12092019

FARMING BLOG Tom Bishop, BCM Rural Property Specialists p7

THE INTERVIEW Richie Sanderson, RS Catering and Events p3

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Newbury Business Today at the heart of your community Date: 12.9.2019 - Distributed with the Newbur y Weekly News Who is the Best in Business? ate: 12.9.2019 – Distributed with the Newbur y Wekly News The judging is done and winners will be revealed at the Gala Dinner in November

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Report by DAN COOPER email dan.cooper@newburynews.co.uk twitter @danc_nwn

THE judging is done, the short- lists have been drawn up and tickets are selling fast. The countdown is now well and truly on for the Newbury Weekly News Best in Business Awards gala dinner in November. The Best in Business Awards, which are now in their third year, celebrate all that is great about business in West Berkshire and North Hampshire. This year there are nine award categories, each sponsored by a local company. The winner of each category will go head-to-head to win the overall Best in Business award (excluding the charity award) sponsored by Cobbs Farm Shop & Kitchen, at the dinner at Newbury Racecourse on Friday, November 1. Judges have been out and about visiting all of the shortlisted companies over the past few weeks and have been hugely impressed with their quality and diversity. Over afternoon tea at The Vine- yard on Friday, attended by judges and sponsors, the judges stood up and explained which companies they visited and why they had chosen their particular winner. However, the names of the winners were not revealed and will

Newbury News and Media Ltd chief executive James Gurney addresses the judges and sponsors at afternoon tea on Friday

Generate UK p Innovation in Business Award, sponsored by HSBC p Charity or Community Award, sponsored by Greenham Trust p Regional Event Award, sponsored by Parkway Shopping For more details of the awards and to book tickets for the gala dinner, visit www.bestinbusiness awards. co.uk

p Independent Retailer Award, sponsored by Jones Robinson p Small Business Award, sponsored by PBA Accountants p Customer Service Award, sponsored by Newbury Racecourse p Training and Support Award, sponsored by Tigers Day Nurseries p Best Employer Award, sponsored by The HR Department p Best Use of Marketing Technology Award, sponsored by

remain under wraps until the awards night in November. All the judges explained how difficult it had been to pick a winner owing to the quality of the entrants. Last year’s event was a sell-out and tickets for this year are already being snapped up. Space is limited to 300, so people are being encouraged to book early. The categories are as follows:

Providing legal expertise for every aspect of your business and personal life for over 100 years.

Business and Company Services Employment Law Family & Mediation Litigation Disputes & Resolution Property Wills, Trusts, Probate & Taxation

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Thursday, September 12, 2019

Newbury Business Today

Legal Review

Coffin Mew is shortlisted in prestigious Law Society awards NEWBURY law firmCoffin Mew has been shortlisted by the Law Society as ‘medium law firm of the year’ in its Excellence Awards for the second year running. The awards celebrate the best of the legal profession and the winners will be announced at a glittering celebration on October 23. Coffin Mew merged with Charles Lucas & Marshall in 2017, positioning it among the South East’s largest law firms with offices across the region and 230 partners and staff. Judges were impressed with the firm’s standout performance since then, building on the success of the merger, with revenues increasing by more than 30 per cent. Coffin Mew chief execu- tive Miles Brown said: “We regularly get glowing client feedback as well as truly favourable endorsements from our people following all of the positive growth we have seen. “We are delighted to also have industry recognition with another prestigious shortlisting and be nation- ally recognised among the ‘best of the best’ by the Law Society.” compliance, vehicle availabil- ity and safety. “We have also made signifi- cant investments in sophisti- cated systems, supporting Network Rail and other customers with real-time insights that can drive improved cost and environ- mental efficiencies across their fleets. “In the longer term, support for a transition to green fleets must be a priority. “As we have seen from our involvement in Optimise Prime, the industry is already rising to the challenge and we will continue to demonstrate leadership in supporting this movement.” Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solu- tions’ service levels have also been recognised as industry leading, with multiple awards including Leasing Company of the Year and a highly commended for supplier of the year at the Fleet News Awards 2019, as well as Van Leasing Company of the Year at the Commercial Fleet Awards 2018. The team was also recog- nised by its largest customer Centrica, receiving the Collab- oration Award 2018, beating more than 20,000 competitor suppliers.

The pitfalls of DIY wills and probate MANY people no doubt view lawyers as an expense that they can well do without. monies left to a UK charity (if you leave at least 10 per cent of your estate to charity then this the aftermath of homemade wills – sometimes the financial implications can be

will reduce your IHT bill), Normal Expenditure out of Income (NEOI) Relief, Agricultural Property Relief (APR) for farmers and Business Property Relief (BPR) for business owners. Additionally, BPR can apply to exempt certain investments from IHT and this is an area of estate planning that we specialise in. Turning to question 2, in the author’s view, one of the main advantages of having a professionally-drafted will that addresses all of the above issues, is the peace of mind of having put your affairs in order so that you haven’t left a legal mess for your family to sort after your death. The team at Horsey Lightly has wide experience of dealing with

catastrophic, particularly, for example, where the deceased has remarried and has children from their first marriage. How much better to have peace of mind knowing that everybody and everything has been considered and provided for and that your will is fully tax efficient? Contact Steve Meredith, Vicky Brackstone or Carl Wheeler in Horsey Lightly’s specialist IHT and wills team on (01635) 580858 or email info@horseylightly.com to see how we can help you achieve that peace of mind. Horsey Lightly has been providing legal expertise for families and businesses for more than 100 years. Visit www.horseylightly.com to find out more.

For that reason, they buy a will- making kit from a high street store or online at very little cost and then sit back and congratulate themselves on all the money they have saved by not using a lawyer. Similarly, when they die their executors deal with the probate themselves without professional help. However, if they had instructed a solicitor who is also an expert on Inheritance Tax (IHT), they may well discover that the IHT savings that can be achieved by careful will drafting may significantly outweigh the saving in professional fees. There are two issues here: 1. Has the family really saved money? 2. Do they have peace of mind that their affairs have been ordered in the best possible way? Dealing with question 1 first, if you make a homemade will, are you certain that your estate will qualify for all the applicable IHT reliefs and exemptions? To give a simple example, a new relief, known as the Residence Nil Rate Band (RNRB) was introduced in April 2017 which

effectively gives IHT relief on the value of a person’s home when it is inherited by lineal descendants, ie children and grandchildren. By April 2020, RNRB for a married couple or civil partners will be worth £350,000 which represents an IHT saving at 40 per cent of £140,000. However, the rules relating to RNRB are complex and this relief can easily be lost by poor will drafting. Is it worth the risk of losing the very significant benefit of RNRB by making a DIY will? Similarly, it is not only IHT savings that are at stake. It is also possible to make wills that mitigate the costs of paying

care or nursing home fees. Care costs are much more swingeing than IHT. The latter only takes a slice of your wealth, ie a 40 per cent hit on the amount by which the value of your estate exceeds £325,000 (£650,000 in the case of a married couple or civil partners). However, care fees are punitive and can decimate your wealth down to £23,250, leaving virtually nothing to pass down to your heirs. There are many other IHT exemptions and reliefs that you may potentially qualify for, which can all save you money if your will is drafted correctly, eg charitable exemption for

Steve Meredith Carl Wheeler Hitachi’s profits grow to £24.8m Fleet finance and management firm gains market share Vicky Brackstone

HITACHI Capital Vehicle Solutions, based in River Side Lane, Newbury, grewprofit to £24.8m in 2018/19, the second largest market share increase among top leasing companies. The business unit, part of Hitachi Capital (UK) PLC, now operates more than 68,200 assets totalling £822m. Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solu- tions, which provides vehicle funding and fleet management services, has grown signifi- cantly over the past 10 years, with the annual volume of busi- ness rising from £100m in 2009 to £377m in 2018/19. The business has also started the new financial year strongly with the recent announcement of a £136m contract to manage Network Rail’s owned and leased road vehicle fleet. Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solu- tions is also playing a key role in Optimise Prime, the world’s biggest trial of commercial electric vehicles (EVs). The three-year project, cost- ing £18m, is led by Hitachi Vantara and UK Power Networks and brings together leading power, technology, fleet and transport companies to test and implement the best approaches to roll out EVs on the road at scale.

Jon Lawes

Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solu- tions’ role as fleet expert in the consortium is to bring a wider understanding of the impacts of the charging infrastructure, network service provision and commercial solution to identify optimal performance for alter- native fuel fleets. Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solu- tions managing director Jon Lawes said: “In a challenging and rapidly-changing land- scape for the automotive indus- try, driven by changes to legis- lation, growth of registrations for alternatively-fuelled vehi- cles and ongoing Brexit uncer- tainty, we have worked closely with our customers to deliver market-leading solutions. “Our integrated leasing and fleet management model is providing Network Rail with the right assets to improve

Thursday, September 12, 2019

Newbury Business Today

Richie has a taste for growing a sustainable business Work/life balance important to chef TheInterview: Richie Sanderson, of RS Catering and Events, talks to Newbury Business Today’s SARAH BOSLEY

EVERYONE strives for a perfect work/life balance, but one Newbury man created his business to ensure he could achieve it. And not only has he taken the local gastronomic world by storm, picking up a host of awards as he goes, but he also ensures he still has time to spend with his wife, two children and their dog. Born in Reading, Richie Sanderson spent his childhood in Thatcham, where he attended St Mary’s School. His family then moved to Lambourn Woodlands and Richie went to John O’Gaunt School, before going on to study catering and hospitality at Newbury College. “While I was at school I did some work experience with an outside catering company in Lambourn and they offered me a part-time job, which I just loved,” he explains. “It just didn’t feel like work. “I then went to the original Newbury College and did day release for the two-year course, studying in the workplace. “I was working at The Bell at Boxford, which was a very nice restaurant.” After completing his course, Richie worked at a number of restaurants across the area, including the Madagascan Gin Palace, a venue synonymous with Newbury nights out for those of us of a certain age. A stint at Shepperton Studios catering saw him make the move to London, before he went to work at the two

Richie Sanderson at The Bull at Stanford Dingley

“We were doing between five and 10 events a week, ranging from product launches to weddings and parties. “That was a really cool time and one of the best jobs I have ever had. “Then in 2009 I started RS Catering and Events. “I used to see some really talented chefs, but they burnt themselves out for someone else and didn’t have anything at the end of it. “I didn’t want to be like that. “It was just me and my wife, Charlotte, in the beginning, which was really hard work. “Charlotte had worked in the equine industry, but she moved over to work with me after having our daughter, so she could work the hours that fitted around her. “The emphasis of RS Catering wasn’t about making money, it was about creating a lifestyle. “We planned it so we could still do what we loved, but also get what we wanted from our careers.” Richie says that having his little girl was “a big turning point” in his life. “I wanted the opportunity to make a living, but not be in the kitchen for 18 to 20 hours a day,” he adds. “Now I have got an amazing

staff and people who have stayed true to me, so I have stayed true to them. “I have given parts of the company to people who have really worked for me.” In 2015, Richie made a move back into restaurants when he took over The Bladebone in Bucklebury. He fully refitted the pub, opening in January 2016, and hasn’t looked back. “We were doing so many events and getting such good feedback and people kept asking us where we were based,” Richie says. “It was really nice to hear it a few times, but when we were hearing it from a lot of people at every event, we started to think maybe it wasn’t a bad idea. “Events are also very seasonal too so it did make sense. “We realised we had a great team and a great product, but no shop front. “I wanted to give people restaurant food in a pub environment and I saw a gap in the market as there weren’t many independent restaurants in the area at that time.” And the Sanderson empire continued to expand last year when Richie took on The Bull, at Stanford Dingley. “The Bull is fantastic,” he adds. “There were so many reasons for The Bull; it was a real natural progression. “We had great staff and I realised if I didn’t move forward I couldn’t offer them the progression they needed. “It was much easier to open The Bladebone though, because nobody knew us and there were no expectations. “But we couldn’t open The Bull and enjoy that organic evolution. We had to open it looking perfect. “There was a lot of personal pressure too.” The price point at The Bull is intentionally lower than at The

there,” he says. “You have to keep revisiting and tweaking and listening to what people want and then you can go forward from there.” And although he is keeping busy enough at the moment, Richie says he will “never say never” to another pub – if the perfect opportunity arises. But for now he is content with the work/life balance he has achieved. “I am a worker, so I always have to work,” he adds. “I’m always cooking even when we’re on holiday, but I think I have got the right balance for me. “I get to go to school plays and sports days and that is perfect for my family.”

Bladebone, because to own two gastro-pubs just 1.2 miles apart was not good business sense, explains Richie. “We offer a much more relaxed dining experience, with simpler food,” he adds. “It is very much a pub and that’s what I want it to be. “We are already hitting second year targets and it isn’t as busy as I would like it to be, but I am a realistic businessman and we have it on a very long lease.” Richie will now be focussing his attention on The Bull, as it approaches its first birthday, and looking at what has worked and what hasn’t. “The tills provide us with every detail. I need to go through the analytics and revisit and tweak what we do

“ I used to see some really talented chefs but they burnt

themselves out for someone else and didn’t have anything

at the end of it. I didn’t want to be like that

Michelin-starred Pied à Terre restaurant; an experience he describes as “pretty cool”. He was drawn back to West Berkshire in 2005 by the Crab at Chieveley, where he became the junior sous chef for the two AA rosette restaurant. “The Crab at Chieveley was one of the places to be in the area at the time,” Richie says. “But after a year there I felt I wanted to do event catering and take a break from restaurants and pubs. “So I went to run Complete Catering in Oxford.

The Bladebone at Bucklebur y

Thursday, September 12, 2019

Newbury Business Today

Legal Question Time

Simultaneous deaths – unintended consequences

Caitlin Leatham

Caitlin opens vintage shop A STUDENT from Compton has tapped into the growing demand for retro and secondhand clothing with the opening of a vintage clothes store in Swansea. The Retro and Vintage Store – known as RAVS – has opened in Picton Arcade in the city centre and sells clothing in store, as well as many items through an online Depop shop. RAVS was the brainchild of students Caitlin Leatham, 21, and Sion Williams, 20, who both study business manage- ment at Swansea University. After the pair both secured start-up funding through GoCompare as part of their entrepreneurship module, they took out a lease on the shop and refurbished the store before launching. Miss Leatham, a former pupil at The Downs School, said: “Vintage fashion is continuing to increase in popularity, espe- cially among fashion- and envi- ronmentally-conscious students. “The store has a strong customer base and I cannot wait to watch the brand grow.”

It may be worth getting advice on making wills together so the circumstances can be considered as a whole, and make the wills mirror each other. You may provide that in the first instance everything goes to the surviving spouse, and then on the death of the second spouse everything gets divided between all the children and stepchildren. That way, both families benefit regardless of who goes first. If you don’t trust your spouse not to alter their will after you’ve died and cut out your children, then consider leaving your assets in trust for your spouse for life (they can live in any property or use the income from assets) but provide that on their death it has to go to your children. In any case, think through the possible scenarios. Author’s details: Lucy Savage Senior Associate – Inheritance Protection Team T: l.savage@gardner- leader.co.uk E: (01635) 508118

THERE is nothing like a good old bit of Latin to get the lawyers excited. Commorientes, or “simultaneous deaths”. The rule was set out back in 1925 in the Law of Property Act, section 184. This provided that where it is impossible to know which of two people died first, the younger one is deemed to have survived the elder. Commorientes has been highlighted recently in an interesting but quite sad case. Mr and Mrs Scarle were married and jointly owned their home. They also had some money in a joint bank account. The total value of all the jointly-owned property has been reported to be just under £300,000. They had no children together, but both had daughters from previous relationships. Mr and Mrs Scarle both died of hyperthermia around the same time in their home and their bodies were not discovered for some days.

parent and disagreed as to which one was likely to have died first. The stepsisters asked the court to make a decision. The judge concluded that it was not possible to know with any degree of certainty which parent had died first. This is where Commorientes comes in. That is what the judge followed in this case. Mr Scarle, who was 10 years older than his wife, was deemed to have died first, so the estate passed initially to his wife and then on to her children. The moral of the story? It may seem natural to make a will providing that your assets go to your children on death and make no mention of your stepchildren, since your spouse is providing for them. However, as we see above, there can be unintended consequences of not thinking things through particularly where there are jointly-owned assets and where we do not know who is going to die first.

On death, assets that are owned jointly as ‘joint tenants’, as was the case with the house and bank account, pass automatically to the surviving co-owner by survivorship. On the death of the surviving co-owner their assets are inherited in accordance with the will or intestacy of the surviving co-owner. In this case, Mr Scarle’s daughter would benefit under his intestacy from his assets and Mrs Scarle’s daughters would benefit by her will, from hers. It was therefore of utmost importance to the family to know which of the parents died first. Whoever died second inherited the assets briefly and then passed them on to their beneficiaries. So the children of the one who lived longer would inherit the jointly-owned assets. Which of them had died first? It was difficult to tell. The pathologists could not give a date of death for either

Lucy Savage

The issue here was whether it was Mr or Mrs Scarle that died first – and it really did matter.

Apprenticeship News with

Employer Enhancements continue for apprentices

At the heart of the Berkshire community for over 120 years.

EMPLOYER Enhancements are ‘rewards’ to employers who engage apprentices aged 16 to 18 or disadvantaged adults. The enhancements have run since May 2017 and have proven a popular incentive for those employers with younger apprentices. What is an Employer Enhancement? All employers, regardless of size, will be entitled to an enhancement whenever they engage a 16- to 18-year-old apprentice or a disadvantaged young adult. Engaged means enrol that person on an apprenticeship and it includes an employee progressing from one apprenticeship to another. Age means the apprentice’s age when they start their formal learning on the apprenticeship. A disadvantaged adult is defined as aged 19 to 24 and: 1. Was formerly in local authority care 2. Or has an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP) How much is the Employer Enhancement?

Qualifying periods It’s vital to point out that the payments are made for time on an apprenticeship and not time employed. For example, if an employer recruits an apprentice on September 1, but the apprenticeship doesn’t commence until October 1, then the enhancement qualification period starts from October 1 and not the earlier date. Why is the Government employers because taking on younger apprentices requires more work. Younger employees are often less experienced, less knowledgeable and can require logical to support employers through these enhancements so that they do not become biased to older apprentice recruits. giving money away? This is a sweetener for more care and support. Therefore it does appear

Corporate/Commercial

Family

Commercial Property

Inheritance Protection i

West Berkshire Training Consortium –update by MATT GARVEY

Dispute Resolution

Residential Property

For each apprentice the enhancement is £1,000 paid in two instalments at month three and 12 of the apprenticeship. It is paid by the Government via the employer’s training provider. Employers of all sizes are entitled to enhancements and there is no current cap on the number that will be paid. Therefore an employer engaging 10 apprentices aged 16 to 18 could receive £10,000 in enhancements.

Managing Risk and Reputation

Employment

It’s a good time to be an employer engaged with apprentices.

White Hart House, Market Place, Newbury RG14 5BA 01635 508080 gardner-leader.co.uk

If you would like further advice and guidance then contact me Matt@wbtc-uk.com

Thursday, September 12, 2019

Newbury Business Today

Step Up 4 Good in call to businesses Give back to community you work in by registering team

Hobbycraft’s Newbury store’s best sales for an opening day HOBBYCRAFT has opened a new store at Newbury Retail Park. The arts and crafts shop, located at Unit 8a, has created 16 jobs, following more than 130 applications for the new roles. The store was officially opened on Tuesday, August 27, while the grand opening took place on Saturday, August 31, assisted by Newbury mayor Elizabeth O’Keeffe for the ribbon-cutting. With queues forming from 8am and the first 100 customers gifted with a free goody bag, Hobbycraft’s Newbury store was the most successful in terms of sales on its opening day. Customers were also able to enjoy face painting and a deco- patch workshop. Store manager Ashleigh Gray said: “Our new store is packed with crafting materials to suit all ages and abilities, and beginners through to expe- rienced crafters are all welcome to pop into the store and chat to our creative colleagues. “They’re always happy to share their knowledge, tips and tricks.”

number of volunteering oppor- tunities for anyone who wants to join in without putting on their trainers. Having volunteered as a race marshal for the past two years, Sharon Chapman shares her volunteering experience: “I think it’s really important to get involved with the commu- nity and give back. “Volunteering allows you to see what amazing local charita- ble groups are available, that you may not have known existed unless you see people running in their shirts. “For runners, it’s fantastic to have someone enthusiastic cheering you on, especially if it’s their first time running – having a friendly face supporting them really gives them a lift. “The best thing about volun- teering is seeing the runners’ faces when they cross the line. “It’s a great sense of achieve- ment and people work really hard, so when you see everyone together holding their medals, it’s a lovely feeling.” To register for Step Up 4 Good 2019 on Sunday, October 13, inquire about volunteering and for event details, visit www.stepup4good.co.uk/ getinvolved

are getting involved. The said: “Our community matters to us. “We recognise our responsi- bility to support and care for the communities in which we are privileged to operate. “We focus all our charitable work and donations upon projects and causes which posi- tively impact our community. “As well as sponsoring the Para-Mile, we have a team running and volunteering too. “It’s a great way to bring your employees together outside the workplace and I’d encourage other businesses to get involved.” Attending the event for a second year, Jason Briley, owner of SuperFit Bootcamp, explains why he is eager to be involved again. He said: “Step Up 4 Good is a fantastic event that brings people together from all walks of life to raise money for deserving causes. “It’s not only rewarding to support a feel-good event, but as a small business owner it’s an ideal opportunity to network with people who have similar interests and goals.” If running really isn’t your thing, Step Up 4 Good offers a

HEALTH and wellbeing are just as important in the office as they are at home. Employers that promote healthy working lives help to reduce stress and health issues in employees, which in turn increases productivity and helps to retain staff. Greenham Trust is therefore encouraging local businesses to get involved in Step Up 4 Good 2019 by using the running event as a team-building oppor- tunity and registering their own teams or volunteering. Since 2016, the trust’s annual 10k and family fun runs event, Step Up 4 Good has encouraged more than 1,800 people to get active. It has helped fund projects for many charitable organisa- tions across West Berkshire and North Hampshire. Step Up 4 Good 2019 will take place on October 13 at Newbury Racecourse. Priding itself as one of the most unique running events in West Berkshire, Step Up 4 Good accommodates runners of all ages and abilities and educates the next generation for a healthier future. Businessman Adrian Smith explains why the Swift team THE rapid growth of self- employment has been a noticeable feature in the make-up of the UK work- force in recent years, writes Karen Smith from Newbury Building Society . The number of individuals working for themselves has increased by 1.1 million since 2009, with 4.92 million people now choosing to be their own boss (15 per cent of the entire workforce). Yet 39 per cent of self- employed people have decided against applying for a mort- gage or remortgage in the past five years because of the fear of their application being rejected. Perceived obstacles to gain- ing a mortgage included a lack of recent tax returns, irregular or insufficient income and the mortgage request being too complicated. With such a large number choosing to step away from the traditional 9-5, lenders are seen to be disenfranchising a large chunk of the market. But this isn’t necessarily the case. Although underwriting atti- tudes towards the self- employed may differ from lender to lender – some may have restrictive policies to adhere to while others may be more open to flexibility– many have started to reconsider the level of risk self-employed workers pose, opening their doors to borrowers with diverse incomes. How are lenders doing this?

s Step Up 4 Good

Entrants in last year ’

Ref: 42-3018B

Self-employed needn’t be restricted when it comes to getting a mortgage

If you’re self-employed, a freelancer or contractor, our mortgages work for you when you work for yourself.

Such a professional service, they just understand people who run their own companies. The team understand the world of owning a business, its finances and how this can impact a mortgage application.

Newbury Building Society sales manager Karen Smith

By considering the applicant individually. At Newbury Building Soci- ety, for example, we do not credit score and all our mort- gages are individually under- written so each case is consid- ered on its own merit. We dismiss the ‘computer says no’ mentality and focus on the person and their unique situa- tion. In addition, we consider net profit on an individual basis as we want to understand the business and the prospective

borrower, as well as show affordability into the future. So, to find a mortgage that works for you when you work for yourself, a three-pronged approach is needed. Firstly, reject rejection; secondly, find a lender who is willing to put the effort in; and thirdly, never assume it’s impossible to get a mortgage if you’re self-employed – it’s not. n Karen Smith is the sales manager at Newbury Building Society. Call (01635) 555777 or visit newbury.co.uk

Newmortgage holder

Smart Money People Review August 2019

Newbury Building Society is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority (Financial Services Register number 206077). English Law applies and we willcommunicate with you in English. We are participants of the Financial Ombudsman Service. We have a complaints procedure which we will provide on request. Most complaints that we cannot resolve can be referred to the Financial Ombudsman Service. 7665 Call: 01635 555777 | Visit: www.newbury.co.uk

Newbury Building Society

Thursday, September 12, 2019

Newbury Business Today

Drop in business confidence due to looming Brexit

But Thames Valley firms still report solid per formance

BUSINESS performance in the Thames Valley has remained relatively strong despite a lull in economic confidence, according to the latest Thames Valley Busi- ness Barometer report published by accountancy firm BDO LLP and PR agency C8 Consulting. The survey, which was conducted between March and May, focused on economic confidence and business performance, as well as employee wellbeing. It revealed uncertainty surrounding Brexit has nega- tively impacted local busi- nesses, with 63 per cent stating that business confidence had dropped since late 2018. However, business perfor- mance over the previous six months remained relatively strong, with 36 per cent of respondents saying business pipeline has increased, 43 per cent seeing turnover rise and 51 per cent seeing profitability improve. Thames Valley employment has also remained stable – 80 per cent of respondents said their headcount had increased or stayed the same versus 80 per cent in September 2018. BDO LLP managing director David Brookes said: “It is hard to ignore Brexit. “It dominates the news cycle and national debate and this has evidently affected business confidence in the Thames Valley. “The latest Business Barom- eter has highlighted that many

companies have been tighten- ing their belts and that many longer-term projects and investment decisions have been deferred, at least for now.” He continued: “It’s not all doom and gloom, as more than half of the companies surveyed in the report expect profits to rise and headcount to grow in the next six months.” The latest survey also looked at the important issue of health and wellbeing in the workplace and asked companies in the Thames Valley how important they think this is for their busi- ness and their employees and how they are addressing the matter. According to the report, Thames Valley businesses recognise the importance of employee wellbeing, with 90 per cent of respondents agree- ing that as employers they have a responsibility to encour- age their employees to be healthy. The most common health and wellbeing initiatives provided by the surveyed companies included cycle to work or bicycle purchase schemes (54 per cent) and healthy food options at work (34 per cent). When asked about stress and mental health at work, surveyed companies said that informal discussions and appraisals (49 per cent) were the most common activities where the subject can be discussed. Only five per cent of respon-

dents had engaged in stress awareness days and just eight per cent offer stress coun- selling or mentoring programmes at work. For 48 per cent of respon- dents, sickness absence is an issue for the effective day-to- day operation and productivity of their organisation, while 71 per cent said that the financial benefits of spending money on their employees’ health and wellbeing outweigh the cost to the business. However, the survey found only 56 per cent of respondents feel that they have an effective health and wellbeing programme in place. C8 Consulting founder and managing director Paula Elliot said: “The special focus of employee wellbeing in this report acts as an important conversation starter for busi- nesses, as stress and mental health continues to put strain on companies. “We are experiencing a burnout culture where work- related stress is the largest cause of absence. “We hope the latest Barome- ter is eye-opening for busi- nesses and encourages employ- ers to explore their options and consider the ways they can support their employees.” More than 100 businesses across the Thames Valley took part in the Barometer survey. To download the Thames Valley Business Barometer spring 2019 report visit the BDO or C8 Consulting websites.

Savills staff at the clear up on the beach in Dorset

Savills volunteers rule the waves SAVILLS employees from Newbury, Salisbury and Wimborne got together to clean Hengistbury Head near Bournemouth last month. rangers who were grateful for the volunteers’ work and also sent the data back to the MCS for their research. Britain’s beaches litter free for all to enjoy for generations to come.” Savills rural division is running a Time for the Environment campaign

Rosanna McCorkell from the rural team at Savills Newbury said: “It was great to get volun- teers from across the South and from many different departments coming together to help tackle pollution in the sea. “We hope our efforts will encourage others to keep

throughout 2019, in which the business undertakes activities to help improve the environ- ment. The teams have been involved in a number of beach cleans across the country, with several still to come.

A volunteer from the Maine Conservation Society (MCS) led 47 volunteers from the estate agent, who collected 2,820 pieces of litter and a total 23.5kg of waste. The figures were reported to the Hengistbury Head beach

Difficult conditions for manufacturers SOUTH East manufacturers are experiencing far more difficult trading conditions as they enter the autumn as a survey shows the impact of the uncertainty of Brexit dragging on. According to the Q3 Manufac- turing Outlook survey published by Make UK, The Manufacturers’ Organisation orders have remained positive, they fell dramatically compared to the second quarter. Output growth reduced from 42 per cent to six per cent in the last quarter, while the order balance, despite being positive, has also reduced significantly. This would fit with the national picture of output continuing to decline from the first half of the year which was boosted by artificial stockpil- ing reaching record levels. Export orders also fell in the South East despite a cheaper pound as overseas customers move away from British goods and the global slowdown and trade wars take effect. Intentions to recruit and invest have both turned nega- tive, showing that the region can’t escape the Brexit and trade uncertainty which is hurting other regions. and business advisory firmBDO LLP, while both output and total

‘No-deal Brexit could cost Newbury 1,300 jobs’ AN advertising campaign was launched in Newbury to highlight the possible impact of a no-deal Brexit on local jobs. The report suggests no- deal could cost 745,000 people in Britain their jobs. nationwide

campaign against a no-deal Brexit, which emphasises the real life impact it could have on the NHS, manufacturing industry, Britain’s farmers, public services and the wider economy. 38 Degrees campaigns director Ellie Gellard said: “A no-deal Brexit could see hundreds of thousands of people across the country lose their jobs, as barriers to trade hurt British industry. “Whether we voted Leave or Remain, no one voted for a very difficult time of their lives. It is important to me that people receive a person- alised service that best meets their particular needs. “The additional training I’ve received as part of this accreditation process has developed my skills and knowledge further, enabling me to deliver the best possi- ble service to my clients.” Mr Gardner is an associate

this. “With the Prime Minister failing to rule out a damag- ing no-deal and with so much at stake, it’s vital that MPs who could help stop this hear from their constituents. “That’s why voters in Newbury and across the country are being invited to send a message to their MP – do everything in your power to stop a no-deal Brexit.

A mobile billboard circu- lated in Newbury over two weekends last month. The 38 Degrees campaign highlights what a no-deal Brexit could mean for voters in Newbury and invites them to contact Richard Benyon MP to ask him to do every- thing he can to stop the UK leaving the EU without a deal on October 31. The risk to local jobs is just one focus of 38 Degrees’ developed to ensure that vulnerable people and those supporting them, going to the Court of Protection, are represented by experts with a depth of understanding of the complexities involved in representing clients who lack mental capacity. Mr Gardner said: “I’m very conscious of the sensitive nature of our work and that we often encounter people at

It was based on a report which claims a no-deal Brexit could cost up to 1,300 people their jobs in the Newbury parliamentary constituency. The figures, published by the UK Trade Policy Obser- vatory, are estimates of the size of the Brexit economic shock in each constituency, equivalent to job losses. THE Law Society has accredited one of Newbury law firm Coffin Mew’s lawyers with a qualifica- tion that recognises a high standard of care for vulnerable clients. Spencer Gardner is the only solicitor in Berkshire, Hamp- shire, Sussex and Dorset with this Law Society mental capacity accreditation. The accreditation was

“We didn’t vote to ‘take back control’, for people in Newbury to be put out of work.” Lawyer gains Law Society mental capacity accreditation

solicitor in Coffin Mew's Vulnerable People and Court of Protection team. The team is part of the Care and Protection sector group and looks after the welfare and safeguarding of the finan- cial affairs of those suffering from mental incapacity due to learning difficulties, old age and mental illness or as a result of an accident or medi- cal negligence.

Thursday, September 12, 2019

Newbury Business Today

FARM BLOG: More than one way to kill a climate problem

Much as we can say that largely we don’t engage in this intensive factory farming of larger livestock, the calls for change are persistent and it’s inevitable that livestock farming here will suffer, whether or not European markets dry up as predicted if we make that hard Brexit. People’s food desires are changing, however could this just be a short-term millennial/middle class movement? Veganism and vegetarianism are on the rise – intensive farming of mushrooms and other crops doesn’t seem to have the same emotional impact. In fact, there is high praise for the company in London that intensively farms salad crops entirely underground. It has been a real TV star. Vegetables, after all, feel no pain – or do they? We shall never know, although they certainly react to the stimulus of artificial light. Producing a kilo of beef requires many more kilos of vegetable matter and litres of water being consumed by the animal before slaughter. Careful breeding has ensured that the conversion rate of food matter to meat is spectacular in many species and getting an animal perfect for slaughter is a skill that must not be underestimated. We must be careful how we interpret the figures provided

LIVESTOCK – and particularly beef – farming has come sharply into media focus as an example of poor Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report into climate change and farming. It could be true where intensive feed lots are utilised, as they cram huge numbers of animals beefed up with hormone growth promoters into massive pens where food grown in the surrounding thousands of acres is sprayed to them from passing forage wagons. It’s a typical system in the United States and also in South America, where virgin jungle is being cleared to form feed lots. Here in the UK and the wider He is director of a business managing and farming more than 6,500 acres of arable land split between Berkshire and south Oxfordshire land use following the publication of the UN TOM Bishop is an associate partner at BCM Rural Property Specialists serving the Berkshire and Oxfordshire agricultural community through its Oxford office at Ipsden. To understand how farming without production subsidies may affect the industry in post-Brexit Britain, he undertook an in-depth study tour of New Zealand. LAW firm IrwinMitchell has been recognised for its commitment to Britain’s Armed Forces – becoming the largest business in the legal sector to receive such an award. The company, which employs 3,000 people and has 15 offices across the UK, includ- ing in Newbury, has won a Silver Award in the Ministry of Defence’s Employer Recogni- tion Scheme. Lieutenant Colonel Julian Salusbury, commanding officer of Yorkshire Officer Training Regiment, joined Irwin Mitchell’s group chief execu- tive Andrew Tucker to mark the award. Lt Col Salusbury said: “I am delighted to congratulate Irwin Mitchell on its success in winning this award. “A Silver Award recognises that the company has made a fantastic effort to provide fresh opportunities and tangible, best-practice support to reservists, veterans and the wider military family. “The Armed Forces Commu- nity puts huge value on the commitment of employers who understand the business bene- fits that employing reservist or veteran can bring.” Mr Tucker said: “I’m proud and delighted to receive this award on behalf of Irwin Mitchell. “The Forces community is important to us on a number of levels. “We are committed to the

western world we throw up our hands in horror at such methods. After all, we are busy farming our own land cleared many centuries ago so we now want that faraway jungle to do the job of our absent trees. Intensive beef farming as we know it in the Americas is not common in the UK. Dairy units can be intensive with animals kept in sheds rather than fields, but don’t make mistake over-winter livestock housing as the same thing as it can serve a different purpose, to conserve the ground to encourage early spring grass growth. Some claim our grass-based system could actually be a climate change mitigator due to its carbon-sink abilities.

as they can be manipulated in a number of ways. However, it won’t be climate concerns alone that alter the way we farm our livestock. We rely on export markets wanting our high-quality produce and for that we influence the way other people eat. China, and Asia more widely, is seeing rising demand for

Here in the South we are mainly arable, but in areas where livestock farming is more familiar expect a real change in the way our country looks. If animals disappear, so too will small fields surrounded by hedgerows in favoured holiday destinations like Devon and Cornwall. Be careful what you wish for.

beef, pork, and dairy produce from the West, and the UK is a favoured source. With the Far East diet rapidly changing, when do we think the vegan and eco farming movement may come in that region? A market reliant on more than a billion people could have a dramatic shift on suppliers, should tastes alter.

Law firm wins Silver Award for championing UK Armed Forces

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Thursday, September 12, 2019

Newbury Business Today

Impact of LEP on Thames Valley THAMES Valley Berkshire Local Enterprise Partner- ship (LEP) has launched its 2018-19 Impact Report, which reviews a year of progress against strategic targets to benefit the sub region’s long-term prosper- ity. It provides details of evidence and economic priori- ties. “2018-19 has been a signifi- cant year in terms of the focus of central government on LEPs and we have responded to the publication of the Industrial Strategy by re-struc- turing ourselves to operate through three programme groups that reflect some of the main foundations of productivity – infrastructure, people and business environ- ment. Industrial Strategy Frame- work Document for consulta- tion.” Over the past year Thames Valley Berkshire LEP says it has: n Invested more than £9m of Local Growth Funds to keep Thames Valley Berkshire at the vanguard of economic performance n Unlocked the completion of more than 600 new homes

schemes that have been deliv- ered across the Thames Valley to improve infrastructure, skills and the business envi- ronment, as well as the latest on the EU funding for the LEP area. LEP chairman Peter Read said: “Over the past year, Thames Valley Berkshire LEP has made more impact through the Strategic Economic Plan and augmented it with a Scale- Up Strategy, a Utilities Study and an Energy Strategy. “We’ve also continued to update our European and Structural Investment Funds Strategy to reflect new

n Secured an additional £25m through Berkshire’s unitary authorities combining to be a Business Rates Retention Pilot; these funds are being invested in five strategic infrastructure projects n Allocated a total of £33m Local Growth Funds into 10 new infrastructure schemes and £3.1m into five new skills projects You can access the Impact Report at thamesvalleyberk- shire.co.uk/2019-impact- report/

“This report demonstrates how and where we are making an impact, by enhancing urban connectivity, supporting vibrant town centres and unlocking housing develop- ments, at the same time as building on our eco-system for businesses to grow – through local talent. “We reached a significant milestone at the end of this reporting year, when we published the Berkshire Local

Some of the speakers at last year’s Annual Forestry Conference

Forestry sector more than supplying timber Industry’s annual conference is at Newbur y Racecourse

DEMONSTRATING and cele- brating how the sector is about so much more than supplying timber is the theme of the CLA, Forestry Commission and Grown in Britain’s Annual Forestry Conference 2019. It will be held at Newbury Racecourse from 8.30am to 3pm on Wednesday, October 9. The conference aims to provide practical advice for landowners, managers, foresters and farmers. It is an exciting time for the industry, and the event will hear a keynote address from Sir Harry Studholme, chair- man of the Forestry Commis- sion, about the opportunities and challenges facing it in a post-Brexit world. The conference will bring together a range of voices from different backgrounds to explore how forestry offers a variety of benefits and services beyond wood. It will: n Review the current position of timber markets in the region n Explore the strengths and limitations of supply chains n Look at ways the sector can help tackle issues around clean air and water quality n Consider what can be learned from practices in other European countries

conference. “It is an opportunity to high- light the multi-purpose nature of modern forestry and demon- strate not only the well-recog- nised benefits it provides, but also those less commonly appreciated.” The morning schedule will include a key note address from Sir Harry, followed by a session asking if supply can meet demand and another exploring how forestry supplies benefits beyond timber production. Each segment will conclude with a Q&A. After lunch there will be a debate session, ‘Resetting the balance’, with each panel member setting out their thoughts before the discussion is opened up. Speakers on the day will include Richard Baker from East Bros Timber, Yvette de Garis from Thames Water, Sarah Jane Chimbwandira from Surrey Wildlife Trust and Susan Twining from the CLA. Tickets cost £50 plus VAT for CLA members and Grown in Britain licence holders, and £80 plus VAT for others, including breakfast (available from 8.30am), lunch and refresh- ments. To book, visit https://portal.clahosting.org.uk/ MY-CLA/Events/Event- Details/eventDateId/3256

n Hear about the experiences of successful businesses operat- ing in the industry. CLA South East represents thousands of landowners, farmers, foresters and rural businesses in Berkshire, Hampshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Kent, Surrey, Sussex and the Isle of Wight. Acting regional director Tim Bamford said: “This is an excit- ing time for forestry. “From clean air to water quality, the sector offers many benefits and services on top of the production of timber, and this conference will celebrate this. “We are delighted to be work- ing with the Forestry Commis- sion, Grown in Britain, Pryor & Rickett Silviculture, AECOM and Forest Holidays to hold an event with a very strong, varied line-up of speakers.” Grown in Britain chief execu- tive Dougal Driver said: “We are proud that the Annual Forestry Conference at Newbury is held in the heart of Grown in Britain Week when our celebrations about the wonderful array of benefits well-managed woods and forests provide are in full swing.” Forestry Commission area director for the South East and London Craig Harrison said: “The Forestry Commission is delighted to be involved in this

Modern workshop/warehouse to let DELTA House, Charnham Park, Hungerford, is a modern workshop/ warehouse of 2,000 sq ft with 4,000 sq ft of offices on two floors. The offices can be converted to a showroom/trade counter linked in with the warehouse to provide additional production space if required. Fourteen car spaces are provided, plus lorry parking. It is offered to let for a term to be agreed at £10 per square foot pa. Further information available from Deal Varney on (01635 ) 550211. Delta House

Specialising in commercial property in West Berkshire since 1989

Newbury funeral director up for award NEWBURY undertaker West Berkshire Funeral Directors has been shortlisted for an award at this year’s Funeral Planner of the Year Awards. Taking place on Saturday, September 21, at the Royal Lancaster London, the annual event run by funeral plan provider Golden Charter cele- brates the achievements of independent funeral directors. Peter Cox of West Berkshire Funeral Directors, based in London Road, said: “I am delighted to be nominated for this prestigious award. “It would not be possible if Golden Charter didn’t allow us, as local funeral directors, to set our own charges and include all aspects of a funeral.” Golden Charter chief execu- tive Suzanne Grahame said: “Independent funeral direc- tors’ dedication to the families they serve is inspiring, and these awards highlight that dedication across our UK-wide network of independents. “Being nominated shows the excellent service the team from West Berkshire Funeral Direc- tors has delivered to the local community, helping families through the funeral plan process and supporting them when they need it the most. “We are all looking forward to a night celebrating that tire- less work.” The Funeral Planner of the Year Awards will mark the biggest annual gathering of independent funeral directors in the UK. Mr Cox set up West Berk- shire Funeral Directors 10 years ago and he has been a funeral director for more than 40 years.