iod suffolk magazine | autumn 2013
DESCRIPTION
Autumn 2013 edition of the premier business to business magazine in the Suffolk and North Essex region, mailed directly to key business leaders and with a high profile presence.TRANSCRIPT
suffolkAUTUMN 2013 | www.iod-suffolk.co.uk
education and skills
Patents
Trademarks
Licensing
Design Rights
Litigation
Portfolio Management
IP Valuation
IP Budgeting
A specialist Intellectual Property company that
moves with the times
Tel: +44 (0) 1603 457008 Norwich
Tel: +44 (0) 2033 271310 London
www.ip21.co.uk
At ip21 we pride ourselves on offering a full range of IP services, as well
as IP advice and support tailored to the commercial benefit of our clients.
CONTENTS
Welcome.
As we return to work after the summer break wecongratulate Suffolk' s students on their strong examresults. It's good news for our region, but will it resolve theskills shortage?
In our annual education and skills issue we investigate what'sbeing done to close the skills gap and check out MOOCs (thenext big thing in online education). And we find out whethersome of our region's cities and big towns are more equal thanothers from a small business's perspective.
We also take a sneak preview of the IOD Suffolk AnnualDinner, test drive a stylish car with that is hot on economyand meet IOD Suffolk's very own jolly sailor John Haresnape.
Have a great autumn!
Email us at [email protected] or write to usat the address below. Jane Chittenden – Editor
Published by:Tilston Phillips Magazines Limited141 Norwich Road, Ipswich IP1 [email protected]
Designed by:Toni Escriche
Image of students on contents page andp17 used by kind permission of WestSuffolk College, Bury St. Edmunds
All rights reserved. Reproduction, in part or inwhole, without the prior consent of thepublisher is strictly prohibited. The content ofthis magazine is based on the best knowledgeand information available at the time ofpublication. All times, prices and details ofevents were correct at time of going to press.The views expressed by the contributors arenot necessarily those of the publishers,proprietors, the Institute of Directors or others associated with this production.
© Tilston Phillips Magazines Limited 2013
4
16
32
Contents 1
From the Chair 3
IoD Annual Dinner 4
Forthcoming autumn events 5
Conferencing | Stoke Park 6
Across the region 8
Protecting the Director 11
PR and Marketing 13
Previous IoD Suffolk Events 14
Skills 16
A word from the accountants 18
International trade 19
MOOCs 21
Social Media 22
Motoring review | Volvo V60 23
Sartorial style | Coes of Ipswich 25
Urban Small Business 26
Leisure 28
Business books 31
Member profile | John Haresnape 32
From our solutionscomes your certainty01473 346046www.poundgates.com
Pound Gates & Co Ltd, trading as Pound Gates, is authorised and regulated by theFinancial Conduct Authority, and is an ISO and Investor in People accredited company.
Pound GatesSt Vincent House, 1 Cutler Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 1UQ
His statements seem to boil down
(admittedly in a heavily qualified way) to
three more years of the same. So in
essence this is just making explicit what
the Bank has been doing for years now:
concerning itself with growth and
employment, rather than its official
mandate of inflation. Creditors will feel a
boost to their disposable income; savers
will see their income and capital contract.
One group gains, the other loses. The net
result is “unchanged”.
The reality of course is that the
Government needs to deal with the
fundamentals: improving
competitiveness, facilitating export, more
radical supply-side reform, dealing with
unsustainable welfare spending, cutting
red-tape, simplifying our overly-complex
tax system, getting on with infrastructure
projects and spending on training and
education. The issue is “Juncker’s curse”
(after the Luxembourg prime minister
who articulated it): “We know what needs
to be done, we just don’t know how to get
re-elected after doing it”. IoD Chief
Economist Graeme Leach is joining us at
Ickworth on 25 September and will no
doubt have some thoughts to add.
The IoD Suffolk committee has been
focussing on our priority areas of
improving member connectivity and
working closer with our county’s
educational institutions.
I recently reflected on the connectivity
point, having been asked to comment on
some export survey results for the EADT.
The piece that doesn't come through
clearly enough for me in what the various
development agencies say is that
international business is a global
competition and we are in a race, like it or
not. Exporting is a particular area where
real-life, boots on the ground, got the
t-shirt experience shared between
members is invaluable in providing a leg-
up in this competition.
Finally, I want to mention our Annual
Dinner, which we’re excited to be able to
give details of in this issue. This is the
County’s business social event of the year.
I won’t spoil the surprise but will say this:
make sure that 17 October is marked in
your diary. We’re in for a treat!
Hope to see you soon.
Luke MorrisSeptember 2013
WELCOME
IoD suffolk | autumn 2013 | 3
In his recent first outing, Mark Carney, new Governor of the Bank ofEngland, talked about “forward guidance” and blasted the “sociallyuseless” banks. He seems to have made an impression, but what doesit all actually mean for us?
New members to Suffolk branch
Alfie ButlerBournemouth University
Rod DurbinCommunique Creative MarketingLtd
James LairdHaven Marine Ship ManagementLtd
Jane GarrardPersonal Career Management Ltd
Stuart Richard SmithPWE Recruitment Group Ltd
Khalit KhabibullinStiletto Systems Ltd
Alan WhittakerSuffolk One
Aaron AshtonT E S Prime
Ed FarrellThe Duck Truck Company Ltd
Joanna RobinsonThe Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn
Caroline FosterThe Write Impression LLP
Grant Lockhart-White
IoD Suffolk membership benefits
For a complete list of the current
affinity member benefits, please see
www.iod.com/speciallynegotiated
To find out more about joining
IoD Suffolk branch please contact:
Caroline Kearney
Suffolk Branch Administrator
07917 699 [email protected]
Institute of Directors Suffolk Branch
25 Wilding Drive, Grange Farm,
Kesgrave Ipswich IP5 2AE
www.iod-suffolk.co.uk
Follow @SuffolkIoD
• IoD Travel Services• IoD Car Rental• IoD Director’s Liability Insurance• IoD Professional Indemnity Insurance• IoD Home and Contents Insurance• IoD Health Plans
From the Chair
4 | IoD suffolk | autumn 2013
AUTUMN EVENTS
Bob Champion MBE with Aldaniti, winner of
the 1981 Grand National
The IoD Suffolk Annual Dinner is the County’s premierblack-tie business event. It’s your chance to entertain teammembers, clients or other guests, make new contacts anddraw inspiration from a world-class speaker.
IoD Annual Dinner kindly sponsored by:
We are very pleased to be able to
announce that this year our guest is Bob
Champion MBE. For most of us, Bob
needs little introduction. We remember
him guiding Aldaniti to a fairytale win in
the 1981 Grand National. Two years
before, Bob had been diagnosed with
testicular cancer and had gone through
debilitating treatment and a life-
threatening bout of septicaemia. At one
stage, he had been given just eight
months to live.
The victory was watched by an estimated
750 million people worldwide. The
following day Bob put out a statement
saying he’d ridden the race for all the
patients and staff at the Royal Marsden in
London, where he had been treated: “My
only wish is that my winning shows them
that there is always hope and that all
battles can be won. I just hope it will
encourage others to face their illness
with fresh spirit.”
The win earned Bob and Aldaniti the BBC
Sports Personality of the Year Team Award
and Channel 4 named it one of the 100
Greatest Sporting Moments. The story
was made into a film starring John Hurt.
After his retirement from racing in 1983,
Bob formed the Bob Champion Cancer
Trust. He has raised millions of pounds
for research into the treatment and
prevention of male cancers, much of it
now undertaken at the Royal Marsden.
Bob lives in Newmarket and also works
to encourage young people to go into
racing as a career. His is a great story and
he tells it with all the drive and style that
were typical of his time in the saddle.
This year’s IoD Suffolk Dinner marks the
start of what we hope will be a long and
mutually beneficial association with
Milsom Hotels and Restaurants. The
Marquee at Le Talbooth provides a
quintessential English setting in idyllic
gardens beside the River Stour.
You can make a night of it by staying at
the nearby Maison Talbooth. This won
Pride of Britain hotel of the year in 2010.
There are 12 deluxe suites. Guests can
enjoy the Day Spa, heated outdoor pool,
hot tub and tennis court.
In 2014, we plan to hold the Dinner at the
newly refurbished Hangar at Milsoms
Kesgrave Hall.
The day was sponsored by Ensors, Barker
Gotelee, Pound Gates and Crafted. One
delegate’s verdict: “Great keynote
speakers, great conversations with fellow
delegates, all round inspiring.”
IoD Suffolk Annual Dinner
17 OCTOBER 2013 7.00pm – 11.30pm
Le Talbooth, Gun Hill, Dedham, CO7 6HP
in association with Milsom Hotels and Restaurants
IoD Members and their guests £60.00 (ex VAT)Non-members £65.00 (ex VAT) and £540.00 (ex VAT) for a table of 10.
Christmas Drinks Party
5 DECEMBER 20135.30pm – 7.00pm
The Cookhouse Restaurant, The Suffolk
Food Hall, Wherstead, IP9 2AB
Free for IoD members and their guests. £10 (ex VAT) for non-members.
Come and share some Christmas spirit
with the Suffolk IoD committee and fellow
IoD members at a beautiful new venue on
the banks of the River Orwell. Arrive early
and you could do a little Christmas
shopping, too!
IoD suffolk | autumn 2013 | 5
EconomicOutlook25 SEPTEMBER 20137.30am – 9.30am
The West Wing at Ickworth House,
IP29 5QE
IoD Members and their guests £27.50 (ex VAT)Non-members £41.50 (ex VAT)
Is there light at the end of the tunnel? Or
is that a locomotive heading in our
direction? Graeme Leach, Chief
Economist at the IoD will offer his
perspective on the political and
economic outlook. As well as being one
of the country’s most respected
economic gurus, Graeme can offer
insights based on exclusive access to IoD
survey findings. After a full English
breakfast, there will be an interactive
session and questions will be welcome.
TECHNOLOGYCHANGE
significant benefits. He lives in Suffolk, is a
keen runner and sings in a local choir.
This is a rare opportunity to see more of
what happens at BT Martlesham – a
national centre of technological innovation
in the heart of Suffolk.
BOOK YOUR EVENTSTo book any of our events you have the following options:
Book online at www.iod.com/suffolkevents
Contact our Suffolk IoD branch administrator Caroline KearneyTelephone 07971 699498 or email [email protected] will take credit card bookings or invoice your business.
Use our booking form – Each of our events has a marketing leaflet with a
booking form you can return by post. If you have not received a leaflet and
would like to receive one please contact Caroline Kearney.
20TH NOVEMBER 20137.30am – 9.30am
Innovation Martlesham, Adastral Park,
Martlesham, IP5 3RE
IoD Members and their guests £27.50 (ex VAT)Non-members £41.50 (ex VAT)
Chris Bilton, Director of Research and
Technology at BT Martlesham will talk
about technology change and its impact
on business. He’ll also introduce
Innovation Martlesham and explain how it
fits within Adastral Park and its role in
growing start-up businesses.
Chris has been an IT professional for over
30 years, primarily in the Service Provider
and Telecommunications sectors. He has a
technical background and has led a
number of large, international projects.
He’s also managed business change
programmes that have delivered
Our events programme is kindlysponsored by:
6 | IoD suffolk | autumn 2013
OUT OF COUNTY CONFERENCING
Stoke Park, conferencingwith character...
Suffolk provides businesses with a range
of fantastic conferencing venues, but
occasionally it’s necessary to go farther
afield to host key events. One such venue
of note is Stoke Park Country Club, Spa
and Hotel, which offers first-class
facilities across the board.
Its history is fascinating, situated as it is
within sight of Windsor Castle, the
estate’s recorded history dates back over
1,000 years to before the 1086 Domesday
Book. It was Britain’s first country club –
opening in 1908 and now boasts a
membership of more than 4,000.
Encircling the club's 300-acre parkland
estate is the famous 27-hole
championship golf course, indisputedly
one of the finest courses in the country.
Created by eminent golf architect Harry
Colt, the course has been the inspiration
for many of the world’s most famous
holes, including Augusta’s infamous 16th.
The course itself has seen many
impressive rounds in its history,
including the first PGA Matchplay
tournament in 1910 and James Bond's
epic golfing duel in 'Goldfinger'!
The facilities of the hotel are no less
impressive with rooms divided between
the traditional sumptuously decorated
Mansion – the original building that was
created between 1790-1813 – and the
modern Pavilion built in 2002, which
houses the spa (11 treatment rooms),
gymnasium and swimming pool together
with the adjacent 13 tennis courts (six
grass, four all-weather and three indoor!).
All the bedrooms and suites have
unbroken views over the estate and it’s
this sense of privacy that really sets this
venue apart.
It’s difficult to describe the sense of space
this venue offers; the positioning within
its grounds afford much seclusion,
making it perfect for meetings and
corporate events.
Stoke Park’s event management skills are
second to none and the hotel can cater
for everything from small and very
private meetings to large training
seminars and conferences, all set against
a breathtaking backdrop. There are
numerous options with each room
offering a different style – from the
extremely ornate to the modern. There
are many options here, ranging from the
grand Fountain Room (7.5m x 24.5m),
which has spectacular views of the
terrace fountain and the gardens, to the
intimate wood-panelled Chapel (7.2m x
4.6m). As you would expect, each room
provides a professional, five-star
atmosphere although pricing is sensibly
structured with day delegate rates as little
as £105 per person.
Three restaurants provide the dining
options with the 3AA Rosette Humphry’s
being, without doubt, the most
impressive with its floor-to-ceiling
windows offering panoramic views of the
lake. The deliciously crafted dishes by
head chef Chris Wheeler are made all the
better by first-class attentive, but not
over-bearing, service.
In short, Stoke Park makes an
impression. It manages that difficult
thing – to take a beautiful country house
venue and, with courteous efficiency,
imbue it with an ambiance of luxury that
doesn’t feel oppressive or outdated.
A fantastic venue that every business
should consider.
Contact Stoke Park directly on
Tel: 01753 717171
Less than two hours from Ipswich – if the M25 is congestion-free – Stoke Park has long beenrecognised as one of the country’s leading locations for sport and hospitality.
John Penn (1760–1834), soldier, scholar and poet, is responsible for most of what canbe seen at Stoke Park today. He created it using a large proportion of the £130,000 thenew United States Government paid for his family's 26-million acre plot in Pennsylvania.
Bury St Edmunds I Cambridge I Huntingdon I Ipswich I London I Saxmundham www.ensors.co.uk
At Ensors, we have the right people who can provide you with the right answers. To us, our clients are more than just a number.
That’s why clients choose to partner with Ensors Chartered Accountants.Talk to us, we have all the answers to your questions.
Budding entrepreneurs across the East of
England will be able to gain first-hand
advice from business experts at a special
event in September.
It is being presented courtesy of Virgin
Media Pioneers, the Federation of Small
Businesses (FSB) and digital marketing
agency High Position at the Weston
Homes Stadium, Colchester, on
September 18. The event is designed to
chart a business from conception
through development and into
successful sales with everything a
budding entrepreneur needs to know
being covered in a relaxed, informative
and interactive atmosphere.
David Miles, Essex FSB chairman, said:
"If you've got a good idea, whether
you're
starting out or have an existing business,
this event is for you."
Experts will offer one-to-one advice as
well as workshops and on-stage
interviews to inspire the next generation
of entrepreneurship. Topics include
financing a business, how to get online
and get noticed, PR and social media and
getting the right professional support.
ACROSS THE REGION
8 | IoD suffolk | autumn 2013
Get your businessoff to a good start
All aboard the ‘Brecks’ special
Barker Gotelee Solicitors will be
sponsoring the Eastern Angles Christmas
Show 2013 in conjunction with chartered
accountants Ensors – regular supporters
of the theatre company.
The popular regional touring theatre
company has blazed a trail across the East
of England with its annual programme,
including community tours of shows and
plays to village halls and theatres.
This year The Brontes of Dunwich Heath
(& Cliff), a unique comic extravaganza,
will be at the Sir John Mills and Seckford
theatres over Christmas. Combining
literature with laughs, the show is written
and directed by Ivan Cutting, with music
and lyrics by Simon Egerton. Complete
with Mad Cath, Plain Jane and a panoply
of off-the-wall characters, this is a musical
Christmas caper you won’t want to miss.
James Skellorn, senior partner at Barker
Gotelee, said: “We know the production
will be of the highest calibre, as always. We
are keen to support and work with local
talent and we look forward to supporting
this festive performance.”
Robert Hatch, senior partner at Ensors,
added: “This will be Ensors’ 15th year
supporting the Eastern Angles Christmas
Show and we are really pleased to be
welcoming Barker Gotelee to the ‘cast’. I
am sure 2013 will be another sell-out year.”
A newly decorated ‘Brecks’ train has been
launched by Dame Stella Rimington,
former director general of MI5 and
Brecks resident.
Greater Anglia and The Brecks
Partnership have ‘wrapped’ a class 170
train used on the Norwich to Cambridge
route in enticing images to promote this
little known, but fascinating area
covering more than 1,000 sq km.
Thousands of rail and car passengers
pass through Breckland to better-known
destinations, such as the Norfolk and
Suffolk Coasts, Norwich and the Broads,
not knowing what they are missing. The
area extends from Castle Acre in the
north to just above Bury St Edmunds and
Newmarket in the south and includes
Thetford Forest with its miles of quiet
tracks and paths to walk, cycle or ride a
horse.
Dame Stella said: “I first discovered the
Brecks more than 20 years ago as a calm,
friendly and beautiful place to relax at
weekends and escape from the stress and
hurly-burly of my job. Now I'm retired, I
live here all the time and find it a great
place to dream up plots for my novels.
I've had to buy a bigger house to
accommodate visitors – friends, children
and grandchildren, who all love the
walks, the history and, of course, the
great food.”
Firms get theiract together…
Terry Heffernan Commercial Director of the High PositionGroup and a Virgin Media Ambassador
Robert Hatch (Partner, Ensors), James Skellorn (SeniorPartner, Barker Gotelee), Ivan Cutting (Writer & Director,Eastern Angles)
Bespoke digital marketing that delivers resultswww.crafted.co.uk or call us on 08453 228942
117%growth in website visitors
66%increase in sales
01473 611211www.barkergotelee.co.uk
WE SEE THINGS FROM WHERE YOU’RE SITTING
For life, land and business
At Barker Gotelee, we know that you’re looking for more than just expert legal advice.
The close working relationship we forge with each of our clients ensures we understand matters from all sides.
IoD suffolk | autumn 2013 | 9
10 | IoD suffolk | autumn 2013
Halesworth Volvo dealership, M R King &
Sons, joined forces with the town’s golf
club to help raise thousands of pounds for
Help for Heroes.
As part of the Volvo National Golf Club
Challenge – the UK’s largest amateur
charity golf competition – the event was
held at Halesworth Golf Club, sponsored
by M R King & Sons.
Volvo dealerships across the UK will raise
at least £21,000 towards the final amount,
which last year saw £52,000 donated to
the charity.
General manager Julian King said: “The
event has grown in stature and
participation every year and indications
already suggest 2013 will be the best year
ever. This provided us with a fantastic
opportunity to support our servicemen
and women who have been injured in
their duty as well as to remember those
who have given their lives. We very much
enjoyed the event and doing ‘our bit’ to
raise money for a truly worthwhile cause.”
Regional winners take part in the national
final at Turnberry in Scotland with
finalists travelling to the two-day event in
style in vehicles on loan from Volvo.
Branding and design consultancy Silk
Pearce is launching a two-year business
development and growth plan with a
complete corporate rebrand – the first in
its 29-year history.
The new visual identity, stationery,
website and other promotional materials
are designed to reflect better its market
profile, client list and aspirations, while
raising awareness of its three key design
services – brands, websites and graphics.
Jack Pearce, the consultancy’s creative
head and co-founder, said: “The rebrand
follows an in-depth strategic review that
will see Silk Pearce adding new design
and management roles, while
strengthening our client list in key growth
sectors such as healthcare, technology
and property development.
“Our bolder, more confident look has
been designed to remind existing clients
and prospects that we offer a far-reaching
and integrated design approach – as we
have done for many years – covering
everything from corporate and product
branding, in some cases advising on
product development through to PR and
social media.”
The new identity is centred on a
typographic logo with teal blue as a
primary colour, a pallet of eight accent
colours and new typography.
On course to help heroes
New brand for brand experts
ACROSS THE REGION
Seckford HallHotel strengthensits teamSeckford Hall Hotel has made four new
key appointments to help develop and
strengthen the hotel’s growth.
Richard Brown joins as business
development manager, Anne Musolino
as events co-ordinator and Ashley
Durrant and Liam Oakenfull are
promoted to head chefs.
Richard’s business development role is
seen as key to the hotel’s development.
He has a wealth of experience in the
hotel industry having managed 1,200
staff from 60 different countries.
Anne worked at the hotel seven years ago
before joining Otley College. She then
worked for the Milsoms group at
Kesgrave Hall before becoming weddings
and events manager at the White Lion
Hotel in Aldeburgh.
Ashley and Liam have been at Seckford
Hall for a number of years. Ipswich born
and bred, Ashley studied at Suffolk
College before working at The Moat
House, Copdock, and Hintlesham Hall. A
keen golfer, he has represented Suffolk.
Liam originally joined Seckford Hall from
The Tower and Ritz hotels in London. He
then pursued a career as a private chef
before taking on roles as sous chef at
Belstead Brook Hotel and at Ipswich
Town Football club. He also worked in
Cyprus.
Dr Cable made it clear that the
Government does not wish to punish
honest failure – as he said: “Some of thebest entrepreneurs have failures to theirname, and this is the necessary corollary ofrisk taking”. Instead, his focus is on the
“rogues” who use so-called ‘phoenix
companies’ to deceive customers.
One of his proposals concerns disqualified
directors being required to undertake
some form of education before they can
go on to run another business. It has
always struck me how easy it is for
someone to be a company director
without the need for any formal
qualifications or training. Navigating the
complex web of legislation and case law
surrounding corporate governance is not
easy, even for those whose role it is to
advise on such matters. Therefore, this
proposal must surely be welcomed.
Another proposal suggests the courts may
be given powers to make financial awards
against directors they are disqualifying to
compensate creditors who have suffered
as a result of their actions. As Dr Cable put
it: “This would hit directors where it hurts
and provide more direct accountability tothose affected by misconduct”. Currently, it
is not uncommon for administrators and
liquidators to bring civil recovery actions
against directors riding off the back of a
disqualification where the allegations in
the two sets of proceedings are the same
or similar. But arguably this proposal will
make it easier – and at less cost to the
creditors – for compensation to be
awarded against culpable directors.
His other key proposal concerns those
directors who have been disqualified in
another country or convicted of a crime
associated with managing a company
overseas. Dr Cable
argued that
there is a
legitimate
question over whether they should be
allowed to be a director in the UK. This
too seems entirely sensible.
Dr Cable recognised that these robust
powers should only be used in
appropriate cases, so that “honest directorsneed not fear sanctions where they haveacted in good faith”. He added: “Manycompanies fail for genuine reasons…andfailure in itself is not an indication ofmisconduct”.
The Government is keen right now to
promote “trust and transparency” in the
business environment. So there is little
doubt that these proposals – and maybe
others still to be conceived – will reach the
statute book in the near future. Make sure
you are aware of how they may impact
on you – and, as ever, seek advice if
you are unsure.
Kevin Sullivan specialises in actingfor directors, particularly thosefacing disqualificationproceedings.
PROTECTING THE DIRECTOR
Contact Kevin Sullivan
Birkett Long LLP
01206 [email protected]
DIRECTORS’DISQUALIFICATION:
NEW PROPOSALS UNDERCONSIDERATION
In Vince Cable’s July 2013 speech to the “Responsible Capitalism” conference hosted by thethinktank Reform, the Business Secretary announced a number of proposals being considered aspart of a major consultation on the rules surrounding delinquent company directors.
12 | IoD suffolk | autumn 2013
Baker Tilly, a leading national firm with a local Suffolk presence
Baker Tilly based in Bury St Edmunds offers the benefits of a national, Top 10, accounting firm with a local Suffolk presence.
Baker Tilly based in Bury St Edmunds is one of Suffolk’s leading professional services firms and possibly Suffolk’s largest firm of Chartered Accountants. We benefit from a national and international network to add to the depth and quality of the advice provided to our clients.
If you want the best of both worlds, a local service with a national and international reputation, please contact Stephen Duffety on 01284 763311 or email [email protected]
Baker Tilly, Abbotsgate House, Hollow Road, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP32 7FA
© 2011 Baker Tilly UK Group LLP, all rights reserved
Baker Tilly UK Audit LLP, Baker Tilly Tax and Advisory Services LLP, Baker Tilly Corporate Finance LLP, Baker Tilly Restructuring and Recovery LLP and Baker Tilly Tax and Accounting Limited are not authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 but we are able in certain circumstances to offer a limited range of investment services because we are members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. We can provide these investment services if they are an incidental part of the professional services we have been engaged to provide. Baker Tilly & Co Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority to conduct a range of investment business activities.
INFOTEX
DIGITAL STRATEGYSEO & ONLINE MARKETINGECOMMERCE SOLUTIONSWEBSITE DESIGN & BUILD
MOBILE
If you want your business to do better
business on the internet, talk to us
01394 615622 • [email protected]
IoD suffolk | autumn 2013 | 13
PR & MARKETING
Your website - winning you new business
For the majority of us this would be
unthinkable. The same should apply to
your company’s website. It should provide
your customers with easy and clear
navigation to the information they need.
A powerful website is critical to
promoting your reputation and winning
new customers to ensure you stand out
from your competitors.
Your website is often a potential customer’s
first impression of your business. So it’s
important to make it count.
Everything sends a message – so send the
right message. Here are some guidelines
when briefing your designer:
A strong and clear message
In order to have a successful and
engaging website, it should have a strong
and clear message with a clean,
uncluttered page layout.
Clear easy-to-use navigation
Think through your web pages’ structure
so that it all makes sense in a logical flow.
That way, when customers visit your
website, they will have an easier time
navigating to the information that is
most relevant to them.
Future proof your website
Future proofing is important, going for
latest web design techniques, including
css3, html5, and j Query.
Cost
As well as gaining a competitive price for
a professional service, negotiate for
hosting service and domain names to be
included in package prices.
Say it with style
A website for a professional company
should avoid a template design and
should be unique to your business and
the customers you want to win.
Consider the qualifications of the web
designer, create a design with consistent
colour schemes and professional
branding. Engage a professional copy
writer and a professional photographer,
or if on a budget, purchase high quality
stock photography.
At Ripple, we know that every client is
different and we will work with you to
create the right website for you so that
your story is told, and told well.
To find out more contact:
Ripple Public Relations Ltd
01379 678662 or [email protected]
www.ripplepr.co.uk
Would you drive to a businessmeeting with a new clientwithout using Satnav, to findthe company’s offices?
Ripple Public Relations Ltd’slatest website was designedand built for the Target CleanGroup, a Framlingham basedcommercial cleaning company
with 27 employees (www.targetclean.co.uk). Ripple’swebsite designer Andrew Howard holds a BSc (hons)degree in computer science.
14 | IoD suffolk | autumn 2013
PREVIOUS IOD SUFFOLK EVENTS
Energy has long been an important part of
the Suffolk business scene but now, with
plans to develop Sizewell and the growth
of offshore wind-power, it’s becoming
absolutely central. To keep members up-
to-date with developments, in July, Suffolk
IoD hosted a breakfast briefing from the
East of England Energy Group (EEEGR).
EEEGR is a non-profit, business-led group
committed to the sustained development
of the energy sector in our region.
Members operate in a range of energy
sectors including oil, gas, wind, wave and
tidal, bio-energy and nuclear plus carbon
capture and storage, distribution,
transmission and conventional generation.
EEEGR CEO Simon Gray presented the
briefing at Seckford Hall near
Woodbridge. Delegates were impressed by
the scale of the business within Suffolk
and Norfolk and the pace of its growth. Mr
Gray urged the government to do more to
help local energy businesses and warned
of the real risk of energy shortages unless
new sources were brought on-stream.
East Anglia is home to the most diverse
range of energy businesses in the UK. It
has a long heritage in offshore gas,
conventional and nuclear generation and
is leading the way on newer technologies
such as offshore wind. In total, the sector
supports over 100,000 jobs in the Eastern
Region and is responsible for more than
£13 billion pounds in turnover.
Luke Morris, IoD Suffolk Chairman and
Partner, Larking and Gowen said: “I
learned a lot. We all know energy is
important but Simon explained very
clearly just how important it now is for
Suffolk. Every business in the county
needs to be aware of the big changes
underway. This is a sector that is going to
loom large for the rest of our working
lives. We will do our best to make sure
Suffolk IoD members are kept right up-to-
date with all the key developments.”
The business was started by Thomas
Peatling, a Bury St Edmunds man, in
1826. It remained independent until 1934
when it became part of Greene King. For
a number of years it traded as Peatling
and Cawdron. Nicholas Corke led a
management buy-out in 2000, returning
the business to independent, family
ownership. It now has active plans for
expansion within Bury St Edmunds.
Bury St Edmunds wine merchants, Thos.
Peatling, were our hosts for a fascinating
evening of tutored tastings in June.
Director Nicholas Corke led the way with
an intriguing selection of personal
favourites. Mark Thompson of Moet and
Chandon talked about the differences
between vintage and non-vintage
champagne and explained the best ways
to store wine. Christina Torres of the
world-famous wine dynasty introduced
her new Californian wines.
“It was a fabulous evening,” said Luke
Morris, IoD Suffolk Chairman and
Partner, Larking and Gowen. “Everyone
enjoyed the tutorials, the networking and,
of course, the tastings. I’m very grateful to
Nicholas Corke and his team.”
Thos. Peatling specialise in importing
interesting and unusual wines from
estates worldwide. Many of their wines
are on sale for the first time in the UK. In
their substantial cellar they also hold a
number of vintage wines and can usually
supply bottles from particular years for
anniversaries. They provide special
services for external events and work with
a number of restaurateurs and hoteliers.
Fine wines please the palate
Lighting the way
Left to right are Christina Torres, Torres Family Wines; Nicholas Corke, Thos. Peatling; Luke Morris, Larking Gowen and IoDSuffolk Chairman; Dave Collins, Poundgates; Steve Schofield, Crafted; Robert Hatch, Ensors; Bernie Mills, Crafted.
Simon Gray (Left) and Luke Morris
CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS
Autumn is here and soon it will be time to
think of Christmas and celebrating with
friends, family and business colleagues.
Relax, Kesgrave Hall can help and take
care of everything! For smaller parties at
lunchtime or in the evening, you can
book either The Mess or The Bunker
which are perfect for groups from 12 to
24. Both rooms have individual three
course menus to choose from, The Mess
has an extra special Showcase Menu and
yes, turkey is an option if you want it.
Don’t forget, the restaurant is also open
all day and there’s no need to book,
perfect for late lunch after Christmas
shopping or a morning in the office.
And if you’re looking for a big party with
dancing to a live band then we have the
perfect solution in The Hangar. The area
will be transformed into a winter
wonderland with Christmas trees and
twinkling lights, bar and reception area.
As you would expect from Kesgrave Hall,
head chef Stuart Oliver has devised a
delicious three course Christmas menu
(with choices) for you to enjoy.
The evening starts at 7.00pm with a glass
of sparkling wine followed by a three
course dinner and coffee before dancing
the night away to Frisky, a live band.
The dates are Saturday 7, Friday 13,
Saturday 14, Friday 20 and Saturday 21
December.
Give us a call on 01473 333741 and join us
to make Christmas 2013 the best ever!
Christmas - at milsoms Kesgrave Hall
IoD suffolk | autumn 2013 | 15
16 | IoD suffolk | autumn 2013
SKILLS
Tomorrow’s workforce:where to find thetalentEvery business wants to grow and one of the best ways is by bringing in new people withfresh ideas. But with a skills shortage in the region, where are we going to find them?Iain Dunnett, New Anglia LEP’s operations manager, talks to Jane Chittenden.
JC: We’ve got lots of talented young
people in Suffolk; we’ve got excellent
colleges and universities. But so many
businesses in all sectors across the region
say they are struggling to get the skilled
people they need. Why have we got this
skills shortage?
ID: I’m working with businesses across
nine sectors – ranging from ICT to food
and farming - and there’s a really key
message from them all: that triangle
between employers, training providers
and the potential employees doesn’t add
up. The training providers are pushing
people out of the door who haven’t got
quite the skills that businesses want. The
training providers say to us: “If only
businesses would work a bit closer with
us and would invest in training and skills
a bit more.” And then you’ve got the
hapless individual – the potential
employee – who’s got the wrong skills and
doesn’t get the job.
That’s what we’re hearing across all the
sectors. Energy is the obvious one: they
need electrical and mechanical engineers
and they can’t get them. For various
reasons it’s disjointed. Colleges do what
IoD suffolk | autumn 2013 | 17
they’re funded to do; but is that turning
out people with the right skills for local
employers? Quite often it isn’t. And
historically businesses as employers aren’t
close to education and careers advice,
although some are very good. There’s got to
be a much closer relationship.
Are things better, worse or the same as a
year ago?
We haven’t moved as far as we would like
to. Our skills summits this autumn are to
try to push the message that we must
move at a faster pace. Unless skills are
addressed now, we’re storing up problems
for the future. And this is the right time to
move forward. We’ve got the opportunity
with the City Deal (government funding)
for Greater Ipswich to give business a
much stronger voice in the workforce
skills agenda; and there’s the government’s
‘single pot’ fund. The different
mechanisms are coming together;
together we’ve got the chance to really
influence things and do things differently.
Tell me more about the skills summits.
As a LEP, we need a bit of pace in taking
the skills agenda forward. The skills
summits will create that pace, bringing
the right people together (businesses,
schools, colleges, sector specialists and
policymakers), creating a focus on what
we’re going to do and how we’re going to
do it. The Chambers of Commerce and
other business networks will be helping us
to spread the message. The aim is to get all
the partners working together; until now
it’s been quite fragmented. Making that
training/business/potential employees
triangle work will be the key focus of these
summits. Whatever the sector – energy or
agriculture or whatever – it needs to
happen fairly rapidly in the next couple of
years or we will lag behind in having a
skilled workforce. And that will ultimately
affect growth and business in this area.
SMEs are really busy; they’ll say: “We
haven’t got time. Why should we get
involved?”
Whether you’re an SME or a large
company, this is about the future
economy of our region – which we should
all be interested in. It’s good for current
business; it’s good for future business. So
everyone should get involved, whether
they come along to the skills summits or
contribute via webinars and social media.
We’re shaping the strategy for investing in
the next generation of people who will be
working for you or people who are
bringing business to you in the supply
chain. You can’t get away from the fact that
everyone’s linked up; it doesn’t matter
whether you’re a small rural business or a
global corporate operating here: it’s
important for everyone. A highly skilled,
highly motivated workforce will be our
greatest asset.
NEW ANGLIA LEP’S LOCAL SKILLS SUMMITSShaping a coordinated skills strategy:
• Jobs, innovation, growth andleading in global markets – what arethe skills that businesses require todrive success?
• Future generations – whatknowledge and skills will they needfor employability and how bestshould New Anglia LEP lead the way?
Ideas, experience and expertise arewelcomed from across the public andprivate sectors.
Suffolk: Monday 16 September 6pm – 9pm,University Campus Suffolk, Ipswich
Norfolk: Monday 23 September 6pm – 9pm,Norwich City Football Club, Norwich.
To register, please visit:www.newanglia.co.uk/Events/New-Anglia-Skills-Summits
Many employers will have, at some
point, questioned whether or not
young people are learning the skills
necessary to operate in a modern work
environment. Communication,
responsibility, initiative and teamwork
- all fundamental skills but increasing
considered to be lacking in the
employees of tomorrow.
But times are changing. Suffolk County
Council’s Raising the Bar programme –
launched to improve educational
attainment and employability in the
county – has teamed up with business
leaders to create stronger links between
the workplace and the classroom so
that young people gain a better
understanding from an earlier age.
In particular, a new framework has been
drawn up by employers and education
leaders that spells out clearly what skills
and attitudes are needed in today’s
employment market. As a pilot, schools in
four areas of Suffolk will be teaching these
skills, supported by employers in the
classroom. If successful, the programme
could be rolled out across Suffolk.
Alongside this, the county council is
working to broker new relationships
between businesses of all sizes and
schools – connections that are often
desired on both sides but are too
frequently difficult to create.
Employers are able to promote working
in their industries while young people
get to learn from great new role models.
To learn more about the framework,
how your business can become more
involved or how you could become a
role model yourself, email Andrea
Davies at [email protected]
Do schools understandbusiness needs?
18 | IoD suffolk | autumn 2013
A WORD FROM THE ACCOUNTANTS
This article is designed for the information of readers. Whilst every effort is made to ensure accuracy, information contained in this article may not be comprehensive and recipients shouldnot act upon it without seeking professional advice. Larking Gowen is registered to carry out audit work in the UK and Ireland by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England andWales. Regulated for a range of investment business activities by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. ©Larking Gowen.
Reporting greenhouse gases—burden or benefit?Carbon reporting is set to become mandatory for all UKcompanies listed on the main market of the London StockExchange with effect from October 2013.
The reporting will come into force for
years ending on or after 30 September
2013 and is being driven by a requirement
from the Climate Change Act 2008, which
targets reducing greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions by 80% by 2050.
What will need reporting?
The GHG protocol splits emissions into
‘scopes’ for reporting purposes:
• Scope 1 accounts for direct GHG
emissions which result from activities that
are owned or controlled by the
organisation (e.g. the production of
electricity, transportation); and
• Scope 2 accounts for indirect GHG
emissions which result from the import
(purchase) of electricity, heat or steam.
The GHG protocol extends to a third
scope which covers all other indirect GHG
emissions that result from sources not
owned or controlled by the organisation
(e.g. employee business travel, outsourced
activities). The legislation will, however,
only require that scopes 1 and 2 of
emissions are reported on.
What does this actually mean for those
companies?
Some companies will see a significant
increase in the information to be reported
in the Director’s Report; in fact, a
significant proportion of quoted
companies do not currently report on
carbon to any extent.
Organisations are expected to benefit
from “lower energy and resource costs;
gain a better understanding of exposure
to the risks of climate change; and
demonstrate leadership.” In reality, whilst
those that already measure GHG as a
management tool will see some benefit to
the new legislation, other, perhaps
smaller quoted companies, will see this as
nothing more than red tape, adding little
benefit and creating a burden on key
resources such as time and finances.
Who else might be affected?
Whilst there is currently no requirement
for privately owned businesses to report
on their carbon footprint, this might be
something that the Government looks at
changing at some point in the future.
We are currently working with clients on
this legislation. More awareness of GHG
emissions will certainly be required if
government targets are to be met.
For more information on how we can
help, please contact Steven Burgess on
01473 833411 or at
Steven Burgess
Guaranteed to improve your business...or we waive our feeWe are Business Improvement Specialists based in East Anglia and can help you to:
vropm Issenis Bu areeWtsEa len had cna ailgnA
desa bsstialicep Stemenv:ou top y yo
20 | IoD suffolk | autumn 2013
Beatons Group, York House, 2/4 York Road Felixstowe, Suffolk, IP11 7QG
AUDITINGSERVICESA measured approach
Registered Auditor regulated by the ICAEWReg. No. C009193698
Call 01394 279692E-mail [email protected]/audit
A consistent, professional and friendly service at a competitive price.
UKGAAP and IFRS financial statements audited
Member of and regulated by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
01473 343490 www.ryan-group.co.ukRyan Insurance Group Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority
01473 730090 www.claydens.comClayden Financial is a trading name of Clayden Financial Planning Ltdwhich is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority
Insurance Solutions including:
Public Liability•
Professional Indemnity•
Directors & Officers •
Premises & Property•
Motor Vehicles•
Shareholder Agreements•
Key Person Protection•
Life and Pension Schemes for Company Directors •and Employees
Working together to provide expertadvice for you and your business
Financial Planning including:
IoD suffolk | autumn 2013 | 21
ONLINE LEARNING
MOOCs cover a huge range of subjects,
from the classic academic topics through
to business and technology, which can be
accessed by thousands of participants at
the same time – so they’re massive.
Anyone can join in, for free, without
entry qualifications, so they’re open.
They’re delivered online over the Internet
and use social media to connect
participants online. And they’re proper
university courses, presented in lectures,
online seminars and assignments.
The great advantage of MOOCs, apart
from their top quality course content and
nil cost, is their convenience. Students can
fit learning around their working lives and
learn at a pace to suit their individual
learning style. These are not just for
university students; they provide
opportunities to improve a CV, develop
career prospects, expand knowledge or
learn more about a topic that is of interest
to an individual.
Could this concept change the way we
access higher education as much as MP3
for music and Amazon for books, but free
of charge?
That’s what the pioneers of MOOCS hope.
Their vision is that anyone in the world
can have access to the best professors
from the best universities, all for free.
The idea for MOOCs started in the top US
universities, which have been
collaborating to make their courses
available to everyone.
Coursera is an education company set up
by Stanford University computer science
professors Andrew Ng and Daphne
Koller. They say: “The technology that
allows one professor to teach not just one
student but 100,000 really changes the
economics of higher education… we can
afford to connect everyone in the world
to a great education.”
They offer courses in the humanities,
medicine, sciences, maths, business and
IT. The courses are free; there are plans to
charge for providing certificates as proof
of study to employers.
Udacity is another MOOC offer
originating in Stanford, which actively
seeks corporate involvement and
sponsorship. It’s already collaborating
with companies such as Google and
AT&T. Udacity’s founder and CEO
Sebastian Thrun explains: “We are
reinventing education for the 21st
century by bridging the gap between
real-world skills, relevant education, and
employment. … By keeping education
meaningful and modern with the latest
technologies and skills, we hope to
advance both education and career
opportunities for our students.”
Udacity’s main offers are computer
programming and software design.
Course materials are free; students pay
for tuition.
EdX is a not-for-profit platform
established by Harvard and
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
(MIT), bringing together universities
worldwide. It offers MOOCs in subjects
including history, law, science,
engineering, IT and business.
In the UK, the Open University is building
on its 40-plus years of experience in
distance learning to collaborate with 21 UK
universities, two international partners
and the expertise of the British Library, the
British Museum and the British Council.
They’re offering MOOCs through
FutureLearn, starting this autumn.
According to the FT: “The way to
understand this revolution is to think
about MOOC platforms – such as
Coursera and edX in the US, and the UK’s
FutureLearn – as the iTunes of higher
education.”
Will the MOOC revolution catch on?
There’s no doubt about the quality of the
course content, but there are some doubts
about whether the business models can
be sustained. It looks as if all providers are
agreed on providing course material for
free; some have plans for charging for
certificates or tuition; and some are
starting to license their material to other
universities, to enhance their
conventional courses. Whatever the future
of MOOCs, there are some great
opportunities for everyone to dip in and
learn for free.
MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) could bring the world’s best university teachingto everyone, anywhere, any time - for free. But will the concept catch on? We investigatehow higher education is being transformed.
MOOCs – the onlinerevolution in highereducation
WHAT IS A MOOC?MOOC stands for massive openonline course.
It is an online course aimed at large-scale participation and open access viathe Internet
They are similar to university courses, butdo not tend to offer academic credits
A number of web-based platformssupported by top universities andcolleges offer MOOCs in a wide rangeof subjects.
Coursera: www.coursera.orgUdacity: www.udacity.comEdX: www.edx.orgFutureLearn: www.futurelearn.com
22 | IoD suffolk | autumn 2013
Research by Hubspot found that from
2009 to 2011 the percentage of businesses
with a blog grew from 48% to 65%. In
reality, if your business does not have a
blog that is frequently updated you are
missing an opportunity to increase your
online presence.
Gone are the days when the company
blog was seen as a ‘nice to have’. They now
form a crucial element of a business’s
social media and search optimisation
strategy. In order to drive traffic to your
website – and to increase sales – your
online presence must be more powerful
than that of your competitors. When a
potential customer searches for a
professional or business in your industry
you want your name to come near the top
of the list not at the bottom of page 10.
This is done through effective search
engine optimisation.
Google and other search engines such as
Yahoo no longer solely use keywords to
determine where your company should
appear on their search pages. They now
use advanced algorithms to assess how
frequently you post and update your
website and the quality of the content you
post. This may seem daunting but a blog
linked to your website is an excellent way
to add relevant content quickly and easily.
What to include
Your blog should include some, if not all,
of the following essential elements:
● Descriptive titles – make sure your
posts come up in readers’ searches by
using keywords that are as descriptive
and direct as possible.
● About section – gives readers the
opportunity to learn more about your
business.
● Contact information – email and
physical addresses give readers multiple
ways to contact you and will provide
legitimacy to your blog.
● Links to social media pages – your blog
must be a key part of your digital strategy.
Use your blog as a vehicle for building
fans on Facebook, connections on
LinkedIn and followers on Twitter by
including links to your social media pages
on every page of your blog.
● Email subscription – if you use email
marketing then include an email
subscription form on the blog. This will
enable you to compile a database of
readers, who you can effortlessly notify of
new blog posts and special offers.
● Search function – as you continue to
post and increase the amount of your
content you will want to make sure you
give readers a chance to find posts quickly
on specific topics by including a search
function.
● Categories and subcategories – help
readers identify all your posts regarding
specific topics.
● Relevant links – to other blogs or
websites that you think your readers will
find useful.
How to manage your blog
To manage your blog you need a content
management system (CMS). This allows
the publishing and editing of content to
your site without the need to know any
coding. There are many different options
when deciding on a CMS, with our
personal favourite being WordPress.
Adding your blog to your website rather
than having a separate site for it
benefits you by reinforcing your brand
and also helps build backlinks to
your website throughout the web from
people sharing your content. The more
backlinks you have to your website the
better it is for your search engine
rankings. Integrating your blog into your
website also keeps things simple in that
you have to maintain only one website.
Your website is the heart of your online
marketing and is a valuable asset. It
doesn’t make good business sense to send
people somewhere else to read your
articles.
Rubious is a web design and marketing
agency in Ipswich, Suffolk.
www.rubious.co.uk01473 356403www.twitter.com/rubiouswww.facebook.com/rubious
SOCIAL MEDIA
Blogging for your business:
Why blog?Blogging has been around for nearly 20 years and was originally used to provide aunique way for people to share thoughts, feelings, experiences and opinions.Things have changed, however, and companies of all sizes have realised thebusiness benefits of blogging. Organisations from FTSE 100 companies to soletraders use blogs and other digital methods, such as email marketing, to increasetheir digital presence and, consequently, their bottom line.
IoD suffolk | autumn 2013 | 23
No need to plan the Christmas Menu
Yarmouth Road, Melton, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 1QW
Book your hassle free Christmas Party and Dinner with Ufford Parkand put that extra sparkle into your Christmas.
This year’s themed Open Party Nights will transport you to themost eccentric and wonderful chocolate factory of them all! This isyour golden opportunity to embark on a mysterious and fantasticadventure this Christmas.
PPrriicceess ssttaarrtt ffrroomm aass lliittttllee aass ££4400 ppeerr ppeerrssoonn,, including a three course dinner and disco.
It’s never too early to book, so book with us now toguarantee your table.
......wwee’’vvee ddoonnee iitt ffoorr yyoouu!!
For more information please call us on0844 477 1832or visit www.uffordpark.co.uk
CCeelleebbrraattee CChhrriissttmmaass iinn
WWoonnkkaallaanndd
24 | IoD suffolk | autumn 2013
Versatile, dynamic andeven more elegant...
You might imagine, from the picture
above, that the Volvo V60 sports wagon
with its coupé-like design is a rather
snarly sort of thing.
Well, that's what happens if you take a
Volvo V60, put the R-Design bodykit that
includes stylish silver matt mirrors,
unique rear exhaust pipes, together with
those menacing 5-spoke Diamond Cut
18" alloy wheels on it. Festooned thus,
the V60 looks tremendous, but it's about
as snarly as a week-old kitten.
That's because it has the least powerful
engine in the range - the 115 bhp 1.6-litre
turbo diesel which Volvo designates D2.
And really, I'm not too fussed about that,
because in normal everyday driving it is
as quick as it needs to be. Moderate
application of the accelerator gives a
decent burst of acceleration, just as it
should do in a good turbo diesel. It's only
when you want more performance - if
you try to go for a quick overtake, for
example - that you may realise you're
already using nearly as much
performance as the car can offer. You
learn from this, and you plan accordingly
in future. Although, that said, Volvo offers
a host of other engine sizes all the way up
to 304 bhp for the T6 which does give you
snarl - add a Polestar software upgrade
and you add further to your experience.
I would in any case trade the lack of
overall grunt for its fantastic fuel
economy. On the EU combined cycle this
amounts to 68.9mpg, which would be
very difficult to achieve in real life, but
according to the trip computer I
managed 53mpg - an impressive figure
for a car of this size, I thought.
The excellent fuel economy and the
correspondingly low 108g/km CO2
emissions which make the car free of
road tax in the first year and £30 in
subsequent years - and it attracts a
meagre 16% BIK rate - are possibly the
best things about the car. I say "possibly"
because, in typical Volvo fashion, the V60
features a host of genuinely useful safety
systems including Pedestrian Detection
with Full Auto Brake.
Much has been made by Volvo of the car’s
load carrying capabilities, and it’s true
that, for a medium-sized estate car, it's
not extravagantly roomy – although
luggage volume of 557 litres with the rear
seats up and 1241 litres when they're
folded isn't what you might call bad. The
rear seats can be folded down in three
40/20/40 segments, so that the rear 430
litres of load space can be supplemented
quickly and easily.
In reality the V60 is more about style than
practicality, and that people even in a
business context don't carry heavy loads
as often as they used to; indeed, if you
really want more interior space there are
always the V70, XC70, XC60 or XC90
available.
With its 53mpg fuel consumption the V60
could have hung around in our business
for another week or two without any
complaint from me!
To arrange a test drive contact Adam
Noble at M.R.King & Sons,
46 Quay Street, Halesworth IP19 8EY
T: 01986 874464 E: [email protected]
www.mrking.co.uk
MOTORING REVIEW - VOLVO V60 D2
While Volvo has always had a reputation for building usefully large estates, the V60 breaks withthat tradition. It's arguably the most distinctive and sleek car Volvo has built in recent years.
IoD suffolk | autumn 2013 | 25
A suit is not a purchase to be taken lightly
or quickly. Each body shape is entirely
unique and when trying on a suit, there
are certain elements of each component
that must be taken into account.
Let’s start with the jacket. The perfect
jacket length is just long enough to cover
the curvature of the buttocks, whilst giving
the leg as long a line as possible. It’s quite
normal for a jacket to be longer at the
front than at the back, in order to hang
properly.
The bottom of the jacket should line up
with the thumb knuckle and when the
waist button of a coat is fastened, it should
divide the body so that the torso and legs
appear at maximum length. The sleeves of
the jacket should never flap around the
wrist – not only does this lack smartness
but also gives an illusion of heft.
It is seen to be the sign of a well turned-
out man to have a shirt cuff between
jacket sleeve and hand. It used to be said
that a jacket sleeve without a bit of visible
shirt cuff below made the hand appear as
if part of it were missing!
Moving downwards, the suit trousers
should extend the line of the jacket.
Fuller-chested jackets require fuller-cut
trousers; just as more fitted jackets require
slimmer-fitting trousers. It’s imperative
that suit trousers should be worn on the
waist, not on the hip. The trouser crease
should also intersect the middle of the
knee and bisect the middle of the shoe.
The choice of a dress shirt should always
be guided first and foremost by the
appropriateness of its collar shape to that
of the wearer’s face. Think of the face as a
picture and the collar as its frame. A small
picture requires a small frame – just as a
smaller man with delicate features
requires a collar of restrained dimensions,
and vice versa.
Finishing off a suit, although not always
deemed a necessity in recent years, is the
necktie. A tie’s correct width has always
been determined by the jacket’s lapel. A
man with narrow shoulders has less chest
to drape a lapel across, therefore the
lapel’s dimensions dictates that the tie
width should follow suit (ha, pun!). A
broad-shouldered man requires a more
generous lapel and thus a larger-scaled
necktie.
And finally, when trying on a suit, it’s
generally a good idea to ensure you have
your wallet in your pocket, and your keys
and mobile phone in their normal
locations so you can see exactly how these
items will sit once the suit is purchased.
With the opening statement in mind, that
is precisely why at Coes, we offer a free
basic tailoring service on all of our suits.
So that you can feel confident that you’re
wearing the suit, the suit isn’t wearing you.
William Coe, Coes of Ipswich
t: +44 (0) 1473 256061 e: [email protected]
SARTORIAL STYLE
The Perfect Fit
o.coesc
.uk
OAD RWICH 20-28 NOR
s suits in stocer 2,000 men’Ov
FREE CUSTOMER CAR P256061TEL: 01473
TUESDA TUESDAY-NPEOH1 2NIPPSWICH IOAD
hest ck – sizes up to 60”s suits in stoc
ARK CUSTOMER CAR P PARK
Y 9AM-6PMURDAAY 9AM-6PMTAATSY-
Only one man in a hundred is likely to step into a ready madesuit and find that it needs no alterations. An old tailor oncesaid: “Compromise on quality if you must, never proportion.”
26 | IoD suffolk | autumn 2013
URBAN SMALL BUSINESS
SMEs (small and medium-sized
enterprises) make up 99% of all
businesses in UK cities and provide more
than half of all the private sector jobs.
They’re increasingly important for
growth across a regional economy. But
how much is an SME affected by the city
where it does business?
New research from Centre for Cities
shows that different cities have an
enormous impact on an SME’s ability to
thrive – and not always in ways that
might be expected.
I’m looking at what this means for the
three main cities in our region:
Cambridge, Ipswich and Norwich (Centre
for Cities regards large towns such as
Ipswich as cities).
Numbers of SMEs andtheir growth rateCities provide ready access to skilled
workers, markets and suppliers, which is
why most high growth SMEs are based in
cities. A city’s prosperity depends on the
strength of its local SMEs: large numbers
of SMEs means low unemployment.
Cambridge ranks 7/64, reflecting a very
high density of knowledge-based
industries. Norwich is close behind; but
Ipswich is around the average for the UK.
New business start-ups across the UK
were acutely affected by the recession;
however, Cambridge has had more start-
ups than most cities last year. New
business start-ups in Ipswich and
Norwich were within the mid-range.
Strong performing SMEs have increased
their workforces. Cambridge’s SMEs were
second only to London; Ipswich’s SME
expansion was also very strong. Norwich
SMEs achieved average rates of
expansion. And very few of Cambridge’s
and Ipswich’s SMEs reduced their
workforces; Norwich also performed well.
Access to workforcecapacity and skills
People are essential to business: a strong
labour market locally is a key indicator of
success. And population growth means
more access to workers plus more
customers for local businesses.
Ipswich has one of the fastest-growing
populations in the UK, ranked at 4/64;
Cambridge takes the next place, whereas
Norwich – although last year among the
top ten fastest-growing cities – is now
near the average.
It’s a very different picture when looking
at the educational qualifications of local
residents. This is a significant indicator: a
more highly skilled workforce means
stronger performing SMEs.
Not surprisingly, Cambridge scores very
high indeed, taking second place after
Oxford; Norwich does well; but Ipswich’s
achievement is among the lowest: 60/64.
All SMEs report a gap between the skills
they need and the skills that are available
to them. Skills gaps don’t necessarily
reflect a city’s skills profile – they could
indicate unusually high demand for a
particular skill.
Cambridge has very few problems in
filling its skills shortages, Norwich is able
to find most of the people it needs, but
Ipswich struggles in comparison.
Affordability
Affordability of commercial premises is a
big problem nationwide. According to
the LSE (London School of Economics)
office space in the UK is in general
prohibitively expensive; business space
in Birmingham is more expensive than
New York.
Cambridge is one of the most expensive
cities in the UK for business premises,
second only to London. Norwich is
relatively expensive; Ipswich prices are
average.
High house prices indicate strong SME
economies and high demand – but this
could affect their ability to attract skilled
workers because of the impact on their
disposable income.
This is particularly problematic for
Cambridge, with very high prices and
strong demand for housing that outstrips
supply, but it’s also an issue for both
Ipswich and Norwich, with house prices
much higher than the national average.
Regional economies depend on the success of their SMEs for growth – but are somecities better placed than others? And how much does that affect an SME’s chances ofprosperity? Jane Chittenden looks at a new report from Centre for Cities: Small BusinessOutlook 2013.
City-based smallbusinesses: are somecities more equalthan others?
Barriers: red tape,connectivity anddependence on localmarket
Speed of planning decisions affects
businesses’ ability to start up and expand.
Planning decisions are much speedier than
the average in Ipswich and Norwich, but
Cambridge is one of the worst places in the
country for delays in planning decisions.
Digital connectivity (access to superfast
broadband) is an essential component of
modern business infrastructure – and a
cause of major frustration across the region.
In Cambridge, connectivity is excellent,
second only to London; Ipswich is also
well connected. But Norwich suffers one
of the lowest levels of access (it’s even
worse in rural areas, of course).
Local demand for goods and services is
important for many SMEs (over half of
them operate in their local markets), so
disposable income locally is an important
factor. If local incomes are low, SMEs need
to look for markets further afield.
Cambridge, the city with least
dependency on local markets (many of
its SMEs operate in global markets) has
residents with very high earnings but this
has to be set against its exceptionally
high housing prices. Norwich citizens
earn considerably below the national
average; Ipswich figures are even lower.
ConclusionWhat do these figures mean for our three
cities? Clearly their priorities are different
– for example, more affordable housing
and commercial property in Cambridge,
improved educational performance for
Ipswich and better access to broadband
for Norwich.
Every city is unique, but for all cities,
three factors are very important: access
to a skilled workforce, quality of place (an
attractive place to live and work), and
dealing with the barriers to progress,
such as red tape and poor connectivity.
IoD suffolk | autumn 2013 | 27
Centre for Cities is an independent non-partisan research organisation that aims tounderstand why and how cities’ economies succeed. It focused on the 64 largest townsand cities in the UK. The latest research can be seen here:www.centreforcities.org/research/businessoutlook13.html
28 | IoD suffolk | autumn 2013
The recent news headlines have been
encouraging – unemployment down, the
building industry beginning to thrive,
house prices increasing – there certainly
seems to be more optimism than there
has been for a few years.
What are you or your company doing to
develop this confidence in a recovery?
There will have been casualties within
every industry but the businesses that
have been able to re-structure, downsize,
change or reduce contracts will be the
ones that are now coming out of the
recession leaner, fitter and stronger for
the process.
Within the golf industry, as with many
other leisure businesses, it has been an
extremely difficult few years as these type
of sectors are after the discretionary
spend of its customers.
It has been noticeable that those
businesses or individuals that have
continued to invest in their staff or
themselves have come through these
years in better shape. Allowing your staff
to join a gym, play a round of golf, enjoy a
golf clinic, have a pamper day at a spa are
all experiences that can help staff feel
motivated and improve their self worth.
This can have a very positive influence on
the working environment for all staff
under your employment.
I would certainly suggest that as an
employer you should find out what each
member of your staff is ‘into’ and then try
to fulfil some of their wishes by having a
bonus scheme that can help this to come
to fruition. There is certainly a better
feeling around these industries that the
worst is over and the better times will be
returning soon.
If you need help in creating hotel, golf
tuition or spa packages that may inspire
your workforce please contact me.
LEISURE
Motivating your staff
Stuart Robertson PGA Golf Professional and Director of GolfUfford Park Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 1QW
01394 382836
www.doctorgolf.co.uk
www.uffordpark.co.uk
#doctorgolf247
Meetings at
Hintlesham Hall
Whether you wish to hold an important
seminar, or a private banquet, Hintlesham
Hall is the perfect choice for any event.
The Hall’s four individually styled
conference rooms can comfortably
accommodate an intimate board meeting
for four delegates, up to a larger
gathering of 80 delegates theatre style.
Outdoor space for team building.
33 individually designed, luxuriously
furnished bedrooms.
Exceptional twenty-four hour and eight
hour delegate rates available.
Dining at
Hintlesham Hall
Two course lunch and coffee £18.00 per personThree course lunch and coffee £23.50 per person
Available Monday – Saturday
Sunday LunchTwo course lunch, coffee and chocolate truffles
£19.50 per personThree course lunch, coffee and
chocolate truffles £25.50 per person
A La CarteA La Carte menu available for lunch
and dinner seven days a week (excluding Sunday lunch time)
For reservations please telephone 01473 652334
www.hintleshamhall.comemail: [email protected]
•
•
• •
•
IoD suffolk | autumn 2013 | 29
Are you looking for a newvenue to hold your officeChristmas party this year?Then look no further..!
Ipswich Sports Club is one of Suffolk’s best kept secrets;the club is set in idyllic grounds just north of the towncentre on Henley Road, in the central IP1 postcode area.
We can accommodate a range of parties and functionsfrom business meetings, corporate events, partycelebrations and much more. The club has ample freecar parking, a good sized function room (seating up to50) and fully licensed bar.
Our delicious Christmas menu has been created byHead Chef, Justin, and his team from TheCourtside Bistro and includes dishes such as:
Pan seared breast of pigeon with crisp pancettaand a raspberry dressing
Slow roasted Dingley Dell pork belly, creamedSavoy cabbage, mashed potato, apple purée,
and cider jus
We look forward to welcoming you; for further detailsand to book, contact our Functions Co-ordinator [email protected] or call 01473 251143.
Enjoy fresh air, not hot air
at Coopers CountryTeam-build, entertain clients, or simplycelebrate with staff in a discreet yetrewarding way at our interesting, ruralvenue. Our clay-shooting packages arefun and informative. For some, it’s anopportunity to try something new; forothers, the chance to improve their skills.
Business Blast packages include exclusiveuse of our venue and meeting roomfacilities as required, refreshments, tuition,use of shotguns, other equipment asnecessary and 50 clays and cartridgeseach. And you can also add lunch ordinner, at our intriguing Sporting Lodge.
• Suitable for parties from 4 to 40• From £40 per person
LOOKING GOOD AND FEELING GREAT?
������������www.alanbrannandesign.co.uk
ALANBRANNANDESIGN�
A new image can rejuvenate your business andattract new customers – that’s what our clients sayabout our recent branding campaigns.
So if you’re ready for a creative fresh approach,contact Paul Newman or visit our website to findout how we can help take your business forward.
Or is your branding a little tired and in need of refreshing?
30 | IoD suffolk | autumn 2013
ENERGY NEWS
SABRE (Support and Advice to Businesses
around Renewable Energy) is offering
FREE renewable energy advice to small
and medium-sized enterprises in Suffolk.
The support is impartial and independent
and includes advice on the investment
opportunities created by Feed-in Tariffs
and the Renewable Heat Incentive.
Sackers Recycling, who were recently
named Business of the Year at the EADT
Business Awards, was the first business to
take advantage of the SABRE project,
successfully installing a 50kW Solar PV
system at their site in Great Blakenham at a
cost of £76,000. Payback for the installation
will be between 9-14 years, with cost
savings after payback returning £2,620 pa, as
well as CO2 savings of 21.32 tonnes CO2 pa.
Chris Oliver, Finance Director for Sackers
said “We recommend SABRE to anyone
considering installing a renewable
technology or who is trying to work out
what their resource efficiency options
are. Their information gave a lot of
comfort in knowing we were dealing with
people who knew the market, and their
impartial advice was great to receive”
John Gosden Racing of Newmarket is also
reaping the benefits of SABRE. After
opting for a 20kW solar PV system, site
wide loft insulation and LED lighting
throughout they will be making cost
savings of £5,000 pa after a 4 year payback.
Further cost savings have since paid for a
new bicycle rack to encourage sustainable
transport amongst workers. They said
“The SABRE report is a great way to start a
programme to reduce your firm’s
environmental impact and running costs”
The SABRE project is supporting 120
businesses/social enterprises in total
over three years. Everyone who takes part
in the project will receive:
• A free independent and impartial
Renewable Energy Feasibility Review
• Further free support and advice on
renewable energy
To find out more about how you qualify
for SABRE or if you would like to find out
what your renewable energy options are
contact SABRE on 01394 444584 or email
SABRE is impartial and independent. Itis a three-year partnership projectbetween Groundwork Suffolk andSuffolk County Council on behalf of theSuffolk Climate Change Partnership andis part-financed by the EuropeanRegional Development Fund. For moreinformation visitwww.greensuffolk.org/sabre
FREE RENEWABLE ENERGY ADVICE
IoD suffolk | autumn 2013 | 31
BUSINESS BOOKS
Whole College
Open Morning
Saturday 12th October 2013
9.30am-12.30pm
St
Jose
ph
’s C
oll
ege
A co-educational Independent Day School
for 3-18 year olds with boarding facilities.
Scholarships and bursaries up to 100%
of fees available.
A Christian School in the Lasallian Tradition.
Belstead Road, Ipswich, England IP2 9DR
Telephone: 01473 690281
www.stjos.co.uk
BOOK REVIEWSThe Lean Startup: How Constant Innovation Creates RadicallySuccessful Businesses by Eric Ries Viking £10.49
Most new businesses fail. But most of those failures are
preventable. "The Lean Startup" is a new approach to business
that's being adopted around the world. It is changing the way
companies are built and new products are launched. "The Lean
Startup" is about learning what your customers really want. It's
about testing your vision continuously, adapting and adjusting
before it's too late. Now is the time to think Lean.
Eric Ries is an entrepreneur and author of the blog Startup Lessons Learned. He co-
founded and served as CTO of IMVU, his third startup. He is a frequent speaker at
business events, has advised a number of startups, large companies, and venture
capital firms on business and product strategy, and is an entrepreneur-in-residence at
Harvard Business School.
Facebook Marketing Guide for Smart Business Ownersby Nick StevensKindle edition (amazon.co.uk) £2.00
These days, Facebook marketing is essential for any
business. This book is a quick hit packed with tons of
valuable information you can begin applying immediately!
Here is a preview of what you'll learn...
-Creating the foundation you need to be successful
-Creating your brand
-Setting up your business profile
-Knowing what content to post
-Maximizing your first fans
-Boosting your pages
-Connecting with others
-Optimizing for Google
-Timing your posts
-Promoting across different platforms
-Scheduling regular makeovers
-Assessing your progress and results
-Using metrics to take things to the next level
SMEs from the Ground Up [Paperback]by Chuck Hodell ASTD Press Kindle edition (amazon.co.uk) £25.52
Subject matter experts are at the heart of many instructional
design projects. Yet there seems to be a vacuum of best
practices and approaches to working with SMEs. Since
instructional designers and trainers thrive on getting their
content correct, there is no realistic way to do this efficiently
and productively without finding the best way to work with
SMEs.
This book will show you how to define the different SMEs and their roles for you and
your learning and development teams. Learn how to develop plans for SME selection,
communication, evaluation, and problem solving to ensure that tasks move along
smoothly. No matter your level of experience in training, this guide provides the basics
of building a productive working relationship with SMEs.
�
32 | IoD suffolk | autumn 2013
MEMBER PROFILE
John HaresnapeOwner, Lady Florence River Cruise RestaurantJohn Haresnape will be familiar to many IoD members –either because, along with thousands of others, they have,at some time, enjoyed a meal while cruising the River Oreon board the ex-Admiralty supply boat, the Lady Florence,or as a result of John’s regular attendance at IoD events inskipper’s uniform of branded shirt and shorts. John’s familybusiness is soon set to expand, with a second boatoperating out of Ipswich.
Join us and you’ll discover a unique mix
of opportunities to learn and be inspired
by interesting speakers; meet other
directors, senior managers and
professionals and enjoy a variety of social
occasions with a big member discount.
Many of our members take advantage of
other IoD benefits including the superb
meeting space and facilities in Pall Mall,
London, which are FREE to use; FREE
one-to-one expert advisory sessions and
FREE business information queries
answered within 24 hours.
As an IoD Suffolk member you are also
entitled to free access to a dedicated
workstation in the new e-touchdown on
the 5th floor at Eastern Enterprise Hub in
the James Hehir building on Ipswich
waterfront. See www.eehub.co.uk
For membership details email
Lady Florence fans will be keen to hearmore about your plans for the RiverOrwell. Can you tell us a bit more aboutthat first? We are in the process of moving the boat
we have been operating out of Durban in
South Africa to Ipswich. She’s called the
Allen Gardiner and is a 63-foot wooden
air/sea rescue launch built in 1942. She’s a
fair bit bigger than the Lady Florence; as
many as 20 can sit down for a meal
together, although she is licensed for 50.
She was based in the heart of Durban,
near the commercial district and was very
popular with corporate diners. We’re
hoping we’ll be able to do something
similar in Ipswich and that, of course, is
quite a different sort of proposition to the
Lady Florence. We do hope, however, that
the many people who’ve enjoyed a cruise
on the Lady Florence will try the Allen
Gardiner. The standard of catering and
hospitality will be every bit as good.
You were running these two businesses,one in Suffolk, your summer home andone in South Africa, your winter home.That sounds like an idyllic set up to mostof us. How did you achieve that?I used to do training in goal setting and
planning and would often tell people to
plan the rest of their lives. I realised I
wasn’t doing it myself so, in 1982, sat down
with my wife, Susan, and made such a
plan. We are English and thought Suffolk
would be the ideal place to spend our
summers but it wasn’t warm enough for
the whole year so, once apartheid was
gone, South Africa seemed the best place
for the winter. Geoffrey Ingram Smith had
started the Lady Florence River Cruise
Restaurant in 1984. We bought it from him
in 1992 and have run it with my son, Craig
and his partner, Kris ever since. She is very
popular. Some people come five times a
year. We’re confident there will be plenty
of demand for a second boat. And, with
Craig increasingly taking the lead in the
business, Susan and I will still be able to
escape to South Africa in the winter.
You have not always been in the floatingrestaurant business. What were youdoing before? I was in the computer business. I was the
UK Sales and Marketing Director for a big
American company. One of the reasons I
joined the IoD more than twenty years
ago was the chance to use the Pall Mall
facilities for entertaining clients. They
were always very impressed. My role in
the future will be to do more of the
marketing for the restaurant boat
business. Craig is a highly trained chef
and very experienced caterer.
A cruise and meal on the Lady Florencewould be quite a lot of people’s ideal dayout in Suffolk. Apart from that, whatwould be your recommendation forrelaxing in the county?We still very much enjoy being on the
boat. You might think there’s only sea and
sky to look at but I see something new
every time I go out. And when we have
customers who don’t know each other, the
way they mix and, often, become friends
is a real pleasure. Elsewhere, the thing
we’ve really enjoyed in recent years has
been the Red Rose Chain’s Theatre in the
Forest. It used to be in Rendlesham but
has now moved to Jimmy’s Farm at
Wherstead. Their productions are magical.
They are a great night out.
Are you a member of the IoD?
� ������� �� ���������
�" ��#$�"$�$ �����#����(������$���#%�$#������#!�"�����&�" ����$����" ���������)��"#
01394 615041 '''�' ��"�����#%�� ���#���%�
A part of THE SECKFORD FOUNDATION Registered Charity No 1110964
Are you a member of the IoD?
� ������� �� ���������
�" ��#$�"$�$ �����#����(������$���#%�$#������#!�"�����&�" ����$����" ���������)��"#
01394 615041 '''�' ��"�����#%�� ���#���%�
A part of THE SECKFORD FOUNDATION Registered Charity No 1110964
Woodbridge SchoolRE-FOUNDED IN 1662