy

How Cloud Accounting will benefit your business

by Matthew Farrant, Partner at Haines Watts

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loud-based solutions seem to be everywhere these days, offering an alternative to the traditional

processes within a business. The term ‘cloud’ has a rather vague and enigmatic feel to it, so our aim is to offer a clear definition of Cloud Accounting, and outline the ways it will benefit your business.

Put simply, cloud accounting is the storing and accessing of account data over the Internet, rather than on the hard drive of a PC. A powerful advantage of this is the ability to view ‘real time’ figures, as online software automatically updates with every transaction.

No more waiting for quarterly reports when making business decisions. This means far better planning potential and no nasty surprises when it’s time to review the figures.

Cloud accounting software will dramatically reduce time (and cost) spent on traditional bookkeeping and accounts, meaning funds can be redirected to focus on business growth.

Some of the other benefits of switching to cloud accounting are as follows: • The ability to access financial data anytime, from any device.

• A paperless process that saves cost and space on storage.

• Software that copes with any sharp increase in transactions (no need to upgrade) • No charges for software updates • Software that can integrate with other applications for streamlined business processes For those considering the move to cloud accounting, there may be concerns around security. Another concern may be the time it takes to adopt and implement a new process.

We hope to reassure you on both counts.

The major providers of cloud accounting software, such as Xero and Quickbooks, take security very seriously. In fact, the more traditional computer based software is far more likely to leave your business vulnerable to a security breach, as are the accompanying hard copy files you may store. In addition, should a breach occur, data is easier to recover and protect with cloud-based software.

Online accounting software is designed to be user-friendly and shaped to the needs of an individual business. It is easy to train relevant staff members in cloud accounting, and time spent doing so will be swiftly recuperated in time saved on manual processes.

Once the business has migrated to the new system, there are many supporting applications that offer further time and cost savings. For example, an application that will scan emailed invoices and automatically allocate them to the correct file. Another that allows you to take a photo of receipts or train tickets and will categorise individual

and business expenses accordingly. These are just some of the ways that business owners can have an up-to-date and realistic vision of where money is being spent, making timely adjustments if need be.

Cloud accounting is the future and it is here to stay. Businesses will benefit from a proactive approach in embracing this technology. Haines Watts are committed to staying ahead of the shift in accounting processes and, as such, have trained our staff to implement and advise on Cloud Accounting.

For further information on cloud accounting visit www.hwca.com/accountantsgodalming/online-cloud-accountingsolutions/ Haines Watts T: 01483 425724 E: mfarrant@hwca.com Surrey offices in: Esher and Godalming www.hwca.com

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Legal

No Fly Zone?

Commercial Pilot seeks judicial review of CAA age restrictions

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egal papers have been served by DMH Stallard on the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), issued in the Administrative Court, seeking a judicial review of the CAA’s position in respect of the age related flying restriction for commercial pilots.

DMH Stallard is acting for Wayne Bayley (pictured), a former captain with TUI Airways, with nearly 26,000 hours of flying time. Earlier this year Captain Bayley turned 65. Under EU Aircrew Regulations, this means he is now prohibited from acting as a pilot in commercial air transport.

Captain Bayley was a training captain for over 22 years and spent four years as a fleet manager with TUI Airways, a role in which he was responsible for over 30 aircraft and associated pilots. He has passed all medical and competency examinations during his career at an above average level. In 2013 Captain Bayley flew the first ever Boeing 787 Dreamliner from the UK to Barbados, the birth place of his father.

Non-EU countries including Australia, New Zealand and Canada do not have upper age limit restrictions on pilots; they base a pilot’s competency to fly on medical tests. The

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Aircrew Regulations prevent commercial pilots from flying over the age of 59 unless in the cockpit with another pilot under the age of 60. Additionally, the upper limit of 64, which is the issue in this case, prohibits any flying even when alongside a younger pilot.

“Non-EU countries including Australia, New Zealand and Canada do not have upper age limit restrictions on pilots; they base a pilot’s competency to fly on medical tests.”

Simon Elcock, Partner at DMH Stallard, said: “Captain Bayley accepts that there is clearly a legitimate public interest in safety in evaluating and mitigating the risks of pilot incapacitation in commercial flying. However, he believes this

risk is mitigated by the requirement of having another pilot on the flight deck under the age of 60 and appropriate medical examinations.

Having a blanket ban on commercial pilots flying from their 65th birthday seems arbitrary as it does not take into account the health and fitness of the individual pilot or developments in medical science.”

DMH Stallard, on behalf of Captain Bayley, is seeking permission from the Administrative Court to proceed to a Judicial Review of the CAA and specifically to enforce the requirement that the CAA have due regard, under its statutory public sector equality duty, to the need to advance equality of opportunity to commercial pilots over the age of 64.

Captain Bayley said: “I believe that the age limit of 64 for commercial pilots is out of date. With suitable medical examinations and precautions, it is perfectly safe for pilots over the age of 64 to fly commercially with another pilot under the age of 60. There is also a clear benefit to the public and the airline industry in having very experienced pilots operating in the UK and this would also help to address the current shortage of commercial pilots, especially experienced training captains.”

Legal

Three Cheers for New Partnerships

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MH Stallard is delighted to announce three promotions to partnership from its private client, planning and environment, and corporate practices.

Camilla Bishop, Chloe Karamian and Justine Tocher join over 70 partners based in offices across Sussex, Surrey and London.

Camilla Bishop joined DMH Stallard from Irwin Mitchell at the beginning of 2017. Camilla specialises in inheritance tax planning, trusts, wills and estate administration, with additional specialisms in elderly and vulnerable client work including court of protection.

Camilla Bishop

Having initially trained in house in local government, Chloe Karamian joined DMH Stallard as a planning and highways solicitor. Working within the firm’s planning and environment group, Chloe acts for a number of developers, house builders and individual private investors.

Justine Tocher has been with DMH Stallard for over 15 years. Justine advises private companies on a broad range of corporate finance matters including M&A, private equity and venture capital investments, restructuring, shareholder and joint venture arrangements.

Chloe Karamian

Richard Pollins, Managing Partner of DMH Stallard, said: “These promotions are richly deserved and underline our commitment to the continued growth of the firm in London and the South East, and retaining the very highest calibre individuals in the sector.

“We have made a number of well-deserved promotions and new appointments at partner and associate level over the last 12 months and there is no doubt we will be making further announcements over the coming months as we continue to grow.”

Justine Tocher

To contact DMH Stallard please call 03333 231 580 or visit www.dmhstallard.com

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Business Awards

Surrey Super Growth Awards 2018 The fastest growing companies announced The Surrey Super Growth Awards took place in June at the historic Brooklands Museum in Weybridge. Now in its third year, business leaders from across the county attended this prestigious breakfast event to find out which were the fastestgrowing private companies in Surrey.

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

The Surrey Super Growth 2018 winner was announced as Leatherhead-based ESP Electricity Ltd, with an outstanding growth rate of 317%. The company develops and operates electricity networks, primarily for new build developments and industrial and commercial markets. It was established in 2003 and was the first Independent Distribution Network Operator to be awarded an electricity distribution licence in the newly deregulated market.

Commenting on the success, Nick Clark, Chief Commercial Officer of ESP Utilities Group, said: “ESP Electricity is delighted to receive this award and it recognises the immense effort the company has made in growing the business over recent years.

In entering what was a monopoly market with significant barriers to entry we feel especially proud that the company is now at the forefront playing a vital role in offering customers a choice where none previously existed, and our growth is a reflection of the people we employ and their drive, commitment and values.”

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This year’s Surrey Super Growth Awards were presented at the historic Brooklands Museum in Weybridge.

Luke Ponikwer (Lloyds Bank), Helen Mead (asb law LLP), Thomas Butler (ESP Utilities Group, Nick Clark (ESP Utilities Group) and Hannah Lloyd (RSM UK)

Business Awards The Surrey Super Growth 2018 Runner-Up was Collins Construction Ltd, a fit-out and refurbishment contractor for the commercial, healthcare and leisure sector, with a growth rate of 223%.

Paul Davis, Preconstruction Director at Collins Construction, said: “It was a privilege to accept this Super Surrey Growth Award on behalf of all the team at Collins Construction.

We have always been a client focused business, evolving in an intentional manner to support our planned workload.

By developing long term relationships both with clients and our supply chain this has supported our extraordinary staff

Luke Ponikwer (Lloyds Bank), Helen Mead (asb law LLP), Sophie Webb, Paul Davis and Sarah Kelly (all Collins Construction Ltd), and Hannah Lloyd, (RSM UK)

to secure us new and multiple repeat projects.”

Third place was awarded to IMC Worldwide Ltd, an international development consultancy with roots in the planning, design and management of global infrastructure projects, with a growth rate of 197%.

Gavin English, Managing Director of IMC Worldwide, said: “I am delighted that IMC Worldwide won this award which is testament to the high quality, dedication and passion of our staff. The positive growth we have experienced over the past four years is matched only by the positive impacts that we have delivered to those less fortunate

Luke Ponikwer (Lloyds Bank), Helen Mead (asb law LLP), Gavin English (IMC Worldwide Ltd) and Hannah Lloyd (RSM UK)

than us around the world, something we are all very proud of at IMC.” Popular writer and broadcaster Simon Fanshawe, who hosted the Awards presentation, explained the importance of these businesses to the region: “These companies should rightly receive this recognition. They’ve been working through the persistent uncertainty that surrounds our business economy at the moment, delivering the growth and success that drives the UK forward.”

Simon Fanshawe OBE, who hosted the Awards presentation

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Business Awards Each of the Surrey Super Growth sponsors also added their own congratulations to the finalists during the event. Russell Bell, Senior Consultant, at asb law LLP explained: “These Awards are all about celebrating the achievements of fantastic businesses. The finalists contributed over £3 billion to the Surrey economy last year alone. That means real jobs and a real contribution to the UK’s GDP for which they should all be rightly congratulated.”

Russell Bell, Senior Consultant, from asb law LLP Jon Da Costa, Partner, from RSM UK

Jon Da Costa, Partner at global audit, tax and consultancy adviser RSM UK, continued: “It was a pleasure for RSM to be associated with so many businesses in the awards within such a diverse range of industries. Surrey is a power house and really open for business.”

Mark Burton, Managing Director, London & South East – Mid Markets, from Lloyds Bank Mark Burton, Managing Director, London & South East - Mid-Markets from Lloyds Commercial Banking, also commented: “The positive energy amongst the finalists was infectious but what struck me the most was the resounding pride and drive within the room along with the healthy mutual respect in recognising each other’s achievement and contribution to the region. Lloyds Bank is very proud to support the awards and we congratulate all of the finalists for their outstanding accomplishments.”

The Surrey Super Growth Awards will return in 2019.

The full list of finalists is available from: www.asb-law.com/surrey-super-growth-2018

SURREY SUPER GROWTH AWARDS CRITERIA • Privately-owned business, trading and registered in Surrey.

• Growth in turnover measured over a 4-year accounting period based on latest full accounts information filed at Companies House.

• Minimum turnover of £2m in base year.

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THE SURREY SUPER GROWTH 2018 - TOP 30 Company Name

Growth %

1

ESP Electricity Ltd

317%

2

Collins Construction Ltd

223%

3

IMC Worldwide Ltd

197%

4

S.A.V. United Kingdom Ltd

192%

5

Sian Wholesale Ltd

164%

6

Castellum Consortium Ltd

164%

7

Keltbray Group (Holdings) Ltd

155%

8

Macai Ltd

141%

9

Gift Universe Group Ltd

135%

10

HH Global Ltd

134%

11

Nurture Landscapes Holdings Ltd

124%

12

Wates Living Space (Maintenance) Ltd

117%

13

Oliver Bonas Ltd

115%

14

Sigma Sports Ltd

115%

15

Movado Group UK Ltd

115%

16

Fileturn Ltd

111%

17

Natta Building Company Ltd

108%

18

OHOB Holdings Ltd

107%

19

Romans International Ltd

101%

20

Leander Build Ltd

99%

21

Windmill Organics Ltd

92%

22

Motofix Accident Repair Centres Ltd

87%

23

McLaren Applied Technologies Ltd

84%

24

Coinford Ltd

83%

25

Bartlett Mitchell Ltd

83%

26

The Geoghegan Group (Surrey) Ltd

78%

27

Crocus.co.uk Ltd

75%

28

Independent Commercial Broking Ltd

74%

29

J Devine Civil Engineering Ltd

73%

30

Eventist Group Ltd

73%

Radio

It’s the Biz Eagle Radio announces new business to business platform for Hampshire & Surrey.

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nfluential local media company, Eagle Radio have confirmed plans to expand their business operation with the launch of a business to business multi-platform broadcast service.

Biz-Surrey & Hampshire will host business news, features and promotions targeted specifically at the Surrey & Hampshire community.

Biz-Surrey & Hampshire has over one-thousand subscribed members and more than thirty local businesses have already signed up to become regular contributors.

Features will include Guest Blogs, Speaker’s Corner and Table 6 – a regular, round-table discussion covering hot topics such as GDPR, Gender equality and Brexit.

Eagle Radio’s Managing Director, Paul Marcus labelled the plans for Biz-Surrey & Hampshire as a significant move towards future-proofing the Eagle brand in the business community. “We are already trusted by listeners to deliver news, travel, entertainment and local information they need –now we want to offer the same service to those working in

businesses locally too. There will be local content with business news, features and interviews, podcasts and promotions. It’s a modern take on ‘Business Radio’ for Surrey and Hampshire - and we have already received a really positive response to Biz’.

To find out how your company can become a business partner of Biz – Surrey & Hampshire, please contact Emily Hay on 01483-300964, sales@eagleradio.co.uk or @bizsurreyhants.

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TRAVEL

Shake Hands in

Pablo Picasso once said: “Every act of creation is first an act of destruction.” This is true for the curvy, candy-coloured architecture of Miami’s South Beach – the largest collection of Art Deco buildings in the world. They wouldn’t actually exist if it

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weren’t for the Great Miami Hurricane of 1926, which devastated the island of Miami Beach, and caused this beguiling strip to be built from scratch in the style of a snazzy new design movement that was emerging from France at the time.

Last September, carnage returned to Miami. Hurricane Irma battered her way into the history books as one of the most powerful hurricanes on record, devastating the Caribbean, and causing up to $83 billion of damage across Florida. The skyscrapers of downtown Miami and sandy shores of

Miami Beach were pummelled by more than a week of ferocious winds that toppled traffic lights and palm trees alike, while roads were transformed into gushing rivers.

A matter of days after Irma had left town, the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau launched its #MiamiNow initiative. The campaign promoted a series of incredible deals on the city’s hottest hotels, restaurants and attractions. It also urged tourists to view live webcams of Miami’s beaches (seemiamilive.com) see for themselves that the city was fit and safe for a visit.

iami Could the Magic City become the East Coast’s answer to Silicon Valley? Rose Dykins reports

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TRAVEL

The bureau’s swift action reflects how crucial leisure and business tourism is to Miami’s economy.

And at the beginning of this year, visitor numbers had increased by almost 5% compared to early 2017 – cementing the message that Miami had bounced back after Irma.

Aside from tourism, the Magic City is gaining momentum as a startup hub.

Last year, Miami was ranked number one in the US for new startups on the Kauffman Index (which measures the number of new entrepreneurs starting their own businesses). Miami’s party animal image tends to overshadow its innovative side, which creates a challenge for those championing its promising entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Another obstacle has been the lack of available local funding to help fledgling companies go the distance (compared nationally to the likes of Silicon Valley).

However, this has been improving over the past five years thanks to the philanthropic Knight Foundation, which invested $25 million in 200 startups in the region, and helped to foster several startup events and schemes. Some notable new businesses to emerge in recent years include Kairos (kairos.com) – an artificial intelligence company that specialises in facial recognition and Zudy (zudy.com) – the world’s only software company to offer an app development platform that doesn’t require coding.

Miami’s hedonistic streak will always be a strong part of its identity

for a meeting or Miami’s event conditions for entrepreneurs

TOP PLACES

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are strong. Plus points include the airport’s excellent flight connectivity, the city’s immigrant-rich population and its thriving financial sector – Brickell district is the third-biggest banking sector in the US, and has even been coined “Wall Street South”

by Forbes. The city’s creative scene also has plenty to offer those seeking to establish themselves amongst a community of global trendsetters in art, fashion and cuisine.

Hosting events and company incentives is something Miami does well. Beyond the beach clubs, there are plenty of culturally enriching experiences for

corporate groups. In downtown Miami, along with the skyscrapers, there is a distinctly Latino vibe. Since the massimmigration from Cuba to Miami in the 1960s due to those fleeing from Fidel Castro’s rule, Cuban culture has become an integral part of Miami’s identity.

Set along Eighth Street (Calle Ocho) is Little Havana, where a Latin way of life prevails – you’ll see people sitting in cafés, playing dominos and arguing about politics, the sound of salsa music in the air. Food tours of Little Havana can be booked through Miami Culinary Tours (miamiculinarytours.com).

Miami’s hotel stock is ample, and consistently glitzy, with plenty of new options still to come this year. One to watch is the multi-million-dollar renovation of the historic Roy France Art Deco hotel opening any day now under Marriott’s Autograph Collection as the Cadillac Hotel and Beach Club. (cadillachotelmiamibeach.com).

Hilton Miami Downtown

Miami Beach Convention Centre

Still fresh from its $35 million renovation, this contemporary hotel overlooking Biscayne Bay has 527 rooms and 4,180 sqm of event space. hilton.com

A short stroll from both the island’s botanical gardens and its striking Holocaust Memorial, this MBCC completes its renovation in September, with a new 5,574 sqm ballroom. miamibeachconvention.com

Finally, plans to create a Virgin Hyperloop between Miami and Orlando have received the backing from regional departments of transportation. If they ever come to fruition, the high-speed pneumatic rail system would allow tourists to fly into Miami and travel to Disney World in less than half an hour. And Miami’s port, which welcomes the most number of cruise passengers in the world, would also benefit by the super-speedy link for transporting both cruise passengers and goods throughout Florida. It’s early days, but an exciting prospect nonetheless.

Miami’s hedonistic streak will always be a strong part of its identity. At the same time, its focused approach to retaining tourism through tough times and cultivating an internationally renowned startup scene proves that it also means serious business.

Another eagerly awaited addition is the Miami Beach Convention Centre, which is due to reopen in September following a $625 million renovation.

What’s more, the design for an 800room hotel, connected to the conven-

tion centre via footbridge, was recently given initial approval, complete with a roof with water absorption components, to make the building more resilient to the effects of hurricanes and climate change.

Hyatt Regency Miami

Intercontinental Miami

This 615-room Brickell district property is directly connected to the multi-purpose James L Knight International Centre, which has riverfront exhibition space and a 444-seat auditorium. hyatt.com

This sleek downtown property is well set-up for conferences, with 35 meeting spaces that can hold up to 3000 guests. It also has a rooftop pool. icmiamihotel.com

Museum of Ice Cream

Doubletree by Hilton Miami Airport Convention Centre

For something a little different, this imaginative museum with colourful interactive installations is designed to “inspire human emotion and creativity.” museumoficecream.com

A matter of minutes from Miami International Airport, this practical hotel is adjoined to the local convention centre – with 16,000 sqm of meeting space – as well as a mall. doubletree3.hilton.com/

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check-in Month-to-month changes shaping your travel. Compiled by Rose Dykins

UK eases travel restrictions to Tunisia T

he British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has further lifted travel restrictions to Tunisia, a step towards reviving tourism to the nation. The body no longer advises against “all but essential travel” to the town of Jendouba, and some areas of southern Tunisia, including the towns of Médenine, Tataouine and Douz.

The FCO website reads: “Since the terrorist attack in Sousse in June 2015, which targeted tourists, the UK government has been working closely with the Tunisian authorities to investigate the attack and the wider threat from terrorist groups. The Tunisian government has improved protective security in major cities and tourist resorts.”

Visit gov.uk for up-to-date travel advice from the FCO

Emirates launches virtual reality cabin views

Marriott to ditch plastic straws by 2019

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arriott International has vowed to remove disposable plastic straws and coffee stirrers from all 30 of its global brands by 2019. In one year’s time, when the plan is fully implemented, the world’s largest hotel company estimates it will eliminate the use of 1 billion plastic straws and a quarter of a billion stirrers.

Arne Sorenson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Marriott International, said: “Removing plastic straws is one of the simplest ways our guests can contribute to plastic reduction when staying with us, something they are increasingly concerned about and are already doing in their own homes. We are committed to operating responsibly and, with over one million guests staying with us every night, we think this is a powerful step forward to reducing our reliance on plastics.”

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Gatwick becomes UK gateway to Chengdu

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he first flight connecting the UK with China’s fourthlargest city has launched. Last month, Air China – a Star Alliance member – began flying between Gatwick and Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport, creating the only direct link between Britain and the central Chinese city. The airline will operate three weekly flights on the route.

Guy Stephenson, chief commercial officer of Gatwick Airport, said: “Chengdu is a strategically important destination and a major logistical hub so this new route – the UK’s only direct flight - opens up a range of opportunities to access markets throughout central and western China.

“Our growing long haul network looks set to play an increasingly important role connecting the UK to global markets at this vital stage in the country’s history.”

ubai’s national carrier has debuted a 3D virtual reality service that gives a closer look at the seating onboard its A380 planes. The technology lets you explore the airline’s cabins in 3D, check out the airline’s A380 economy and business class seats and first class suites, and find out more about their features, including what the first class showers look like.

Passengers using the Emirates app or visiting emirates.com via smartphone can use the tech to choose their seats before checking in, navigate from one seat to another and make a booking, all within an 3D environment – the first time an airline has offered this.

TRAVEL INSIDER

Transatlantic

TEMPTATIONS

In our new monthly column, our secret travel mole gives us the latest insider info, breaking news and travel facts that you need to know.

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e are all familiar with names like Uber, Airbnb and Revolut, classic market disruptors of our generation. There has always been disruptors especially in the airline industry, step forward Sir Freddie Laker, a true aviation pioneer of his time who wanted to transport us to the other side of the pond for £99.

You are no doubt aware of Norwegian Airlines who have been very successful in proving the market is buoyant for long haul, low-cost airline travel, however they have yet to prove the business model and currently are still losing money.

You may be slightly less familiar with International Airline Group or IAG for short, based in Barcelona and headed up by Willie Walsh. IAG consists of five major brands namely British Airways, Air Lingus, Iberia, Vueling and their new brand Level - it is this brand that has caught the imagination of the industry.

Because IAG has harmonised the best of four separate airlines, they have built an efficient machine, the likes of which the

aviation industry has not seen before.

The concept of Level was taken to the IAG board for the green light back in February 2017, they announced the new airline on 17th March 2017 and started flying on 1st June that same year to destinations such as New York, Boston and San Francisco. The day tickets went on sale, they sold over 50,000 tickets in the first 24 hours.

Low-cost carriers are disrupting the transatlantic markets.

When a major competitor was told of the level of ticket sales he was reported to say: “If this is true, it’s of biblical proportions.”

Two weeks later, Willie Walsh the CEO of IAG happened to run into said reporter and asked him if this was indeed what his competitor had said, the reporter

smiled and said not quite, what he actually said was “Holy Shit”.

With new routes opening from Paris Orly and Vienna later this year, it is the staggering speed with which this airline has got off the ground that supports the recent prediction by Willie Walsh that Level will be profitable in its first year of operations.

It has been widely reported that IAG have already tabled two bids to buy Norwegian Airlines - Lufthansa are also in the hunt - but just when you think you understand this industry, enter Primera Air who this summer started flying from Stansted airport to Newark, using the brand new version of the Airbuses A321 workhorse known as the A321neo (or new engine option) which will further extend the sweep of low-cost, long haul flights, and looks likely to cause a ripple effect throughout the market.

The new aircraft fitted with a premium economy cabin can carry around 200 passengers transatlantic at a cost of 25% cheaper than the equivalent aircraft, a Boeing 757. There’s more to come next year when the A321neo LR (long range) flies another 690 miles further, given a range fully loaded of around 10 ½ hours with a per seat cost 40% lower than the 757.

Low-cost carriers with the new aircrafts are disrupting the transatlantic market, the big question is can business travel buyers be persuaded to use them?

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LUXURY TRAVEL Our new travel section indulges in places that will fuel your wanderlust.

This month, Rose Dykins discovers how Fiji is setting a new standard for eco-luxury travel

BUCKET

LIST:

Fiji

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ravelling to Fiji from the UK is a pilgrimage to paradise.

Spending upwards of 24 hours on a plane is a small price to pay if it means emerging from a stale, crowded cabin to breathe in the pure, tropical air of one of the most beautiful corners on earth.

Comprising 333 islands, the Fijian archipelago is a patchwork of sugarsand beaches, neon-streaked reefs, dense forest and rugged terrain. Off the nation’s west coast, surfers flock to the Mamanuca Islands for world-famous

once-in-a-lifetime holidays.

A 35-minute speedboat ride from Nadi International Airport – or a ten-minute hop in a helicopter if you’re feeling flash – transports you to Six Senses Fiji. Opened in July, this new five-star paradise on Malolo Island (among the Mamanuca Islands) is 100% solar powered. It’s the first hotel of its kind in Fiji to function off Tesla batteries, with LED lighting to minimise energy usage. The resort is also running a reforestation programme to offset the environmental impact of its construction. And its five gourmet

The Fijian archipelago is a patchwork of sugar-sand beaches, neon-streaked reefs, dense forest and rugged terrain breaks, while the volcanic Yasawas Islands offer warm, clear lagoons and beaches that seem too dreamy to be real.

Visitors either fly into Suva (the capital) or Nadi, both of which are on Viti Levu, the nation’s largest island, where the vast majority of its population are based. Visits to Fiji’s indigenous villages throughout Fiji are a firm highlight, and an eye-opener to the islanders’ dependence on the natural world.

Over the past decade, Fijian resorts have been leading the way within the global eco-luxury sector. Eco-consciousness is rising rapidly as a trend amongst luxury travellers – as Forbes declared earlier this year: “Green is the new Black.”

But more importantly, Fiji is one of the most severely affected destinations on earth when it comes to climate change – water levels are rising 6mm year-on-year, causing saltwater floods that destroy farmland, hence the need to create sustainable innovations that continue to attract tourists looking for

restaurants serve locally-inspired cuisine, with ingredients sourced from the hotel’s own vegetable garden, plus farmers, markets and fishermen from the neighbouring community.

The Six Senses Fiji’s Wellness Village includes a branded Six Senses Spa, an alchemy bar (teaching the ancient method of blending healing concoctions) and a treetop yoga pavilion. Tennis, activities for kids, hill treks, surfing, snorkelling and diving are all possible. And each villa has a designated “guest experience maker” who can arrange for guests to go island-hopping, coral planting or to enjoy a cinema under the stars.

Rates in a one bedroom Hideaway Pool Villa start from £700 per night on a bed and breakfast basis.

Visit sixsenses.com

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Guildford Nestled deep in the heart of the Surrey Hills and with curious connections to Alice in Wonderland, glorious Guildford is an artistic and artisanal haven.

Profile by Kate Morton

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ituated at the heart of Surrey, Guildford has everything a town can offer, with a busy train station providing an easy commute into London, a multitude of boutiques, restaurants and a thriving arts and craft community. It’s also a shopaholics dream and was hailed as the “luxury shopping capital of the UK” by Experian a few years ago. Retaining its ‘cobbled’ High Street (a £1m project was undertaken in 2016 to relay its 1860s setts) and many of its key historic features such as the 17th century Guildhall clock, the medieval castle, Guildford House Gallery and Abbots Hospital, it’s no wonder Guildford featured in The Sunday Times Best Places to Live Guide in March this year, and has often been voted the “best commuter hotspot”.

Surrounded by beautiful countryside and with the River Wey running through its heart, Guildford is a picturesque and productive hub that is a bubbling base for a huge number of state-of-the-art technology companies and a leading hub for gaming companies in Europe. It’s also home to the internationally important 5G Innovation Centre located on the University of Surrey Campus, which is driving future mobile technologies and Internet of Things applications.

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A HISTORY… IN BRIEF Guildford’s history goes back over 1000 years from the Saxon tower of St Mary’s Church to the Medieval Castle Keep, the Tudor Guildhall, the Georgian Art Gallery and the Victorian Museum. The castle was built on the orders of William the Conqueror in order to exert control over the local inhabitants. In the 13th Century, Henry III made many improvements to the castle, which led it to be referred to as a palace, though only the keep remains today.

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uildford’s economy is one of the most vibrant outside London, featuring regularly in the top five in various economic league tables. Given its presence just 30 miles from London and good connectivity to London Heathrow and Gatwick airports, the Borough attracts a strong network of entrepreneurs and investors.The economy has grown from one with a relatively high public sector and manufacturing element to one with a much higher proportion of high growth sectors such as gaming, cyber security, life sciences and telecoms.

The total number of jobs in the Borough stands at just over 70,000 with a total of 7,440 businesses. Between 2012-2017, the business base grew by 15% with a high proportion of these defined as high growth and with good survival rates.

PURPLE FLAG Guildford is the only town in Surrey and one of only 70 in the UK to hold Purple Flag accreditation for it’s evening and night time economy, which it has held since 2014. The Purple Flag standard ensures those destinations carrying it offer a vibrant and diverse range of evening activities from dining and entertainment to culture while promoting the safety and well-being of visitors and local residents. Guildford proudly flies the Purple Flag from various buildings in the town including the Guildhall on the High Street.

Cllr David Bilbe, Lead Councillor for Enterprise and Economic Development said: “The value of the Borough’s economy is now worth over £5 billion per annum this year and has a number of notable corporates head quartered in the town including Colgate Palmolive, Phillips, Allianz Insurance, EA Games, BOC and BAE Systems (Applied Intelligence). The town also has a significant cluster of business and financial services companies and law firms, and has an impressive survival rate for new business start-ups at 72% (source UK Business Counts – Enterprises).

“We work hard to create a positive environment through investing in public realm, for example, our regeneration of the historic Tunsgate area together with the opening of the new Tunsgate Quarter is proof that investors and developers are ever keen to invest within Guildford.

Our award-winning Tourist Information Centre encourages visitors to the town and we host large-scale events such as a regular Farmers’ Market and annual Innovate Science Technology Engineering and Maths Festival.

“We encourage sustainable and proportionate economic growth to provide the jobs that local people need. Through leading innovation and promoting Guildford’s high value clusters, we will create employment opportunities in knowledge-based and highgrowth industries. Also, by ensuring that development is directed and supported by the required infrastructure and community facilities we will deliver high quality design, renewal and regeneration of our urban and rural areas whilst protecting our special natural landscapes and heritage.”

Guildford Castle

THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW • The name Guildford is not derived from the word ‘guild’ but from ‘gold’. The reference to gold may be attributed to either the golden flowers or the golden sand at the ford.

• Charles Dodgson, better known as Lewis Carroll, wrote Alice Through the Looking Glass whilst he was living in the town. A sculpture of Alice and FANCY A LOCAL the looking glass is located in the castle SUMMER TIPPLE? grounds.

• A scene from the supernatural thriller The Omen, whose plot revolves around a boy believed to be the Antichrist, was filmed at Guildford Cathedral.

• The University of Surrey, voted UK University of the Year in 2016 by The Times, contributes over £1bn to the economy and has been the driver for much of the local area’s growth.

Located on the Duke of Northumberland’s Albury Estate, on the banks of the beautiful spring-fed Silent Pool, sits the Silent Pool Distillers, producers of Silent Pool Gin and Vodka and who use the Pool’s crystal-clear water in their distillery process.

The Guildhall

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uildford has ambitious plans to regenerate parts of the Borough and invest significantly in infrastructure going forward, with the Council adopting the Guildford Town Centre Regeneration Strategy in January 2017. Current projects include: The Slyfield Area Regeneration Project. This is a major redevelopment of the Slyfield area of Guildford. The project comprises of the relocation of the existing Thames Water Sewage Treatment Works to an old landfill site, the relocation of the Council’s Operational Services Depot, the relocation of the County Council’s Waste Transfer Station, and building of up to 1500 new homes on the brownfield land available from the relocations. The project brings back into economic life the old landfill site.

North Street Development Project. The Council has a longstanding stated aim to re-develop North Street. The submission of it’s proposed Local Plan, December 2017, which has recently been the subject of an examination in public, notes that the North Street site of around 3.5ha has the scope for a mixed-use development incorporating new retail and leisure space plus a substantial number of residential units with supporting infrastructure including servicing, residents parking and enhanced public realm.

most economically active areas of Guildford, embracing the Royal Surrey County Hospital, University of Surrey and the Surrey Research Park. It will also help to regenerate the Park Barn area of the town.

Redevelopment of the Bedford Wharf and Mary Road area to provide new leisure, office, civic and residential uses as well as community space and a park.

Bedford Wharf from Onslow Bridge regeneration scheme

Laundry Park from the new Station Bridge

Walnut Bridge. The replacement of the existing pedestrian and cycle bridge with a new pedestrian and cycle bridge. The new bridge will be wider and facilitate two-way cycle flow. It will lie on a more obvious alignment, to encourage use by new and infrequent users. This will aid the development of both the station and Bedford Wharf Development Sites and provide an improved, sustainable, link between the station and town centre.

Guildford West Railway Station. This is a proposal for a new passenger railway station on the North Downs Line, to the west of Guildford mainline station. This will provide a vital rail link for one of the

North Street regeneration scheme

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Tunsgate Quarter is an 80,000 sq ft retail and leisure destination in the town centre. Formerly Tunsgate Square, the centre underwent a comprehensive 18-month redevelopment to deliver a highquality mix of shops and restaurants, increase footfall and improve the customer experience and connectivity with the High Street.

Developed by Queensberry, Tunsgate Quarter opened in March 2018 with the scheme’s design taking inspiration from the art-deco styled cinema which once occupied the site.

Please note the drawings are artists’ impressions created after public consultation and may not entirely resemble the finished project.

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G U I L D F O R D PLACES TO VISIT • Watts Gallery - Artist’s Village (pictured right) Located at Down Lane, The Artists’ Village features beautiful Victorian paintings and sculptures situated in the historic Watts Gallery, where you’ll discover the artwork and the lives of G F and Mary Watts at Watts Studios. Visitors can tour the artists’ home, Limnerslease, before sauntering down to the nearby Watts Chapel to experience the stunning surrounding woodlands.

• The Electric Theatre (pictured left) The Electric Theatre is a not-for-profit community arts venue housed in a former electricity works, and is financed and managed by the Academy of Contemporary Music. ACM work with the local community to deliver a diverse and engaging programme of activity for this creative sanctuary. Open for the local community, ACM produces state-of-the-art live music events, creative workshops, comedy nights and dance shows.

DON’T MISS …. THE INNOVATION AWARDS Now in its second year, Guildford’s Innovation Awards take place on Monday 3rd December and celebrate inspirational innovation across a spectrum of sectors building on the theme of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths in the Borough. There are nine awards judged against a variety of criteria including, Degree of Innovation; Commercial Potential; and Degree of Social or Economic Impact. For further information and to enter please visit: www.guildford.gov.uk/innovationawards

Registered Charity No. 313612

Watts Gallery - Artists’ Village Get involved and make a difference TAILORED CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS STUNNING VENUE HIRE CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY THRIVING EVENTS PROGRAMME

A centre of excellence for inspiration, creativity and engagement Sarah James | 01483 813597 | wattsgallery.org.uk development@wattsgallery.org.uk | Guildford, Surrey FINAL .indd 1

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JOIN US AT SPACES GUILDFORD, STATION VIEW. An inspiring, high-end work environment where ideas develop, businesses build, and relationships evolve.

A place where you can get down to business, check emails and hold meetings, all this while you can enjoy a great cup of coffee and a healthy lunch.

Call us on 0800 756 2509 or visit spacesworks.com/guildford

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Spaces launched in Guildford A contemporary co-working hub has opened opposite the Railway Station.

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reative workspace provider Spaces has opened a new hub in Guildford. Occupying 1,533sqm of Austen House, Spaces provides a contemporary office building with brilliant access to transport links, as well as Guildford town centre.

“A base for a variety of leading hightech companies, Guildford is a thriving location for business and is particularly regarded as a centre for video game production.”

flexible co-working spaces. In order to ensure continued productivity, the new Spaces branch will also offer top quality business Wi-Fi and coffee and tea for free.

The Guildford location prospers from excellent transport links, being located opposite Guildford station and with easy access to both Heathrow and Gatwick airports, as well as the amenities that the local town has to offer.

This opening is the latest in the successful expansion of Spaces UK. The workspace provider, which was founded in 2006, already has several locations across the UK including London, Bath, Brighton, Glasgow, Liverpool, Reading and Uxbridge, with more locations due to open in the coming months.

Internationally, the company has a network

of centres across Europe, Africa, the Americas and Asia.

Spaces UK CEO, Richard Morris, comments: “Spaces’ focus on community prioritises the provision of a social and productive working environment and, as such, combines the two to redefine the meaning of ‘work’.

“A base for a variety of leading high-tech companies, Guildford is a thriving location for business and is particularly regarded as a centre for video game production. The inspirational dynamics of the new Spaces hub make it perfect for Guildford’s creative, technological background.”

For further information visit www.spacesworks.com

Spaces is an Amsterdam-born workspace pioneer, creating productive working environments designed to allow the integration of lifestyle and work. With its unique entrepreneurial ethos and opportunity to co-work, Spaces actively encourages members to network with one another. With the modern day requirements of a varied workplace, the new Guildford site will offer private offices and meeting rooms as well as

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G U I L D F O R D Focus on

Penningtons Manches

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eading law firm Penningtons Manches is committed to supporting Surrey businesses, institutions and charitable initiatives through the multi-disciplinary teams based in its Guildford office.

A key player in the firm’s record performance over the past two years, the Guildford office provides a market leading, full service offering covering the firm’s three key sectors: private wealth, real estate and technology. Specialist practice areas within the Guildford office clinical negligence, commercial property, corporate, employment, family, pensions, personal injury, private client and residential property. These teams offer a range of expertise, both locally and internationally.

The Guildford office has gone from strength to strength in the past three years, more than doubling in size - growing from 58 people in 2015 to 127 in 2018. This follows a move from Godalming to Guildford that completed in 2015.

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Working with forward-thinking businesses With easy access to the UK’s technology ‘golden triangle’ of London, Oxford and Cambridge, as well as Silicon Valley through the firm’s San Francisco office, specialists in the Guildford office can provide critical commercial insight to the technology sector. The nine strong Guildford corporate practice advises companies in the Surrey area at the earlier stages of their life cycle, supporting companies as they progress and seek opportunities in the City and/or the US. Exciting recent work includes acting for Surrey based companies MedPharm and Fantastec Sports Technology Ltd. The office’s employment practice works with a variety of businesses in Surrey, with experts covering all issues regarding workplace disputes. The pensions team has experience on all forms of UK pension and life assurance arrangements, advising both employers and individuals.

Real estate capability The office also houses diverse real estate expertise, both residential and commercial, an integral part of Penningtons Manches’ business. The teams offer clients a wealth of knowledge on property transactions together with an in-depth appreciation of the Surrey property market.

Supporting individual needs The highly capable clinical negligence and personal injury teams cover a range of claims including most aspects of medical care and claims arising from accidents at work and on the roads. The practice has particular expertise in catastrophic (brain, spinal and amputation) and fatal injury claims. Within the team, there are sub-specialist groups, including travel law, which works with clients who need legal assistance on international injury claims.

Penningtons Manches’ nationally ranked family and private client teams, part of the firm’s wider private wealth group, continue

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G U I L D F O R D to build momentum. The family department, which was established in 2015, has recently celebrated its third year of success. The private client team often works for several generations of the same family as trusted advisors, delivering expert advice from a wide resource of specialists.

Community commitment As a large employer in Guildford, the local team is committed to investing in the community. The firm is a key sponsor of Surrey Sports Park and maintains a close working relationship with both the Sports Park and the University of Surrey to help drive innovation and excellence in the Surrey student and sporting communities. The sponsorship of Surrey Sports Park results in the annual ‘Sportsability’ day taking place. Sportsability is a Penningtons Manches’ sponsored event that focuses on four local schools and caters for students with special needs, providing the chance for the students to try new sporting activities. This relationship reflects Penningtons Manches’ ties with other universities, in particular Oxford and Cambridge. The firm also collaborates with and sponsors local station Eagle Radio’s initiatives.

The firm is a signatory to the Guildford Corporate Citizenship Charter - a pledge in collaboration with Guildford Borough Council - which is committed to making a positive contribution in the community by encouraging responsible corporate citizens.

Signatories of the Charter aim to contribute to innovative economic growth and the social and environmental wellbeing of Guildford.

Wellbeing focus

YMCA and Home-Start.

Alongside the wellbeing of the community, the firm prides itself on its own internal wellbeing scheme ‘PennWell’ which focuses on different initiatives each month: physical, mental and financial. Penningtons Manches also puts a great deal of emphasis on diversity and inclusion through its ‘Pennclusion’ committee and several members of the Guildford staff are active on this committee.

CEO David Raine says “We have always had a Surrey presence through our Godalming office and it’s been fantastic to see that flourish even more in our Guildford base. As active members of the community, the team understands the Surrey market and knows how to deliver to the clients in the area. I’m proud of what the team has accomplished in Guildford and look forward to seeing the office continue to thrive as the town’s commercial offering grows.”

The office supports the community through the registered charity, the Penningtons Manches Charitable Foundation, which supports initiatives that have a positive impact on the communities in each of the firm’s six UK offices. The Guildford office currently supports three main charities – The Children’s Trust,

www.penningtons.co.uk

PROVIDING ACCESS TO EXCELLENCE Our award-winning Surrey team delivers innovative legal thinking and high quality advice tailored to the individual needs of your business.

To find out more about our full range of services, call us on 01483 791800, e-mail info@penningtons.co.uk or visit us online.

Penningtons Manches LLP LONDON

BASINGSTOKE

CAMBRIDGE

GUILDFORD

OXFORD

READING

SAN FRANCISCO

www.penningtons.co.uk

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Guildford Rugby

A venue offering more than most

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estled perfectly on the border of Guildford and Godalming, a stone’s throw from the A3, Broadwater Pavilion offers a unique venue for corporate entertaining, training or conferences. With multiple rooms available to hire, from the players room with projector, board room seating for 12 or capacity of 20+ as a small lecture room, through to the main function room, capable of seating 120+ for formal dinners. Not forgetting the large recently refurbished fully licensed bar, Broadwater Pavilion and its dedicated staff are more than happy to host your function. Be it a nationwide corporate training day or a local charity event, the staff and resident chef can cater for all needs. Delegate packages are available from a three course meal to platters and sandwiches.

Not just restricted to running as a corporate events venue during the day, Broadwater Pavilion host celebrations and parties in the evenings and at weekends. This truly is a flexible, friendly and welcoming venue, some would say one of Surrey’s best kept secrets. Unlimited free

parking, WIFI, beautiful setting, friendly and helpful staff all add to its unique flexibility and atmosphere. All proceeds from events going directly back into running rugby for the local community, encouraging inclusive sessions and teams for all age groups.

This dual purpose facility works tirelessly throughout the week as a dedicated venue for corporates and charities. It then switches focus at weekends to supporting Guildford Rugby, entertaining over 1,300 members and players from under six year olds to Seniors and Veterans, every weekend throughout the season. We also host visiting teams and supporters, as well as professional coaches that train and manage our senior teams including the first 1XV playing London & South East Premier League and the Ladies (Gazelles) running out at Championship South West Division Two.

A unique venue for your bespoke event Broadwater Pavilion is a unique venue that offers everything you need to host your training, conference, private party or wedding reception. Perfectly located between Godalming and Guildford, with dedicated staff a fully licensed bar, in-house caterers and ample free parking.

Contact us today to discuss your event or to make a booking t: 01483 416199 www.broadwaterpavilion.com e: bookings@broadwaterpavilion.com Broadwater Pavilion and Guildford Rugby Club are proud to be able to host your event, all proceeds go back into our club helping provide rugby and a venue for our members and our local community.

Pavilion HALF PAGE ADVERT.indd 1

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Why you need a ‘First Aid Kit’ for HR

by Brian Wilson, Director, The HR Dept Guildford

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ast July, the Supreme Court ruled that employment tribunal fees were unlawful. At a stroke of the pen, disgruntled or ex-employees could take their employer to Tribunal at no cost to themselves.

Employment Tribunals are now up by 90% and SMEs need to get their HR act together to protect themselves against claims. The time and effort alone of defending a claim, and legal fees even if you win will be unwelcome “costs” to the business.

Think of the HR you need in your business as a First Aid Kit. Get all the right things put

together, right at the start, and leave it on the shelf for when you need to use it!

So, what do you need? Some of it is the boring HR paperwork we somehow never got round to doing - contract of employment, employee handbook, job description. These documents will often be asked for at a Tribunal to help understand what you did and why you did it.

You will need some basic Policies too, like disciplinary and grievance procedures. The courts will expect you to have followed the best practice and formal guidance you can find on the ACAS web site.

All this will just get you started. As you manage your way through HR issues, you will need to keep accurate notes and records – don’t rely on memory and the spoken word.

The Tribunal will want to see your reasoning, the options you evaluated and why you chose the one that you did.

But what if it still all goes wrong? Retaining The HR Dept means you have access to your own HR Manager Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm and this is backed by our Tribunal Indemnity Insurance.

Tel: 01483 603099 / 07393 017230

Events and Meetings

Available for Hire Merrist Wood is set in 400 acres of Surrey countryside, located just three miles from Guildford town centre.

We offer a unique location with indoor and outdoor venues, all of which are available for hire. We would be happy to talk to you about any event and can also arrange catering and other requirements.

▶ Meetings and conferences ▶ Celebrations ▶ Corporate days ▶ Charity events

▶ Training days ▶ Functions ▶ Sporting events ▶ Weddings

For enquiries and bookings please contact: Tel: 07854 27 48 66 or Email: mwevents@guildford.ac.uk

www.merristwoodevents.co.uk Merrist Wood College Holly Lane Worplesdon Guildford Surrey GU3 3PE

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Focus on Guildford: Charles Russell Speechlys in the community Charles Russell Speechlys is one of the South East’s leading law firms, serving both private clients and businesses from our office in Guildford. We can trace our roots back in Surrey for over 100 years. Today we have over 150 staff (including 21 partners) in Guildford, and are recognised as a ‘regional powerhouse’ by the legal directories.

We are proud of our role in the local community, from supporting growing businesses to our corporate social responsibility activity. Here we showcase some recent events and initiatives in and around Guildford.

Our Community Fund The Charles Russell Speechlys Community Fund was launched in 2016 to support projects in and around Guildford focusing on employment, training and skills initiatives. It aims to help people gain confidence and raise aspirations to give them opportunities they would not otherwise have. Almost two years in, the fund has supported 11 inspiring projects with grants worth over £15,000.00 to date.

As one of the leading law firms in the South East with a private client team advising individuals on their philanthropic interests, it was a natural step to establish our own charitable initiative to create our own legacy in our community. The Community Fund is now a key part of our Corporate Social Responsibility programme in the South East as we seek a lasting relationship with the charities and projects we fund through volunteering and ongoing support.

G3: Galvanising Guildford Games Over 170 games developers and industry specialists attended the 2018 G3 Futures games conference in Guildford, the fourth annual event organised by Charles Russell Speechlys in partnership with the University of Surrey and Ukie (the games industry trade body).

Employment partner Nick Hurley co-chaired the event which included key note speeches about Games of the Future alongside panel debates on the importance of diversity and generating revenue through new business models. There was also an exhibition area, showcasing a range of new technologies and locally developed games. Guildford has been called ‘the Hollywood of the games industry’ and is one of the largest games hubs in the UK, home to some of the UK’s biggest and most successful studios. Alongside the annual conference, G3 now includes regular social meet-ups and other events throughout the year to bring the Guildford games community together.

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Little Free Library launches in Guildford Guildford’s first registered Little Free Library – a book exchange scheme for the local community – has opened in the public footpath at the back of One London Square, funded and organised by Charles Russell Speechlys.

The Little Free Library was officially launched on 18 June by multi-million bestselling author and Guildford resident, Adele Parks. Adele has published 17 novels over 17 years – all of which have appeared on bestseller lists.

The impressive bookcase for the Guildford-based Little Free Library has been designed and built by Godalmingbased charity, Skillway which teaches practical workshop skills to disadvantaged or disengaged young people in the local community.

Little Free Library is a registered non-profit organisation that aims to inspire love of reading and builds a community.

Operating successfully in over 70 countries, it is an internationally renowned “take a book, return a book” free book exchange, open to anyone wishing to take a book or bring a book.

Toast of Surrey Business Awards Charles Russell Speechlys returned to the Toast of Surrey Business Awards as Company of the Year sponsors 2018.

We also signed up as Headline Sponsors for the event which celebrates the county as a great place to do business and showcases some of our leading companies, business leaders and community initiatives.

Our judging team for the Company of the Year Award, including David Haines, Geoff Sparks, Jamie Cartwright and Jonathan Steele selected three finalists: KRR Prostream, Something Big and The Vapouriz Group to go through to the awards ceremony, held at Mercedes Benz World on June 27.

Ultimately there could only be one winner and the trophy went to Something Big who impressed the judges with recent achievements including the innovative Gatwick Airport App. Partner David Haines said “The company is clearly proud of its Surrey roots and is very engaged with the local business community. It has a loyal client base and focuses on building long lasting relationships”.

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a ay! ok od bo se t ur co

PRINCE2 PROJECT MANAGEMENT ‰

10% discount for Chambers members. Quote ‘CHAMBERS’ PRINCE2‰ (Projects IN Controlled Environments) has become the most widely adopted projected management methodology in the UK and around the world.

Foundation only 3 day course (Mon - Wed) £610 £549

Foundation & Practitioner together 5 day course (Mon - Fri) £1,015 £913.50

Practitioner only 2 day course (Thu & Fri) £510 £459

Practitioner re registration 2 day course (Thu & Fri) £550 £495

Start dates: Monday 1 October 2018

Monday 8 April 2019

Monday 3 December 2018

Monday 8 July 2019

Monday 4 February 2019

professional courses for your career

Get q u with a alified globa lly recog n profe ised s qualifi sional cation

The Guildford College Group is an accredited centre for many professional qualifications across a variety of business disciplines, including accounting and law.

Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx)

For more information or to book a course contact us TODAY:

www.servicestobusiness.net

Tel: 01483 44 85 30 Email: employers@guildford.ac.uk 54 Services to Business Stoke Road Guildford Surrey GU1 1EZ SURREY CHAMBERS

Leadership Course

Learn to lead at Sandhurst A unique one day SME leadership course at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

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he Centre for Army Leadership, at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, is one of the most prestigious leadership organisations in the UK. They work with leaders from all walks of life, from the military to the world of commerce and industry. They are at the forefront of leadership debate, the latest thinking and doctrine Collaborating with sponsors from industry,

“It can be lonely leading.”

Russell Lewis – Course Leader Metro Bank plc; JFP Strategic Planning and Implementation; Haines Watts, Chartered Accountants and Tax Advisers; and Hart Brown

Solicitors; the Centre for Army Leadership is launching a leadership course for SME owners and their senior managers.

It follows demand, after a series of highly successful leadership seminars over the last four years held by the sponsor group with talks given by leading figures in business and the military including amongst many others Sir David Reid – ex chairman of Tesco; Nicola Horlick, CEO Money & Co; Baroness Ruby McGregor Smith ex CEO Mitie (FTSE 250) and Major General PAE Nanson CBE Commandant RMA Sandhurst.

Why you should come along …

Additional details

• •

•

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Who is leading it?

Russell Lewis, a former Officer in the Parachute Regiment turned leadership and coaching facilitator, is the course leader. Russ is also a Sky News defence commentator and has written a book, “Company Commander” based on his experiences leading 200 men during a tour of Afghanistan in 2008, when he was awarded a military cross.

Follow us on Twitter @Army_Leadership

The course takes place on September 27th 2018 and costs £600. It is a pilot course hence the highly competitive rate.

For the Course programme, more information and booking go to www.sandhursttrust.org/ leadership/

SME business Leaders are often too busy working “in” the business rather than “on” the business. Give yourself a day of “quality” time to think about how you lead your business and what you can do better. Enjoy the interaction with fellow owners/leaders to challenge,

SME Business Leadership Skills - Be Challenged, Inspired and Energised

To learn new perspectives on leadership.

We look at the key facets of leadership, namely you, your team from top to bottom, and the business itself.

We’ll show you techniques to make you a better leader and how to apply them to business situations.

You’ll learn how to build your confidence and to evolve your approach to motivating your team ensuring that everyone is aligned with your business’s overall goals and aspirations.

inspire and energise you. Let the Army share their experiences with you.

• • •

The cost of the course is £600 (plus VAT) per delegate – it’s a pilot course and so we are charging a highly competitive rate!

A superb training facility at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

An opportunity to network with other like-minded SME owners in a prestigious and stimulating environment.

Refreshments throughout the day finishing with an informal dinner and a talk given by the Commandant of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Major General PAE Nanson.

PLAC ARE LIM ES IT REGIST ED FOR YO ER UR TODAY S !

Email us: sp@jfpstrategic-planning.co.uk

Course features …

•

An opportunity to reflect purely on your own leadership abilities without external distractions.

•

Being challenged by like-minded business owners as well as our leadership coaches.

•

Experiential activity to develop and enhance your overall communication skills.

• •

Techniques to energise your management team.

Learn how to spend time on your business as well as in your business.

Old College, The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst Thursday, 27 September 2018 To register: https://www.sandhursttrust.org/leadership/

www.army.mod.uk

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Farnham Castle The perfect setting for meetings, team-building or any occasion

F

arnham Castle is a multi-award winning venue for Events, Meetings and Weddings with stunning buildings, five acres of beautiful grounds, worldclass dining and guest accommodation. Overlooking the beautiful, historic town of Farnham, on the Surrey/ Hampshire border, it’s the most fabulous venue when something a little different is required. Total privacy is guaranteed in this fully secure venue and the Castle’s flexible approach promises to make your visit a totally unique experience.

Farnham Castle takes a contemporary approach to business and offers a complete range of rooms with facilities to match their clients’ exact requirements. The recently restored Bishop’s Palace is a wonderful venue for meetings, conferences, away days and corporate hospitality. It provides an inspiring base for team building and guarantees to bring out the best in your team.

Colleagues, clients and business associates will appreciate the Castle’s unique setting and first-class catering, all in the tranquillity of the Surrey countryside, yet less than an hour from central London.

Featuring 12 flexible meeting spaces, all with natural light and views across the stunning Surrey countryside, Farnham Castle is able to offer a suitable setting for any business event. With wi-fi available throughout the Castle, and a comprehensive suite of presentation and meeting equipment provided, your every business need is guaranteed.

For activities indoors and out, the Castle lends itself perfectly to all kinds of corporate away-days and teambuilding events – from the wacky to the wonderful, the exhilarating to the exclusive. You can work with the Castle’s expert partners to create icebreakers, energisers or full-on team activities. Some of the most popular options include: • Medieval themed Crystal Maze • A ‘Bake Off’ in the Norman Kitchen • Croquet on the magnificent Great Lawn • Escape Rooms • Cocktail masterclass and design your own cocktail competition After the business of the day, guests can explore the Castle Keep, stroll through neighbouring Farnham Park, relax in the 5 acres of beautiful grounds and make themselves at home over dinner looking down on Farnham by night. All of this before retiring to one of the Castle’s 32 en-suite bedrooms. All bedrooms offer views of either the Castle Keep, the gardens, the grounds or Farnham itself – one of Surrey’s most picturesque towns - and come with a cooked breakfast included.

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BUSINESS PACKAGES: Our rooms and the grounds at Farnham Castle are all available to hire for business events, conferences, meetings and team motivational days.

ONE DAY BUSINESS PACKAGE MINIMUM 10 PEOPLE • Room hire • Wi Fi access throughout all rooms • Flipcharts, pens and stationery • Morning and afternoon tea, coffee and homemade biscuits • Working lunch • Mineral water (still and sparkling)

When it comes to catering, Farnham Castle uses the best, freshest local ingredients to produce world-class modern British cuisine that is as delicious as it is beautiful. Talented chefs and front of house teams are from a range of Michelin star and AA rosette restaurant backgrounds. There’s a comprehensive wine list to accompany all menus.

As well as business events, Farnham Castle’s stunning historic buildings and beautiful grounds also provide the perfect backdrop for capturing precious personal moments and memories. We regularly host a whole host of private functions including: • Weddings • Birthdays • Christenings • Balls • Christmas Parties

OVERNIGHT BUSINESS PACKAGE MINIMUM 10 PEOPLE

• Anniversaries

Includes the One Day Business Package, and:

• Award Ceremonies

• Three-course dining available

• Concerts

• Proms

• Overnight accommodation • Cooked breakfast

Give your guests an event to go down in history at Farnham Castle. Get in touch with one of the Castle’s friendly Events Team today on 01252 720402 or events@farnhamcastle.com or visit www.farnhamcastle.com.

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Growing a UK Tech Hub

by Professor David Sampson, University of Surrey.

What do you need to create a tech hub like Silicon Valley?

Here are the keys: • An excellent environment that smart people want to live in; • A critical mass of talent and services to support hi-tech industries; • A state-of-the-art infrastructure to connect people to the planet; and • A nearby University to enrich the ecosystem.

Environment: Guildford sits on the edge of a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – the Surrey Hills – hiking, biking, village living on Guildford’s doorstep.

The Enterprise M3 LEP (Local Enterprise Partnership), one of 38 set up to drive economic growth of areas, is ranked 8th out of 48 sub-regions in England on quality of life

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score – and yet, we are on London’s doorstep, with Heathrow, Gatwick nearby.

Infrastructure: Guildford is well served.

The Surrey Research Park is a Santa Clara lookalike. Owned and run by the University of Surrey, it hosts 140 largely tech-focussed companies and is home to the Surrey Technology Centre – a multi-unit centre and incubation hub serving more than 100 SMEs – and a node of the worlds’ leading university incubator SETsquared, a collaboration with the universities of Bath, Bristol, Exeter, Southampton and Surrey. But there is more the nearby Guildford Business Park is currently home to Philips and Ericsson and the funky Walnut Tree Close precinct, with its collection of resident games companies.

University of Surrey: With its roots in the Battersea Poly, Surrey has always been

about science, engineering and industrial engagement. Since its move to the present adjacent sites in Guildford, it has broadened to incorporate the humanities, arts and social sciences. Its adventurous and generous academic spirit sees it more and more exploring the unexpected “knowledge territories” where disciplines intersect – for instance, the collision of technology and its societal implications in everyday life, in business, in the law, and in our health.

Virtual Connectivity: The digital infrastructure in Guildford is set to be supercharged in the near future with the Enterprise M3 LEP leading the charge.

Ambitious plans are well advanced to create a multi-terabit fibre spine and International Internet Gateway linking the greater region around Guildford with Hibernia Express, a transatlantic submarine cable passing through

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G U I L D F O R D Slough. Key to the plan is to support an earlyadopter 5G Network, expanding the region’s 5G capacity at the University of Surrey’s 5G Innovation Centre.

the games people want to play.

So what’s happening in Guildford: Digital Games, Space, 5G, Blockchain, AI …

Digital Games: Guildford as a games location was kicked off in the 1980s by Peter Molyneux and is known worldwide as the “Hollywood of Games”. Molyneaux’s and others’ successes led to today’s concentration of creative and programming talent centred on Guildford, with 1000+ games developers working in some 70 studios – still innovating.

Rocketdesk has established the world’s first 5G-enabled games hub – VR games are coming. The University’s Centre for Vision, Speech and Signal Processing (CVSSP) joined with UK Interactive Entertainment and the law firm Charles, Russell, Speechlys to launch the Galvanising Guildford Games Group. Forums like this, linking the University’s tech wonks to local games gurus, are so critical in pushing the boundaries of technology needed to produce

Space: SSTL, a global leader in baby satellites, is currently building 23 satellites and is a key manufacturer in the EU’s Galileo programme. Other space companies are joining them in Guildford – for example, Earth-i is offering high-definition, full colour video imaging from space, planning the world’s first such constellation, for sectors as diverse as financial services, farming and clean energy.

5G: 5G is a Guildford USP. 5G technology has become a catalyst for national innovation with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport’s regional test bed projects across the country. Surrey’s campus at Stag Hill is a 5G testbed, and it will soon be linked to other testbeds around the world. Players in the testbed include major telecommunications companies – BT, Vodafone, Huawei, EE and more. Europe’s first 5G controlled car demonstration took place at the University – and 5G will unlock much more, for example, machine intelligence as it becomes the driver of AI for machine-machine transactions.

Blockchain/AI: Is also happening in Guildford – for example, local company

Coinmode in payment systems for games/esports. And the University is creating another major testbed as we go to press. The skills needed to build games engines are the same ones needed to drive 5G, generate AI solutions and distributed ledger technologies, such as blockchain, and connect up satellite constellations – it all links up to create a turbocharged tech ecosystem.

So, here we are in a beautiful part of the world, surrounded by the glorious green of the English countryside, shoulder to shoulder with open, creative, smart people with all they need at their fingertips, limited only by the power of their own imaginations – Guildford, it has a lot going for it.

Professor David Sampson is ViceProvost, Research & Innovation, at the University of Surrey. The article was produced, he says, “With a little help from my friends: Steve Broome, Atti Emecz, Stuart Fenton, Caroline Fleming, Malcolm Parry, Sam Read and Keith Robson.” www.surrey-research-park.com/ www.surrey.ac.uk/

Surrey Chambers half lscape Jan2017_Layout 1 12/01/2017 11:07 Page 1

HEALTHCARE • MEDICAL RESEARCH • PHARMACEUTICALS • SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY

GUILDFORD

The Surrey Research Park Where advances in science and technology are helping to grow the UK and local economies

The Surrey Research Park is recognised as a centre of excellence in technology, science, health and engineering. Owned and managed by The University of Surrey, The Surrey Research Park currently houses over 120 businesses, including leading players such as the satellite company SSTL, BAE Systems Applied Intelligence Limited, IDBS, Optegra and many start-up businesses.

t:

01483 579693

e:

sales@surrey.ac.uk

w:

World famous science park in Guildford

Flexible letting from 150 sq ft.

Serviced suites up to 20,000 sq ft

Accommodation for start-ups right through to major corporates

Fast links to major airports, motorways, road and rail networks

Excellent amenities on site or close by, including: sports park and gym, cash machine and café.

Close links with the University of Surrey knowledge base

Idyllic waterscape and park location

Low density development

Management team on site

www.surrey-research-park.com

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Up to 67% off † Business Breakdown Cover for Chamber members Service level

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Based on Fleetwide 3 Standard rates for 3-6 vehicles. All the above prices are per vehicle per year, inclusive of IPT (Insurance Premium Tax). All prices are subject to change. Fleetwide cover does not apply to: specialist vehicles, ie: taxis, mini cabs, hire vehicles, ambulances, police vehicles, vehicles on tradeplates, minibuses, privately owned vehicles (unless used for business purposes), motorcycles and courier vehicles (all of which can be covered on Specialist rates as above), or any vehicles over 3.5 tonnes gvw.

Terms and conditions apply. *Relay and Relay Plus services are not provided at or within ¼ mile of driver’s home address.

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Full terms and conditions available on request by calling 0800 55 11 88. Business Breakdown cover is provided by Automobile Association Developments Limited (trading as AA Breakdown Services).

Relay Plus is underwritten by Acromas Insurance Company Limited. Acromas Insurance Company Limited is authorised and regulated by the Commissioner of Insurance, Financial Services Commission, Gibraltar, and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, United Kingdom. Acromas Insurance Company Limited is a member of the Association of British Insurers. Head Office: 57-63 Line Wall Road, Gibraltar. Registered Number 88716 (Gibraltar). UK brand address: Acromas Insurance Company Limited, Enbrook Park, Folkestone, Kent, CT20 3SE. Automobile Association Insurance Services Limited is an insurance intermediary authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

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De Vere Horsely Estate

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et amidst acres of Surrey parkland, De Vere Horsley Estate has history and heritage at every turn. Designed and built in 1820 by Sir Charles Barry, the architect of the Houses of Parliament, the house was later the seat of the Lovelace family who enhanced it with the bold architectural features that can still be seen throughout.

Today, the addition of a contemporary management centre, Horsley Place, and the renovation of the estate’s original stables has created modern spaces. From a business meeting to an elegant wedding day, this unique backdrop sets the tone for a memorable event.

Dining here is a relaxed affair, with a modern restaurant and two bars to choose from that serve up the very best of local and seasonal food.

When it’s time to unwind, our collection of modern bedrooms await, whether you choose to stay in the historic towers or contemporary Horsley Place. Some of our designer bedrooms effortlessly reflect with the 19th-century charm of the mansion.

Or take a stroll through our beautifully-kept grounds. Complete with a terrace, lawn, and lake, they are the ideal place for wandering, relaxing and exploring.

De Vere Horsley Estate has 51 flexible event spaces across three settings for conferences, meetings and training, along with grounds for teambuilding. Horsley Place is a modern

Management Centre where flexible spaces, neutral tones and natural light combine to create a fresh and energising backdrop. The historic mansion is home to the Great Hall with its dramatic original features, making it a grand space for private dinners and exclusive events alike.

For smaller meetings, The Court offers a choice of modern rooms, all recently refurbished with bold tones and contemporary décor, whilst still offering glimpses of the

original stonework of the old stables.

As you would expect each space offers intuitive, smart technology, high-speed Wi-Fi, nutritious food, and a dedicated conference host.

Located just outside Guildford, the estate is just five miles from J10 of the M25 with direct train routes into London Waterloo.

Devere.com/deverehorsleyestate for enquiries please contact: marc.buxey@devere.com

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Education

How a postgraduate placement can boost your business Professor Marco Mongiello from Surrey Business School answers our questions about how a business project can gain valuable help from a postgraduate student…

What are postgraduate placements and how do they benefit businesses?

A postgraduate placement is a learning activity where a Masters student performs a project that is of strategic value to a hosting company, enriching the student’s learning whilst delivering targeted problem-solving.

Ahead of the commencement of the placement, companies are able to discuss and agree on the project with the relevant Programme Director at the University. The company can then begin the selection process with the support of the postgraduate placement team as required.

During the placement, the company and the student are assisted by Business School tutors to ensure that the placement delivers value for both the company and the student.

On completion of the placement, the company is encouraged to participate in a debrief session with the tutor, with the aim to review the value created during the placement and to explore how to better progress future projects.

Is there a cost to companies when offering a postgraduate placement?

The University is grateful to the companies that offer placements and requires no payment whatsoever for the service of advertising the companies’ placements among the students. However, students will expect a fair remuneration for their work with the company and this is subject to discussion between the company and the student.

How are postgraduate placements different to the traditional professional training year?

The two types of placements are similar in many respects. And this is good news, because at the University of Surrey we have a long, solid and successful tradition of professional training years.

The main differences are that the postgraduate placements are shorter and are more focussed on delivering specific projects, which

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require advanced skills. The postgraduate students are more mature, have been trained for longer and arrive at the placement having completed the taught component of their Masters Degree, and acquired skills and knowledge in their specialism.

What are the specialist areas of business knowledge postgraduate placement students come equipped with?

These span Business Analytics, Operations and Digital Supply Chain, Human Resource Management, Marketing and Retail Marketing.

Is there a particular size or type of business that placements are designed for?

Any company can benefit from a postgraduate placement and a student can learn from working in any type and size of company.

What’s essential is the fit between the student, the project and the company. This fit is not dissimilar to that which guides companies during a normal recruitment process; a student on placement, has to be a good fit with the company culture and the other employees, and they have to be up to the required tasks. Postgraduate students also represent a tremendous opportunity for a company’s existing employees to develop their supervisory skills.

Education

What support does the Business School provide to help businesses get the most from a placement?

The Business School provides a designated tutor, who is an expert in the subject relevant to the project and well versed in facilitating the transfer of knowledge from academia to the corporate world.

They thrive in making a positive impact to meet real-world business needs. The tutor will be a regular point of contact both for the student on placement and for the company - before, during and after the placement.

How do businesses meet and match up with the right student for their needs?

The more details a company can provide about an intended placement project, the easier it is for the student to find the correct fit. As we expect some competition among companies to secure our postgraduate placements, clear descriptions of the project will stand out and be more appealing to the students than more generic offers.

Companies considering providing a placement or that wish to discuss with us how to set tasks or describe a project for a postgraduate placement, should contact Adrian Shanks (a.shanks@surrey.ac.uk).

but also he will put the company in touch with the relevant Programme Director. We like to establish a dialogue with companies and an email to Adrian is the easiest and most effective start.

What other opportunities do businesses have to partner with Surrey Business School?

Surrey Business School has a wide range of activities which accelerate innovative thinking into practice across a growing network of corporates, SMEs, start-ups and third and public sector organisations.

Our recently launched Partnership Scheme enables companies to benefit from our distinctive business knowledge, world-class academics, top international students and excellent facilities, conveniently located for connecting across Surrey and London. As a gateway to top talent and as a means of accessing thought leadership, consultancy, training and cutting-edge research Surrey Business School has the tools to help businesses understand and address the challenges they face.

Professor Marco Mongiello is Associate Dean (International), Faculty and Executive Director of Postgraduate Programmes, Surrey Business School. surrey.ac.uk/sbsÂ

The company will be able to select among the students who will have applied. However, the company can ask us to help out on this selection process if it wishes.

How do businesses find out more information and begin the placement process?

The easiest way is to get in touch with us by contacting Adrian Shanks (a.shanks@surrey.ac.uk), Adrian will be able to answer most questions,

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Interview

Two decades of innovation and growth The Sussex Innovation Centre has been helping ambitious businesses grow for over 21 years. Mike Herd, Executive Director at SINC, has been at the helm since 1997 and has overseen significant expansion over the last few years.

Interview by Ian Trevett

A

cross the South East there are several go-ahead institutions which help drive new ideas and accelerate the growth of ambitious new companies. Some have an impact beyond their direct locality and transcend county borders. An example of this is the Sussex Innovation Centre (SINC), which in spite of its name has one of its hubs next to East Croydon station.

Opened in 1996, The Sussex Innovation Centre, is a commercial business centre, nestling on the leafy University of Sussex campus near Brighton. It is a stimulating location for entrepreneurs, start-ups and innovative growing companies, offering strategic advice, a willing business support team and, for those who need it, flexible, professional office space.

“I was given a huge amount of freedom by the shareholders.

As long as I wasn’t committing fraud or laundering money they were quite happy with what we were doing.”

Executive Director Mike Herd joined soon after its inception and has been at the helm for over 21 years.

“The crucial element back then was creating a project which would be self-sustaining,” says Mike. “We wanted to avoid creating a centre which would quickly run out of funds.

“The key thing was that it was set up to be a business, not a project.

So often projects run out of money and everything stops. There was a fairly open remit in what to do with the building and it was allowed to evolve like a business as opposed to ‘Here’s your business plan, deliver that and then we’ll see what happens’.

“When I came in, it was probably an advantage that I knew absolutely nothing about small businesses. I’d come from the oil industry working as a rock physicist. I had spent the previous three or four years working in Eastern Siberia, South America and the Middle

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Mike Herd

East. Not having had a lot of experience in setting up new companies enabled me to to ask direct questions to entrepreneurs such as: ‘What’s stopping you? What do you need to grow this business and how can I help?’

“I’d made money out of science and I had some knowledge of technical businesses. I created a shop window of technology businesses and then the word started to spread.

“I was given a huge amount of freedom by the shareholders. As long as I wasn’t committing fraud or laundering money they were quite happy with what we were doing. We could generate results in terms of successful businesses being created and do it in a financially selfsustainable way.”

Interview

Destiny Pharma at the London Stock Exchange on the morning of their float in 2017

The centre soon attracted dynamic young businesses and gained momentum. But this

simplify our structure and enable us to support the university.”

presented its own problems, as Mike explains: “When we looked to grow the business and expand, it started to get more complicated.

Would the University of Brighton want to invest in something situated on the University of Sussex site? Also we were attracting interest from local investors who wanted to buy us but politically it was very difficult to bring private money into what was essentially a public sector organisation.

The University of Sussex bought out its original partners in 2003 and took over 100% ownership in 2008, which had an impact on the centre. Mike recounts the change: “We were asked to apply our model inside the university, not just to companies outside.

How could we help commercialise research, and encourage student enterprise and entrepreneurship?”

“We expect people to want to grow…

About 20-25% of those companies move into a high growth phase, and that’s a high percentage. Taking companies that don’t want to grow just clogs up the space.”

“Firstly, you create a building providing a place for people to work, which they can afford.

“Fortunately, the University of Sussex understood the strategic value and how much the university needed to be aligned with business growth. So they took the decision to buy out the other academic partners to

Mike neatly surmises the original model into a three-point plan.

“Secondly you then provide a community by having like-minded people. That sounds very simple but very few places actually do that.

“Thirdly was trying to work out what businesses needed to grow and then going out to find the expertise or the money in order to help them do it.

“We’ve built up our experience and have been able to spot where the gaps are. As an example, in the early 2000s, we had a company going through a floatation and another sourcing a big investment, and both had quite amateurish accounts records. They had local accountants but it was such a far way from what investors were looking for. What an accountant provides for a start-up wasn’t suitable for a company that was going for high growth.

“I thought that these companies have to pay for bookkeeping, payroll and basic account management. What if we provide that and then added value by teaching them how to use that financial information to understand how to grow the business, and how to do proper forecasting. That’s become a huge success.

“In a similar way there was often a lack of management experience and business knowledge, which meant we found it very difficult to attract investors into some of the companies at the time of the dotcom boom. I decided to create corporate networks and

Sussex Innovation Centre in 1996

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Interview different type of economy that you’re working with in Croydon. Brighton is a fantastic place but there aren’t that many large companies that the university can engage with.

“There’s a very big difference between being in a city centre and being on a campus.

In Croydon a lot of people will be walking in, using the property in a different way, such as our business lounge.

A startup pitching event at Sussex Innovation Croydon

recruit customer mentors, enabling the entrepreneurs to become investible. These were things nobody else was doing.”

SINC has established an enviable record of pushing small companies through rapid growth phases. Is the emphasis now on established companies that are looking to grow rather than new start-ups?

“We’re very good at helping people start a new business. We’ve got that pretty well sussed. Where I think we can provide far greater value is helping people to grow a business. That the time when most incubators push people out but actually it is a far more complex area when you are looking to build a management team, a scalable business model, and move from a couple of hundred thousand pounds a year to a couple of hundred thousand pounds a month. There’s a massive change in how a business operates and that’s where we try to put a lot of our support resources and help make that transition.

“A lot of the success we have had has been in supporting highly complex technology businesses is to find simple solutions.

“We want companies to get better valuations for investment so we help them understand and present their financial growth model. We want the companies to grow and employ graduates – so we hire the graduates, train and resource them and rent them out by the hour until the companies can afford to employ themselves.

SINC does accept early-stage start-ups and small businesses looking to grow, but all must have one vital ingredient - ambition.

“We expect people to want to grow and we deliberately put them in rooms that are

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slightly too big for them” says Mike. “The first challenge is to prove that the business model and product can work and that there is demand for it, and then how do you take that business and start growing it? About 20-25% of those companies move into a high growth phase, and that’s a high percentage. Taking companies that don’t want to grow just clogs up the space. The ones that are high growth will naturally move on from here which is what we want to see happen. We churn about 30% of the space each year.”

And what if a business isn’t showing the inclination to grow? Mike’s reply may be slightly tongue-in-cheek (or maybe it isn’t!): “We keep putting the rents up for people who aren’t doing anything. We limit how much space they can have because we don’t want them to just stay in that space, and we just keep putting pictures of other buildings under their door every morning until they get the hint!”

SINC has been expanding its reach over the last few years with a new centre close to East Croydon Station and plans for a base close to Brighton Station.

The Croydon initiative begs the obvious question - why would a Sussex initiative want a South London Centre?

“There were several reasons for Croydon.

One was that we really see the potential of that whole A23/M23 corridor and the way in which we can engage with businesses and help them. An awful lot of businesses have potential clients and business in London, so it provides a stepping stone for companies from Brighton to get into London.

From the university perspective it is a very

“The campus location offers an academic address, which is a benefit for a particular type of knowledge-based business. As a result our membership isn’t limited to Brighton and the surrounding area – we get enquiries from across the county and even further afield.

“The environment in Croydon is different.

Over the past three years the local network has got to know us very well, but now we need to get the message out further afield that we offer something quite different to most co-working or serviced office space.

Croydon is a location with great transport links into London and out into Surrey and Kent, so we want ambitious, growing, innovative companies in those areas to be considering us too.”

“The biggest mistake at Croydon was putting a picture of the University of Sussex campus on the wall, where you could see the Amex stadium in the corner. That didn’t go down too well!”

“Of course, some people look at us with complete incredulity saying: ‘But you’re called Sussex. You’re in Croydon’. The biggest mistake was putting a picture of the University of Sussex campus on the wall, where you could see the Amex stadium in the corner. From the upper levels of the Croydon building you can see the Crystal Palace Stadium, so our picture didn’t go down terribly well. But seriously it is about us being in London and trying to make the model work there, and not seeing it as North Sussex

Interview “The sectors where the Croydon community have done very well are in software development (notably in virtual and augmented reality), social enterprise and ethical finance.

“At the Sussex centre, by comparison, some of our biggest investments into high growth companies have been in biotech and drug discovery. These sectors benefit from the university environment, with the physical facilities and access to labs.

“There is a lack of space for growing businesses in Brighton who can no longer fit in the incubation hubs. If a company is on a high growth path then they may be doubling in size each year.”

“We are now developing an innovation centre on the biotech side which will be housed in the new life science building on campus, so we will be looking for lab-based companies. People don’t think of Brighton in this area but recently Enterprise Therapeutics have won £19 million funding for their drug discovery area. We had Destiny Pharma who floated in September which was the biggest UK biotech float in 2017.”

It may well be the new bio-tech Innovation Centre will open before the mooted new SINC

The open plan ‘business lounge’ workspace at Sussex Innovation Croydon

in the centre of Brighton. Opening the new centre has been a frustrating experience as Mile explains: “There was an issue in terms of the main building contractor going bust. The site is next to steps and the lift going down

research,’ which is a really satisfying thing. To see technology getting out there and actually solving a problem, that’s huge.

from the back of the station. The station side is six floors of a new office block which we hope will be the new innovation centre in Brighton and then on the other side is a new hotel. We’re in the final re-negotiations after the delays as to whether we can make that innovation centre there, which is firmly our hope. If not we’ll look elsewhere to create that centre.

about seeing an idea come to fruition and the growth an innovator has to go through in order to do that.

“There is very much a need for us to be more actively engaged with the Brighton community businesses by being in Brighton.

There is a lack of space for growing businesses who can no longer fit in the incubation hubs.

If a company is on a high growth path then they may be doubling in size each year. Where do they take a five-year lease, for how much space and how do you manage that? We want to help solve that problem and give more access to our support team. Effectively it is taking the model which has worked in Croydon and applying it back to Brighton.”

After 21 years at SINC, the obvious question is what is Mike most proud of? “I’m proud that we have had two floatations, both on the biotech side. One was Genpak back in 2000. Genpak made equipment and reagents for DNA analysis and was bought by biotechnology PLC Genetix Group for £6.5 million prior to the floatation. Secondly Destiny Pharma who floated last year.

Mike in conversation with a founder

“The key thing for me is how people change personally and realise their ambition themselves. Sometimes we work with an academic who will then come back and say ‘Actually, I’ve found this whole business side as stimulating and invigorating as my

“To be honest, it’s less about the money.

The money will flow if they’re successful; it’s

“It’s also been interesting in how the centre and the university has changed over the years.

People will often look at a university and say, ‘I tried to work with them 10 years ago and it didn’t work’. Universities have changed in the way that they work and interact with businesses. People need to be very openminded about how they work with the higher education sector to get the most out of it and for everyone to gain.

“Also start-ups still need supporting and we still need to develop the ambition, new entrepreneurs and new products and new ideas.”

And what about Mike? After two decades is he still as motivated and excited by the role?

“Absolutely. Every day I’m dealing with new ideas. What could be more stimulating and invigorating than that? There’s still more to do. We’ve been allowed to build the innovation centre as a business which is resilient and sustainable, has built its own staff and reputation, and pipelined a business.

‘My job has continued to change every year and that’s what makes it fascinating. The university has changed and Brighton as an economy has changed. We’re doing a lot more work with corporates who want to engage with start-ups and early stage businesses to see how these product innovations can be applied and grow more broadly. This is a very exciting area, where we will see substantial growth.”

www.sinc.co.uk

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Motoring

The legacy continued

by Motoring Editor, Maarten Hoffmann

T

he Mercedes-Benz SL models have been with us for over 60 years and stands as a beacon of style, elegance and panache.

As Mercedes boss Dr Zetsche once remarked: “There are around 900 million cars in the world and thousands of models, but there are only a handful of automotive icons. Our SL is one of them”. You’d be hard pressed to disagree with the good Doctor, because there’s no denying the place Mercedes-Benz’s iconic GT holds in the history of, well, iconic GTs. It’s been many a year since l drove an SL so l was delighted when it arrived on my drive. It had a lot to follow as the McLaren 720s was still awaiting collection when it arrived and having spent a week with that monster, l feared for the review of the SL. But fear not as the new SL400 is as good as ever and as stylish a drive as you will ever find.

You still have the effortless waft that is expected without rubbing it in people’s noses as it retains that slightly low-key impact. The recipe is quite simple; two seats, folding metal hard-top, front engine, rear-wheel drive and oodles of style. The new model is lighter than ever with an aluminium intensive construction resulting in a weight of only 1685kg and more efficient engines therefore it is faster and more efficient than its predecessor.

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The original 1954 300SL All SL’s are pretty fast if you hit the Axminster, with the 400 hitting 60 in 4.9 seconds and the monster SL65 AMG reaching it in 4.0 seconds aided by its 621bhp 6-litre V12. The beauty of this car is that it does all this calmly and serenely with not so much as a dribble from the dry martini you might be sipping at the time. Inside, it is all as expected. The best build quality you will ever find, the Airscarf blows warm air onto the back of your next when the roof is down, and supreme leather seats that cosset you in such a way that a journey of 1000 miles would fly past in a jiffy. This new model’s width has grown by 57mm leaving you a surprising distance from your passenger and they have managed to squeeze storage cubby holes in everywhere. My entry level SL400 comes equipped 17” alloys,

Motoring

sports suspension, an aggressive body kit, LED headlights and a sunroof in the fold away roof.

The seamless 9G-Tronic Plus gearbox works away quietly and the suspension makes you feel totally isolated from the outside world.

If the standard gearbox mode is not up your street, then the Sport mode will tighten things up considerably and shorten the changes but the Sport plus mode is far too ferocious for this style of car and is best left alone. It also comes with the funky Curve Tilt Function that was originally seen on the S-Class Coupe. The system means that the chassis with active suspension now enables the car to lean inwards by up to 2.5 degrees in bends, in a similar manner to motorbikes.

“It also comes with the funky Curve Tilt Function that was originally seen on the S-Class Coupe.”

So often we see classic, timeless car designs totally ruined when they attempt to restyle the model but here we have a car that is every bit as good, if not better, than its predecessors

and after six decades, it looks like we enter the 7th decade secure in the knowledge that one of the most stylish cars on sale today is going strong.

I am often asked what l drive as my personal car as if this might give folk some guidance on what car to buy. For the past 15 years l have driven Mercedes as, personally, l feel it is one of the finest cars on the planet. My current S-Class is a marvel of superlatives and as l only use it for less than 400 miles a year, it might also be one of the lowest mileage S-Class models in the country but l won’t be selling it anytime soon – unless l am offered a deal on the SL of course.

TECH STUFF Model tested: SL400 AMG Line Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8 Power: 367bhp Performance: 0-60mph 4.9 seconds Top speed: 155mph Economy: 36.7mpg combined Price: £76,955

Slyfield Industrial Estate, Moorfield Rd, Guildford GU1 1RU 01483 654000 SURREY CHAMBERS www.mercedes-benzofguildford.co.uk

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News

Member News Designing Diagnostics for the Future Surrey based product design consultancy Gm Design Development worked with Abingdon Health – a UK-based diagnostic group – to design the next generation of rapid diagnostic products.

Gm Design Development was commissioned to design the ADxLR5®, a new lateral flow assay reader that provides quantitative measurement of rapid diagnostic tests. The reader enables clinicians to monitor patients in real time supporting faster decision making.

Lateral flow reader Graeme Maisey

Managing Director Graeme Maisey has been designing products in the healthcare and consumer sectors for over 20 years. During that time he has successfully developed many products including blood glucose meters, a blood-monitoring tele-hub product and electrical testing equipment for electricians.

He said: “We used specialist 3D CAD software to develop the reader, including the optics, electro-mechanical components and the injection moulded components. Our experienced team worked directly with the toolmaker, overseeing the manufacturing to ensure the reader was delivered on time, on budget and met all the necessary regulatory standards.”

Gm Design Development works in partnership with companies to solve product design challenges, helping them to develop new, innovative and commercially successful products. For more information about the consultancy, services offered and examples of work, please visit www.gmdesigndevelopment.com Abingdon Health develops, manufactures and commercialises lateral flow immunoassay tests and reader systems. www.abingdonhealth.com

Growth at Roffe Swayne At 83 years old, Roffe Swayne is going from strength to strength. This is good news for many of our clients, as it means that their businesses are flourishing and that they are actively looking for the value that our services bring to help them in realising their own personal and business ambitions.

But our growth strategy has been about far more than relying on the underlying demand in our Surrey based marketplace; we have spent a lot of time over the last 18 to 24 months carefully reshaping our proposition to our prospective clients. This has involved re-establishing our core values; to collaborate with our clients, to be ambitious for them and to be versatile in how we help our clients.

Our vision is simply to deliver the highest level of client service to help our clients achieve their financial ambitions. This represents an evolution of our ethos which has always been to develop long-term relationships with clients and intermediaries who we work closely with.

We spent time listening to our clients’ needs to ensure we offer a service which is relevant and valued. Importantly, we also reflected on how our brand and particularly our website supports our key messages and our need to connect digitally in an effective way with both clients and referrers. Our brand has therefore developed in a way which we hope reflects a well-established and trusted business offering, a service which is centred on the needs of a client. Their requirements are often multi-faceted and don’t necessarily fit around a standard list of predetermined services.

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Our website is therefore built for our clients first and foremost; it is not all about us. We have worked hard to develop content which is directly relevant to our target markets and which will provide a useful point of reference for visitors.

Our website will also feature a client portal very shortly; an area where clients can transact certain types of business more easily with us online, enhancing and embracing technology. This is about making it easier for clients to do business with us; fitting around their needs, not our own.

Our website also features content from our drivers of growth campaign, which aims to provide business owners with insight into how other businesses have achieved their growth potential. The campaign has been fascinating and enlightening, affording us the opportunity of interviewing a diverse group of CEOs operating in a wide variety of sectors.

Our website will continue to evolve as we continue to listen to our clients and as we seek to explore further the possibilities that technology will bring.

Article by Jeremy Gardner, Managing Partner at Roffe Swayne chartered accountants, tax and business advisers in Godalming, Surrey. www.roffeswayne.com

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New Members

New Members Surrey Chambers of commerce welcomes its latest member companies BUSINESS SUPPORT Business Doctors - Surrey Heath Contact: David Oakley Tel: 07921 282084 www.businessdoctors.co.uk Business Doctors Contact: Neil Taylor Tel: 07738 122866 www.businessdoctors.co.uk/dorking PaySavi Limited Contact: David Harrison Tel: 07714 434942 www.paysavi.com RJM Partners Ltd Contact: Ray Murphy Tel: 07815 293353 www.rjmpartners.co.uk

CONSTRUCTION & PROPERTY The Rustic Bar Company Contact: Louise Yearwood Emai: therusticbarcompany@gmail.com

FOOD & DRINK Edible Solutions Ltd Contact: Alexa Hidalgo-Humphreys Tel: 01483 662013 www.ediblesolutions.co.uk

HEALTH & WELL-BEING Mind Your Business Contact: Geraldine Joaquim Tel: 01798 344879 www.mind-yourbusiness.co.uk

CHARITY Governors for Schools Contact: Eoghan Kelly Tel: 02072 889546 www.governorsforschools.org.uk Peterson’s Fund for Children Contact: Charlene Peterson Tel: 07703 284233 petersonsfundforchildren.org

IT & COMMUNICATIONS CM System Designs Contact: Sigal Kellermann Tel: 08006 906409 www.cmsystemdesigns.com Itarmi Contact: Jenni Riley Tel: 07515 544244 www.itarmi.com

MOTORING (MANUFACTURING, REPAIRS & SALES) SG Fleet UK Limited Contact: Bertie Morse Tel: 08448 545100 www.sgfleet.com/uk

RESTAURANT Esher Tandoori Ltd Contact: MD Bahar Uddin Tel: 01372 477111 www.eshertandoori.com

TRAINING & EDUCATION The Performance Business Contact: Lucy Windsor Tel: 01932 888885 www.theperformance.biz

TRANSPORT & STORAGE Black Fox (Freight & Logistics) Ltd Contact: Darren Playfoot Tel: 01483 829588 www.blackfoxfreight.co.uk

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Chamber Events

SURREY CHAMBERS EVENTS DIARY 2018 To find a full list of our 2018 events visit https://www.surrey-chambers.co.uk/event-listing/

Sept

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CHAMBER POWER BREAKFAST - FINANCIAL PLANNING FOR YOUR BUSINESS 07:45 - 09:30

Sept

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HOT TOPIC - EPSOM 07:45 - 09:30

Price: Member Rate: £20.00 +VAT | Non Member Rate: £30.00

Price: Member Rate: £20.00 +VAT | Non Member Rate: £30.00

+VAT

+VAT

Event Location: Epsom Downs Racecourse, Epsom Downs, EPSOM

Event Location: De Vere Venues - Horsley Park, Horsley Park,

KT18 5LQ

Ockham Road South, East Horsley KT24 6DU Come and join Surrey Chambers of Commrce at this breakfast being held at Horsley Park. At the Chamber we want to discuss the topics we know are affecting our members. We want to help them grow and meet new customers. Joining us at Horsely Park is our guest speaker, Brian Doubleday from Doubleday Consulting Ltd who will be discussing financial planning for your business.

Sept

14

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GUILDFORD NETWORKING LUNCH YVONNE ARNAUD THEATRE 12:00 - 14:00 Price: Member Rate: £20.00 +VAT | Non Member Rate: £25.00 +VAT

Event Location: Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Millbrook, Guildford GU1 3UX Teaming up with Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, we are hosting a lunchtime networking event which will be a great opportunity to meet new clients in the area. Running from 12 until 2pm, you have the chance to join us for a buffet lunch in the beautiful Vanbrugh room. This is a fantastic chance to make some new contacts and find out what’s happening in the local area. These events have been created due to their high demand, and spaces are limited, so make sure you don’t miss out and book on now.

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Join Surrey Chambers of Commerce at Epsom Downs Racecourse for our next Hot Topic event. There are many issues facing businesses on a regular basis and our ‘Hot Topic’ events are designed to keep businesses up to date with issues affecting them either locally, regionally or nationally on a range of subjects that are hot in the business environment right now.

Chamber Events

19

Sept

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MERCEDES-BENZ BREAKFAST 08:00 - 09:45

Sept

25

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AN INTRODUCTION TO EXPORT OPERATIONS - STAINES

Price: Member Rate: £20.00 +VAT | Non Member Rate: £25.00

09:00 - 16:30

+VAT

Price: Member Rate: £240.00 +VAT | Non Member Rate:

Event Location: Mercedes-Benz World, Brooklands Drive, Weybridge

£380.00 +VAT

KT13 0SL

Event Location: Spelthorne Borough Council, Council Offices,

Join us for our regular networking breakfast at Mercedes-Benz World.

At Surrey Chambers of Commerce we believe in connecting our members with as many new businesses and contacts as possible. This breakfast event allows businesses to network freely or in a formatted style and sometimes we may even have a selected speaker. Feel free to join us and have a full English Breakfast, network, then take a tour of Mercedes-Benz worlds’ fantastic facilities and showroom.

Knowle Green, Surrey TW18 1XB This export training course is designed to provide an overview of the terminology, procedures and documentation used in the export process and to promote awareness of the responsibilities and obligations of all parties. Attendees should should gain an overview of the export process from first enquiry to arrival of the goods at destination and the course will highlight the possible pitfalls that can await the unwary. It will include a summary of Incoterms®2010 Rules.

Sept

27

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SURREY YOUNG PROFESSIONALS NETWORKING AND COCKTAIL MASTERCLASS 18:00 - 21:00

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MEMBERS NETWORKING EVENING WEYBOURNE HOUSE 18:00 - 20:00 Price: Member Rate: Free | Non Member Rate: £20.00 +VAT Event Location: Weybourne House, Weybourne House, Hitherbury Close, Surrey GU2 4DR As a member of Surrey Chambers, enjoy this complimentary event at the beautiful Weybourne House in Guildford. Our members networking evenings are your chance to meet fellow members and network with new businesses from all around Surrey.

Members of the Surrey Chambers team will be on hand to talk to you about all of the different aspects of your membership and to answer any questions you may have.

Price: Member Rate: £10.00 +VAT | Non Member Rate: £10.00 +VAT

Event Location: Komo Bar, Weymead House, Mill Brook, Guildford, Surrey GU1 3YA We are back at KOMO bar Guildford, for the next installment of Surrey Young Professionals, this time with a twist! We are offering our Young Professionals a chance to make their own drinks.

KOMO will provide a cocktail masterclass for all attendees, you will be able to make and drink your own cocktail and still have the chance to network with other liked minded young individuals. Even after the session you can enjoy some nibbles, drinks, and music whilst gaining some new networking skills!

SYP is a chance to meet other like-minded professionals from around Surrey who are under the age of 30; networking, building relationships and sharing business in the early stages of their career in a relaxed format style.

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Golf

Surrey Chambers Golf Society Why not join a thriving Business Networking Golf Society?

Now in its 22nd year, it is open to all business people to join.

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urrey Chambers of Commerce Golf Society (SCGS)

These were the winner Anton Males (handicap 14) and the

has been running for 22 years and offers the

runner-up Simon Smith (19), both of whom scored 36 points.

opportunity to play some of Surrey’s finest courses and to entertain guests in a relaxed and mildly

At May’s event, Coombe Hill, the subtle (and some not so subtle!) undulations and extremely fast condition of the

competitive environment. Open to all business owners or

greens led to tough scoring conditions and only the winner

senior executives, the society’s main strength is the quality of

played to his handicap. Mike Turner scored 36 points,

the venues attended, with Swinley Forest, St. George’s Hill,

awarding a prize to him was Simon Cripps of Elite Office

New Zealand and Hankley Common to name 4 of a stunning

Systems, our sponsor.

monthly selection.

The first half of the year has seen SCGS visiting some spectacular venues.

In January Mike Turner won at Hankley Common with 41

June saw SCGS visiting the Royal Automobile golf club, a new course for 2018. Even with near-perfect playing conditions, the Old Course proved a tough nut to crack with only the overall winner beating his handicap. That was

points, the day was kindly sponsored by Neil Harradine from

Gordon Fleming with 37 points, playing off 16 handicap. Prizes

Eclectic Interiors.

were awarded by sponsor Alan Smith, who is the founder

February SCGS were at St George’s Hill, a very popular day

and MD of Telguard. Member Roy Stansbury was also belated

in our calendar. Member Hew Whitefoord won the day with

awarded the 2017 Order of Merit Trophy which he won with a

38 points and prizes were presented by Simon Smith from

total of 109 points.

Maris Interiors, who were the sponsor for the day.

Our March day saw SCGS visiting West Hill GC, This famous

Our last fixture had us visiting the outstanding Worplesdon Golf club, where members played for the Bill Ward Memorial

old course certainly bared its teeth in the challenging

Cup. Our winner (who was also the sponsor for the day) was

conditions, with only the eventual members’ winner (Mike

Jon Da Costa of RSM with 36 points playing off 15, with Anton

Simons of MPL Interiors) beating his handicap with 37 points.

Males of Pulse Fixings falling just short with 35 points (14).

Prizes were awarded by the day’s sponsor Guy Hannell, who is a director of Beard Construction.

YouBecome sponsored the April fixture at Walton Heath.

Our remaining 2018 fixtures include some truly excellent courses, and we would love to see you, your colleagues and clients there.

Conditions were excellent with warm weather and soft

For more information please contact

greens, yet despite this only two golfers played to their

Tara.Wavre@Surrey-Chambers.co.uk

handicaps, proving the course still offers a stern test of golf.

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Golf

2018 FIXTURES WEDNESDAY 12TH SEPT

THURSDAY 11TH OCT

New Zealand GC

Camberley Heath GC

Coffee/Bacon rolls, tee off from 8:45am, 18 Holes, late lunch, ends 5:30pm

Bacon rolls, tee off from 10:00am, late lunch, ends 5:30pm

SCGS & SCC Members £115.00 + VAT Guests £130.00 + VAT

SCGS & SCC Members £75.00 + VAT Guests £90.00 + VAT

“Excellent Society, brilliantly run, can’t fault anything” JASON LURIE

THURSDAY 8TH NOV Swinley Forest GC

“I think we must be pretty unique to have such a regularly well attended golf days throughout the year – testimony to the quality of the courses and the fact that we have a really big core of business players that enjoy meeting up with each other” ANDREW LANE

Bacon rolls, tee off 8:45am, 18 Holes, late lunch, ends 5:30pm SCGS & SCC Members £135.00 + VAT Guests £150.00 + VAT

TUESDAY 4TH DEC Woking GC Bacon rolls, tee off 9:10am, 18 Holes, followed by lunch, Ends 5:30pm SCGS Members £85.00+ VAT Guests £100.00 + VAT

Swinley Forest GC

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Direct Mail Made Easy!

Do you send out brochures, flyers, leaflets, letters or packets to your customers? If you do, you need Mailing Expert!

Delivering Communications Letters are amazing. They lift hearts, inspire dreams and fuel desire.

A letter spends quality time with your customer. Mailing Expert helps bring letters to life so your message is clearly heard.

Whether it's one or two letters, hundreds of packets or magazines or a mailing campaign for thousands there's lots of special postage rates that are designed to save you money. As a member of the Direct Marketing Association and with over 60 years industry experience, Mailing Expert has in-depth knowledge of all the Royal Mail special deals. Customers choose us to help them get the best postage rates.

Customers We are Mailing Expert. We deliver smiles. We work with fabulous people and help them build powerful mailing campaigns that make incredible things happen. We love working with everyone; from sole traders to multinationals we create letters, leaflets, packets and parcels that build brands and spark delight.

Budgets Our customers trust us to find the best postal rates for their mailing campaign.

We know a thing or two about weights and packaging, data cleansing and data management. If you have a budget of between £25 to £250,000 we are ideally placed to help you maximise your buying power.

Print • Data • Mail • Email • Design • Leaflet Distribution tel: 01825 98 30 33 fax: 01825 98 30 34 email: info@mailingexpert.co.uk web: mailingexpert.co.uk 6 Horsted Square, Bellbrook Business Park, Uckfield, East Sussex TN22 1QG SURREY CHAMBERS

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Sponsorship

Sponsor a Surrey Chambers event

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urrey Chambers of Commerce holds over 150 events a year spread across the county. We host regular breakfast meetings, industry specific forums and corporate dinners perfect for entertaining clients.

These events are designed to give you the chance to enhance your business network, find new customers and local suppliers, and meet other dynamic business people.

Sponsoring a Surrey Chambers event allows you to raise your profile and brand awareness within the county and showcase your expertise as a company. By sponsoring an event you can take advantage of the Surrey Chambers of Commerce subscription base and reach your target audience.

It’s the perfect opportunity to make new connections and be seen to be leading and influencing.

What can I sponsor?

With over 150 events a year there can be a lot to choose from. Surrey Chambers hosts a wide variety of events and all of these can be sponsored.

• Hot Topics – We react to the latest news and trends affecting the business community and run a number of targeted events throughout the year. They provide a great opportunity to get in front of senior decision makers but often come up at short notice. They tackle topics such as Brexit, cyber security, pensions and much more.

• Property and Construction Forums – A series of events around issues affecting businesses working in the construction and property industries.

• Business Women in Surrey Events – Business Women in Surrey is a specific stream of events designed to highlight and celebrate the achievements of business women in Surrey.

• Flagship – Our flagship events include an annual summer BBQ, President’s drinks reception and an annual Christmas lunch.

• Chamber Power Breakfasts – Our Power Breakfasts are a fantastic opportunity for businesses to connect in a friendly and relaxed environment.

If you choose to sponsor a Surrey Chambers event, you will receive complimentary tickets to the event as well as your stand/pop-up banners and promotional literature, with branding on badges and your delegates list. You will also receive promotion before, during and after the event across all Surrey Chambers social media channels, and press coverage in the Surrey Chambers of Commerce Business magazine.

If you are interested in sponsoring a Surrey Chambers of Commerce event, please contact: Molly.Enser@surrey-chambers.co.uk or call 01483 735540

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Membership

Join the Chamber Can your business afford not to be a member of Surrey Chambers of Commerce?

“Surrey Chambers of Commerce is the county’s largest independent, not-for-profit business support organisation that helps businesses to connect locally, nationally and globally in order to gain customers, suppliers and knowledge.”

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itting at the heart of the business community, Surrey Chambers of Commerce connects you to opportunities, skills, knowledge and valuable contacts. We can help you grow and develop, by promoting your business, introducing you to new customers, keeping you informed and representing you locally, regionally and nationally.

With a membership representing businesses of all sizes across every sector of the economy, the Chamber works hard to ensure that the continued prosperity of Surrey takes into account the needs of business, as well as providing a range of high quality services to help businesses grow and meet new potential customers, including making introductions into over 40 countries.

Surrey Chambers of Commerce is an integral part of the Surrey business support network and alongside its partners offers specialist advice, knowledge and information on a wide range of issues facing local businesses.

We can: • Help you to find new customers – raise your profile, increase your brand awareness and generate new business by using our website, publications and database to communicate with thousands of business people.

• Connect you to other businesses – we run over 100 events a year that give you the chance to enhance your business network,

find new customers and meet like-minded and other successful business people.

• Expand your network overseas – we provide friendly, professional advice and assistance and help you obtain necessary export documentation. Our relationship with 28 accredited overseas British Chambers means we can introduce you to our global network of experts to make your journey much easier.

• Develop you and your workforce’s knowledge and skills – we run a range of training events throughout the year and can introduce you to a variety of training providers.

• Represent you – we believe it is important that you and your business are fairly represented locally, regionally, nationally and where appropriate, internationally on issues affecting business. We work closely with Surrey County Council, the eleven local borough councils, district and two Local Enterprise Partnerships and we feedback and provide input to the British Chambers of Commerce who talk directly to government, influencing policy and strategic decisions.

• Support your local community – we are passionate about contributing to the wider community and encourage you to work with us. We support a variety of local initiatives, providing you with the chance to give something back, whilst raising your company profile.

• Save you money – we can provide you with a variety of discounts designed to save your company money. As well as national deals you will benefit from exclusive discounts offered by other Chamber members. You too can offer a special deal to a member.

Surrey Chambers Members have access to four key services for your protection and peace of mind: • ChamberHR – advice line and website resources • ChamberLegal – advice line and website resources • ChamberH&S – advice line and website resources • ChamberTax – advice lines for taxation and VAT All of these advice lines will be accessed via one phone number – 01455 852037 and the HR and legal lines are available 24/7, 365 days a year.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? If you would like any further information about joining Surrey Chambers of Commerce please contact us. We look forward to hearing from you.

Call: 01483 735540 Email: molly.enser@surrey-chambers.co.uk Visit: www.surrey-chambers.co.uk

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Be Safe With Us Did you know that Chamber members have unlimited access to a range of essential business support services.

ChamberHR

ChamberHealth & Safety

ChamberLegal

ChamberTax

These services give you unlimited access to no less than five business advice lines and a website which features over 750 free downloadable template documents.

Believe it or not all these services are included in your membership fee – you will have nothing extra to pay!

These services offer members real protection and peace of mind. To ensure that you can have access to these valuable services all you need to do is join.

Don’t delay… join today! Call 01483 735540

007-BSL1-V1

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