HARLOW STORIES FOR HDCC

Issue 2 – Communication - 2017

HARLOW is 70 70 people to know in Harlow

“I’ve always loved touring with Tony Hadley, the most important thing for him is to have a laugh and enjoy!”

Harlow musician and tutor Phil Williams on his musical career

BACK TO BASICS Old school marketing still works

FOR MEMBERS OF HARLOW & DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND SUPPORTERS www.harlowchamber.co.uk

No ads.

No clutter.

Harlow Stories Magazine was created by Magnificent Stuff Ltd. www.magnificentstuff.net

Harlow Stories - Issue 2

Hello and Welcome

Contents

to the second edition of Harlow Stories “A refreshing publication produced in association with Harlow & District Chamber of Commerce, with a focus on good news stories and entrepreneurial inspiration in the Harlow and West Essex region.”

Noticeboard & Business Awards......................2 Letters......................................3 Rob Halfon MP.........................4

Stories remains advertisement (and indeed, advertorial) free. We also don’t accept paid editorial. We feel that having this independence from advertising allows the magazine to thrive and means that it’s not ‘broken up’ by extraneous messages.

There are plenty of opportunities, in excellent publications, out there for anyone who wants to place advertising for their businesses!

Local Events & Networking.....5 Communication........................6 70 People you should know...10

The Magazine, at risk of sounding like something from The League of Gentlemen, is produced by local people for local businesses. Our aim is to help, attract, inspire, motivate and intrigue readers. So with that in mind, each issue has a theme or a red thread running through it.

Harlow Development..............12

The theme for this issue is ‘communication’ – how can our businesses improve their communication skills with their clients and suppliers? What role does communication play in the success or failure of an enterprise? How important social media is when building a business?

Entrepreneurs........................16

We welcome any and all feedback and would be very glad to hear your views on our magazine. For now though we hope you enjoy the read!

Harlow is 70...........................13

Life Story - Phil Williams.......18 Charities.................................20

Emma & Steve @ magnificent stuff Storytelling marketeers.

Produced with thanks to: Magnificent Stuff Content and Production www.magnificentstuff.net Anton Group Printing www.antongroup.co.uk BMS Distribution www.bestmailing.co.uk PDT Design Graphic Design / Art Director www.pdtdesign.co.uk Craig Fordham Photography www.craigfordhamphotographer.com Cover shot: © Craig Fordham

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HDCC Noticeboard Welcome to the 2nd edition of the relaunched Harlow & District Chamber of Commerce magazine.

Join the HDCC! The Harlow and District Chamber of Commerce are where local business, public sector, education and voluntary communities come together for mutual benefit.

We have received a lot of positive feedback about the November edition.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to tell us what they thought.

Joining is a great opportunity to increase awareness of your organisation, find out what’s happening in Harlow and to get to know and understand local businesses. You’ll also get to meet business owners and people in all sectors.

The 2016 Harlow Business Awards launch on April 6th, nominations close at the end of June and the Awards Dinner takes place on October 5th There are 8 categories again this year. More information can be found at www.harlowchamber.co.uk Many thanks to our sponsors at the bottom of this page.

If you are not sure about joining the HDCC why not come along to a meeting to experience what we are all about? We welcome visitors and you will be able to network with other Harlow businesses (bring along plenty of business cards).

The next Harlow Business Exhibition takes place at the Manor of Groves on June 8th. There are a few Stands still available. Find out more at www.harlowbusinessexhibition.co.uk

We are very keen to attract more local organisations to the Chamber of Commerce. With over 200 members, we are ideally placed to introduce people in the business, voluntary, education and public sectors to each other.

Details of our monthly meetings and some other local events can be found on our website calendar.

Ian Hudson General Manager, Harlow & District Chamber of Commerce www.harlowchamber.co.uk 07817 778870

The application form can be found at www.harlowchamber.co.uk/join-the-hdcc

2017 Harlow Business Awards Entries for the 2017 Business Awards open in April and close at the end of June.

Organisations in the Harlow area are eligible to enter.

HDCC run the Business Awards alongside the Heart4Harlow Community Awards

Sponsors for this year are: Small Business - Greenway Business Centre

The awards are open to any business or organisation operating in the Harlow and District area.

Social Media - Oakmont Construction

You can enter your own organisation or nominate another

New Business - Price Bailey

Entry is free and an organisation can enter or be nominated for up to 3 categories

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Innovation - Longmores Solicitors Young Person - Harlow College

Medium/Large Business - Sir Charles Kao UTC Customer Care & Service - Bidvest Employer of the Year - Stansted Airport

Harlow Stories - Issue 2

Letters

New Chamber Members

It’s incredibly important to write stuff down and share it.

Communication is key to relationship building and having something hand-created by someone else is becoming increasingly precious.

Dear Stories, Just received and read a copy of Harlow Stories which is very impressive with good local stories and pictures.

As a local Harlow based charity I wondered if we could be considered in a future edition as I noticed you do include charitable work towards the back of the publication?

The Michael Roberts Charitable Trust (MRCT) has been working in Harlow since 1997 and currently operated Maybury Open Door, Harlow Foodbank and the Bounty Club.

Gary Knott Director of Community Services Michael Roberts Charitable Trust (MRCT) www.mrct.org.uk Thanks for your really positive feedback Gary.

We appreciate you taking the time to get in touch. As I’m sure you can imagine we have been inundated with businesses keen to feature in the publication so it’s a bit of a first come first served process!

We have bagged you a spot in the next issue though!

Pardon Chambers Architects Nicola Chambers www.pardonchambers.com Birketts Solicitors Beth Baird www.birketts.co.uk St Clare Hospice Hospice Amy Jacobs www.stclarehospice.org.uk Apex Medical Records Medical Records Jamie Borg www.apexmedicalrecords.com City Information Mobile Phone App Layne Eadie www.cityinformation.com Public Health England Public Health Michael Beard www.gov.uk/phe/harlow The Help Business Handyman services Carlow Pacheco www.thehelpbusiness.co.uk

Dear Stories, Attending the launch party and seeing the publication for the first time as new chamber member I got the feeling that the magazine is more than just “another magazine” as it focuses on the people, the community and new developments in Harlow! I can therefore relate to some of the articles highlighting places I have seen and people I have met. The magazine also highlights events or projects around my area that I would not have been aware of otherwise, making it more informative and relevant.

Since a lot of Aspray’s business comes from word of mouth and networking the first edition’s article about networking was really useful and very affective and for any person reading the magazine for the first time it would be a real benefit to re visit the issue!

As a new business in Harlow I am looking forward to the next addition to see what great tips and treats they have install for us.

Well done to the chamber of commerce and publisher for putting together a well thought out and visually pleasing magazine.

Andre Director - Aspray - Harlow Thank you very much for those kind words, Andre - Good to see you at the launch, too!

WE REALLY WELCOME YOUR FEEDBACK! Please share your thoughts with us by emailing to info@magnificentstuff.net or writing a good old fashioned letter and posting it to: Harlow Stories Magazine, Best Mailing Services, Merlin Way, Epping CM16 6HR

Harlow Rugby Club Alan Brooking www.harlowrugbyclub.com Naked Truth PR PR Agency Diahanne Hiney www.diahannerhiney.com A Virtual Presence Virtual Assistant Lisa Dellow www.avirtualpresence.co.uk HTS Group Building Maintenance Dan Green www.htsgroup.co.uk Your Harlow Online News Michael Casey www.yourharlow.com Dor2Dor Harlow Leaflet Distribution Gale Summers www.dor2dor.com

We’ll publish the best ones here!

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Harlow Stories Your MP Writes...

By Rob Halfon MP Investment in Harlow - Building an Even Better Harlow for workers for families and for businesses.

Dear reader,

The Government is investing in our town to build an even better Harlow for workers, families and businesses. I work hard to champion our town and to bring us the jobs, businesses, infrastructure, housing and education that we need. After hard campaigning, it is great that the Government has made five huge investments in Harlow’s future.

1) PHE - Since I became MP, I have been campaigning to relocate the labs of Public Health England from Salisbury and Colindale to Harlow, and I am delighted that this campaign has been a success. The previous Chancellor, George Osborne, announced that both of the labs will be moving to our town. The move is worth nearly half a billion pounds worth of investment into Harlow, and is predicted to bring in 10,000 jobs. In his announcement, Mr Osborne stated that the new facilities in Harlow will include a “leading centre for research, health improvement and protection” and that they would enable the “continued development of world-leading work on international health threats.”

2) Enterprise Zone - The Harlow Enterprise Zone was created with millions of pounds of Government investment and has the capacity to generate up to 5,000 jobs for our town. Arrow Electronics and Raytheon have already signed 15 year leases on the site. On top of this, Pearson Education have just announced that they will be moving to Harlow’s Enterprise Zone and investing an extra £25million in our town. The zone benefits from reduced red-tape for businesses, lower tax levels, super fast broadband, and employment incentives.

3) Manufacturing Centre at Harlow College – The Government have given £2.8 million of funding towards Harlow College’s new Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Centre. The state-of-the-art equipment will revolutionise engineering training at Harlow College and be a key vehicle for the delivery of Engineering Apprenticeships. I am honoured to be officially opening the building during National Apprenticeships Week in a few months’ time.

4) J7a - Alongside Essex County Council, the Government has announced support and funding for a new junction to be built on the M11. Back in 2007, before I was even a Member of Parliament, I started a campaign called ‘fed up with Harlow traffic’ to get an extra motorway junction built for our town. Since I became MP in 2010, I have worked hard to bring this extra junction to Harlow to help hard pressed Harlow motorists. Whilst I realise that while this is a difficult decision for some, it is incredibly important for the future of the whole of Harlow. It will unlock more housing and unlock more money to rebuild our town centre.

It means more jobs, more businesses and more prosperity, all which will help build an even better Harlow.

5) Harlow North Garden Town - The Government is helping to support the delivery of 8,500 new homes in Harlow and Gilston Garden Town. The £500,000 funding for the Garden Villages, Towns and Cities Programme will make sure that all plans are sustainable, the right infrastructure is provided at the right time and delivery is sped up as much as possible to ensure we get the housing we desperately need as quickly as we can. The developers, Places for People, will be investing £500million to boost our infrastructure even more and to regenerate our town centre. All this work will create thousands of new jobs and apprenticeships for local people.

On top of all these important investments, the Government is also giving money to those who need it most in our community.

Along with other targeted areas in Essex, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government announced that, Harlow will be receiving £891,300 as part of the Government’s Homelessness Prevention Trailblazers scheme. This money is to look at innovative new ways to prevent homelessness and boost early intervention to avoid people being made homeless in the first place.

We are building a Harlow that works for everyone.

Very best wishes,

Rob @halfon4harlowmp

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Harlow Stories - Issue 2

NETWORKING EVENTS Harlow & District Chamber of Commerce The HDCC promotes a number of events throughout Harlow: www.harlowchamber.co.uk/events.

For more information, contact us on 01279 271104

WIBN Harlow Women in Business Networking meets at Miller and Carter in Harlow. This women-only event meets at midday one Tuesday each month.

More information can be found at www.wibn.co.uk/groups-members/harlow

Stansted Business Breakfast Informal and friendly networking group which meets at the Radisson Blu Hotel at Stansted Airport every second Friday at 7am.

Contact Eric Chorley on 01279 324837

Stansted Business Forum This group meets at the Ash Pub on the first Friday of the month and is friendly and informative.

Contact Peter James on 01279 813318

Events in Harlow…

Harlow Professionals Meets on the last Friday of the month at the Park Inn Hotel. This is an informal meeting with no need to book – just turn up with loads of business cards and enjoy the (free) lunch with other Harlow professionals.

Just outside of Harlow…

Base4Business An excellent resource aimed help you to locate the most suitable local networks and groups of professional networks in your chosen area, with an informative synopsis for each local network you so can select the perfect group to suit your business. www.base4business.biz

Harlow BNI Meets every Tuesday at the Park Inn Hotel at 6:30 for a 7am start. BNI networking follows a strict agenda designed to maximise results – a formula that has proven itself over many years.

If interested please contact Robin Stretton on robin@bnisoutheast.co.uk

BeCollaboration Run by Harlow based business owner, Jill Tiney BeCollaboration meets around London, Herts, Essex and Surrey. For more information visit www.becollaboration.com

MEETUP & EVENTBRITE There are fantastic resources for info on the latest and closest events, they even select relevant gatherings based on your personal interests.

Business Networking With the exception of HDCC, a number of the groups to the right operate a ‘one member per type of business’ policy, so it’s always best to make contact before turning up.

Remember to always take business cards. A lot of these groups will have ‘Power Teams’ or similar groups, where members of related industries work and communicate closely together. It’s often worth getting to know these people in the group most closely associated to your industry.

PREPARE A PITCH COME AS YOU ARE

If you would like to list an event or business networking opportunity in the next issue of Stories please get in touch: info@magnificentstuff.net

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COMMUNICATION There are three primary reasons why people communicate: • To make or maintain relationships, • To share or receive information, • To persuade.

Top Tips We have 50 staff remotely at our 22 centres I find WhatsApp a fantastic tool to communicate with them at either individual, centre or all staff level!

Especially as I am now doing a weekly vlog to them all!

Andy Peasey Ruggerbugs

Top Tips Whenever you’re communicating remember it’s a combination of: 1) The right message 2) To the right audience at 3) The right time…

Emma Knewstub Magnificent Stuff

“Communication is achieved with any combination of spoken words, written text, nonverbal sounds, physical gestures and facial expression.” www.reference.com 06

Harlow Stories - Issue 2

COMMUNICATION

Top Tips

Communication has always been rather important to us humans. As we’ve progressed as a species, the levels to which we communicate haven’t dramatically fluctuated… but the methods or means by which we communicate most definitely have. Fundamentally, human grunts have evolved into speech, and language into the power of print (and the use of emojis! ☺).

1) PERSONAL. 2) CARING. 3) DELIVERY.

My top tips for communication in business are:

Paul Wilson Harlow Academy

Today we are literally inundated with media on multiple screens and devices. Combine this with actual human interaction and we’re juggling an incredible influx of communication and information - in both our business and our personal lives!

is front-of-mind. The content of the emails is generally irrelevant but it’s like walking past the same dry cleaners every day. The time comes when you actually need a dry cleaner, and you naturally go to the one that you’re familiar with. The one you pass daily.

inspire or provoke. Larger brands make sure each and every message meets their audience and resonates with them. Think Nectar and Clubcard and the like – their emails are carefully crafted to meet your life stage, purchasing decision or circumstance.

We thought that we’d look at four different aspects of communication that are effective in today’s business world. Please have a read and send us your thought or comments!

Having an audience is fundamental.

It’s imperative to have some form of data-capture procedure on your website or landing pages, and do collect business cards and LinkedIn with people you meet. Collecting contacts is one thing, but you also need to collate them into an accessible format. Once you have developed a mailing list, recipients will fall into one of the following categories:

Most of us though are ‘time poor’ and have financial constraints. So there is another tactic we can take. We can be ourselves. We can make our brand, our service, and our personality come to life through the power of words in emails.

E-MAIL

According to Lifewire.com 205 billion email messages were sent per day in 2016 - meaning almost 2.4 million emails are sent every second and some 74 trillion emails are sent per year. By contrast, the Radicati Group’s estimate for 2009 was 1.4 billion emails sent per day.

Making your e-mail stand out from the rest has never been so important.

Repeating messages and recurring messages can actually work. We receive a weekly sales email from a supplier, generally at the same time every week.

Normally these would be ignored but the recurrence means this supplier

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• Prospects who know very little or nothing about your offering • Prospects you want to engage and build a relationship • Prospects you need to convert and make a sale • Existing Customers – you can upsell/cross-sell to or use as an advocate You can then segment your audience and tailor your messages dependent on their need… to educate, inform,

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Try this. As you sit down to craft your email, imagine you are writing it to a friend. No flashy logos, or embedded video content. It just needs to be YOU. Share some insight or share what you’ve been up to, share, share, share.

It engages people as it stands out.

It creates a relationship and it keeps you front of mind. For inspiration it’s worth signing up to emails from these guys, they are great examples of this style of email communication: • CH Accountancy www.chaccountancy.co.uk • Mark Creaser www.idealresult.co.uk

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DIRECT MAIL

Top Tips Whenever you’re communicating remember it’s a combination of: 1) Know your audience and tailor messages appropriately 2) Enable people to see the bigger picture about why you are doing something 3) Always follow up with people so that they are aware of outcomes Andrew Bramidge Harlow Enterprise Zone

The growth of digital marketing has seen the decline of more traditional methods. This does not mean that this medium has become invalid, quite the opposite. The dearth of direct mail (particularly in marketing terms) now works better than ever before because it ‘cuts through’. We no longer get hundreds of letters through the post, so when it does arrive it is no longer received with the same hostility or disregard as it once was.

Recent studies have shown that people feel valued when receiving direct mail and there are numerous articles available showing it’s efficiency when used alongside other methods as part of a concerted campaign.

If you consider using direct mail it’s always best to talk to an expert in the field, such as Chamber member Lyn Reed at Best Mailing Services UK, www.bestmailing.co.uk.

SOCIAL MEDIA

The power of communication via social media has become a ‘given’ and we could fill this magazine twice over with advice and correct practices. As a communication tool it’s extraordinarily powerful.

Here are a few tips from Robert Halfon, MP for Harlow, who has always used social media to great effect: • Treat Social Networking like a religion. If you’re going to use social media, use it properly. There is no point in joining social networking sites and rarely providing updates. If you’re going to do it, you have to believe in it and update regularly.

• Social Networking sites are social. Be Interactive. It is no good using Twitter and Facebook just to post propaganda. That is what websites were like a few years ago. The best social networkers are those who interact with their followers, respond to views – even when they disagree with what is being said. Use social media to find out people’s views and where possible, act on them. The more interactive you are, the more followers you will have.

• Think before you post. One bad post will be remembered and could cause you significant reputation damage. Think before you share something that might be regarded as confidential or inappropriate by others. You will lose credibility and business if you break confidences. If unsure, check with colleagues or ask permission. Remember that once you post online, there is no going back. Social media is instantaneous.

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Harlow Stories - Issue 2

Top Tips Just because you’ve communicated something it doesn’t mean it’s understood. Check comprehension. Listen carefully. Repeat key points from different angles where the message you are conveying is important and ask good questions to gain insights when you are receiving information.

When you get communication right, the quality of your life improves.

Ed Pearson Entrepreneurs Network

BODY LANGUAGE

And what about non-verbal communication? What does your body language say about you? According to the experts we give our feelings away easily to anyone who cares to look. If we don’t like someone, we’ll tend to stand or sit with our feet facing away from him or her. If we like do them we will naturally turn our feet, and therefore our bodies to face them.

A real smile, known as ‘The Duchenne Smile’ in scientific circles, includes the whole face, lips, eyes, cheeks and crinkling of the skin. A forced smile uses only the lips. Next time someone smiles at you, check to see if it’s the full Duchenne, or just a little smirk!

Surprisingly, liars do look people in the eye, so as to appear more trustworthy, open and honest. They are more likely to scratch their nose, or touch parts of their face however, if they are telling an untruth. In some cultures eye contact can be seen as disrespectful, and in Japan it isn’t seen as rude to close one’s eyes during a conversation, it shows that you are blocking out all external interference so that you can concentrate on the person who is speaking to you.

So next time you really want to know what someone thinks of you, watch them carefully, is that smile real? Which way are their feet pointing? And what about your own body language? Are you telling your boss that you hate him, the lady in the post office that you fancy her, or your Accountant that you think he’s an idiot? Be aware of what your body language says about you!

The world of communication is expanding at an alarming rate.

As businessmen and entrepreneurs we need to understand it and utilize it to it’s full effect.

If we were to offer advise in soundbites it would be to remember the basics: • People buy from People – remember the personal touch goes a very long way in business • Pick up the phone occasionally instead of emailing • Visit your clients regularly and communicate face to face • Use YOUR personality to bring your business to life!

If you would like any help with any of the topics discussed please feel free to contact us at info@magnificentstuff.net

Top Tips 1) It is important to know your audience and communicate with them in the way that is best for them, not you.

2) Know when to ‘talk’ and when to ‘listen’.

Communicating isn’t always about getting stuff out there!

Listening time gives you a chance to understand your audience.

3) Be honest! It really is the best policy!

Vicki Tofts St Elizabeth’s Centre

Many thanks to Lisa Dell of A Virtual Presence (www.avirtualpresense.co.uk) for her contributions to this article

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Jon Clempner @JonClempner Alan Howick @howickbrooker Amy Jacobs @AmyJStClare Andrew Bramidge @HarlowEZ Andrew Johnson @HarlowTory Andy Richardson @phoenixcentre16 Ann Russell-Day @Granny_Day

Helena Mills @BurntMillTrust

Becki Court @harlowis70

Ian Beckett @ian_beckett

Brenda Bailey @baileyaccounts

Ian Hudson @harlowchamber

Brendan Mills @iRepairsHarlow

Jackie Sully @RainbowHarlow

Briege Leahy @Lunalogistics

Jamie Pring @PAHCharity

Catrin Mills @CatrinMills

Jane Greer @janegreer

Chris Buck @CBSVL

Janet Jackson @JanetPJackson

Chris Greenhill @greenhill_chris

Joan Finch @JFinchAssociate

BuildAid @buildaid

Harlow Science Park @harlow_SP

Corinna Dunlea @CorrinaDunlea

Jon O’Connor @ScienceAliveUK

Dean Walters @DeanWalters

Jonathan Clarke @Attwaters

Elliot Wollen @elliotwollen

Josh Haase @PcJoshHaase

Lorraine Perry @CM_Connection

Emily Cross @FreeCakesHarlow

Karen Spencer @KarenPrincipal

Mark Cotton @the_marchitect

Emily Konstantas @aspiregrltd

Kelly Tarling @harlowcommunity

Martin Haines @PCRHarlow

Emma Toal @emma_toal

Kerri Eastman @streets2homes

Martin Harris @martininharlow

Eric Chorley @GuardHome

Leonore Lord @LenLord1

Mary Parsons @GilstonPark

Gary Knott @Harlowfoodbank

Lisa Dellow @VirtuallyPres

Michael Beard @PHE_uk

Gary O’Donnell @HotMashCreative

Lorraine Lee @GreenwayBCMgr

Michael Casey @yourharlow

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Harlow Stories - Issue 2

Michael Hardware @MichaelHardware Michael Mckeaveney @mckeaveneymg My Harlow @myharlow Nishall Garala @BigUpHarlow Paul Bartlett @pjbpricebailey

Paul Wilson @HarlowTownFC Robert Findlay @heart4harlow Robert Halfon MP @halfon4harlowMP

Harlow’s Twitterati

People to Follow

Paul McClintic @HarlowCivicSoc

Ruth Langham @seetecinspire Sam Fancett @pactforautism Sheena Freeman @NwesSheena Simon Carter @SimonNickCarter Simon Rose @RoseOpticians Steve Chew @magnificentStuf Steve Jack @webuseful Sue Sowerby @sowerbygroup Sue Wood @ROCKSCHOOLx Tony Durcan @atpdurcan Trevor Stanesby @bluepigcreative Vic Goddard @vicgoddard Will Mata @journowillmata

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Harlow Enterprise Zone Harlow’s 70th birthday will see the start of construction on the creation of a new Science Park in the town.

Harlow was founded on the premise of major manufacturing businesses moving from London to the New Town.

Today, the Harlow Enterprise Zone will renew that spirit by creating a high quality environment for dynamic businesses and re-establishing Harlow as a premier business and employment location.

The process of transformation is already underway with developments at Kao Park moving at some pace.

Arrow Electronics and Raytheon moved into new premises on the site last autumn and now Pearson have confirmed that they will also make

it their new home from June 2017.

This means that there will then be almost 1,000 people employed on the site. Additionally, the first data centre building is now under construction and will complete in November of this year.

Communication is a key theme of the development which saw the birth of fibre optic technology on the site in 1966. The data centre development continues that theme and the Harlow Council led Science Park development at London Road has the ambition of being the best connected Science or Business Park in the country in terms of communications technology.

Utilities infrastructure work starts on site this May including state of the art broadband capability and new power supplies. Alongside this, the first two buildings will commence construction with completion scheduled for spring 2018. One of these buildings will be the Anglia Ruskin University Med Tech Innovation Centre and the other a multi-tenanted building of some 30,000 square feet which will also feature a café.

Pearson makes major commitment to Harlow’s Kao Park Pearson, the world’s leading education company, has made a major commitment to Harlow’s Kao Park by announcing that it will be moving its 300 Harlow based staff into the new science & enterprise site. The move from the firm’s current Edinburgh Gate location is expected to take place in mid-2017.

The new site represents an investment of £25 million over the next ten years by the UK based global firm and continues an association with Harlow that goes back over 40 years.

The new site will host some of the company’s fastest growing divisions including teams working on its 3D artificial reality training tools and online systems for delivering university courses, as well as divisions of Pearson’s more traditional textbook publishing and qualification businesses.

Rod Bristow, Pearson’s President in the UK commented: Pearson has a long standing commitment to Harlow, not just as a major local employer but as a part

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of the community through work like our partnership with the Sir Charles Kao University Technical College. I am therefore delighted to announce not only that Pearson is re-affirming its longstanding relationship with the town but also that we will shortly be moving into a new building better suited to our needs.

Like a great many Pearson colleagues, I have happy memories of working in our Edinburgh Gate site and will be sorry to leave, however Kao Park will provide a state of the art new home for our business in Harlow. We look forward to being part of the exciting developments taking place there. I am also very grateful to Harlow’s MP, Rob Halfon, whose commitment and energy played an important part in our decision”.

Robert Halfon, MP for Harlow commented: “Pearson is a wonderful and historical business to have in our town. I worked hard with Pearson to make sure they could keep their home here and I am hugely grateful to their UK President, Rod Bristow, for putting more investment into Harlow. They will now move into our Enterprise Zone with £25million of investment that will massively contribute to Harlow being a showcase for business, jobs and apprenticeships. Pearson is helping to build an even better Harlow, championing education and apprenticeships and bringing jobs and businesses back to our town.”

Harlow Stories - Issue 2

A Town of Opportunity Harlow is 70 It was on 25 March 1947 that Harlow was first designated a new town, so this year Harlow marks its 70th birthday.

“We want ‘Harlow is 70’ to be a celebration of Harlow, its people and its places - and for everyone to take pride in their town. Whether it’s the town’s arts, culture, architecture, community spirit, diversity or thriving business community, we have so much to celebrate in Harlow”, said the Leader of Harlow Council Jon Clempner.

“It is really important to us that people get involved and are part of the celebrations. We want to work with businesses and local groups to maximise this occasion for Harlow. We are all immensely proud of our town, and this is our year to start shouting about what a great place Harlow is.

“Meetings have been held with community and local business representatives with further meetings throughout 2017 to co-ordinate the official ‘Harlow is 70’ celebrations. So far over 100 people or organisations have approached the Council expressing interest in running events or projects, getting involved or supporting the celebrations in some way. The Council has allocated £20,000 to help support local events and projects.”

The Council will be giving its own events like the annual Fireworks night a 70th theme. It is also considering organising a town carnival in the summer followed by a celebration in the Town Park.

For more information on Harlow is 70 visit www.harlow.gov.uk/harlow-70-events

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Harlow the Pioneering Town In 1947 when Harlow first became a new town, people were given the opportunity to live and work in a bright, vibrant and welcoming place.

‘Harlow is 70’ will celebrate the past but also look ahead to the next 70 years, where history will continue to be made and new opportunities for people created,” Councillor Clempner added.

“With the progress of Harlow Enterprise Zone, plans for Public Health England’s world class science hub, Garden Town designation, road and infrastructure improvements, including a new M11 motorway junction, there are so many opportunities to work together and create that bright future.

“Harlow is a town of many firsts, from Sculpture Town to the birthplace of fibre optic technology, and this pioneering spirit will continue in the next 70 years.”

Did you know?

In its 70-year history Harlow has seen some important firsts, here are a few: In 1951, ‘The Lawn’, designed by the town’s master planner Sir Frederick Gibberd, was the first residential housing block of its kind in the UK. In 1966 fibre optic communications, which paved the way for modern technology like broadband Internet, were invented by Sir Charles Kao and George Hockham on the former Nortel site on London Road.

That site is now the home of Harlow Enterprise Zone the place where tomorrow’s ideas could be invented which will change people’s lives in the future.

In 2010 Harlow became the first Sculpture Town in the UK and the World with its unique public collection of 79 sculptures including works by Auguste Rodin, Henry Moore, Elizabeth Frink and Barbara Hepworth.

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Harlow Stories - Issue 2

The Official Symbol of ‘Harlow is 70’

The Harlow 70th logo was a joint collaboration between Harlow College graphic design student Bradley Newson and graphic design tutor Mustafa Sidiki.

Both were supported by local graphic design agencies Blue Pig Creative (www.bluepigcreative.co.uk and Hot Mash Creative (www.hot-mash.com) who both gave their time and expertise for free. The logo is being displayed on various buildings around the town and appearing on promotional materials. The variety of colours in the logo represents the celebration’s strapline - history, community and diversity. The green in the 70 is the town’s green open spaces.

The logo is free for any business to use.

To request a copy please drop an e-mail emailcommunications@harlow.gov.uk You can stay up to date on the celebrations here: @Harlowis70 @Harlowis70 www.harlow.gov.uk/harlow-70 If your business would like to get involved or find out more about sponsorship opportunities or if you have an idea about how Harlow can celebrate its 70th, contact: Jane Greer, Head of Community Wellbeing at Harlow Council on jane.greer@harlow.gov.uk or 01279 446406.

For more information on Harlow is 70 visit www.harlow.gov.uk/harlow-70-events

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Noel Greenwood

GWD Ltd

There are very few people on this planet who can make cardboard sound interesting but Noel Greenwood is one of them.

Noel’s company, GWD Ltd, have been doing ‘incredible things with cardboard’ since 1986, and in that time have established themselves as ‘probably’ the premier presentation packaging company in the Country.

‘We started out designing and printing Point of Sale (PoS) material,’ says Noel in his office, surrounded by shelves and shelves of incredible boxes in all manner of shapes and designs. ‘Presentation packaging’ was something that developed over the years…’

In the early 90s GWD started getting into the box business manufacturing ballotin and carton style boxes. This proved so successful that very soon they needed a specialist folder/gluer machine, however at 15 metre long, ‘we needed a bigger factory to house it too” says Noel, ‘so we took over the unit next door.” GWD expanded into rigid ‘paper over board’ boxes in 2000, and this has since become the mainstay of the company.

packaging for florists, chocolatiers, confectioners, and all sorts of corporate clients for promotional and marketing purposes, indeed anyone who wishes to make a statement as to the quality of their wares.

Noel’s company have worked with many prestigious clients over the years such as Cornelia James (Glove Makers to HRH the queen), International Award winners Rococo Chocolates, and numerous other auspicious brands and individuals. They have made one off boxes for Elton John and, last year, designed a presentation box for Taylor’s Bulbs of Holbeach, (who hold The Royal Warrant as Bulb Growers to HRH The Queen) for a presentation to Her Majesty on the occasion of her 90th birthday.

The skill and aptitude of GWD’s in-house designers and cardboard engineers is very high as the workmanship that goes into these creations can be extremely complex and time-consuming. It is a real ‘craft’ and the Company is a real local success story.

Now employing approx. 30 people GWD are recognised as leaders in their field.

They produce beautiful presentation

If you would like to get in contact with Noel you can reach him on

01279 416093 or visit the company’s website www.gwd.ltd.uk

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Harlow Stories - Issue 2

Louise To

The Toning Table Therapy Centre Little did Louise To know, when she made the decision to find something to help her daughter with her disability, mobility and health issues that she would end up - not only setting up a successful business - but changing people’s lives in very a positive way in the process.

As a Holistic Therapist of twenty plus years, Louise researched Toning Tables, something that she had experienced herself twenty to twenty five years previously. Toning tables had really helped Louise (with the same condition as her daughter) and was hugely fashionable back the eighties, but Louise couldn’t find anything local.

Toning Tables had disappeared like most so-called fitness fads. Louise could see however, with the updated machines, just how beneficial they could be to people in a therapeutic way. “If it’s going to help our daughter,” Louise says, “Then I thought, it’s going to help others too… and we haven’t looked back since.”

So, what are Toning Tables? – Well, they are power assisted exercise machines, designed to get you into the right position to work the right muscle groups that each machine is designed for.

There’s no limit to age, fitness level and

(for both male and females) there are very few conditions that limit people from using them. Do they work…YES!!…

Louise and her team have built more than just a place for fitness, rehabilitation and toning, she’s built a place where people are empowered, find renewed hope and truly change their lives and enable them to lead their life to the max!! People regularly report back, saying: ‘Thank you, you have literally given me back my life’. It’s this kind of feedback that drives Louise and her team forward.

The Toning Table Therapy Centre is self-funded and are very proud of what they have achieved so far. Now that they have proven a winning formula, they are looking to reach out to businesses to offer this effective, safe exercise to their employees as a benefit - and to work with those that have musculoskeletal issues (the most common cause of absence) and to also save companies money by reducing those sick days.

(On average, each person suffering took around 16 days off work, (musculoskeletal disorders) 20 days for ill health cases and 7.2 for injuries.

Ref. www.HSE.gov.uk 2016)

If you’d like to get in touch with the Toning Table Therapy Centre please contact us for a free session on

01279 898460 www.toningtabletherapycentre.co.uk

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LIFE STORY

Typical ‘Riders’ per Gig (Insider knowledge)

Tony Hadley

• 4 bottles of wine (2 red 2 white) • 2 crates of beer • 1 bottle Stoli vodka • 1 bottle Jack Daniels • Coca Cola/Red Bull for mixers s • A selection of interesting cheese • Bottle opener

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Limahl

• Fruit/Sandwiches/tea/ Coffee • Various Tupperware con tainers for seeds and broken up dar k chocolate (normally supplied by Lim ahl)

Local band, East of

Java

• 3 teas ) • 1 coffee (with sugar s ke • Box of Jaffa ca ) (supplied by groupie • Paracetamol yer) (supplied by bass pla • Ear plugs

Harlow Stories - Issue 2

PHIL WILLIAMS It’s fair to say that Phil Williams has spent his whole life in music and the Music Industry. His Dad, Don Williams, was a well-known and respected session musician in the 60s and 70s, constantly gigging and filling Phil’s early life with his music and sense of humour: ‘Dad always had these great stories,’ said Phil, ‘He played bass with all the greats of that period, Vince Hill, Jack Jones, Tommy Cooper, Bruce Forsythe….er, Rolf Harris…’

Phil started his own musical career as a freelance bass player in Brighton and he got his first big break being asked to join Kim Wilde on her 1992 World Tour. Shortly after Phil was one of the founding members of ‘World On Fire’ who were signed to MCA Records. An album of their previously un-released tracks is due out in May 2017.

Phil was subsequently on the books of ‘Session Connection’, an agency specialising in matching quality musicians to big acts of the day. This led to numerous TV performances, primarily on Top of The Pops (‘You arrived at stupido’clock, stayed for hours and the pay was shocking!’) in the 90s and early 2000s. He also spent the best part of four years touring with Keith Emerson, of Emerson, Lake and Palmer fame.

He has worked with loads of acts over the years including Gary Barlow, Rick Astley, ABC, Go West and Limahl (erstwhile of Kajagoogoo). He still tours frequently, predominantly nowadays with Tony Hadley (Spandau Ballet) with whom he has worked for 25 years. “I’ve always loved touring with Tony,’ says Phil, “when we first met he said to me “the most important thing is we have a laugh and enjoy ourselves…”- perfect!’

He also writes and performs with his own group, the gloriously-monikered ‘Faint Signs of Intelligence’, and collaborates with numerous other artists.

Phil and his young family moved to Harlow in 2003 after many years in Kent and Sussex. In between touring he teaches both bass and guitar from his home in Old Harlow, where he also has a small recording studio.

If you are interested in recording tracks yourself, or having guitar and bass lessons, why not give Phil a call on 07850 438906 We promise it won’t be boring! LIKE Phil Williams Bass and Guitar Tuition Facebook page

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CS E R

Giving Something Back In 1920, the hall was purchased by the Parish Council, and with the development of the New Town, was under the ownership of Harlow District Council from 1955-1964. It was sold to Essex County Council in 1964 and run as Mark Hall Youth Centre, with the basement being used as a disco venue.

The Victoria Hall Theatre is a special community theatre, set in a beautiful historic building in the heart of Old Harlow.

It was built in 1888 and funded by public subscriptions, managed by The Victoria Hall Company. The main hall accommodated 300 people; additional rooms were added upstairs c. 1911.

CanalAbility is an award winning Harlowbased charity. They have three purposebuilt, fully centrally heated, accessible broad-beam boats that enable everyone to take a full and active part in the boating experience.

CanalAbility believe in supporting people to live life to the full and to have the same opportunities as everyone else.

This includes enjoying Christmas when some people remain lonely and isolated.

In 1995, the Harlow Playhouse temporarily ceased functioning and consequently local amateur theatre companies had nowhere to stage productions. It was suggested that Victoria Hall might be adapted to form a community theatre.

With the aid of keen volunteers and a generous donation from Longman Publishers (now Pearson Education) the conversion was begun. The Victoria Hall Performing Arts Association was formed to run the building

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Many local theatre groups, entertainers and children use the theatre for their productions and all the money is ploughed back into improving the building for the users and audiences. With approximately 24 productions a year, the theatre is almost constantly in use and still run by volunteers.

If you would like to get involved with volunteering at the theatre, please get in touch via our Facebook page or vhpaa.org@gmail.com

Last Christmas we seized the opportunity to offer them some Christmas cheer!!

socialising, enjoyment and fun!

Fully-funded by CanalAbility.

Rainbow Services’ Senior Safe and Social Project helped us by identifying some older local residents that would benefit from a Christmas Cruise and Lunch experience. We provided a chance for 88 people to take part in this fullyfunded event. These cruises created a great opportunity for local people to socialise and celebrate at a time of year that many of them may not have been looking forward to.

Kelly Tarling, Project Co-ordinator of the Senior Safe and Social Project said “Rainbow Services received funding in May last year from The Big Lottery Fund to reduce loneliness and social isolation for older people in Harlow. This was a fantastic opportunity to work in partnership with CanalAbility to ensure as many people could benefit from the offer as possible”.

From our mooring at Lock View our guests cruised up to the Harlow Mill Beefeater where they enjoyed a two course meal, and then back – 5 hours of

Advice can be offered across a wide range of legal areas: family, employment, criminal, wills and probate, contract/ civil litigation, housing, immigration, personal injury, consumer and medical negligence.

The Law Clinic at Citizens Advice Harlow, which has been operating for over 18 months, offers a free half an hour of legal advice from a specialist solicitor or legal adviser. The clinic is part of the LawWorks network which is supported by the Law Society and the Ministry of Justice.

and subsequently registered as a charity.

When Essex County Council decided they wanted to sell the building, the VHPAA set about fundraising in order to raise the money to purchase it – which it did in 2010.

The Clinic saw over 250 clients during 2016 and has quickly developed into a much-valued resource for local people.

The service has further developed with the addition of a Small Business Legal Advice Service where businesses with up to around 10 employees can seek advice on issues such as employment contracts, leases or intellectual property.

To find out more about CanalAbility, enquire or arrange a visit to the mooring please get in touch www.canalability.org.uk

01279 424444 Monthly ‘Life After Retirement’ workshops have also been added to the core service and provide a legal overview of areas such as Lasting Powers of Attorney, Wills and Probate.

If you, or someone you know, needs legal advice then do pop in to Citizens Advice Harlow which is at 13-15 East Gate, just off the Market Square and opposite NatWest, and our staff will be more than happy to assist. www.harlowcitizensadvice.org.uk

0344 4770808 lawclinic@harlowcab.cabnet.org.uk

Harlow Stories - Issue 2

Harlow In Business The Office of National Statistics has released its figures for 2016 and they remain positive. The percentage of Harlow Residence registered as unemployed has continued it’s downward trend and the total number of enterprises continues to rise.

Population of Harlow

2004 – 78,000

2014 – 84,600

2016 – 85,400 (Source: ONS Population estimates)

Unemployment in Harlow

2012

2013

2014

2015

9.7%

8.9%

6.5%

5.5% *

2016

4.1% * (Source: ONS business register and employment survey)

3000

Total Number of Enterprises

Percentage Change in Total Enterprises 12%

2500

10% 8%

2000

6%

1500 2550

1000

2160

2190

2750

2305

4% 2% 0%

500

-2% 0

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2011

2012

Harlow

2013

East

2014

2015

2016

Great Britain

*(Source: ONS Population estimates)

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