platinum
THE LARGEST CIRCULATION REGIONAL BUSINESS PUBLICATION IN THE UK ISSUE 114

SURREY
BUSINESS AWARDS

Big Brother is
watching you
at work

Policing workplace
conversations

INTRODUCING…

Finalists revealed

MOTORING

Bentley Mulliner
reviewed

Misogyny

SUSSEX TECH
WEEK 2024
Have your say on
Gatwick’s plans

in the workplace

SURREY
BUSINESS AWARDS
2023

TUESDAY OCTOBER 17TH • G LIVE GUILDFORD

THE REGION’S BIGGEST AND BEST
BUSINESS AWARDS
T IC K E TS S E L L ING FA S T

£120 EACH OR £1,250 FOR A TABLE OF 12

Ticket price includes
a sparkling wine reception,
three-course meal as well
as entertainment and
networking opportunities
Dress code is black tie
Presented by actor and comedian,
Hal Cruttenden

PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE
W W W.PL ATINUMMEDIAGROUP.CO.UK
PROUDLY SPONSORED BY
MAGA ZINE

IN
AI
D
O
F

THE 2023 FINALISTS
Business Growth Award

Small Business of the Year

Medium Business of the Year

Sponsored by Morr & Co
Bays Consulting
FKA Construction
ISON Travel
Naturally Talented Me CIC
PRO Nursing Healthcare

Sponsored by The HR Dept
Ballykelly Consulting
Delight
Heaven at number 7
Sammi-Select
The Health Value Alliance & Systems

Sponsored by PMW
Black Label Creations
Ceda Healthcare
LIQUONA
Mandira’s Kitchen
TensCare

International Business of the Year

Professional Services Award

Property Developer of the Year

Sponsored by Heathrow Airport
Creative Nature
Croxsons
Fraser Dove International
MedPharm
The Marvellous Group

Sponsored by projectfi ve
Bays Consulting
HJP Chartered Financial Planners
Howell-Jones
Vail Williams
Venters Solicitors

Sponsored by Lloyds Bank
Antler Homes
Aspen Homes
Crest Nicholson South
The Malins Group
Tilney Morris Homes

Employer of the Year

Start-up of the Year

Best Customer Service

Sponsored by Surrey Business School
Broadplace
ISON Travel
ramsac
Richmond Hill Hotel
TensCare

Sponsored by NESCOT
AMTEvents
Education Conferences UK
Login Lounge
Rose & May Interiors
Visiting Angels Central Surrey

Sponsored by Menzies
Black Label Creations
Howell-Jones
Opus Technology
Richmond Hill Hotel
TensCare

Community Hero Award

Large Business of the Year

Business Innovation of the Year

Sponsored by Greatest Hits Radio
Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex (KSS)
Alpha Community Outreach
Branston Adams
Head2Head Sensory Theatre
Right at Home GF

Sponsored by DMH Stallard
Activate Learning
Antler Homes
Croxsons
ramsac
Vail Williams

Sponsored by Surrey Research Park
Direk
Fraser Dove International
Sammi-Select
The Health Value Alliance & Systems
The Virtual Cath Lab Surrey

Chamber Member of the Year

Businessperson of the Year

Most Sustainable Business

Sponsored by Surrey Chambers of Commerce
Impact for Good
Login Lounge
NatWest
Something Big
Surrey Translation Bureau

Sponsored by Surrey Business Magazine
Clare Gallagher, Healthcare Conferences UK
& Education Conferences UK
Helen Cannon, ISON Travel
Julie Kapsalis, Coast to Capital LEP & NESCOT
Kurt Morris, FKA Construction
& Tilney Morris Homes
Shamir Jiwa, Maximeyes

Sponsored by Taylor Wimpey
Clandon Wood Nature Reserve
& Natural Burial Ground
Hans Christmas Andersen
Impact for Good
KOcycle
Puremess

Company of the Year
Sponsored by Haines Watts
Will be announced on the night

Selling,
buying or
starting a
business?
Call us on 0800 84 94 101
Offices across the South East

www.mayowynnebaxter.co.uk

CONT ENTS
O C T O B E R 2023 • ISSUE 114

18

TRAVEL

62 The Digital Nomads’ Guide
Tess de Klerk looks at the best
places in Europe for the nomadic
freelancer to pitch up and work

BIG STORY
18 Misogyny in the workplace
Following the high profile, unwanted
kiss from the head of the Spanish FA,
Platinum asks how common
is misogyny in the workplace

NEWS

LEGAL

BUSINESS

8 International news
A round up of the important business
stories from around the world
10 Local news
A look at the business news stories
across Sussex

EVENTS

28 MHA
MHA opens a new VAT office in
Gatwick, helping the travel business

2 Surrey Business Awards
Finalists announced;
it’s all happening this month!

34 MDHUB
MDHUB member Rob Day on helping
businesses with their exit strategies

12 The Platinum Club
Now in its 15th year,
and still going strong

44 Education & Skills Partnership
How ESP has helped companies
with many aspects of training and
improvement

26 Sussex
MOTORINGTech Week 2024
More details about a major new
tech-based conference in Brighton

50 Surrey Research Park
Start up receivesTECH
£1.7mSTUFF
Surrey
Research Park angel investment
“It takes almost 400,000 stitches
to deliver this quilting across the cabin
of the car,” says Bentley, “with each
diamond containing exactly 712
individual stitches – each one precisely
aligned to point to the centre of the
diamond it creates. Developing the
embroidery process to deliver this
process alone took 18 months.”

BENTLEY
46 Sussex
Business Awards
CONTINENTAL
Not long
to
go, and the
MULLINER
tickets are now on sale
Since 1919, when W.O. Bentley founded
the company, it has been turning out
powerful, luxurious and very expensive
cars. The famous Bentley Boys who
raced in the 1920s made the marque
famous for speed, and the legend was
sealed.

comes from the fact that in the 17th and
18th Century, it was traditional for
young men and women of the British
nobility to undertake a Grand Tour
around Europe as an exciting voyage
of discovery. 200 years later, this
inspired the term ‘grand tourer’, hence
GT, to refer to a car that combines
a truly exhilarating driving experience
with the comfort to make even the
longest distance effortless. And here
we have another of those rare cars –
a true Grand Tourer.

You often hear me say that l could
have driven to Monaco, had a coffee
and driven right back again, and this

Mulliner started as a coachbuilder
for Bentley in the early 20th Century
before becoming part of the company.

By Platinum Motoring Editor,
Maarten Hoffmann

INNOVATION

It is now Bentley’s personal commissioning division, responsible for
producing some of the most lavish and
expensive models in the line-up.
Last year, l reviewed the GTC and
was very impressed with the car – but
the Mulliner takes it to an entirely
new level. Where to start? The attention
to detail in the interior stitching, the
diamond-milled Breitling clock, exterior
Mulliner wing vents, the huge painted
and polished 10-spoke 22” wheels,
bright chrome double diamond
radiator grille and a choice of 80 colours
that then run through into the interior
accent trim.

24 Sussex Innovation
NHS stakeholders look at how
healthcare can be improved

HAR WOO DS

PLATINUM
MEDIA GROUP

40 DMH Stallard commentary
Getting the most from
your professional team
48 Mayo Wynne Baxter
AI in business: a path to
efficiency and innovation

FINANCE

MOTORING

As a GT, it is two-door of course but
where you might expect the usual
cramped space for adults, l invited
two adults into the back for a 60-mile
drive, and they didn’t want to get out
due to the space and comfort.

Engine-wise, you have the choice of the
4.0-litre V8 or the mighty 6.0-litre V12;
one of the last V12s available in any
car and Bentley confirm that this
engine will cease production in April
2024. Mine was the V12 and really, it has
more then enough power, producing
659bhp. The nose turns in beautifully
due to the superb weight distribution
and the all-wheel drive, affording it
0-60 in 3.5 seconds and a top speed
of 208mph. With a kerb weight of
2,273kg, it is remarkably quick and
agile for such a heavy car. The V12 is

magnificent but for the buyer, the
V8 really is the one to go for as it is lighter
and more fuel efficient.

With a new torque-vectoring rear differential, retuned active anti-roll bars and
an adaptation of the rear-steering set-up
from the Flying Spur saloon, the stability
of the car is superb, with very little roll –
even on the sharpest of corners – and
tremendous poise. The acceleration is
quite unexpected for such a large car
and with the pedal buried into the shagpile, it’s a fast as anything out there and
is hugely satisfying, with an unbroken
torrent of speed whilst you sit in
supreme, calm comfort.

59 Cleankill
Cleankill wins a major national
industry award – again

All of this is accompanied by a
symphony of growling from the
exhaust when pushed, and yet nearsilence when driving calmly, thanks
to the highly effective sound deadening and the double-glazed windows.
As l review over 45 cars a year for
Platinum, l am often asked what
my favourite car is. I can never really
answer, as there are so many cars
that are great for one or two reasons
but not as an all-rounder. For a pure
driving car that is not inches from
the ground and shakes your fillings
lose on the appalling UK roads, the
Bentley Continental Mulliner has
just dropped into the top spot. It is
supreme, calming, stately, luxurious
but furious when required and, with
the exception of the quarter million
you need to buy it, what more could
you possibly ask for?

64❛❛Bentley
All of this is Continental Mulliner
accompanied by
Maarten
a symphony test drove this elegant
of growling from
piece
of engineering,
and promptly
the exhaust
when
pushed, and yet
whentop 10 all-time cars
putnear-silence
it in his

• Bentley Hampshire
Bramshaw New Forest SO43 7JF
• Bentley Sussex
London Road Pulborough RH20 1AR
www.harwoods.co.uk/cars/bentley

www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

36 Kreston Reeves
How to ensure ‘benefits in kind’
don’t become unkind
43 Haines Watts
The benefits of outsourcing
your finance function

54 Let’s Do Business
What makes Community Development
Financial Institutions stand out
from mainstream lenders?

driving calmly ❜❜

www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

38 DMH Stallard
Should employers have to police
workplace conversations?

MODEL TESTED:
Continental GT Mulliner W12
POWER: 659bhp
SPEED: 0-62 3.5 seconds
TOP: 208mph
ECONOMY: 20.6mpg combined
PRICE FROM: £214,750
AS TESTED: £240,124

MOTORING

64

30 Loch Associates
Big Brother is watching
you at work

14 Gatwick Airport
Your chance to comment on Gatwick’s
expansion plans, while the airport
lobbies the Chancellor on ‘Duty Free’

52 EMC
It’s never too early to prepare
your business for sale

OPINION

60 Anger Management
Maarten Hoffmann asks,
‘have the police gone missing?’

CHARITY

57 Chestnut Tree House
Be part of one of Sussex’s
biggest cultural events, while
also supporting a local charity

65

All rights reserved. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. The publisher
cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions relating to advertising or editorial. The publisher reserves the
right to change or amend any competitions or prizes offered. No part of this publication may be reproduced without
prior written consent from the publisher. No responsibility is taken for unsolicited materials or the return of these
materials whilst in transit. Surrey Business Magazine is owned and published by Platinum Media Group Limited.

Newly Refurbished!
Set in the heart of Brighton, the DoubleTree
by Hilton Brighton Metropole is the largest
residential conferencing and events venue in
the South East of England.
The hotel recently underwent a £26 million
pound refurbishment and now has 24
meeting rooms across 6,000 sqm of
versatile event space. The hotel’s unique
spaces come in all different shapes and
sizes, perfect for any type of event, this
includes the converted 1819 chapel. The
Oxford Suite can hold up to 1,247 people in
theatre style or 800 banquet style.

• 3,000 capacity when Oxford, Cambridge and
Durham Suites are combined
• Oxford Suite holds up to 1,250 delegates
theatre and banquet style

We are also proud to introduce our brand new Topland Suite
which offers tranquillity and luxury, with its 3 bedrooms and
en-suite bathrooms, alongside a separate dining and lounge
area. Each room comes with its own private sea-facing
balcony for you to enjoy the very best of Brighton.

@dthilton.b.metropole
@dthiltonbrightonmet

For more information or to book:
enquiries.brightonmet@hilton.com | +(4) 1273 720710

WELCOME

WELCOME
Welcome to the October issue of Platinum Business Magazine. The days
are shorter, the nights are longer, but the temperature remains the same;
that’s how bad summer was. By the time you read next month’s magazine,
the clocks will have gone back.
On a cheerier note, the Platinum team presents another blockbuster edition
of news, views and opinion. This month, we reveal the finalists in the Surrey
Business Awards, offer up more details on the inaugural Sussex Tech Week
and, in Dynamic Magazine, offer a mere tease of an amazing event next year,
organised by Platinum, for women in business.
Our Big Story centres around misogyny in the workplace, a topic placed
centre-stage with the now-former head of the Spanish FA, who chose to
take liberties with female footballers in full glare of the public.
Meanwhile, the Planning Inspectors want your views on Gatwick expansion;
Pam Loch expresses concern over Big Brother watching you at work;
Kreston Reeves wants to ensure your ‘benefits in kind’ don’t become unkind;
while Dan Morgan at Haines Watts explains the upside of outsourcing
financial functions.
Tess looks at the best places for digital nomads to pitch up, while Maarten
drives the new Bentley Continental Mulliner – now in his top ten list of
favourite cars.
And as if that wasn’t enough, Dynamic looks at Italy’s first female prime
minister, Giorgia Meloni, and her attempts to get to grips with immigration
and we focus on Black History Month and Menopause Awareness Month.
We have worked hard so you don’t have to – enjoy.

The Platinum Team

CONTACTS
PUBLISHER/EDITOR: Maarten Hoffmann maarten@platinummediagroup.co.uk
COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR: Lesley Alcock lesley@platinummediagroup.co.uk
EVENTS DIRECTOR: Fiona Graves fiona@platinummediagroup.co.uk
EVENTS MANAGER: Žaneta Bealing zaneta@platinummediagroup.co.uk
TR AVEL EDITOR: Tess de Klerk tess@platinummediagroup.co.uk
PLATINUM MOTORING EDITOR: Maarten Hoffmann maarten@platinummediagroup.co.uk
DYNAMIC MOTORING EDITOR: Fiona Shafer fionas@platinummediagroup.co.uk
HEAD OF DESIGN: Michelle Shakesby design@platinummediagroup.co.uk
SUB EDITOR: Alan Wares alan@platinummediagroup.co.uk

W W W.PL ATINUMME DIAGROUP.CO.UK

www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

7

LARGE INCREASE
IN EV SALES
Electric vehicle (EV) sales jumped 60.6%
across Europe, continuing a rise buoyed by
subsidies in a number of European Union
countries, according to data from the European
Automobile Manufacturers Association.
Full EVs accounted for 13.6% of all new car
sales, up from under 10% in July 2022.
Plug-in hybrids, which have both a combustion
engine and a large battery, accounted for 7.9%
of sales, while one in four vehicles sold in the
EU was a full hybrid. Between them, petrol
and diesel engine models made up just under
50% of sales. Diesel vehicles, which alone
comprised more than 50% of new car sales
as recently as 2015, accounted for just over
14% of sales in July.

NEWS BULLETIN
PRIVATE EQUITY VOLATILITY
The number of UK transactions involving mid-market private equity
investors in the South East fell by 18% in the first half of 2023, as market
volatility and tough trading conditions continued, according to new
analysis from KPMG UK.
The firm’s latest Mid-Market Private Equity study, which tracks deal flow
and sentiment, shows that 28 deals were completed in the South East in
H1 2023, with a value of £2.55 billion, up slightly (1.7%) on deal value in
first half of 2022.
In terms of the proportion of deals completed in the region, the South
East accounted for over 8.5% of all UK deals taking place in H1 2023,
a slight fall from 9.1% in H1 2022.

HEATHROW WELCOMES NEW BOSS
Group CEO at Copenhagen Airport, Thomas Woldbye, has agreed to
become the new CEO of London Heathrow, succeeding John Holland-Kaye,
who is stepping down later this year after nearly ten years in post. The UK
hub states that Woldbye emerged as the standout candidate among a pool
of exceptional contenders during an extensive, global, recruitment process.
Woldbye said: “I am naturally excited and proud, as well as humbled,
to have been chosen to lead what is arguably the most famous airport
in the world on its future journey.

8

www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

NEWS

❛❛ The British definitely like

their tea. It’s their solution to
everything, all problems and
concerns. If there’s ever a major
crisis, a cup of tea will help ❜❜
C. R. Stewart, American writer

SMEs UNPREPARED
FOR ‘BREXIT 2.0’
Small and medium-sized enterprises in the UK, including many exporters,
are completely unprepared for an impending “avalanche” of new EU
regulations and taxes, according to a new business survey.
The survey, by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), of 733 SMEs
showed more than 80% were unaware of reporting requirements under
an EU green tax that takes effect in October, or obligations relating to the
bloc’s value added tax regime that kick in from January 2025.
The BCC is urging the government to improve communications with
British businesses as they grapple with what industry is dubbing “Brexit
2.0” — divergence between EU and UK regulations and taxes that creates
additional red tape at the border.

AIRLINE
GREENWASHING
Ryanair, Lufthansa and Etihad have all
faced criticism from Britain’s advertising
watchdog for either alleged instances of
oversimplifying or providing misleading
environmental claims.
Ryanair called itself Europe’s “lowest
emission airline” or Lufthansa saying it was
“protecting the future” or Etihad referring to
“sustainable aviation”. All three airlines were
told to by the Advertising Standards Agency
(ASA) to avoid wording that could imply their
activities were beneficial to the environment.
“One of the things we just caught onto was
that a lot of airlines are making claims about
sustainability and eco-friendly, sustainable
choices, greener choices,” said Miles
Lockwood, the director of complaints and
investigations at the ASA.

❛❛ British humor is very cruel.

I love it. It’s my favourite kind of
humour; if it isn’t cruel and funny
it doesn’t really cut the cake for me ❜❜
Sir Elton John

SICK DAYS AT HIGHEST LEVEL FOR TEN YEARS
UK workers are taking more sick days than at any point in the last decade, research suggests.
Staff took on average 7.8 sick days in the past year, up from 5.8 before the pandemic,
the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development (CIPD) found. Minor illnesses
were the main reason for short-term absences, followed by musculoskeletal injuries
and mental ill health.
The CIPD blamed stress, Covid and the cost-of-living crisis, and added that these conditions
were having profound impacts on many people’s wellbeing.
Conducted in partnership with healthcare company, Simplyhealth, research analysed
rates of absence in more than 900 organisations, representing 6.5 million employees.

www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

9

PALACE PIER HANDS OUT
BLAME FOR POOR SALES
Wet weather, a hotel fire and the cost of living crisis has led to an
“unusually difficult” trading period for Brighton Palace Pier, the owners
have said.
Brighton Pier Group reported that sales had declined to £12.3m for the
12 weeks to September 17th from £12.6m in the same period last year.
The owners highlighted cautious consumer spending and high inflation
as the primary reasons behind the “weaker than expected” sales.
Shares in Brighton Pier Group dropped in early trading as a result.
“The unseasonably wet weather and a hotel fire that disrupted sales on
the pier for the final two weeks of July – two of the top 10 trading weeks
of the year - trading has been unusually difficult,” a spokesperson said.

LOCAL
NEWS
NEW WAREHOUSE SPACE
A new multi-unit industrial scheme in West Sussex, planned by real
estate developer Panattoni, is expected to be completed and opened
by May 2024.

WEST SUSSEX
BUSINESS EXPO 2024
Hundreds of local businesses will be at the
West Sussex Business Expo which takes
places on Wednesday February 21st 2024
at Fontwell Park Racecourse. Organisers
say there will be the opportunity to openly
network with 300-400 attendees from
across West Sussex at the county’s largest
business show.
As well as a busy exhibition, there will also
be free seminars and workshops from West
Sussex’s leading keynote and business
speakers as well as a speed networking
session. Attendees can pre-register at
www.b2bexpos.co.uk/register/
west-sussex-february-2024

The developers, Panattoni Park, state that this is the ideal location for
last mile delivery operations looking to address consumer markets
clustering the south coast. Situated adjacent to Brighton City Airport,
‘Panattoni Park Brighton’ will deliver much-needed Grade-A space.
The company also states that the development is located within a
significant growth area with approximately 600 new homes currently
being built nearby. The unemployment rate and education profile
within the region suggests a strong and available labour pool.

❛❛ You can’t use up creativity.
The more you use,
the more you have ❜❜
Mary Angelou,
American writer and poet

10

www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

NEWS

❛❛ The British do not

expect happiness.
I had the impression,
all the time that I lived there,
that they do not want to be happy;
they want to be right ❜❜
Quentin Crisp, English writer,
raconteur, and actor

MAYO WYNNE
BAXTER ACQUIRES
CHICHESTER
SOLICITORS

SINC-BASED COMPANY
ISSUES INTERIM REPORT
Brighton-based biotech company Destiny Pharma has posted
its interim results for the six months ended June 30th 2023.
The firm, headquartered at the Sussex Innovation Centre on the
University of Sussex campus, reported a partnering deal agreed
with Sebela Pharmaceuticals in Massachusetts worth up to
$570m plus royalties.
Chris Tovey, Chief Executive Officer of Destiny Pharma, commented,
“I am delighted to present my inaugural update as CEO of Destiny
Pharma. Our mission is to reduce the emergence and impact of drug
resistant pathogens with preventative solutions.”
“Destiny Pharma has a unique opportunity to make a difference,
and will play an important role in protecting vulnerable patients
from potential lethal infections.”

Brighton law firm, Mayo Lynne Baxter (MWB),
has announced a merger with a specialist firm
of solicitors in Chichester, creating more than
a dozen jobs, and is the second acquisition
this year.
Pure Employment Law joins MWB, with an
office in Chichester, a team of four and extra
turnover of about £500,000. The company was
set up in 2010 by employment law specialists
Nicola Brown and Peter Stevens, and acts for
employers and employees.
Dean Orgill, Chief Executive Partner at MWB,
said: “We’re thrilled to have announced two
key mergers, in relatively quick succession,
that have not only brought incredible expertise
to our firm but also expanded our reach, taking
us to nine locations across the region.”

❛❛ A common mistake that people make when

trying to design something completely foolproof
is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools ❜❜
Douglas Adams

FOCUS CELEBRATE
Focus Consulting is a leading independent, professional
building surveying, design and cost consultancy providing
services to the property and construction industry, based
in Brighton. Focus celebrates 25 years of ‘putting the
client first’ and this approach has worked very well for
the company hence its impressive list of clients and their
longevity.

Managing Director Tony Hulejczuk remains at the helm as the
company’s Senior Chartered Building Surveyor and attributes
the company’s success to maintaining the mission he set
out when starting the business of ‘doing the very best for our
clients at all times’ and he said: “I know that we will continue
to bring new ideas to the business, putting long-term plans in
place and supporting Focus Consulting’s continued growth
and success for the next 25 years at least!”

An example of its notable projects are: The Tate Modern
extension, Brighton’s seaside arches, Gatwick’s service
buildings and hangers, the NatWest Tower, the Dungeness
Power Station and the Van Allen building in Brighton.

www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

11

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

The Platinum Club is now in its 15th year and remains
the pre-eminent networking forum in Sussex.
The Club launched based on no seated meals, no sponsors
and no speeches - rather, an elegant but informal cocktail party
with delicious hand-made canapés and Platinum hosts making
relevant introductions throughout the evening and all in the
luxurious surroundings of the Grand Hotel, Brighton.

CURRENT PLATINUM CLUB MEMBERS INCLUDE

INNOVAI ION

API IAL

TO APPLY
PLEASE
EMAIL
info@platinummediagroup.co.uk

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

Barry Carden, Partner, Galloways;
Nigel Lambe, CEO, Sussex Innovation;
Neil Laughton, CEO, Laughton & Co;
Rob Clare, Director, Innovation Capital Team

Donna Holland, CEO, Rockinghorse
Children’s Charity; Maarten Hoffmann,
Managing Director, Platinum Media Group;
Senda Kavindele, Senior Partner, KPMG

Lesley Alcock, Commercial Director, Platinum
Media Group; Dr Adam Jones, Principal Lecturer,
University of Brighton; Colin Laidlaw,
VAT Director, Kreston Reeves

David Boosey, Partner, MHA MacIntyre Hudson

John O’Connor, General Manager, Watches of
Switzerland; Maarten Hoffmann, MD,
Platinum Media Group; Jonathan Grant,
Partner, DMH Stallard LLP; Neil Kester,
Financial Reporting Director, RSM UK

Maarten Hoffmann, Managing Director
at Platinum Media Group;
Kirsty Sadler, Regional Director at Lloyds Bank

The Platinum Club is membership
only and we are now releasing
more memberships.
Membership is available to senior
business leaders, Directors, Managing
Directors, CEOs of companies large
and small. We accept four members
per sector and many of them have been
full and closed for the past 10 years.

WE SEE THE PLATINUM CLUB AS AN IMPORTANT AND
❛❛
INTEGRAL PART OF OUR BRAND AWARENESS STRATEGY,
THROUGH INTERACTIONS WITH WELL CONNECTED
BUSINESS PEOPLE AND OTHER INFLUENCERS.
IT IS WELCOMING AND GREAT FUN TOO!
MATTIOLI WOODS

❜❜

BUSINESS

Businesses across the region can now
participate in the examination of London
Gatwick’s growth plans, and submit their
views to the Planning Inspectorate

Your chance
to comment
on Gatwick’s
plans
London Gatwick’s application to bring
its Northern Runway into routine
use, alongside its Main Runway, was
accepted for examination by the
Planning Inspectorate on August 3rd
2023.
Businesses across the region, along
with members of the public, including
local residents and other stakeholders,
have until 11.59pm on October 29th
2023 to register with the Planning
Inspectorate and provide a summary
of their views on the airport’s application.
Relevant representations must be
made on the Planning Inspectorate’s
Registration and Relevant Representation Form, which can be found on their
website.

Those who register will become
an ‘Interested Party’ and will be kept
informed of progress of the examination. Once registered, there will also
be the opportunity to provide further
representations during the examination
phase.
The Planning Inspectorate provides
further guidance on how to register and
make a relevant representation on their
website here.
Sally Brown, General Manager of Gatwick
Diamond Business, says the membership organisation will be backing the
plans: “London Gatwick is not just an
airport, it’s a pillar of our local economy,
providing jobs, opportunities and driving
investment across a range of industries.

❛❛ This forward looking and low impact

plan aims to leverage the airport’s existing
in frastructure to unlock new capacity ❜❜

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Along with our members, we understand
the important role the airport plays in
ensuring we can all thrive.”
By investing in its long-term future,
London Gatwick will also enhance the
crucial economic role it plays by creating
around 14,000 new jobs and injecting
£1 billion into the region’s economy
every year. This growth will not only lead
to increased jobs and employment
activity on the airport site, it will also
bring wider benefits to tourism, trade,
supply chains, and other business
opportunities.
This forward looking and low impact
plan aims to leverage the airport’s
existing infrastructure to unlock new
capacity and improve airport resilience
in line with current government policy.
The scheme will be privately financed
with a careful mitigation plan put in
place to reduce environmental and
other impacts.

BUSINESS

LONDON GATWICK
CONTINUES TO
INVEST IN FUTURE
SUSTAINABLE GROWTH
Alongside the airport’s low-impact plans to bring its
existing Northern Runway into routine use alongside
its Main Runway, London Gatwick has also recently
published details of a six-year capital investment
programme.
This sets out significant improvements to develop
and enhance airport infrastructure and facilities,
while also meeting the airport’s sustainability
goals. The programme has been consulted on and
agreed with airlines, and includes:
Investing over £250 million to meet the commitment
to become a net zero airport by 2030 (for Scope 1
and 2 emissions), including replacing over 100 gas
boilers.
A £120 million-plus extension to the existing Pier 6 in
the North Terminal to provide eight new pier-served
aircraft stands.
Tim Norwood, Chief Planning Officer,
London Gatwick said: “We are pleased
that our planning application to take
forward our Northern Runway plans has
been accepted for examination by the
Planning Inspectorate. Businesses, residents and other stakeholders now have
the opportunity to make their views
known and take part in the examination
by registering their interest with the
Planning Inspectorate.”

A £70 million programme to rehabilitate airport
taxiways, with airfield resilience improved further
with a new Rapid Exit Taxiway, reducing runway
occupancy and aircraft taxi times.
A new £44.2 million, 3,250 space new multi storey
car park in the North Terminal, due to open in
Autumn 2024.
A £10-million pound-plus redevelopment of the
North Terminal departure lounge, due to complete
in 2024.

Information on the progress of London Gatwick’s
planning application can be found on the Planning
Inspectorate website
https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/
projects/south-east/gatwick-airport-northern-runway

www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

15

BUSINESS

London Gatwick continues
campaign for Chancellor
to reinstate tax-free shopping
London Gatwick has been one of
many businesses and organisations
to continue to call on the Chancellor,
Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP, to reinstate
tax-free shopping for international
visitors to the UK, after it was scrapped
in 2021.
Part of the government’s rationale for
abolishing the scheme was that it
‘cost £2 billion per year to administer’ –
an estimate debunked by a recent study
from Oxford Economics. The study
has demonstrated that reinstating a tax
refund scheme would actually provide
a £340million boost to the UK
Exchequer every year, with EU visitors
also able to benefit.
A further study by the UK Travel Retail
Forum (UKTRF) and the Association of
International Retail (AIR) shows that
pre-COVID, the scheme was used by
around 4.8 million people - 30% of all
non-EU visitors – which is three times
greater than the Treasury’s estimate.
Many of these were from high-spending
markets such as Asia, the Middle East
and the USA – all of which have direct
flights to London Gatwick.

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The airport alone has seen an 8% decline
in spend within its fashion retail outlets
since tax-free shopping was removed,
and a 3% decline in overall spend across
the airport’s retailers. This translates into
millions of pounds in lost revenue.
And it’s not just aviation that is affected.
Based on figures from the British Retail
Consortium (BRC), tax-free shopping
supported 70,000 jobs across the
whole of the UK. And that doesn’t
consider the thousands of indirect jobs,
including those in hotels, restaurants
and attractions. Conversely, tax-free
shopping is still available in all EU
countries, diminishing the attractiveness of the UK as a holiday destination.

That means fewer people staying in
hotels, visiting tourist attractions, buying
souvenirs, eating out in restaurants, or
treating themselves to a night at the
theatre.
A study by Oxford Economics surmised
that the reintroduction of tax-free
shopping would attract more than
1.6 million extra visitors to the UK
in 2025/26 and stimulate an extra
£2.8 billion of tourist spending.
Thanks to the work of Henry Smith MP,
Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP and the
Future of Aviation Group of MPs and
Peers, Parliament debated this issue
twice upon its return from summer
recess. London Gatwick will continue
to lend its voice to the growing
campaign for tax-free shopping to be
reinstated in the Chancellor’s Autumn
Statement.

www.gatwickairport.com

CELEBRATING BUSINESS EXCELLENCE

Join us as we recognise the passion and talent of our business community

The Gatwick Diamond Business Awards celebrate people and businesses who have shown
innovation and inspiration in their work, and have demonstrated a real commitment to the region.
The Awards have become one of the most prestigious business occasions – celebrating the best
of the best across the Gatwick Diamond.
Entry Period: 4th October - 17th November 2023
Awards Night: 21st March 2024
For more information, visit:

WWW.GATWICKDIAMONDBUSINESSAWARDS.COM

@gdbizawards

BIG STORY

Misogyny

in the workplace
Misogyny

(noun)
dislike of, contempt for,
or ingrained prejudice
against women

Sexism

(noun)
prejudice, stereotyping, or
discrimination, typically against
women, on the basis of sex
Two definitions of very similar
unpleasant social mindsets.
Even at the most basic level of
articulacy, the fact that there are
neo-synonyms to describe an
aversion to women is in itself
pretty repulsive.

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BIG STORY

www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

19

BIG STORY

This was in addition to Rubiales grabbing
his crotch when Spain scored. He was no
more than ten feet from 16 year-old
Infanta Sofía, second in line to the throne
of Spain at the time.

Misogyny in the workplace was brought
front and centre to the world’s attention
– more so than usual – this summer
when the Spain women’s football
team, brilliantly won their first ever
FIFA Women’s World Cup in Sydney,
Australia.

Despite, in the intervening time, Rubiales
protesting his innocence, claiming it was
consensual, then a witch hunt, then
blaming something called ‘ultrafeminism’, he eventually resigned on
September 10th. His position had been
made untenable as he had already been
suspended on August 26th.

On August 20th, as the players were
coming up to receive their medals,
having defeated England in the Final,
Luis Rubiales, President of Real
Federación Española de Fútbol (RFEF)
– the Spanish FA – and part of the
presentation party, grabbed Jenni
Hermoso roughly on the both sides of
her head and planted an unwanted kiss
on her lips.
As if this wasn’t bad enough, Rubiales,
and the RFEF then went on to make
false statements about the incident,
including fabricating a statement from
Hermoso herself. The incident, and the
subsequent behaviour of the RFEF as
whole, shocked not just the football
world, but brought condemnation from
outside football, including the Spanish
government.

Luis Rubiales kisses his
career goodbye

While it was a kiss on the lips that drove
the issue into the stratosphere, it was
always merely the straw that broke the
camel’s back. The real issue was always
the unequal treatment the women
received compared to the men, and the
lack of respect they received from all
departments of the Spanish FA.

❛❛ The real issue was always the

unequal treatment the women
received compared to the men ❜❜

THE 12 MOST COMMON EXAMPLES OF SEXISM/
MISOGYNY IN THE WORKPLACE

According to mental wellbeing specialists ‘I feel’

1

Restricting my
participation because I’m
the only woman
Being the only woman in the
room is not an example of
male sexism in the workplace,
but establishing a work
environment of overwhelming
masculinity can be.

2

The glass ceiling
For some women, the
glass ceiling is a reality proven
by facts. This generates a
feeling of helplessness, fed by
the lack of references. No
glass ceiling can be broken by
believing that it cannot be
broken in any way.

20

3

Working mothers’ guilt
Guilt is not an example of
sexism at work either, but
sexism in the workplace can
lead to more intense regrets
than they should be.

4

Mansplaining – or the
infantilisation of women
For some reason, some men
think that women are not
ready to understand some
issues the first time or do not
consider them adult and
insightful people. This leads
them to what is known as
“mansplaining”, a paternalistic
and condescending attitude of
the man towards the woman.

www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

6
5

Sexual harassment
at work
It is an abuse consisting of
verbal or physical
manifestations of a sexual
nature that intimidate, offend,
denigrate or pressure the
person who suffers it, being a
woman more often than a
man. Victims of sexual
harassment should
remember that they are not
the cause of the harassment.

Judging by clothing or
general appearance
When their appearance
becomes a recurring topic of
conversation, the focus is
always on how they look but
not on how they work, even if
it is with positive opinions
about their appearance.

BIG STORY

of one (yup, the UK) – as does the
European Union. However, any laws are
only worth the paper they are written on
when it comes to enacting and enforcing
them.
The caveat to that is – but, of course –
the UK, which currently has no laws in
place to give women the right to receive
equal pay with men for doing the same
job. That law was recently scrapped
along with hundreds of others in the
Government’s post-Brexit ‘EU Retained
Law Bill’.
These laws included a regulation
establishing the right of women to claim
equal pay and terms with men if they
ultimately work for the same “source”
setting their employment terms and
conditions. Now, these laws no longer
exist on the UK statute books.

LAWS? WHAT LAWS?

Football has always had an uncanny
knack of mirroring the society it inhabits.
Many in Spain are saying the behaviour
of male authority in that country, not
just in football but through all society,
has to change. But everyone knows, at

least those who care, know that this is
a global issue. There is barely a culture
or society which doesn’t operate an
overbearing patriarchy.
Most western European countries have
gender equality laws – with the exception

8
7

Discrimination in
recruitment processes
Many women are still
perceived as lesser
candidates due to prejudices
about their character or how
their performance will be
affected by the family they
have or will form in the future.
If the decision has been
made beforehand, there is
not much to do, and there is
always a reflection: maybe
one doesn’t want to belong to
a company that treats
women like this.

Pregnancy as an
occupational hazard
Fear of telling the company
that you are pregnant or fear
of not being able to progress
in your career if you become
pregnant may be due to
sexism in the workplace.
A company that functions
well does not see that its
employees have children as a
problem. However, not all
companies work this way.

9

While Government ministers, effectively
throwing the baby out with the bathwater
in their zeal to repeal everything
European, have promised to re-instate
those laws, no timeframe has been
placed on that.

Family care:
double shift
Although some families are
quite well organised, family
care tasks fall more heavily
on women than on men. This
makes it difficult for many
women to balance work and
family life. It stresses them out
and makes them feel used.

10

Excessive
“toxic masculinity”
during pre-meetings
In the moments before
a meeting, or during the
meeting, for example,
with external male clients,
an exclusionary atmosphere
can be created, based
on allegedly ‘bloke’ topics
of conversation that
leave women out.

11

The need to justify
the achievements more
than men
In particular work contexts,
the explanation of women’s
professional achievements
is related to all kinds of
excuses, rather than their
merits. Women should not
have to spend their energy
deconstructing colleagues’
prejudices, nor justify their
merits.

12

Gender
pay gap
Sexism in the workplace
strengthens beliefs that
women’s work is not worth
as much as they thought
it was or that it is, but there
is no point in claiming it.

www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

21

BIG STORY
WHERE DO THE
PROBLEMS LIE?

It merely highlights the disdain with
which many aspects of authority treats
women, whether that’s governmental,
judicial, commercial, or every day social.
Inequality in the workplace can take
several forms. The prejudices can range
from the grotesque example given above
– in full public with mendacious, cowardly
responses afterwards – to the every day
institutional practices, almost all of which
are pretty archaic, but perversely, are
also alive and kicking…
A few gender inequality examples to
show the breadth of this topic:
Unequal pay: Irrespective of the laws
(currently suspended) on equal pay,
there is gender pay reporting. Sadly, it
often comes across as merely a
box-ticking exercise, even when
companies must follow government
guidelines regarding this matter.
Unfavourable recruitment strategy:
This can include questions about
whether a female candidate intends to
have children, or suggesting in your job
specification that the role is more for
men. This rule applies to age, ethnicity,
disability and all other social aspects.
Different opportunities: If your
business has career progression
opportunities that favour men over
women.
Redundancies: Ending a female
employee for making a claim of
unequal treatment at work – in any
form.
Bias: Showing preferential treatment
towards male colleagues over female
ones, such as in promotions or
day-to-day conversation.
Sexual harassment: See above on this
one. Not only is sexual harassment
common, the understanding of what
qualifies a sexual harassment is often
missing. Add to this an act of gross
misconduct, this behaviour towards
men or women can have serious
consequences.
Holding sexist views: Promoting
bigoted views about men or women,
such as outdated gender stereotypes
in any form. It can make itself known
subtly as above, or as part of a casual,
or even deliberate conversation which
seeks to undermine colleagues on the
basis of gender.

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www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

Types of gender inequality can vary
dramatically between men and women,
and it’s not all a one-way street, but
history has shown the vast majority of
the direction of traffic. Any decent
Human Resources department would
insist that company bosses stay vigilant,
and have clear policies on how to expect
employees to behave in around their
working environment.

PAY GAP

There is something called Equal Pay Day,
a symbolic date and event created to
highlight wage inequity. It fell on March
24th this year. This day shows how far
into the next year – 83 more days in 2022
– women need to work just to be able to
earn the same that men earned in the
previous year.
For official UK figures, the 2022
mean GPG (the difference between

men’s and women’s average hourly pay)
is 5.45% and the median is 9.71%. In
monetary terms, the mean hourly
difference in ordinary pay is £1.44
compared to £1.48 in 2021, while the
median hourly difference is £2.41
compared to £2.68 in 2021.
There is always a caveat when
calculating these figures, and in some
cases, can be slightly misleading. The
calculation is across the board. What is
doesn’t take into account is the number
of women in more senior positions in
comparison to men, and hence, a higher
salary.
And this is where we return to the
historical sexism within commerce. Not
only is women’s pay lower (despite
that being illegal), there are still fewer
opportunities being made available
for women to be promoted.

❛❛ Not only is women’s pay lower, there

are still fewer opportunities being made
available for women to be promoted ❜❜

BIG STORY

MORE OF THE SAME?

Worr yingly, while the RF E F is
slowly having a clear out, the sexist
culture still remains within the
organisation. The pace at which
the RFEF moved to suppor t its
female players – some of whom
s till ref u s e to p l ay fo r t h e i r
country until systemic change is
in place – was abysmal, and yet

so many are merely shrugging their
shoulders.
The world’s attention may be on the
RFEF, but it’s merely indicative of entire
swathes of commercial, sporting and
social culture which, even with enforced
legislation in place, is still stuck in the
Dark Ages, and will promote and excuse
misogyny on a whim.

UK GENDER PAY GAP
Year

Mean

Median

Reportable GPG
employee population

2019
2020
2021
2022

5.5%
6.5%
5.8%
5.5%

12.9%
15.9%
10.8%
9.7%

1,793
2,242
2,628
2,814

❛❛ The pace at

which the RFEF
moved to support
its female players
was abysmal ❜❜

www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

23

INNOVATION

By Joseph Bradfield,
Sussex Innovation

INNOVATION IN
HEALTHCARE
Sussex Innovation is home to a cluster
of organisations from the health and
wellbeing sector. From working with
drug development companies, data
analysts, digital application developers,
medical writers and device manufacturers, we see first-hand the complexity
involved in pushing forward new
approaches and helping to maintain
public health.
Throughout September and October,
representatives of our team have been
involved in a series of partnership workshops held at the University of Sussex
and led by Deputy Pro Vice Chancellor,
Professor Debbie Keeling. The aim of
this project is to co-create a model that
supports place-based health innovation in response to healthcare needs.
These focus groups brought together
a mix of people from across Kent,
Sussex and Surrey, including local
government, the NHS, academic
researchers and commercial healthcare enterprises. Participants were
asked to consider what problems and
challenges exist within our current
system that stood in the way of their

Health needs are diverse,
❛❛
complex, and different from
region to region ❜❜
24

www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

vision of health innovation, and what
the potential solutions might be.
“We brought these different stakeholders together to problem-solve
around what a place-based health innovation ecosystem could look like and
what difference it would make to
people’s lives,” said Nora Davies,
External Stakeholder Engagement
Advisor at the University of Sussex.
“What does ‘place’ mean? How can we
meaningfully involve people in a ‘place’?
Which health innovations could
respond directly to their needs rather
than assumptions, and can an innovation ecosystem be developed to
support this? The aim of these workshops is to agree on a place-based
innovation model that can be translated
into practice.”
Healthcare provision in the UK has
been under strain since the Covid-19
pandemic, as hospitalisations reached
an unprecedented level. The pandemic
and ensuing vaccination roll-out had a
knock- on ef fect on expenditure
throughout the healthcare sector, and
left significant disruption in its wake.
Many patients deferred preventive care,
creating backlogs in the system, while
staff shortages increased due to
burnout and the ongoing effects of
Brexit.

INNOVATION
By giving local populations more
autonomy over their physical and
mental health, a portion of serious
health conditions may be prevented
from ever developing - in turn meaning
that fewer people need to see their local
GPs, and those GPs can offer more
time and care to those who need it
most.

Although it is a challenging time,
this disruption offers fertile ground
for innovation. There is widespread
recognition of how vital a wellfunctioning health service is, and an
appetite to understand how we can do
things more effectively – the perfect
conditions for new ideas to take root.

HEALTH HUBS:
A PLACE-BASED APPROACH

We’ve supported several local projects
in recent months centred on the
concept of ‘Health Hubs’; a space for
bringing together various different
aspects of health and wellbeing provision under one roof. Health hubs might
include local NHS primary care services
alongside a variety of other services,
such as community space, mental
health and wellbeing counselling, or
leisure and fitness facilities.
The model is part of a move towards
holistic healthcare, recognising that
ensuring the health of communities is a

complex and multifaceted challenge.
Bringing services together under one
roof enables doctors to access a wider
range of referral options for their
patients, as well as creating more
proactive opportunities.

Although it is a challenging time,
❛❛
this disruption offers fertile ground
for innovation ❜❜

In focus group conversations with
healthcare professionals, we’ve heard
that day-to -day contact between
different arms of the health and wellbeing sector is also crucial for improving
outcomes. In much the same way that
bringing together growing businesses
at an Innovation Centre helps to foster
collaboration, creating more touchpoints for healthcare providers to meet
and interact helps to foster more
targeted interventions.
Health needs are diverse, complex, and
different from region to region. Each
area might see higher levels of deprivation or affluence, differing access to
housing, employment, education or
social care, a predominantly urban or
rural environment, a homogenous
population or one with major inequalities. This is why local health and
wellbeing hubs need to be designed
from the ground up, in consultation
with local communities and in response
to what is needed most.
This summer, Sussex Innovation delivered a research report for the SPACES
programme (Strategic Property Asset
Collaboration in East Sussex), identifying and sharing some of the key
trends observed in successful health
and wellbeing hubs around the UK. We
also offered our recommendations for
how to establish a similar programme
in the region in a way that will be both
commercially sustainable and deliver
the biggest possible social impact. We
look forward to playing a part in a
happier and healthier future for our
local community.

www.sussexinnovation.co.uk

www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

25

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BUSINESS

MHA is new to Gatwick, having opened a new office
at the start of 2023, but we are by no means new
to helping travel businesses deal with the problems that
VAT throws at them. By Sue Rathmell, VAT Partner, MHA

MHA Travel VAT team
soars into Gatwick
I am a VAT specialist with over 30 years’
experience advising businesses on their
VAT obligations. I have a team of eight
VAT specialists in Gatwick, and it is part
of MHA’s national VAT practice which
comprises more than 20 specialists.
We want to help businesses in Sussex
and Surrey avoid nasty VAT surprises.
For many businesses, VAT doesn’t
present too much of a problem. VAT
is charged on sales at 20%, and VAT
incurred on costs is recovered. Simples!
However, for tour operators who buy
in and sell on travel services to
consumers, VAT is very difficult indeed.
Tour operators use what’s called
the Tour Operators’ Margin Scheme
(or TOMS for short) to calculate how
much VAT they owe. Instead of paying
VAT on the sales value, they pay VAT on
the margin, but only the margin on UK
holidays. Now that the UK has left the EU,
the margin on EU holidays is zero-rated,
meaning no VAT must be paid.

❛❛ VAT isn’t so

easy for travel
agents either ❜❜

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BUSINESS

The TOMS scheme was originally a
simplification under EU VAT law and
meant that tour operators did not have
to register for VAT everywhere they
sent travellers. Unfortunately, with the
UK leaving the EU, UK tour operators
have lost this protection and the EU is
currently considering requiring non-EU
tour operators to register in every EU
member state that they send travellers
to, and pay local VAT on transport and
hotels. This will require changes to
the EU VAT legislation, and every
EU member state has to agree to
the changes so it might be some
time before these new rules apply.
We hope so.

VAT isn’t so easy for travel agents either.
HMRC often tries to say they are tour
operators acting as a principal, buying-in
and selling-on travel services, rather
than acting as an agent, arranging
a supply between two principals.
As principals, they would have to use
TOMS, paying VAT out of their margin.
Contracts are often poorly worded and
contradictory. We saw years of litigation
by HMRC and Secret Hotels over this

❛❛ For tour operators who buy in and

sell on travel services to consumers,
VAT is very difficult indeed ❜❜

very issue which ended with the UK
Supreme Court agreeing with Secret
Hotels and throwing out HMRC’s case.
So, what can you do if you are operating
in the travel sector? Pin down the VAT
treatment of your supplies. Don’t leave
an inch of room for HMRC to argue
that the VAT treatment is different.
Make sure that the contracts you have
with suppliers and customers are clear
and unequivocal. Get advice from
a VAT specialist like me who can review
contracts, your website, company
terms and conditions, and make sure
that you are in the clear. A dispute
with HMRC can be costly and take a lot
of time to resolve. So review your VAT
position before HMRC does!
If you’re not in the travel sector then
don’t worry, we can help you too.
We advise businesses in all sectors from
electronics to entertainment, and hotels
to healthcare. We can help if you have
a dispute with HMRC, if you are having
trouble importing goods into the UK or
if you don’t know whether you should
charge VAT on your supplies.

Please contact us. We’d be happy to
talk through any VAT issues you have
– we don’t charge for an initial call.
Our contact details are:
• Sue Rathmell
sue.rathmell@mha.co.uk
• Naomi Quant
naomi.quant@mha.co.uk
• Michael Samuel-Bryan
Michael.samuel-bryan@mha.co.uk

www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

29

LEGAL

In an era dominated by technological
advancements, the notion of “Big Brother is
Watching You” has transitioned from dystopian
fiction into a reality within workplaces.
By Pam Loch of Loch Associates Group

BIG BROTHER IS
WATCHING YOU
AT WORK
From biometric clocking-in systems, to
monitoring staff through mediums
such as closed- circuit television
(CCTV), email and key stroke tracking,
desk and movement monitoring –
employers now have such a wide range
of choice. However, is monitoring
staff micro-management verging on
bullying, or an essential tool to manage
people nowadays?
Through monitoring using CCT V
surveillance, employers can pinpoint
bottlenecks in production lines, identify
development needs or support as
required, and assess the impact of
different shifts on production rates.
Armed with these insights, management
can implement process improvements,
such as adjusting shift schedules or
fine-tuning routines. These measures
optimise workflows, minimise delays,
and lead to a more resource-efficient
operation.
Activity monitoring can extend to
software which logs every keystroke,
mouse click, internet search, social
media use and can even take
screenshots and provide live video
feeds to ascertain what someone is
working on. For employers, it means
they can track progress and ‘keep an
eye’ on staff, especially when remote
working. This data-driven approach
could also help employees’ development
by identifying coaching and training

30

www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

needs. However, these potential gains
must be considered alongside the legal,
ethical and privacy implications
associated with surveillance.
Workplace monitoring usually involves
processing personal data and is
therefore governed by the General Data
Protection Regulation 2016 (GDPR) and
the Data Protection Act 2018. If the
employer falls into the category of being
a public authority, then they also have to
take into account Article 8 of the
European Convention on Human Rights
and the Human Rights Act 1998. This is
because gathering information on staff
at work involves personal data and
could infringe the person’s rights. There
are also p ote ntial c o ntrac tual
implications as there is a duty of mutual
trust and confidence between the
employer and the employee.
Non-compliant monitoring at work
could result in a breach of this duty
leading to constructive unfair dismissal
claims.

Recognising the growth in monitoring
and the need to protect personal data,
the Information Commissioners Office
(the ICO) launched a consultation on
draft guidance on monitoring at work.
This guidance can be found on the
ICO’s website at www.ico.org.uk.
The ICO makes it clear that any decision
to monitor staff should ‘involve careful
balancing between the business
interests of an employer and the
workforce’s rights and freedoms in
relation to their personal data’. In other
words, simply because you have the
tools to monitor staff, you still must
consider if it is the best way to achieve
your objectives.
To lawfully monitor staff, an employer
has to be able to identify one of six
lawful bases to justify it. The most likely
lawful basis an employer can rely on is
Legitimate Interest – where the
monitoring is necessary for legitimate
interest unless the risks to the
employee’s rights overrides them.
However, employers will have to carry
out an assessment as to whether or not
they could achieve their objectives in a
less intrusive way. If they could, then
they will not be able to rely on the
legitimate interest basis to justify the
monitoring.

LEGAL

❛❛ Workplace monitoring usually involves

processing personal data and is therefore governed
by the General Data Protection Regulation 2016
(GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018 ❜❜
Monitoring workers will often include
collating sensitive data which brings
additional obligations with it. This data
being collected is called the ‘special
category’. This means that it needs
more protection because of the nature
and the risks of harm to the person
if there is inappropriate disclosure or
use of the data. Employers will have to
identify a special category condition,
from a list of ten, to lawfully process the
data.

between employers and employees,
undermining open communication
and collaboration. If not appropriately
managed, monitoring tools can lead
to a culture where employees feel
closely scrutinised, curtailing autonomy and stifling independent
decision-making. The pressure of
performing under surveillance can
contribute to heightened stress
levels, impacting employees’ mental
well-being.

Employers must not only carefully
c o n s i d e r t h e d a t a p r ote c t i o n
implications of monitoring but also the
potential impact on the employer –
employee relationship. The pervasive
nature of constant surveillance can
infringe upon employees’ rights to
personal space and create feelings of
discomfort and unease.

In addition, the issue of data security
cannot be overlooked. Workplace
monitoring systems will gather valuable
data. Workplaces are not immune to
cyber threats, exposing sensitive
employee data to potential breaches
and unauthorised access.

Trust erosion can emerge as a
major challenge as monitoring can
foster an atmosphere of distrust

The juxtaposition of the pros and
c ons of wor k plac e monitoring
necessitates a careful evaluation of
whether the benefits outweigh the
risks. While the advantages hold an
appeal, they must be balanced against
the potential privacy infringements,
trust erosion, and stress associated
with monitoring.
A considered and measured approach
which emphasises transparency,
proportionality, and employee consent
can alleviate many concerns associated
with monitoring. The decision to use
workplace monitoring methods should
therefore be guided by a well-informed
consideration of both the operational
benefits and the potential impact on
employee wellbeing and privacy.

Pam Loch, Solicitor and Managing
Director of Loch Associates Group
www.lochassociates.co.uk

www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

31

WEALTH MANAGEMENT
EXECUTED BEAUTIFULLY

www.pmw.co.uk

We pride ourselves on our ability to provide independent, sophisticated
and bespoke financial advice.
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01372 471550

BUSINESS

Millie Green of MDHUB
interviews colleague Rob Day

‘SWITCH THE LIGHT ON’

ROB DAY ON ILLUMINATING
NEW TECH FOR BUSINESS LEADERS
Rob Day is an MDHUB success story.
A member in the early days of the
hub100, Rob has since joined the
MDHUB team, and now facilitates
workgroups for its members.
We chat over Zoom, as he lives yearround in Jersey. In the background,
I can see a freshly painted seascape;
evidence of a healthy work-life balance
he has carved for himself since exiting
his business.
Rob first met Fiona Shafer, current
Managing Director of MDHUB, while
she was consulting for Sussex
Enterprise. The team at Rob’s web
agency Liquid Light was at a crossroads, having to make big decisions
about whether to scale up. “Fiona was
empathetic and suppor tive,” Rob
states. “She helped me and the team
to make the right choices for the
business.”
As a result of Fiona’s intervention
and help, Rob subsequently made the
decision to join MDHUB (then ‘the
hub100’). Taking part in regular peerto-peer workgroups, he was able to
develop his knowledge and confidence
in order to improve Liquid Light.

34

www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

“If things are going well, you don’t
think you need peer learning sessions.
But you will have good and bad days,
and on those bad days, the peer
support you get in these sessions is
everything.”
During the period where he was
looking to exit his business, Rob
received a huge amount of support
from something within MDHUB called
the ‘Escape Committee’, a regular
workgroup focussed specifically
on business exiting. Cutting a long
story short, he eventually exited in a
successful manner in April 2016,
before spending time going travelling
with his wife, Evelyn.
With his batteries recharged, Rob
returned to MDHUB as a facilitator
and business coach. Alongside a
number of other regular workgroups, he
now runs the Escape Committee,
helping the next generation of business

owners to negotiate their own exits.
For those peers in that situation, he
has become someone to turn to;
someone who had, colloquially,
‘been there, seen it, done it…’
It is something he finds an enormous
privilege. It also helps him stay
connected to the south east from
Jersey. Best of all, he feels, “I get to
do it in a professional capacity, with
the support from all of these inspirational business leaders.”
MDHUB matches Rob’s values and,
all the while that continues, he
believes he’ll be happy to spend
his time with them. “The sense of
integrity, compassion and care is
100% of MDHUB’s DNA; you see that
in the board meetings as much as
you see it in the delivery. There are not
many places in the business world
where it’s not shrouded in hubris
and ego.”

❛❛ You will have good and bad days,

and on those bad days, the peer support
you get in these sessions is everything

BUSINESS

While MDHUB provides a space to
champion and support members in
times of growth and success, it also
provides a safe space for business
leaders who are struggling. “Asking for
help takes courage.”
As one of his many workgroups, Rob
runs Wildcards, one-off workshops,
where members can talk openly
and freely, and discuss new ideas.
‘Tech 101’ is one of Rob’s Wildcards,
borne of the sense that technology is
going through one of those big ‘aha’
moments – the rise of Artificial
Intelligence (AI).

The workgroup allows him to, as he
puts it, ‘switch the light on’ for business
leaders, and discuss the newest developments in the field, including how this
could change the way we work.
For Rob, AI is the thing to watch for
business leaders. “It’s affecting so
many spaces: e -commerce, SEO,
social media, content writing; there’s
not an industry I can think of where it
won’t have some impact.” For those
wishing to dip their toe into these
worlds, he suggests ChatGPT and
Midjourney as starting points for
anyone looking to learn about what AI
can do.

We also touched on the cost of living
crisis, Brexit, and rapid tech developments. All of these are perceived to be
making for a very unstable environment. Rob’s one piece of advice for
surviving this climate was, “Don’t do it
alone. It’s a lonely place to be an MD,
and it’s impossible to have all the
answers.”
As part of this, he suggests implementing an advisory board; having
external support from mentors can help
you make the best decisions for your
business. “It’s about support,” Rob
concludes. “Being with MDHUB means
you’re not alone.”

❛❛ For those peers in that situation, he has

become someone to turn to; someone who had,
colloquially, ‘been there, seen it, done it

❜❜

If you would like to hear more
about the peer groups that
Rob facilitates, please email Rob at
rob@mdhub.co.uk
If you are interested in finding out
more about the MDHUB, please
visit www.mdhub.co.uk
Email MDHUB Directors:
Fiona Shafer: fiona@mdhub.co.uk or
Phil Green: phil.green@mdhub.co.uk

www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

35

FINANCE

Could PAYE Settlement Agreements stop your
employees from experiencing unexpected tax bills?
This is something to consider, suggests.
George Cannon, Private Client Tax Manager
of Kreston Reeves

How to ensure ‘benefit in kind’
doesn’t become unkind
Businesses are suffering increased
costs and employers are looking for
various ways to reward their employees
and keep them engaged beyond pay
rises and bonuses. The issue, however,
is that a lot of these alternative methods
can be caught by the benefit in kind
(BIK) rules. BIKs need to be reported on
a form P11D and the employees
concerned are taxed on the cash
equivalent of the BIK provided – which
is not ideal when the aim of the benefit
was to provide an additional reward to
the employee concerned. A PAYE
settlement agreement could be the
answer.

WHAT IS A PAYE
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT?

A PAYE Settlement Agreement (PSA)
allows employers to make one annual
payment to HMRC to cover the Tax and
National Insurance Contributions (NIC)
due on selected minor, irregular or
impractical expenses or benefits that
they provide to their employees.

❛❛ As most non-cash benefits

provided to employees will be
taxable on the employee, a PSA
can be a great way to cover the
Tax and NIC due ❜❜

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www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

WHY USE A PAYE
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT?

As most non-cash benefits provided to
employees will be taxable on the
employee, a PSA can be a great way to
cover the Tax and NIC due on the
employee’s behalf and avoid upsetting
them with an unexpected tax bill.
PSAs work best on items where it is not
the employer’s intention for there to be
a Tax or NIC consequence for the
employee. For example, an employer
may provide an employee with a long
service award that does not meet the
criteria to be provided tax free.
Whilst the employer’s intention is to
provide its employee with a gesture of
its appreciation for their years of hard
work, an unexpected tax bill for the
individual is likely to undo some of the
goodwill generated from the gift. By
including the gift on a PSA, the
employee will not be liable to Tax or NIC
and the employer retains the goodwill
of the employee.
PSAs are often used to cover items
such as ‘employee of the month’
awards, incentive schemes or even
staff entertaining such as Christmas
parties that have exceeded the annual
£150 per head tax-free limit.

FINANCE

HOW TO GET A PAYE
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT

An employer can apply online for a PSA,
or an agent can do so on their behalf.
Once HMRC has checked and approved
the application, the employer will
receive a confirmation email or letter,
with the PSA following shortly after by
post. The agreement will then continue
until either the employer or HMRC apply
to change the agreement or cancel it.
The PSA application needs to be made
by July 5th following the first year that it
applies to, although if a PSA is applied
for in advance, it can increase the types
of items that can be included on the
form. The PSA form itself will then need
to be completed and submitted by July
31st, with the Class 1B NIC payable by
October 22nd (if paid electronically)
following the end of the tax year.

❛❛ PSAs are often used to cover items
such as ‘employee of the month’
awards or incentive schemes ❜❜

IS A PAYE SETTLEMENT
AGREEMENT RIGHT FOR
YOUR BUSINESS?

Whilst it is beneficial for the employees
concerned to have certain items
included on a PSA to avoid a Tax or NIC
liability, it can be expensive for
employers. Not only are they paying the

Tax and NIC on the employee’s behalf,
they are also required to gross up these
payments to take account of the added
benefit of paying these amounts on the
employee’s behalf. The business will
then pay Class 1B NIC on the total
amount calculated at a rate of 13.8% for
the 2023/24 tax year.

If you would like further information or guidance,
please contact George Cannon:
Email: enquiries@krestonreeves.com
Call: 0330 124 1399
Visit: www.krestonreeves.com

www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

37

LEGAL

Rebecca Thornley-Gibson outlines how
far firms can go and wonders whether
recent comments by business secretary,
Kemi Badenoch, may herald a change

SHOULD EMPLOYERS
HAVE TO POLICE
WORKPLACE
CONVERSATIONS?
Employees’ conversations – spoken,
written and online – are part of workplace communications, but the topic
range can be broad, and not always
welcomed by everyone. Problems can
arise when employees candidly share
their views and beliefs, and exercise what
they see as their right to freedom of
expression.
Opposing employee views carry risks,
not only in creating tension, but also the
potential for Equality Act 2010 legal
claims. The dilemma facing employers is
whether they need to become more
prescriptive on what can and can’t be
said at work, or whether this will stifle
natural conversation and create an environment that is considered sterile and
unattractive.

Businesses need to set standards
❛❛
of workplace behaviour, and most do by
having codes of conduct and policies ❜❜

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www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

Businesses need to set standards of
workplace behaviour, and most do
by having codes of conduct and
policies covering what they expect
from employees. Employer values
and expectations are also reflected
in diversity and inclusion measures,
but positive and well-meaning actions
to be inclusive can create unintended
consequences and negative impacts
for some companies.

written abuse, offensive emails, tweets,
and website comments and “banter that
is offensive to you”, it is not surprising
that HR is regularly dealing with
harassment allegations arising from
workplace conversations.
An increased level of control can result
in challenges from employees who will
say that they are scared of saying the
‘wrong thing’ and that they are fearful
of disciplinary action if they act a
certain way, or make a comment that is
not well received by a colleague.
However, employers are vicariously
liable for the acts of their employees,
Moreover, statutory liability requires
employers to accept they are responsible for not only communicating
expected standards of behaviour,
but taking action and policing conversations in the same way they would with
any other behavioural concerns.
Recent high-profile discrimination cases
concerning protection of philosophical
beliefs, or lack of, demonstrate the risks
for workplace environments allowing an
exchange of conflicting views. Such
cases, including gender-critical belief
and veganism, will lead to employers
reviewing their approach to the extent
they need to get involved in managing
workplace conversations.
Some businesses may feel stifling
workplace conversations has a
damaging effect on the workplace
culture, but when one person’s
healthy debate is perceived as
another person’s harassment, the risk
management approach of most
organisations will lean towards more
control over conversations.
The Equality and Human Rights
Commission (EHRC) narrative on harassment is likely to be read by employees as
not putting a particularly high bar on
being able to prove harassment. If the
behaviour is unwanted and the employee

Some businesses may
❛❛
feel stifling workplace
conversations has a
damaging effect on the
workplace culture ❜❜

finds it offensive, provided the claimant
has a protected characteristic and can
show the behaviour had the purpose or
effect of violating their dignity, or of
creating a degrading, humiliating, hostile,
intimidating, or offensive environment,
the claim will be successful.
As unwanted behaviour, according to
the EHRC guidance, includes spoken or

Recent comments by business secretary, Kemi Badenoch, acknowledging
concerns about how the Equality Act
is being used by some groups, will
be of little comfort now to HR teams
which are dealing with grievances and
claims arising from conflicting views.
However, her comment that “the Equality
Act is a shield, not a sword” and her
stated commitment to “bringing people
together, rather than atomising them
into identity groups, and helping
businesses to focus on delivering
healthy working environments, rather
than becoming social regulators,”
suggests that businesses shouldn’t
have to take on the role of regulating
the conversation. Perhaps the brakes
are being put on the creative use of
the Equality Act for some belief claims.

Rebecca Thornley-Gibson
is a partner at DMH Stallard
dmhstallard.com

www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

39

LEGAL

Corporate Commentary
For any sale transaction, you will need legal and tax support,
with many deals involving corporate finance

Jonathan Grant
Partner and Head of Corporate

GETTING THE MOST FROM
YOUR PROFESSIONAL TEAM
If the CF advisor is introduced to
help manage and run a deal, where
an offer has already been made, they
will often work on a time basis; this
can be a good option for a business
which receives a direct approach,
but where help is needed with
negotiations.

If you need a buyer to be identified,
or introduced, then you will need a
corporate finance (CF) advisor. Not all
CF advisors are the same; each come
with their own background/skill set,
connections and access to the market,
and fees. Be wary of super slick
marketing/sales tactics, as it can
mislead (after all, CF advisors are
skilled at selling!).
We still see many deals arise, following
a direct buyer/investor approach to the
target business. In that situation, the
target has a choice, whether or not to
retain a CF advisor. When I am asked
by clients what they should do in this
situation, I tell them the decision should
be dictated by the nature of the deal:
If your buyer is a complex/well
resourced (PE or international corporate), with deep finance/analytical
teams, you can easily be “outgunned”
without a CF advisor on your team;
If most of the cash is payable
in cash on completion, and the
structure/diligence straightforward,
you may be able to manage with an
experienced legal and accounting/
tax team.

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www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

Professional fees:
Lawyers/tax advisors are often paid
on a time basis, supported by an
estimate. If the deal is straightforward,
you pay less, but if it becomes
protracted, you pay more. You can also
ask for contingent, or fixed fees, which
are becoming more common, but
there is generally a price for the
risk assumed by the advisor.
Corporate finance advisors will
work on a mainly contingent basis,
if they find you a buyer/investor,
receiving a higher success fee, often
with a “ratchet”. The ratchet increases
the percentage they receive of the
sale price, above a target level.

Setting out to select the lowest cost
professional team, is rarely sensible.
You may pay less in fees, but you can
lose far more on the deal, for instance
greater (warranty) risk, a price reduction,
or a buyer losing confidence and not
completing. A strong advisory team
will run an efficient process, ensure
sellers are protected, and retain buyer/
investor confidence. It also helps to
select an advisor y team with
credentials/experience at the right level
in the market.
We would suggest you discuss these
issues well ahead of a potential deal, so
you are not selecting your professional
team under pressure.

If you would like to discuss any of these themes further, please get in touch
Mobile: 07912 087173
Email: Jonathan.Grant@dmhstallard.com

Our focus
is you
Outstanding legal advice for
individuals, families and businesses.

For business
We make it our business to know your business,
working with you to add value and to deliver tailored
legal services with energy and creativity whether you’re
an established market leader or an ambitious start-up.

Our success depends on
understanding your needs

For you
Your family’s security and wellbeing are your priority.
And we have the legal skills and knowledge to
support your plans and the challenges life brings.

Brighton

Gatwick

Guildford

Horsham

London

Please call or email to discuss
how we can help you:
03333 231580
enquiries@dmhstallard.com

dmhstallard.com

Rock

Role

There’s more to a Hurst education than academic
excellence. Here, self-expression is positively encouraged.
Children are inspired to explore. Invaluable years
in our nurturing, enriching environment in which all
children thrive, blossom and grow. Prepared. For life.

Hurstpierpoint College

www.hppc.co.uk

C O - E D U C AT I O N A L D AY A N D B O A R D I N G S C H O O L F O R P U P I L S A G E D 4 - 1 8

FINANCE

By Dan Morgan,
Managing Partner,
Haines Watts Esher

Benefits of outsourcing
your finance function
As your business sees growth, existing
financial processes may no longer
serve their purpose, or you may find
yourself needing additional support.
By outsourcing your finance function,
you can streamline your financial
processes, implement the best
practices, and take advantage of
efficient technologies and robust
systems. This can help to automate
repetitive tasks, reduce manual errors
and provide timely and accurate
financial data reports.

Outsourcing your finance function
involves delegating the financial tasks
and responsibilities of your business to
an external service provider. Essentially,
instead of managing all the financial
aspects in-house, you rely on the
expertise and resources of a specialised
team or company to handle them.
This can include your accounting,
bookkeeping, VAT, tax and a variety
of other functions.
This process can bring you and your
business many benefits, including;

FLEXIBILITY

COST SAVINGS

An outsourced finance function can
lead to significant cost savings as it
eliminates the need to pay the combined
costs that come with hiring a team of
employees, such as salaries, national
insurance contributions and holiday
pay. In this case, you have the ability
to easily scale up/down the level of
service in response to ever-changing
market demands, removing the need
to commit to hiring and training
a permanent team of staff. Whilst
leveraging the services of an external
provider, you can redirect these cost
savings towards the other areas of
your business which are more growth
focused.

Instead of managing
❛❛
all the financial aspects
in-house, you rely on
the expertise and
resources of a specialised
team or company to
handle them ❜❜

ACCESS TO SPECIALISTS

Outsourcing allows you to gain access
to a team of experts who have a deeper
knowledge and insights into finance
regarding a number of different types of
businesses. Working with various types
of teams in a number of different sectors
means you can incorporate the skill and
experience needed to handle complex
tasks whilst providing accuracy and
compliance with regulations and any
new legislations.
They can easily apply what they may
have learnt elsewhere to your situation.
This expertise can help you make
informed financial decisions and eradicate any potential mistakes, which
would be costly to the business.

IMPROVED EFFICIENCY

By removing yourself from the
day-to-day workings, you free up time
that can be used to focus on the bigger
picture, and other core activities that
drive business growth and innovation
to stay ahead of your competition.

Outsourced teams bring about
flexibility in more than one way.
For example, both remote and in-person
working can bring their own benefits
to a business. An outsourced finance
workforce can adapt and fi t into your
individual business dynamic with
the ability to work remotely or in
person, depending on your personal
requirements.
Running an effective internal finance
function can be a challenge especially
when you are already concerned with
a number of different areas of the
business. Outsourcing a finance team
can take the pressure off business
owners and offer real value.

If you want to discuss outsourcing
your finance function, get in touch.
www.hwca.com/accountants-esher
T: 020 8549 5137
E: esher@hwca.com

www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

43

BUSINESS

The Education & Skills Partnership provides
training and development solutions, through
funded commercial and apprenticeship routes

MAY YOU LIVE IN
INTERESTING TIMES
We are Ofsted ‘Good’, and have been
winners of Corporate Award Training
Provider of the Year for the past two
years. We thought we would share
some insight for South East SMEs.
It’s been a challenging period for many
businesses in the South East, but that
doesn’t need to make it any less fun.
Research from The Local Enterprise
Partnerships and central government
gives us some insight into how things
have changed and how businesses
have reacted in the South East:

TECHNOLOGY AND DIGITAL
TRANSFORMATION

The tech sector in the South East
of England was growing at a rate
of approximately 6% annually,
contributing significantly to job
creation and digital transformation
efforts.
Businesses were investing heavily in
digital initiatives, with an estimated
£1.4 billion spent on digital transformation projects across various
industries.

❛❛ On average, the cost

of recruiting a middle
management role in the
South East of England
typically ranged from
£5,000 to £15,000 ❜❜

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REMOTE AND HYBRID WORK

Remote work adoption in the South
East had surged, with approximately
55% of businesses offering remote
or hybrid work options for their
employees.
Businesses allocated an average
of 15% of their training budgets to
upskilling employees in remote work
technologies and best practices.

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

Companies in the South East reported
a 20% increase in diversity and
inclusion training expenditures,
reflecting a commitment to building
diverse and equitable workforces.
Women represented 45% of the
total workforce in the region, with
efforts to increase representation
in leadership roles.

BUSINESS
SKILLS GAPS

An estimated 30% of businesses in
the South East identified skills gaps
as a significant challenge, with the
most pronounced gaps observed
in technology-related roles and
specialised trades.
Training budgets allocated for skills
gap mitigation increased by an
average of 12% year-over-year.

DATA PRIVACY AND
CYBERSECURITY

The number of reported cyberattacks in the South East has risen
by 25%, prompting increased investments in cybersecurity job roles
and training programs.
Businesses allocated, on average,
8% of their IT budgets to cybersecurity training and initiatives.

AGEING WORKFORCE

Approximately 35% of the South
East’s workforce were over the age
of 50, highlighting the importance
of age-inclusive job design and
training programmes.
Companies reported a 15% increase
in offerings related to phased retirement and flexible work arrangements.

❛❛ An estimated
30% of businesses in the
South East identified
skills gaps as a significant
challenge ❜❜
LIFELONG LEARNING

Online learning and micro-credentialing platforms saw a 30% increase
in enrolment in 2021, reflecting the
growing emphasis on lifelong
learning and upskilling.
Employers allocated, on average,
10% of their training budgets to
support employees’ continuous skill
development.

EMPLOYEE WELLBEING

Mental health - related training
programmes were offered by 60%
of businesses in the South East, with
an average of 5% of HR budgets
allocated to employee wellbeing
initiatives.
Ergonomic job design changes
resulted in a 10% reduction in workplace-related injuries and illnesses.

All of these issues have led to the need
for your leadership teams to be more
effective and capable of supporting
your team to be the best they can be.
If you lose your strongest team
members through lack of skilled
leaders, the impacts then multiply.

LAST CHANCE
TO DANCE WITH
THE EUROPEAN
SOCIAL FUND
We have limited free courses
available for SME businesses in
the Coast to Capital and Greater
London areas. These courses
can be found through our website,
but you might also commission
a specific course if you have
suitable numbers.
THIS OPPORTUNITY CLOSES
ON NOVEMBER 23RD
Reach us through
enquiries@esp-ac.uk
to discuss your needs

COST

On average, the cost of recruiting
a middle management role in the
South East of England typically ranged
from £5,000 to £15,000. This cost
includes expenses related to job
advertising, recruitment agency fees,
background checks, interviews, and
any relocation or signing bonuses
offered to the selected candidate.
It doesn’t consider the drop in performance / sales whilst the replacement
gets up to speed.

TIMESCALES

The recruitment process for a middle
management role in the South East
could take approximately six to
12 weeks. The process involves creating
job descriptions, adver tising the
position, reviewing applications,
conducting inter views, reference
checks, and negotiations with the
selected candidate. More specialised
or senior roles might take longer due
to the need for in-depth assessments
and interviews.
The CIPD survey shows
45% of businesses have seen
increased competition for skilled
team members.
33% have increased what they
do to grow their own talent.
30% say retention of talent is harder
39% say that there is a big increase
in the number of poor quality
applicants.
24% have increased their diversity
in recruitment.
At The Education & Skills Partnership
we only do two things:
Improve your team members’ skills
in the things that are important to
the health of your business.
Give your team the qualifications
required to do the job.
We do these two things in partnership
with you, and by using the most effective funding and delivery route.

It all starts with a conversation with
one of our expert team members.
Booking is easy, simply reach us on
our website www.esp-ac.uk or use our
enquiries@esp-ac.uk email.

www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

45

2023
CELEBRATING 35 YEARS OF THE REGION’S
MOST RESPECTED AND BEST ATTENDED EVENT

PROUDLY SP

FINANCE

MAGA ZINE

IN
AI
D
O
F

Fantastic from
❛❛start
to finish...

it would have been
a lovely night even
without the awards
we won! ❜❜
PVL

Presented by Mark Watson.
Comedian and author and star of
Mock the Week, Would l Lie to You,
Never Mind the Buzzcocks;
Taskmaster, QI and Argumental

❛❛ What a
fabulous event.
We had a brilliant
night and looking
forward to next
year already! ❜❜
VERLINGUE

TICKETS NOW ON SALE
BOOK YOUR TICKETS ONLINE
WWW.PLATINUMMEDIAGROUP.CO.UK
£120 EACH OR £1100 FOR A TABLE OF 10
Ticket price includes a sparkling drinks reception, a delicious three-course meal
as well as entertainment and fantastic networking opportunities
Dress code is black tie

PONSORED BY

Platinum definitely
❛❛knows
how to put

together a successful
and very enjoyable
awards dinner - wow! ❜❜
LOCH ASSOCIATES
GROUP

AWARD
CEREMONY
NOVEMBER
30TH
THE GRAND
BRIGHTON

LEGAL

By Jason Edge, Marketing Director,
Mayo Wynne Baxter

AI IN BUSINESS

A PATH TO ENHANCED
EFFICIENCY AND INNOVATION
When we launched our LawEasier
service back in 2017, we were a law
firm ahead of the curve. LawEasier uses
a form of artificial intelligence (AI)
that asks the questions that a lawyer
would ask to create bespoke legal
documents such as contracts, Wills
and agreements.
Using technology meant that we could
provide great value and immediate
document creation for clients at any
time they needed it, and not just when
our offices were open.
Fast forward to today, and AI has
emerged as a transformative force that
is reshaping industries and businesses
around the world. From enhancing
customer service to optimising supply
chains, AI is revolutionising the way
companies operate and compete.
One of the most significant impacts of
AI on businesses is the ability to provide
enhanced customer experiences.
Using AI-powered chatbots and virtual
assistants, companies can offer 24/7
customer support, answer queries in
real-time, and streamline the customer
service process. These AI-driven
solutions not only reduce response
times but also free up human agents to
handle more complex customer issues.

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Furthermore, AI enables businesses to
personalise interactions with customers
by analysing vast amounts of data
to understand their preferences and
behaviour. This personalisation leads to
higher customer satisfaction, increased
loyalty, and improved customer
retention rates. Companies like Amazon
and Netflix have successfully leveraged
AI to recommend products and
content, resulting in higher sales and
engagement.

For instance, AI-powered predictive
analytics can forecast future demand
for products, allowing businesses to
optimise their inventory levels and
reduce costs. In marketing, AI can
analyse customer behaviour to
suggest the most effective marketing strategies and allocate resources
more efficiently. In short, AI-driven data
analysis helps businesses stay ahead
of the competition and adapt quickly to
changing market conditions.

AI empowers businesses to make datadriven decisions with unprecedented
accuracy and speed. Advanced
machine learning algorithms can
analyse large datasets, identify trends,
and extract valuable insights that
humans may overlook. This enables
business managers to make more
informed choices across various
aspects of their operations, such as
marketing, sales, and inventor y
management.

AI-driven automation is transforming
business operations by automating
repetitive and time-consuming tasks.
Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and
intelligent automation solutions are
being employed across industries to
streamline workflows and boost
efficiency. These technologies not only
reduce human error but also enable
employees to focus on more creative
and strategic tasks.
For instance, in the financial sector,
AI-powered algorithms can automate
the data entry and reconciliation
processes, reducing the risk of
errors and speeding up transaction
processing. In manufacturing, AI-driven
robots and machines can perform
repetitive tasks with precision, leading
to higher production rates and
consistent quality. This automation not

LEGAL

AI can play a crucial role in safeguarding
❛❛
businesses against cyber threats and fraud ❜❜
only improves efficiency but also
reduces operational costs, contributing
to higher profitability.
AI is a catalyst for innovation, allowing
businesses to develop new products
and services that were previously
unimaginable. AI - powered tools
and technologies can assist in
product design, simulate scenarios,
and generate ideas for innovation.
For example, in the pharmaceutical
industr y, AI can accelerate drug
discovery by analysing vast datasets and identifying potential drug
candidates more efficiently.

can continuously monitor network
traffic, identify suspicious activities,
and respond to threats in real-time. This
proactive approach to cybersecurity
helps protect sensitive data and
prevents financial losses.
In the financial sector, AI is used for
fraud detection, identifying unusual
patterns in transactions, and alerting
authorities to potentially fraudulent
activity. This not only safeguards
businesses but also enhances
customer trust.

Furthermore, AI can help businesses
stay ahead of market trends by
monitoring social media, news, and
customer feedback. This real-time
analysis enables companies to adapt
their products and strategies quickly,
ensuring they remain competitive in
rapidly evolving markets.

In conclusion, AI has the potential to
revolutionise businesses across
industries in numerous ways. From
enhancing customer experiences
and enabling data-driven decisionmaking to automating processes
and optimising supply chains, AI
is a transformative force that can
help businesses thrive in a rapidly
changing world.

AI can play a crucial role in safeguarding
businesses against cyber threats and
fraud. AI-powered security systems

To harness the full potential of AI,
businesses must invest in talent,
infrastructure, and data capabilities.

It’s essential to understand that AI
is not a one-size-fits-all solution;
its implementation should be tailored
to the specific needs and objectives
of each organisation.
As AI technology continues to evolve,
businesses that embrace and leverage
its capabilities will gain a competitive
edge, drive innovation, and pave the
way for a more efficient and prosperous
future. The era of AI-driven business
transformation is upon us, and those
who seize the opportunities it presents
will be the leaders of tomorrow.
At MWB, we are constantly looking
at how we can make best use of
technology to improve efficiencies,
client service and service delivery. AI is
a powerful tool in the kit bag, but it will
never replace our expert legal advisors.
It will, however, help them provide the
best possible outcomes for our clients.

Jason Edge,
Marketing Director,
Mayo Wynne Baxter
www.mayowynnebaxter.co.uk

www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

49

BUSINESS
A clean-energy analytics SaaS startup secures
£1.7m in seed funding through Surrey Research
Park’s angel investment team

RENEW RISK
SECURES
S100 FUNDING
Founded in November 2021, Renew Risk
is a spin-in from the University of Surrey
providing the world’s first offshore wind
farm insurance models. The start-up is
also a member of Surrey Research
Park’s incubation hub, SETsquared
Surrey.
The company has been built using
decades of know-how, expertise and
experience of the University of Surrey’s
Chaired Professor Dr. Subhamoy
Bhattacharya, who is an expert in
offshore wind and has authored
three books on offshore windfarms.
The technical know-how forms the
basis of the products built by Renew
Risk. Dr Bhattacharya is a Co-founder
and Chief Scientist of Renew Risk.
Earlier in the year, Renew Risk attended
one of the University of Surrey’s Angel
investment events, S100 Club which
helped kickstart an exciting year for
2023’s investment round. This funding
round was led by strategic investor
Insurtech Gateway with participation
from ClimateTech fund One Planet
Capital, the University of Surrey, and
super angels Chris Adelsbach and
Rahul Munjal.
As the world transitions towards green
energy, the next ten years will see
exponential growth in the offshore wind
industry – expected to be a $1tn industry
by 2040. This growth requires massive

❛❛ Renew Risk will be utilising

the investment for product
development, PR and marketing,
recruitment and scaling up ❜❜
50

www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

institutional investment, yet the
associated risks remain largely
unmeasurable.
Renew Risk provides robust risk
assessment solutions that will allow
(re)insurers, insurance brokers and
offshore wind farm developers to
appropriately assess the risk of
these billion-dollar renewable energy
assets being constructed in deep sea
and in natural disaster-prone regions.
Their first-of-its-kind risk modelling
software, driven by deep data science,
calculates the frequency and severity
of financial losses due to natural
disasters. The product allows (re)
insurers to accurately understand the
risk and confidently provide capacity.
By securing insurance for large offshore wind projects, institutional
investors are more inclined to provide
the necessary financing to expedite
the transition to renewable energy.

Left: Ashima Gupta, CEO and Founder of Renew Risk,
Right: Prof. Subhamoy Bhattacharya, University of Surrey

BUSINESS

The startup already has models live
with global (re)insurers leading on
supporting transition to green energy.
The investment will enable the company
to expand its customer base across the
United States and Asia and develop
next-generation products that cover
additional asset classes.
The S100 Club has close ties to
Surrey Research Park, as well as startup business incubation and support
network SETsquared Surrey. The
pitching process for the regular investor
event comprises several stages,
culminating in presentations delivered
by selected businesses to a forum of
investors.
Renew Risk will be utilising the
investment for product development,
PR and marketing, recruitment and
scaling up. Currently, the organisation
consists of ten employees, alongside
a bank of advisors and consultants.
Renew Risk plans to recruit a sales
specialist and risk modellers over the
next 18 months.

Although the long-term business
model centres around three separate
products, financing, planning and
insurance, the firm will be rolling out
its catastrophe risk models first as it
has seen a lot of client traction already.
As a SaaS company with early clients
on board, Renew Risk expects to
generate revenue quickly. The start-up
has ambitious growth plans and aims
to sign up several new clients by the
end of 2024. It will be targeting the US,
Taiwan and Japan, which are the key
markets for the business, and from
there, scale up and develop future
products.
Ashima Gupta, CEO and Founder of
Renew Risk points out that the product
roadmap is going to be defined by
client needs. “It’s very important for us
to be in tune with what our clients want,”

she says. “We are building the insurance
product with our clients and will do
the same with our future products for
financing and planning.”
Ashima expressed gratitude for the
suppor t and confidence demo nstrated by the investors, stating,
“We are thrilled to have secured this
significant funding round, and are
grateful to our esteemed consortium
of investors, the University of Surrey
and the S100 Club for their investment
in Renew Risk.
“I would also like to thank Dr Will
Lovegrove, Director of Innovation
Strategy at University of Surrey for
his untiring support during the spinin process and for securing us direct
investment from the University. We are
excited about the transformative impact
we will make in the insurance industry.”
Ashima Gupta, Co-Founder and CEO
E: Ashima.Gupta@renew-risk.com
www.renew-risk.com
Professor Subhamoy Bhattacharya
www.surrey-research-park.com
www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

51

FINANCE

Selling your business is likely to be the
most important transaction you will ever
make, so it’s vital to get it right, says
Michael Pay of EMC Corporate Finance

IT’S NEVER TOO EARLY
TO PREPARE YOUR
BUSINESS FOR SALE
You need to plan carefully, understand
what your motivation is and ensure that
you achieve the objectives you have set
– not least the price!
Get your business ‘fit for sale’ by planning
early so that when the time comes, you
are ready for it. Even if you’re not thinking
of exiting anytime soon, there are sound
practical reasons to embrace the sale
preparation process without delay.
Most of the steps you will take are
sensible business measures that will
only enhance your company ’s
performance.
For starters, think of how:
Margins can be maintained and
increased whilst you grow the
business
Non-value adding expenses can be
reduced
Expenditure with a long-term payback,
such as an advertising campaign or
opening a new branch may be justified
or in some cases even deferred.
Longer term sales contracts can be
put in place to give certainty of income
Staff can be motivated and retained
Good your reporting is. Are your
systems and data robust enough to
provide the detail needed through the
valuation and due diligence process?

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www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

Think of disposing of any non-business
or surplus assets. Purchasers won’t
want them so transfer them into private
ownership, realise some cash by paying
a pre-sale dividend or making a pension
fund contribution. Alternatively, in the
right circumstances, make them part of
the deal which can be a tax-efficient
method of receiving part of the sales
proceeds.
Look closely at the management
structure. If the company is totally
dependent on you, many buyers will walk
away, or want to discount the price to
balance their risk. So evaluate your
second-line management team to
satisfy yourself, and a potential buyer,
that they have the skills to run the
business if you’re not there. A purchaser
won’t particularly want to draft in a new
management team and won’t have to do
so if you can demonstrate that the
existing one is capable of running the
company.

❛❛ Get your business

‘fit for sale’ by
planning early so that
when the time comes,
you are ready for it ❜❜

FINANCE
But don’t fall into the common trap of
thinking that you have to find or appoint
a new ‘you’. If you have a natural
successor that’s brilliant, don’t try to
force one who isn’t right, or isn’t up to it,
on buyers. Trade buyers will want to see
that you have ‘colonels’ and ‘captains’ in
place but will probably have their own
‘general’ to take over at the top. However,
PE buyers will most likely want to see a
pretty full team, or at least want to be
sure that they can find/identify a new
leader, before they complete.
In most businesses, some employees
are more important than others to its
success. Identify those who you wouldn’t
want to lose and try to gauge their
reaction to a potential sale. But be
careful. The idea of a sale is worrying to
nearly all staff and, much as the thought
of retiring with your pot of gold appeals
to you, they may not like the idea of new
owners and the potential disruption.
Think of ways to ensure retention of key
people or to tie them into the longer-term

future of the company, but don’t
overcommit to bonuses or shares, as
this will cost you in any transaction. The
general rule is to keep your plans secret
until you have a buyer or need the team
on board.
Make sure your business plan is up to
date. It should be reviewed and updated
at least annually and include a three-year
projection. As part of the plan, assess
future growth prospects for your
industry as a whole and how you are
better positioned to succeed than your
competitors. A SWOT analysis will help

❛❛ Above all, think

ahead. Preparing a
business for sale takes
time – sometimes
years rather than
months ❜❜

inform this. A robust plan is the path to
added value both for the company and
your valuation. The numbers are key –
run them and then run them again. After
all, that’s what any buyer is paying for.
Get help if needed, and then run actual
figures against the plan monthly to prove
its worth.
Keep on top of the paperwork. Make
sure contracts, leases and records are
properly organised and readily
accessible, and that key processes,
procedures and methodologies fully
documented. Are all third-par ty
contracts in place and up to date? And
any Intellectual Property rights fully
protected?
Think, too, about how you might be
perceived by a visitor to your premises.
Are they clean and well organised? Is all
equipment well maintained? Get rid of
any clutter and sell or remove equipment
that is no longer of use or needed.
As with any business, reputation counts
for a lot so make sure yours is goldplated. That means making sure you are
c o m pliant wi th all re gulato r y
requirements and, where necessary,
have the documentation to prove it.
Document any PR initiatives in which
you have been involved and maintain a
record of positive customer feedback.
Don’t try to hide any skeletons in
cupboards. They’ll only be found out
during the due diligence process, so be
up front and detail how you have dealt
with or intend to handle any legal,
financial or reputational risks.
Above all, think ahead. Preparing a
business for sale takes time – sometimes
years rather than months. It also takes
experience and expertise. So it’s
important to choose your professional
advisers carefully. They can make all the
difference between success and failure
when you decide the time is right to
begin the sale process or you receive an
unexpected knock at the door from a
potential suitor!

Michael Pay is co-founder
of EMC Corporate Finance
www.emcltd.co.uk

www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

53

BUSINESS

When it comes to accessing financial services, individuals
and businesses often have two primary options: Community
Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and mainstream
lenders, such as High Street banks

LENDING A
HELPING HAND

What makes Community
Development Financial
Institutions stand out
from mainstream lenders?
While both serve the purpose of providing
funds to those in need, they differ
significantly in their missions, target
clientele, and approach to lending. As a
CDFI lender itself, Let’s Do Business
Finance aims to shed light on the key
differences between themselves and
mainstream lenders, highlighting its
unique roles in promoting financial
inclusion and community development.

SUPPORTING WHERE
OTHERS CAN’T

The fundamental difference between
CDFIs and mainstream lenders lies
in their mission and purpose. CDFIs
are financial institutions which are
specifically dedicated to serving underserved communities. Their primary
objective is to provide affordable and
responsible financial debt to individuals,
businesses and organisations which
have limited access to traditional
lenders. They also work towards
promoting economic and social
development, job creation, and community revitalisation.

A WIDER TARGET MARKET

CDFIs typically serve communities
that are underserved or economically
disadvantaged. These communities
may have limited access to traditional

54

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financial services due to various
factors, such as low income, lack of
credit history, or simply where they live
or are based. CDFIs actively seek out
opportunities to serve these populations, offering personalised and
flexible lending options to meet their
specific needs. Mainstream lenders
do serve these communities, but their
lending criteria are generally stricter
which often results in rejection, or lower

❛❛

Our Start Up Loan has been
invaluable in helping get the business
launched. Our specific needs were not
only listened too but understood with
genuine interest
Matthew, The Junction

❜❜

offers. In essence, they are looking to
turn a ‘no’ into a ‘yes’.

LOOKING AT MORE THAN
JUST THE FIGURES

One of the significant advantages of
CDFIs is their personalised relationship
approach to underwriting. Instead of
relying solely on credit scores and
financial ratios, they really get under
the skin of the business to understand
how it works, considering other factors,
that cannot be judged merely by algorithm such as character, track record, its
development plans, community impact,
and the borrower’s potential to repay.
This approach may take a little longer
than a ‘computer says yes’ approach,
but by investing the time in getting to
know and understand the applicant,
it allows them to provide loans to
borrowers who may not qualify for
financing from mainstream lenders.
Moreover, CDFIs tend to offer more
flexible loan terms compared to mainstream lenders. These factors make
them a more attractive option for those
seeking affordable and sustainable
financing solutions and a more relationship-based approach that most banks
and fintech lenders are unable to provide
these days.

BUSINESS
DON’T MISS
BUSINESS
FINANCE WEEK!
From November 6th-10th, the
British Business Bank, along with
several partners from across the
UK, will host Business Finance
Week 2023.
With a whole host of nationwide
and regional in-person events,
webinars and more, Business
Finance Week helps smaller
businesses learn about the
different finance options available
to them to support their individual
needs.
Each day will be tailored towards
a different type of business
finance, from Start Up Loans to
Angel and Capital Investment,
through events and access to
resources. This is one certainly
not to miss for businesses looking
to scale and grow!

❛❛ CDFIs typically serve communities
that are underserved or economically
disadvantaged ❜❜
CARING FOR THE
COMMUNITY

CDFIs are deeply rooted in their
commitment to community development and social impact. Beyond
providing financial products, they
actively engage with the communities
they serve to identify and address
their unique needs. They may offer
f inan cial li te racy pro gram m es ,
technical assistance and mentoring
to help borrowers make informed
financial decisions and improve their
financial well-being.
Both mainstream lenders and CDFIs
are vital for a well-functioning financial

system. By understanding their differences, individuals and businesses
can make informed decisions about
which type of lender best aligns
with their needs and goals. Ultimately,
their existence alongside mainstream
lenders contributes to a more inclusive
and equitable financial landscape.
Let’s Do Business Finance has been a
CDFI for nearly 20 years, supporting
businesses large and small across
the South East and East of England
to access the finance needed to
achieve their dreams of growth.
Our mission is to empower businesses
– and business leaders – to embark

I’ve never been able to get funding from a mainstream bank.
❛❛
It’s been so frustrating as we had a history of repayments, but they just
wouldn’t accept it. Something that has been so refreshing in dealing with
Let’s Do Business is that you are dealing with a human being that’s actually
talking to you, and listening to you, as well as looking at the figures.
They look at the whole picture and not just the piece of paper
Brenden West, Co-Owner, Laptop Station

❜❜

You can find out more at
www.british-business-bank.co.uk/
finance-hub/businessfinance-week

on journeys of initiation, growth, and
success, advocating for accessibility
to business loans for all.
Unlike typical lenders reliant on automated algorithms, we are firm believers
in grasping the entirety of the picture,
really getting to know you and your
business and making decisions
grounded in a having a true understanding of your business vision,
recognising possibilities that computer
algorithms may inadvertently neglect.

To discuss how business finance can
help you, and what business loans are
right for your business and your growth
ambitions, get in touch! We would be
happy to help
www.letsdobusinessfinance.co.uk
info@ldbgroup.co.uk

www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

55

Visualise your future with
a 360° review delivering
trusted, expert advice.
Pensions
Investments
Estate Planning
Financial Management
Now in the South East,
Mattioli Woods will work hard
to deliver the best financial
outcomes for you.

Get in touch
020 8936 3970
julie.sebastianelli@mattioliwoods.com

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CHARITY FOCUS
Be part of one of West Sussex’s biggest
cultural events next summer, while also
supporting a well-loved local charity

Would you
like to see
your business
f ly next year?
The Big Hoot – an exciting public art
event – is swooping into Chichester and
Arundel in summer 2024.
Around 30 large owl sculptures – each
one individually designed by an artist
and sponsored by a business, group or
individual – will form a free, fun, family-friendly trail of discovery for people of
all ages to explore and enjoy during July
and August 2024. Local children’s
hospice Chestnut Tree House is working
with Wild in Art to create this feel-good
campaign, which will connect residents,
visitors, and businesses, while also
raising vital funds for local children’s
hospice care.
Chestnut Tree House is the children’s
hospice for East Sussex, West Sussex
and South East Hampshire, providing
specialist care for children and young
people with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions, and their families. The
focus is on adding life to shortened
years, helping the whole family achieve
the best possible quality of life and
make special memories.

It costs over £5 million every year to
provide this vital care and support,
with only 17% coming from government funding. That means the
charity relies on the generosity and
support of businesses and individuals
in the local community. The money
raised from The Big Hoot auction
and other fundraising activities will
help Chestnut Tree House provide vital
services to children, young people
and their families.
So, how can you help? Getting involved
with this unique and innovative event
will promote your business, give you
access to new audiences and improve
staff morale by supporting a muchloved local charity.

If you’re interested in joining
the Big Hoot as a sponsor,
please contact
corporate@chestnut-tree-house.org.uk
You can find out more at
www.thebighoot.co.uk

SPONSORSHIP PACKAGES INCLUDED
SCULPTURE SPONSOR:
£7,500
This allows you to support
the initiative in a very
personal way while
associating your brand
with The Big Hoot.
Sculpture sponsorship is
open to all businesses and
individuals, and includes:

One unique sculpture
on the 2024 trail
Logo on your
sculpture’s plaque
VIP Tickets to
The Big Hoot events
Dedicated Account
Manager

PRINCIPAL PARTNER:
£25,000
This is the highest tier
of sponsorship available.
It provides the opportunity
to align your brand with
The Big Hoot from the
delivery phase all the way
through to the auction.
You’ll get logo placement

on all large sculpture
plaques, marketing and
collateral. You’ll also enjoy
maximum support from
your account manager,
who will work closely
with you to activate your
sponsorship, ensuring
increased marketing and
PR exposure and return
on investment.

www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

57

RIGHT HERE,
RIGHT NOW,
WE NEED
YOUR
HELP

Could your business be part of our moving
story and Help Keep Martlets Caring?
If you want to discuss ways your business could support
Martlets call our Fundraising team on 01273 747455
or email fundraising@martlets.org.uk

Help Keep Martlets Caring
Registered Charity Number: 802145
MN0041

PEST CONTROL

Cleankill Pest Control staff are celebrating after
being named Large Company of the Year at
the 2023 National Pest Awards, writes Cleankill
Managing Director Paul Bates

CLEANKILL
WINS NATIONAL
INDUSTRY AWARD
The Large Company of the Year award
recognises excellence and professionalism in the field of pest control. It puts a
particular emphasis on customer
service, breadth of solutions and a real
commitment to staff development and
was open to any pest control company
employing more than 20 technicians.
Commenting on the award, Bates said:
“Winning this award against such stellar
competition is another real achievement
for everyone at Cleankill. Some of the
other finalists were much larger than us
so it was a big surprise to win.
“As a company, we’ve always put our
commitment to professionalism, exemplary customer service, the environment
and our communities before profit and
so to have this recognised by fellow
industry professionals is really brilliant.
“We are always looking at better ways to
do business and improve our services. A
good example of this is our falconry
team. When we started it in 2017, under
the watchful eye of Alan Day, we knew it
would be a highly effective, sustainable
solution to the problem of nuisance
birds. But we weren’t sure what the
take-up would be and so the service was
only available two days a week. Now we
employ four falconers and the team
works five days a week.
“Unfortunately, Alan missed out in the
Pest Controller of the Year category at
the National Pest Awards this year.
However, to be shortlisted is a real
achievement and we are all immensely
proud of his achievements.”

Left to right: Pest Awards host and comedian Emmanuel Sonubi, Cleankill
Directors Jon Whitehead, Clive Bury and Paul Bates and Michael Sims, Bell
Laboratories, UK, ROI, Middle East & Sub-Sahara Africa Regional Manager
The National Pest Awards are organised
by Pest Magazine, in association with
the British Pest Control Association
(BPCA), National Pest Technicians
Association (NPTA) and PROMPT
Register. They recognise, celebrate and
reward excellence and outstanding practice across the industry. The winners
were announced at a glittering ceremony
at Hilton London Bankside on September
7th 2023.
Established in 1995, Cleankill has
multiple awards to its name including
Company of the Year at the British Pest
Management Awards in 2019,
Responsible Business of the Year at the
2018 Gatwick Diamond Business
Awards and the BPCA Sustainability
Award at the 2023 BCPA Members
Awards. For a full list of Cleankill’s
awards, click here.

Cleankill is a long-standing member of
The British Pest Control Association and
has a range of accreditations including:
SafeContractor; Achilles Health and
Safety, ConstructionLine; ISO 9001, ISO
14001 and Altius Elite Vendor status.
The company can deal with anything
from rodents to bedbugs and is the only
pest control provider in England to hold
the Gold Investors in People accreditation. As a registered waste carrier,
Cleankill can remove pigeon debris and
other waste.

For a free survey or cost comparison
go to www.cleankill.co.uk

www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

59

ANGER MANAGEMENT

HAVE THE
POLICE GONE
MISSING?
By Maarten Hoffmann
DISCLAIMER:
All views stated here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this publication

In July this year, one of my daughters
was sexually assaulted in a Brighton
retail outlet. It was a very unwelcome
groping and touching, and she is
underage, while the alleged perpetrator
was about 35, and was the supposed
Manager. She was deeply upset – as she
has every right to be.
We are swamped with daily reports in the
media of the lack of police on the beat. Of
the less than 1% chance of getting
caught when shoplifting, the chance of
getting a stolen car back is next to zero,
and then there’s the horrendous cases of
sexual assault and rape by serving police
officers.

Regardless, l have always taught my
girls that these cases are one-in-amillion and if in trouble, always seek out
a policeman or run to the nearest police
station.
So imagine her shock and feelings of
being totally let down when we walked to
Brighton Police Station to report the incident. A note was taken and we were told
that an officer would be in touch. Two
months later and, with the exception of a
few emails explaining that officers were
not available, ‘l don’t know if the CCTV
has been secured as that team work
remotely and l have no control over
them’ etc etc, absolutely nothing had

happened. She had not been interviewed,
no statement taken, no CCTV sought, her
sister not interviewed as the witness, no
arrest. Nothing.
As if she was not upset enough by the
event, the lack of care and attention from
the Police has shaken her to her core and
left her feeling that there is no point in
reporting crime as they don’t care.
She told the story her school, and her
boyfriend told the story to all at his
school, and she is now reciting the event
at her University. This leads to hundreds
of kids who believe there is no point
making any Police report, and God only
knows how many thousands of young
girls have been through the same nightmare across the UK.
I had zero intention of letting this lie so l
contacted Jo Shiner, the Chief Constable
of Sussex Police, along with the Police
and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne.
Bourne didn’t bother to reply but Jo
Shiner came back within the day with
profuse apologises, and appointed her
Deputy Chief Constable to investigate. A
Detective Inspector was tasked to take
on the case, the alleged perpetrator was
arrested and bailed, with strict licence
terms that he could not be alone with any
underage girl. The case now proceeds
with speed.
That is great, and my daughter will get
justice. The alleged offender will not do
this to any other girls, underage or not.
He will hopefully be on the receiving end

60

www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

ANGER MANAGEMENT

of the full weight of appropriate justice.
The problem with all of this is that if l had
not lost my rag and contacted everyone l
could find, and if l had not been the
Publisher of the largest circulation business magazine in the UK, l really worry
over what would have happened. My gut
tells me… ‘nothing’!
In the mid-1990s, just 12p in every pound
of your Council Tax bill went to the Police;
today it is 32p in the pound. Recently it
rose by a further 10% but budgets are still
tight. Forces such as West Midlands
Police say they will simply use the extra
cash to plug a funding gap and maintain
their current level of policing.
In Lincolnshire, the Chief Constable has
said there will be cuts, including the loss
of 40 officers and 30 support staff,
despite the rise in tax. And the settlement is not enough to reverse the 30%
real-terms cut in central government
funding since 2010. By last December,
there were 44,000 fewer officers, staff
and community support officers than in
2010. On top of this, the government
passed a £330m annual cost for police
pensions on to local forces, so many will
have to use the extra money to cover this
new cost - meaning taxpayers will not
see much difference in policing levels.
This massive increase in Police funding
should lead to a better service but the
reverse is true. Dame Vera Baird, the
former Victims Commissioner said, “You
would hope that the ‘#MeToo’ movement
would have made women more confi-

Just 51% surveyed
❛❛
said that if they had been
a victim of crime, they
would trust the police to
take their case seriously

❜❜

dent in reporting sexual crime, but that
has just faded away in light of the lack of
Police response.”
The Crime Survey published by the Office
for National Statistics found that only
16% of alleged victims report the assault
to the Police. Why? Lack of Police
response, of course. Even more shocking
is that at the time this statement was
made, the head of the Met Police was
female, Cressida Dick and the head of
Sussex police is female, Jo Shiner. If we
cannot rely on senior female officers to
take these matters seriously, who on
earth can we trust?
Now we hear that high street retailers, so
desperate to stop shoplifting, have
started offering free coffee to Police in
the hope they will come by occasionally.
Larger retailers are having to put funds
together to pay the Police to pay more
attention - this is on top of the enormous
amount they, and we, pay through taxes.
A recent public survey asked whether
they trust Police in the UK - 49% said they
did and 47% said they didn’t. Just 51%
said that if they had been a victim of

crime, they would trust the police to take
their case seriously.
Chief Constables are being urged to
concentrate on crimes that matter most
to people, get the basics right in investigations, and restore the abandoned
policy of neighbourhood policing. His
Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary
Andy Cooke is demanding new legal
powers to make chiefs follow these rules
to ‘get back to basics’. He also wants a
role in their appointment.
I read all these sorry tales along with you
every day in the media but, until now, l
have not been personally involved, just
shocked by the state of policing in this
country. But this first hand experience
has left me slightly speechless.
I received exceptional service once the
complaint had been made but l naively
thought that l would get this level of
service upon the first report of an assault
on an underage girl. The DCC that
contacted me was angry at this level of
service and his anger was certainly real,
but how many such cases do not reach
his desk and therefore are ignored?
We are breeding an entire generation of
children who do not trust the Police, and
that is a very slippery and dangerous
slope as without them, there is nothing
keeping the hordes from our doors,
private security will run rampant and vigilantes are not far behind.

www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

61

Tess de Klerk looks at the best places for the nomadic
digital freelancer to pitch up and get down to work

THE DIGITAL
NOMADS’
GUIDE

A recent study estimated that the
number of entrepreneurs, freelancers
or company-employed workers who
consider themselves digital nomads
has grown to roughly 35 million
globally. Just for reference, only 43
nations around the world have larger
populations, which means digital
nomads are not just a trendy phenomenon but also a sizeable group. And the
prediction is that it will only keep
growing.
Generally, Mexico, Thailand and
Indonesia are currently the most
preferred digital nomad destinations
due to easy visa access, sunny weather
and low living costs.
Considering that Europe is a relatively
safe destination with stable, high-speed
internet, a thriving culture, plus the
benefit of being a short journey away
from many important business hubs,
Europe should be a very attractive prospect for those who seek nomadic
flexibility and adventure in their work
life. We take a look at pros and cons of
preferred digital nomad hot spots.

62

www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

BUDAPEST
HUNGARY

The incline and Bica tram, Lisbon

LISBON
PORTUGAL

This coastal city is a digital nomad’s
paradise, with its warm weather, laidback lifestyle, and picturesque streets.
Lisbon embraces remote work, offering
a plethora of co-working spaces and
cafés while the availability of two-year
nomad visas adds a cherry on top.
Local people are welcoming, and
English is spoken just about everywhere. Add to that the proximity to
beautiful beaches, the reasonable cost
of living plus average wifi speeds of
39 Mbps and you have an ideal city for
remote working. Drawbacks are the
poor public transport and hilly terrain.
And as is with many popular European
destinations – too many tourists tend
to spoil the broth.

The “Paris of the East” offers a unique
melange of history and modernity with
the ever-present Danube and its bridges
providing scenic backgrounds for work
and leisure. Budapest has become a
very popular digital nomad hotspot due
to affordable living costs, plenty of
co-working spaces and fast internet.
The thriving nightlife, and thermal baths
for those mornings after, are an added
bonus. The language can feel like a
barrier in Hungary and winters are
harsh.
Hungarian Parliament and
the chain bridge in Budapest

TRAVEL
The number of
❛❛
digital nomads has
grown to roughly
35 million globally.
Only 43 nations around
the world have larger
populations ❜❜

PRAGUE
CZECHIA

The enchanting city of Prague offers
a fairy tale setting for digital nomads,
with its rich history, gothic architecture
and cobblestone streets. Beautiful
parks and a rich art scene add to
the appeal while low living costs and a
thriving expat community also attract
remote workers. Winters can be
punishing though, and there is a real
language barrier to contend with.

VALLETTA
MALTA

Besides the high living costs, Valletta, the stone-walled
capital of Malta is a great choice for remote workers.
Jutting out into the Med as it does, means beautiful
beaches are never far away. Warm weather, Englishspeaking locals plus a beautiful, walkable city, attract
digital nomads and tourists alike. Rent for a one-bedroom flat is in the region of £1,800 a month. The higher
living costs tend to attract more professional remote
workers.

Charles Bridge, Old Town, Prague

BEST CITIES FOR DIGITAL NOMADS
Since the cost of living is one of the main factors when choosing a place to live and work,
this analysis focuses on the local prices of food, accommodation, public transport,
and internet in well-known as well as up-and-coming hubs for digital nomads.

City and
country
Krakow, Poland
Riga, Latvia
Budapest, Hungary
Prague, Czechia
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Valencia, Spain
Tallinn, Estonia
Lisbon, Portugal
Madrid, Spain
Valletta, Malta

Room costs
costs1

Food costs
costs2

Internet
costs3

Public
transport4

Safety
index

Average
rank

€ 75.00
€59.00
€90.00
€117.00
€139.00
€91.00
€124.00
€117.00
€110.00
€126.00

€20.59
€26.29
€27.97
€31.44
€23.99
€27.78
€26.08
€26.33
€28.68
€36.57

€17.40
€14.50
€16.14
€22.04
€20.83
€29.93
€34.17
€29.93
€29.93
€25.75

€34.06
€30.00
€25.01
€22.81
€46.76
€38.38
€30.00
€40.00
€57.96
€26.50

74.1

3.8

61.6

6.4

65.3

6.6

75.3

7.6

82.3

8.4

70.1

10.0

76.5

10.4

70.9

10.6

72.5

12.0

64.4

12.6S

1. Average rate per room per night, Airbnb
2. Cost per shopping basket
3. Average price for broadband packages month
4. Monthly cost
SOURCES: Airbnb, MyLifeElsewhere, cable.co.uk, Numbeo

www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

63

MOTORING

BENTLEY
CONTINENTAL
MULLINER
Since 1919, when W.O. Bentley founded
the company, it has been turning out
powerful, luxurious and very expensive
cars. The famous Bentley Boys who
raced in the 1920s made the marque
famous for speed, and the legend was
sealed.

comes from the fact that in the 17th and
18th Century, it was traditional for
young men and women of the British
nobility to undertake a Grand Tour
around Europe as an exciting voyage
of discovery. 200 years later, this
inspired the term ‘grand tourer’, hence
GT, to refer to a car that combines
a truly exhilarating driving experience
with the comfort to make even the
longest distance effortless. And here
we have another of those rare cars –
a true Grand Tourer.

You often hear me say that l could
have driven to Monaco, had a coffee
and driven right back again, and this

Mulliner started as a coachbuilder
for Bentley in the early 20th Century
before becoming part of the company.

By Platinum Motoring Editor,
Maarten Hoffmann

It is now Bentley’s personal commissioning division, responsible for
producing some of the most lavish and
expensive models in the line-up.
Last year, l reviewed the GTC and
was very impressed with the car – but
the Mulliner takes it to an entirely
new level. Where to start? The attention
to detail in the interior stitching, the
diamond-milled Breitling clock, exterior
Mulliner wing vents, the huge painted
and polished 10-spoke 22” wheels,
bright chrome double diamond
radiator grille and a choice of 80 colours
that then run through into the interior
accent trim.

HARWOOD

64

www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

S

MOTORING
“It takes almost 400,000 stitches
to deliver this quilting across the cabin
of the car,” says Bentley, “with each
diamond containing exactly 712
individual stitches – each one precisely
aligned to point to the centre of the
diamond it creates. Developing the
embroidery process to deliver this
process alone took 18 months.”
As a GT, it is two-door of course but
where you might expect the usual
cramped space for adults, l invited
two adults into the back for a 60-mile
drive, and they didn’t want to get out
due to the space and comfort.
Engine-wise, you have the choice of the
4.0-litre V8 or the mighty 6.0-litre V12;
one of the last V12s available in any
car and Bentley confirm that this
engine will cease production in April
2024. Mine was the V12 and really, it has
more then enough power, producing
659bhp. The nose turns in beautifully
due to the superb weight distribution
and the all-wheel drive, affording it
0-60 in 3.5 seconds and a top speed
of 208mph. With a kerb weight of
2,273kg, it is remarkably quick and
agile for such a heavy car. The V12 is

TECH STUFF
MODEL TESTED:
Continental GT Mulliner W12
POWER: 659bhp
SPEED: 0-62 3.5 seconds
TOP: 208mph
ECONOMY: 20.6mpg combined
PRICE FROM: £214,750
AS TESTED: £240,124
magnificent but for the buyer, the
V8 really is the one to go for as it is lighter
and more fuel efficient.
With a new torque-vectoring rear differential, retuned active anti-roll bars and
an adaptation of the rear-steering set-up
from the Flying Spur saloon, the stability
of the car is superb, with very little roll –
even on the sharpest of corners – and
tremendous poise. The acceleration is
quite unexpected for such a large car
and with the pedal buried into the shagpile, it’s a fast as anything out there and
is hugely satisfying, with an unbroken
torrent of speed whilst you sit in
supreme, calm comfort.

All of this is accompanied by a
symphony of growling from the
exhaust when pushed, and yet nearsilence when driving calmly, thanks
to the highly effective sound deadening and the double-glazed windows.
As l review over 45 cars a year for
Platinum, l am often asked what
my favourite car is. I can never really
answer, as there are so many cars
that are great for one or two reasons
but not as an all-rounder. For a pure
driving car that is not inches from
the ground and shakes your fillings
lose on the appalling UK roads, the
Bentley Continental Mulliner has
just dropped into the top spot. It is
supreme, calming, stately, luxurious
but furious when required and, with
the exception of the quarter million
you need to buy it, what more could
you possibly ask for?

❛❛ All of this is

accompanied by
a symphony
of growling from
the exhaust when
pushed, and yet
near-silence when
driving calmly ❜❜

• Bentley Hampshire
Bramshaw New Forest SO43 7JF
• Bentley Sussex
London Road Pulborough RH20 1AR
www.harwoods.co.uk/cars/bentley

www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

65

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THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR WOMEN

ISSUE #29

INTRODUCING

THE DYNAMIC
FESTIVAL 2024
WOMEN IN POWER

Italian Prime Minister
Giorgia Meloni
Menopause
Awareness
Month
MOTORING

The Goodwood
Revival
TRAVEL

Swish
Amsterdam

Saluting
our sisters
CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

E
H
T
C
I
M
A
N
Y
D
L
A
V
I
T
S
E
F
A FESTIVAL OF BUSINESS  EXCLUSIVELY FOR WOMEN

APRIL 29TH 2024 THE GRAND BRIGHTON

PLATINUM
ME DIA GROUP

Following on from the phenomenal success of the all-female Dynamic
Awards, we have decided to go one step further and launch a full-day
Dynamic Festival of Business, exclusively for women.
It is 2023, yet we still have gender inequality, wage discrepancy,
gender-based bias, unequal opportunities and, due to the extra
domestic responsibilities still shouldered by women, female business
leaders have a far higher burn-out rate than men. It has to change.
In our effort to level the playing field, Dynamic Magazine will be
presenting a full day of Education, Motivation and Inspiration at
The Grand Brighton on April 29th 2024. This will be followed up
the next day by the third year of the Dynamic Awards.
It will be a packed day of inspirational speakers, riveting interactive
panel discussions, motivational workshops and educational seminars
run by some of the leading experts in the UK, to aid women’s continuing
professional development.
We have a dazzling array of speakers – to be revealed very soon –
and much more in a day to remember for the 500 lucky ticket holders.

TICKETS GO ON SALE ON NOVEMBER 1ST 2023

Contact info@platinummediagroup.co.uk to pre-register

CONTENTS

OCTOBER 2023 • ISSUE 29

Meloni has promised
a populist solution to
the immigration crisis.
So who is Europe’s
newest female leader?
And what are her
chances of success on
this Sisphyean task?

10

18

BIG STORY

FEATURE

Black History Month

Giorgia Meloni

Menopause
Awareness Month

FEATURE
Saluting our sisters
October is Black History Month,
and we highlight nine British
black women who have made
their mark on culture and history

Dynamic looks at the rise
of Italian Prime Minister
Giorgia Meloni, and her
attempts to deal with
immigration

Investing in women is smart
economics, and investing in girls, catching
them upstream is even smarter economics

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, director-general of World Trade Organisation

PLATINUM
MEDIA GROUP

4

32

October is also Menopause Awareness
Month, with research suggesting
that this is still a taboo subject
for bosses and managers

2x

The proportion of women who mention
‘family responsibilities’ as a barrier to
starting a business, compared to men

All rights reserved. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. The publisher
cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions relating to advertising or editorial. The publisher reserves the
right to change or amend any competitions or prizes offered. No part of this publication may be reproduced without
prior written consent from the publisher. No responsibility is taken for unsolicited materials or the return of these
materials whilst in transit. Surrey Business Magazine is owned and published by Platinum Media Group Limited.

www.platinummediagroup.co.uk | OCTOBER 2023

Events

2 The Dynamic Festival 2024
Announcing a festival of business
for women, focussing on Education,
Motivation and Inspiration

42

24 The Dynamic Awards 2024
The prestigious business awards
for women returns for a third year
in April next year

Travel

Tess de Klerk
discovers how to
spend a ‘swish’
time in Amsterdam

News

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

Spotlight

28 Highlighting four female
business leaders who ought
to get more recognition
than they currently receive

UK Women’s businesses have a higher churn rate
But women are less likely to attribute
closure to ‘business failure’ and
more likely to cite ‘personal reasons’
– which peak at ages 25-34 for women

Health & Wellbeing
36 The importance
of looking after your bones

48

Girl Torque

Fiona Shafer, MD of MDHUB
spent a fabulous day at the
Goodwood Revival,
‘The Greatest Show on Earth’

Further reading

38 Yda Bouvier is an executive
coach and author of
Leading With the Right Brain
40 Art Scene
Kellie Miller discusses the
works of Rachel Williams

Fine Dining

44 What’s happening at Aydo
Lounge & Grill in Brighton Marina

What’s On

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

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

WWW.PLATINUMMEDIAGROUP.CO.UK
OCTOBER 2023 | www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

5

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EDITOR’S
NOTE
Welcome to the October edition of Dynamic Magazine.
For those who may not have realised it, October is the longest month
of the year, and we have some sublime content to match that longevity.
For our Big Story, we look at the rise to the political summit of Italy’s first
female prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, and her attempts to get to grips
with immigration. How long will her tenure be? History isn’t on her side,
as the average Italian administration lasts just 400 days. As of October 1st,
she’d have been in office for around 320 days…
We also celebrate Black History Month; the theme of which this year
is ‘Saluting our Sisters’, highlighting the positive forces for change black
women have been in history. We salute nine groundbreaking black British
women who have made their mark already.
We also highlight Menopause Awareness Month with a look at how certain
archaic attitudes in the workplace are still causing concern for many women
reaching that stage of life.
But our big news this month is that we are launching the Dynamic Festival
– a celebration of women in business. We are very excited about this; the
event takes places in Brighton next year. Turn back to page two for more
information.
Of course, Dynamic Magazine offers you so much more,
so please enjoy the magazine.

Editor, Dynamic Magazine
tess@platinummediagroup.co.uk

OCTOBER 2023 | www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

7

FCA SEEKS TO MAKE CITY
WORKING SAFER FOR WOMEN
The City watchdog is proposing to toughen its “fit and proper
persons” test to crack down on workplace misconduct in an effort to
make the finance industry a safer work environment for women.
In a consultation paper published on September 25th, the Financial
Conduct Authority (FCA) put forward stricter rules against abusers
and regulated firms that may have failed to punish offenders.
The move follows a string of sexual harassment allegations in the
City, which have included claims made against the hedge fund
tycoon Crispin Odey.
Nikhil Rathi, Chief Executive of the FCA, told the Sunday Telegraph:
“Financial services workplaces need to be safe
places for women.”

UPFRONT
THE LATEST BULLETINS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

UK HAS MORE FEMALE START UPS THAN EVER BEFORE
Despite, or maybe because of, the relative lack of opportunities in many companies
across the UK, combined with challenging economic times, research has revealed
a “marked rise” in the number of women starting their own businesses. The research,
carried out by Small Business Britain found that 39% of female entrepreneurs said
that improving their work-life balance was the biggest catalyst for starting a business.
Meanwhile, 30% said they launched firms as they wanted to choose where they worked,
and 25% reassessed their careers after having children.
More than 150,000 new companies were started by women in 2022 – more than twice
as many as in 2018 – according to the latest Rose Review.

❛❛

Behind every
great man
is a woman
rolling her eyes
Jim Carrey

8

ATTORNEY GENERAL ACCUSED
OF NOT KNOWING THE LAW
The Attorney General, The Rt Hon Victoria Prentis KC MP, has come under fire from the
legal profession for ‘re-writing Contempt of Court legislation on the fly’. An ‘advisory’ dated
September 22nd on the government’s own gov.uk website warned the media not to post
anything which may prejudice the case against Russell Brand. This statement, according
to leading KCs, has no basis in law as, at the time of writing, there was no active police
investigation, nor had Mr Brand been arrested, which is when Contempt of Court rules
kick in. The Times newspaper which, along with its Sunday sister paper and Channel
4’s ‘Dispatches’ programme, broke the story wrote, “The Attorney General’s censorious
warning has no basis in law. She should withdraw it immediately.”

www.platinummediagroup.co.uk | OCTOBER 2023

❛❛

Women that believe in each
other can survive anything.
Women who believe in each
other create armies that will
win kingdoms and wars

STEM LEADER WINS
GLOBAL AWARD
Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE has been announced as the winner
for the global Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
The One Young World community for young leaders created the
award, sponsored by TFG Asset Management, to identify and
promote the world’s most innovative entrepreneurs.

FSB SEEKS FEMALE
ENTREPRENEURS’ OPINIONS

Dr Imafidon is the co-founder of Stemettes, dedicated to inspiring
and promoting young women and non-binary people in the
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematical (STEM)
sectors. Since its inception ten years ago, it has exposed 60,000
young people across Europe to her vision for a more diverse and
balanced science and tech community.

Female business owners and entrepreneurs are being urged
to take part in a research project which will examine their
impact on the regional and national economy.

She was awarded an MBE in the 2017 New Year’s Honours
for services to young women and STEM sectors.

Nikita Gill, Poet

The research, a collaboration between the University of York
and the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), will look at
some of the barriers preventing female entrepreneurs from
succeeding.
Findings from the project will be used to help shape the
creation of supportive regional policy. The research seeks
the views from all types of women in business, whether they
are self-employed, freelancers, small businesses to larger
businesses, female owned or female led and at any stage
of their business journey.

❛❛

Whatever women do, they must
do twice as well as men to be
thought half as good. Luckily,
this is not difficult
Charlotte Whitton

A NEW WAY TO SUPPORT
BEREAVED CHILDREN
After her father’s sudden death in a car accident when she was a baby,
Tessa Marshall, grew up with no memories of him. Drawing on her personal
experience, she created ‘This Was Them’ as a new way to support children
experiencing parental grief.
This Was Them gathers memories and stories from family, friends, and
colleagues. These, along with photos, are curated into a beautiful hard
back book which is then gifted to the bereaved child.
This valuable resource enables the grieving child to feel supported and
connected, and gives them the opportunity to know mum, dad, or even
grandparents better. The book is seen as a toolkit for children navigating grief.
www.thiswasthem.co.uk
OCTOBER 2023 | www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

9

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

SALUTING
OUR SISTERS

10

www.platinummediagroup.co.uk | OCTOBER 2023

Throughout history, black people have consistently led the charge in advocating for social justice,
confronting oppression, and catalysing transformation. Nonetheless, despite their significant
contributions to society, the remarkable accomplishments of black women, in particular, have
frequently gone unnoticed or faded into obscurity.
This year, the theme of Black History Month is fittingly ‘Saluting our Sisters’, honouring and
highlighting the pivotal role that black women have had in shaping history, igniting transformative
shifts, and fostering communities.
Here we shine a spotlight on trailblazing black women who have left a significant mark in various
fields, including business, entrepreneurship, academia, politics, civil services and beyond...

OCTOBER 2023 | www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

11

DR KANYA KING

FOUNDER, MOBO AND MOBOLISE

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Dr Kanya King CBE is a globally recognised
entrepreneur and diversity advocate, known for
founding MOBO and MOBOLISE. Since 1996, she has
built MOBO into an international brand that champions
diversity and talent from black and minority ethnic
(BME) communities in music, culture, arts, fashion, and
media. The MOBO Awards, under her leadership, has
become a prestigious global event.

In the
world of
business

Black women have risen as prominent figures
in the world of business and entrepreneurship.
Their pursuits exemplify resilience, creativity,
and an unwavering determination to challenge
conventional standards. Acknowledging
their accomplishments not only celebrates
personal triumphs but also paves the way
for upcoming generations. The pioneering
women in this context have shattered
boundaries, sparked transformation,
and established an enduring heritage.
To these exceptional women, we salute you.

❛❛ Follow

your passion,
not just the
latest trends ❜❜

12

www.platinummediagroup.co.uk | OCTOBER 2023

Kanya’s dedication to nurturing young talent led to the
establishment of the MOBO Trust, offering training and
educational opportunities. She also serves on influential
boards and committees, representing the music and
creative sectors. She has received MBE and CBE
honours, the Music Week Strat Award (a special award
for outstanding contribution to music) in 2021, and
numerous honorary doctorates.
As the founder and CEO of MOBO, Kanya King has made
it one of the most televised urban music awards shows
worldwide, reaching over 400 million viewers across
200 countries since 1996.

❛❛ Success

is not about
who you
are, but
what you
become ❜❜

VANESSA KINGORI MBE
CHIEF BUSINESS OFFICER, CONDE NAST

Vanessa Kingori OBE is a British businesswoman, diversity
advocate and youth supporter with over 20 years of media
industry experience. She currently serves as the Chief
Business Officer at Conde Nast Britain, overseeing all ten CNB
media brands, including Vogue and GQ. Vanessa made history
as the first female business leader at British Vogue and British
GQ, achieving remarkable success in revenue generation. She
is a sought-after speaker on topics like digital transformation,
change management, and business purpose, especially for
FTSE 100 companies.
She is a prominent youth advocate, serving as a Governor
and Trustee on University of the Arts London (UAL’s) Board
of Directors and holding a Visiting Fellow role at the UAL,
where she mentors students across its six colleges. She also
contributes to key organisational decisions. Vanessa received
honorary accolades from both UAL and Royal Holloway.
As a diversity advocate, she judges the Black British Business
Awards and the Veuve Clicquot Business Women of The Year
Award. She is a member of The Royal College of Obstetricians
and Gynaecologists Race Equality Taskforce. Vanessa
supports women entrepreneurs through her involvement in
Peanut StartHer, a micro fund focused on assisting pre-seed
startups in tech and business, especially those founded by
women with a purpose-driven mission.

IZZY OBENG

FOUNDER, FOUNDERVINE
The world needs more people who dare
to take the unconventional path

❛❛

❜❜

Izzy Obeng is dedicated to levelling the playing field for
entrepreneurs from underrepresented backgrounds in the
predominantly male and white tech industry. Izzy serves
as the founder and director of Foundervine, an inclusive
community that nurtures budding entrepreneurs. Through
this startup accelerator, she offers early-stage companies
mentorship, training, and financial assistance. Since its
establishment in 2018, Foundervine has empowered over
300 entrepreneurs to launch their own businesses.
Her journey began at KPMG, the professional services
firm, where she worked as a management consultant
in the People & Change practice. In this role, she led
transformative projects for some of the world’s largest
brands, focusing on creating workplaces that prioritise
the well-being of their employees. Today, she
leads Foundervine and takes on an advisory role in
entrepreneurship at the University of London, where
she oversees an incubator programme, and manages
grants for student-led businesses.

OCTOBER 2023 | www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

13

DAME LINDA DOBBS

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

HIGH COURT JUDGE, RETIRED

Leaders
in law &
politics
Over the course of history, women have encountered
many obstacles while striving to lead, and black women
have faced further obstacles complicated by the burden
of racial prejudice. Nevertheless, black women have
consistently transcended these challenges, leaving their
indelible marks on the pages of history. We salute you.

After a successful career as a barrister, Dame Linda
Dobbs DBE made history in October 2004 by becoming
the UK’s first non-white High Court judge. She had
previously served as a Deputy High Court Judge starting
in 2003. In her barrister career, she actively participated
in various committees, including those related to race
relations, equal opportunities, international matters,
professional conduct, and professional standards. In
2003, she became the Chairman of the Criminal Bar
Association, where she established its first Equality and
Diversity sub-committee.
During her tenure on the High Court Bench, Dame
Linda held significant roles, including Senior Liaison
Judge for Diversity, Chair of the Magisterial Committee
of the Judicial Studies Board, Chair of the International
Committee of the Judicial College, and a Fawcett
Commissioner.
Dame Linda Dobbs has been recognised as one of
Britain’s most influential Black women and has also
been named among the 100 Great Black Britons. In
2013, she left her High Court Bench position early to
pursue various interests, including the international
training of judges and lawyers, with a specific focus on
the Caribbean and Africa.

❛❛ Justice should
be colour-blind,
but that doesn’t
mean we should
be blind to the
importance of
diversity on
the bench ❜❜

14

www.platinummediagroup.co.uk | OCTOBER 2023

DOREEN LAWRENCE,
BARONESS LAWRENCE
OF CLARENDON OBE
MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS

Racism is a disease. And we have to work
together to find a cure

❛❛

❜❜

Doreen Lawrence OBE is the mother of Stephen Lawrence,
the British teenager who was murdered in a racist attack in
1993. In the aftermath of the McPherson Inquiry into the
killing, she continued to campaign for justice for her son,
as well as other victims of racist crime. She has worked to
secure further reforms of the police service, and in 2003
was appointed OBE for services to community relations.
Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon is the founder of the
Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust, which promotes a
positive community legacy in her son’s name. She has been
selected to sit on panels at the Home Office and the Police
Service and is a member of both the board and the council
of Liberty, the human rights organisation, as well as being
a patron of hate crime charity Stop Hate UK.
Her work has led her to receive a number of achievements
like the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 14th Pride
of Britain Awards. She also served on the Joint Committee
on Human Rights in Parliament.

VALERIE AMOS

MASTER OF UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, OXFORD
We need more leaders who will stand up for justice,
fairness, and human rights

❛❛

❜❜

Baroness Amos began working in local government in
London and led the Equal Opportunities Commission from
1989-94. In August 1997, the Labour Party government
under Tony Blair appointed her a life peer. Within the House
of Lords, Amos took on roles as the government spokesperson for social security, international development,
women’s issues, and foreign and Commonwealth affairs.
In May 2003, she became the first Black woman to join the
British cabinet when she was appointed as the International
Development Secretary. Amos assumed the position of
Leader of the House of Lords, which she held until 2007.
Subsequently, she served as the British High Commissioner
to Australia from 2009-10 and as the head of the UN Office
for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs from 2010-15.
In 2015, she took on the role of director at the SOAS at the
University of London. She departed in 2020 to become the
first woman and the first Black person to lead a college at
the University of Oxford.

OCTOBER 2023 | www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

15

YVETTE WILLIAMS MBE
CAMPAIGNER, JUSTICE 4 GRENFELL

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Yvette Williams MBE has over three decades of
experience in driving cultural and organisational
change, promoting equality and diversity, and crafting
public and community engagement strategies. She’s
been actively involved with various organisations,
including the Mangrove Community Association,
Tabernacle Community Centre, and Pepper Pot Club.

Loud
voices of
change
These women harness the potency of their words and
the force of their unwavering beliefs to drive change.
Their messages resonate well beyond mere speeches,
breaking down obstacles and paving the path for
progress. Through their courage and conviction, they
prove that even just one voice can ignite a movement.

❛❛ The

truth will
always find
its voice ❜❜

16

www.platinummediagroup.co.uk | OCTOBER 2023

She co-founded Operation Black Vote and served as the
head of Equality and Diversity for the Crown Prosecution
Service in London for 14 years, focusing on prosecuting
hate crimes and community engagement.
In 2012, Yvette received an MBE for her exceptional
contributions. She co-founded the Justice 4 Grenfell
Campaign, raising awareness of the Grenfell Tower
disaster. Yvette has been a prominent speaker at
events like the Women of the World festival, GMB union
conference’s Justice Lecture, and TEDx London.
The Justice 4 Grenfell team received the Significant
Contribution Award in 2019 and the Education Category
Award in 2020 at the New York Film Festival for their
impactful film, “Grenfell and Social Murder.”
Her written contributions have appeared in various
publications, and she graced the cover of British Vogue
in September 2020 as one of 20 international activists.
She was also recognised in the UK Ethnicity Awards
Top 100 list for her unwavering commitment to positive
change and justice advocacy.

STELLA DADZIE

AUTHOR, FEMINIST HISTORIAN
The history of Black women in Britain is a testimony to our
ability to survive, adapt and grow in the face of adversity

❛❛

❜❜

Stella Dadzie is famous for ‘The Heart of the Race: Black
Women’s lives in Britain,’ which earned her the 1985 Martin
Luther King Award for Literature. This book was reissued
by Verso in 2018 and is now considered a seminal feminist
classic. In October 2020, she released her latest book,
‘A Kick in the Belly: Women, Slavery & Resistance,’ published
by Verso, and it received widespread critical acclaim.
Stella is also a founding member of OWAAD (Organisation of
Women of African and Asian Descent), a national collective
that emerged in the late 1970s during the British Civil Rights
movement, primarily advocating for the rights of Black women.
Recently, she has been recognised as one of the influential
figures in Black Feminism in the UK, often referred to as one
of its “grandmothers.” Her personal archive, housed in the
Black Cultural Archives in Brixton, is a frequent destination
for researchers and scholars. Throughout her 40-year
career, Stella has made significant contributions as a writer,
artist, and education activist. She has authored numerous
publications and resources aimed at promoting effective
practices for Black learners and other minority groups. Her
work also extends to efforts to decolonise and diversify the
national curriculum in schools and colleges across the UK.

AFUA HIRSCH

WRITER, JOURNALIST, BROADCASTER
Being British is not a matter of straightforward lineage, but
a complex interweaving of histories, cultures and choices

❛❛

❜❜

Afua Hirsch has over 20 years’ experience in journalism,
having started her career at the age of 14 with The Voice,
Britain’s oldest Black national newspaper. Subsequently,
she engaged in international development work across
15 countries in Africa. Later, she pursued a career
as a barrister, specialising in media law, international
justice, and human rights.
Over ten years, Hirsch has written for the Guardian newspaper.
She began as a legal correspondent, later becoming a foreign
correspondent, where she established the paper’s first-ever
West Africa bureau. She also frequently contributes to publications
such as the New York Times, Time Magazine and Vogue.
Hirsch’s diverse career also includes serving as the social affairs
editor and anchor at Sky News. She has also been involved in multiple
projects, including reporting via international media outlets.
In 2018, she authored her debut book, ‘Brit(ish): Getting Under
the Skin of Britain’s Race Problem’. The book achieved bestseller
status and received the Royal Society of Literature Jerwood Award.

OCTOBER 2023 | www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

17

STORY
BIG

Whichever way you
view her political
activism, it’s not
unreasonable to say
she is a continuation
of Italy’s overt flirtation
with the far-right…
Certainly, you’d be
hard pushed to call
her social attitudes
‘liberal’

18

www.platinummediagroup.co.uk | OCTOBER 2023

Giorgia Meloni

ITALY’S
FIRST
FEMALE
PRIME
MINISTER
For many reasons, immigrants from Africa and
the Middle East come to Europe via unorthodox
routes. The first port of call into Europe is usually
either Greece or Italy.
There are now thousands of migrants to deal
with when they reach Lampedusa – an island
in the Mediterranean, closer to Tunisia than to
mainland Italy. However, as being part of the
Italian nation, it is that country that needs to
deal with the migrants.
Countries in the EU, with their international
obligation to help immigrants, whether by
housing them, granting them asylum or
repatriating them as appropriate, need to step up
in order to help their fellow nations. This should
not be Greece’s nor Italy’s problems alone.
New far-right Italian Prime Minister Giorgia
Meloni has promised a populist solution to the
crisis. So who is Europe’s newest female leader?
And what are her chances of success on the
question of immigration?

OCTOBER 2023 | www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

19

STORY
BIG

RIGHT:
Meloni, on her
appointment as
Italian Minister
of Youth, 2008

G

iorgia Meloni has been serving as the
prime minister of Italy since October 22nd
2022, the first woman to hold this position.
A member of the Chamber of Deputies
since 2006, she has led the Brothers of
Italy (FdI) political party since 2014, and she has been the
president of the European Conservatives and Reformists
Party since 2020.
Such is her rise in Italian politics that, in 2022,
Meloni was listed seventh on Forbes magazine’s list of
‘Most Powerful Women in the World’.

BELOW:
Meloni with Silvio
Berlusconi, and
Matteo Salvini,
attend a centreright coalition
rally, 2018

EARLY YEARS

Giorgia Meloni was born in Rome on January 15th 1977.
Her father Francesco was from Rome, and her mother
Anna is from Sicily. Her father was a tax advisor and often
voted for the Italian Communist Party while her mother
later became a novelist.
Her father left the family when she was a year old
in 1978. Giorgia herself has four step-siblings from her
father’s second marriage. She was raised in the working-class district of Garbatella in Rome, moving there
after the more affluent home she had first lived in as
an infant with her parents was destroyed in a house fire
a few years after her father left. Her upbringing has
been described by her family as ‘impoverished’. In her
autobiography, Meloni wrote that her childhood and
family’s breakdown was an influence on her political
outlook.

In her
autobiography,
Meloni wrote that
her childhood
and family’s
breakdown was
an influence
on her political
outlook
20

www.platinummediagroup.co.uk | OCTOBER 2023

POLITICAL ACTIVISM

In 1992, aged 15, Meloni joined the Youth Front, the
youth wing of the Italian Social Movement (MSI), a
neo-fascist political party that ultimately dissolved in 1995.
During this time, she founded the student coordination
Gli Antenati (The Ancestors), which took part in the
protest against the public education reform promoted
by minister Rosa Russo Iervolino.
In 1996, she became the national leader of Student
Action, the student movement of the post-fascist National
Alliance (AN), the national-conservative heir of the MSI,
representing this movement in the Student Associations
Forum established by the Italian Ministry of Education.
In the 2006 Italian general election, she was elected
to the Chamber of Deputies (the Italian equivalent of the
House of Commons) as a member of the National Alliance
(AN), where she became its youngest ever vice-president.
In the same year, she started to work as a journalist, even
though her professional qualifications on this matter are of
huge debate. She graduated from an institution that wasn’t
itself qualified to issue diplomas.
Meloni defended the laws passed by the third Berlusconi
government that benefited companies of the prime minister
and media mogul Silvio Berlusconi and also delayed ongoing trials involving him. Meloni stated “it is necessary to
contextualise them. Those are laws that Silvio Berlusconi
made for himself. But they are perfectly fair laws.”

Dickinson was
one of the
people
to attend
government
briefings
during the
Covid-19
pandemic

Meloni talks to the press about prime minister Giuseppe Conti’s management of Covid-19, 2020

Berlusconi’s ultimate conviction for fraud in 2013 give
these words a certain hollow ring. However, given Italian
culture and attitude towards a politician creating laws that
benefit themselves or their friends, upon his release from
prison, he was duly elected an MEP in the 2019 European
elections.
In 2008, aged 31, Meloni was
appointed Italian Minister of Youth
in the fourth Berlusconi government,
a position she held until November
2011, when Berlusconi was forced to
resign as the prime minister amid a
financial crisis and public protests.
She was the second youngest-ever
minister in the history of united Italy
(a unification which been completed in
1871).
In Italy, where political parties are
formed and disbanded with the casual
abandonment of a stag or hen do, Meloni’s party merged
with Forza Italia (FI) into The People of Freedom (PdL)
and she took over the presidency of the united party’s youth
section, called Young Italy.
In November 2010, on behalf of the ministry, she
presented a €300m package called the Right to the Future.
It was aimed at investing in young people and contained
five initiatives, including incentives for new entrepreneurs,
bonuses in favour of temporary workers (effectively, ‘zero
hour contracts’), and loans for deserving students.
In November 2012, she announced her bid to contest
the PdL leadership against Angelino Alfano, in opposition to the party’s support of the Mario Monti government.
She teamed up with fellow politicians Ignazio La Russa

and Guido Crosetto to set out an anti-Monti policy, asking
for renewal within the party and being also critical of the
leadership of Berlusconi.
The following month, Meloni, La Russa, and Crosetto
founded a new political movement, Brothers of Italy
(FdI), whose name comes from the words of the Italian
national anthem. In the 2013 Italian
general election, she stood as part
of Berlusconi’s centre-right coalition
and received 2.0% of the vote and
nine seats.
In the intervening years until
her rise to prime minister, she has
declared herself as being opposed
to LGBT rights, abortion, euthanasia, celebrated far-right politicians
(including supporting the naming
of a street in Rome after a prominent neo-fascist Giorgio Almirante)
and she has also declared that there is no such thing as
homophobia in Italy.
Whichever way you view her political activism, it’s
not unreasonable to say she is a continuation (rather than
renaissance, as it has never really gone away) of Italy’s
overt fl irtation with the far-right – something she denies –
which carried the ideology to power, and then oblivion,
in the early 20th Century. Certainly, you’d be hard pushed
to call her social attitudes ‘liberal’.

She has declared herself
as being opposed
to LGBT rights,
abortion, euthanasia,
and declared that there
is no such thing as
homophobia in Italy

OCTOBER 2023 | www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

21

STORY
BIG
22

PRIME MINISTER

In a country whose governments function on coalitions
(unlike the UK which still largely operates a duopoly in its
Parliament), Italy’s 2022 General Election was once again
fought with coalitions and agreements among the various
political parties and groups.
As of July 2022, FdI was the first party in the coalition
according to opinion polling, and Meloni was widely
expected to become Prime Minister of Italy if the
centre-right coalition obtained an absolute majority in
Parliament. It would be considered the most right-wing
government in the history of the Italian Republic according
to some academics.
Italy itself has been described as a ‘flawed democracy’
by the Economic Intelligence Unit. Meloni’s government
is the 75th since the fall of Mussolini, averaging just over
400 days per administration. (The UK, by comparison, is
on its 31st government in that time).
In an attempt to moderate herself to placate fears
among those who describe FdI as neo-fascist or far right,
including fears within the European Commission that she
could lead Italy towards Hungary’s political stance under
Viktor Orbán, Meloni told the foreign press that Italian
fascism is ‘history’.

www.platinummediagroup.co.uk | OCTOBER 2023

Meloni accepting the task of forming a new government, 2022

Italy itself has been described
as a ‘flawed democracy’…
Meloni’s government is the
75th since the fall of Mussolini

EUROPE’S MIGRATION CRISIS

Her main campaigning issue was the subject closely
associated with the fears of the right - immigration.
She called for a zero-tolerance policy, and wants to
blockade migrants from reaching Italian ports, while
boosting the birth rate of Italian nationals to ease
the need for migrant labour.
She is also opposed to birthright citizenship proposals, which
would give citizenship, including
education rights, to foreigners born
and living in Italy.
These policies may well be popular
with certain sections of Italian society,
who are opposed to the concept of
immigration for its own sake.
However, scratch the surface of these
policies, and one can see how quickly
they’d fall apart.
If nothing else, Meloni has
the advantage of looking across the continent to see
how these policies play out, and all the evidence
suggests they are almost certainly doomed to failure.

For a start, it requires the connivance of native
Italians who may not support this birth policy. The
military in Italy, especially the Navy, like many of
its counterparts across the western world, is often loathe
to get involved with civilian issues like this.
She has linked ‘illegal immigration’ and crime, and
refugee arrivals to human trafficking
and prostitution – again, a common
theme across Europe’s right-wing
politicians, and again, without primary
evidence.
Meloni tried to make a deal
with Tunisian President Kais Saied,
with a focus on stopping illegal
migration from Tunisia to Europe.
Instead, last month, more than 120
boats carrying around 7,000 migrants
from Africa arrived on the Italian
island of Lampedusa within 24 hours.
The local migration centre couldn’t
cope, and very soon, over 11,000 migrants had arrived on
an island which has only 6,000 inhabitants.
For their part, the residents of Lampedusa were largely sympathetic – for now – to the migrants’ plight; they
more expressed a concern about their island becoming
a ‘tent city’.
In September this year, Giorgia Meloni invited Ursula
Von Der Leyen, President of the European Commission,
to Lampedusa to see for herself the unfolding problems
on the island. Following that visit, Von Der Leyen
issued a ten-point action plan to help Italy, the residents
of Lampedusa, closer co-operation with Tunisia, support
for those who qualify for asylum, a step up in the fight
against the people smugglers who are preying on the
vulnerable, and a wider-European solution.
She finished her statement with, “Migration is a European
challenge that requires a European answer and solution.
It is concrete actions that will bring change on the ground.
It is only through solidarity and unity that we can achieve
this. And you can count on the European Union.”
What the statement did not mention was support
for any of Meloni’s policies of zero tolerance or blockades.
The Italian government, on the back of Von Der Leyen’s
proposals, may well alter course on its route to dealing with a
massive migration problem. However, whatever path it does
tread, what is evident is that Meloni’s immigration policies,
certainly if she wishes to get help from other European
nations, have fallen at the first hurdle.

Meloni’s immigration
policies, certainly
if she wishes to get help
from other European
nations, have fallen
at the first hurdle

LEFT: Lampedusa.
African migrants
are rescued by
Italian authorities,
2023

OCTOBER 2023 | www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

23

THE
AWARDS

APRIL 30TH 2024’
THE GRAND BRIGHTON

PLATINUM
ME DIA GROUP

PROUDLY SPO

ONSORED BY

THE 2024 AWARD
CATEGORIES
INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR
BUSINESS GROWTH AWARD
EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR
BUSINESSWOMAN OF THE YEAR
CEO OF THE YEAR
INSPIRATIONAL AWARD
LARGE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
MEDIUM BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
SUSTAINABILITY CHAMPION
BEST NEW BUSINESS
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
COMMUNITY HERO AWARD
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AWARD
YOUNG PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR
PROPERTY PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR
COMPANY OF THE YEAR

❛❛

I am thankful
for my struggle
because, without it,
I wouldn’t have
stumbled across
my strength
Alex Elle

ENGLAND’S
RAREST SPECIES TO
GET £4.5 MILLION
FUNDING BOOST
Projects to revive England’s endangered
wildlife species have been awarded
£4.5 million of funding by Natural England.
63 projects across the country will receive
their share of the grant to help recover
150 species nationwide. From Duke of
Burgundy butterflies to North Yorkshire’s
Native Crayfish, many species will benefit
from the money going towards breeding
programmes and restoring habitats.

IN THE RIGHT

DIRECTION
START-UP MATCHES
NEURODIVERGENT
JOBSEEKERS WITH
IDEAL JOBS
Neurodivergent individuals often have
a harder time finding jobs than their
non-neurodivergent counterparts. But
this population may have specialised
skill sets that makes them better suited
for certain roles. Research shows
that neurodivergent people can make
teams up to 30% more productive
when placed in the right environments.
Now Mentra, a North Carolina–based
startup, is building an AI-powered
“neuro-inclusive employment
network.” Its tech platform leverages AI
to help companies hire employees with
cognitive differences such as autism,
ADHD, dyslexia, OCD, and PTSD.
Since its launch, Mentra has partnered
with over 30 universities and more
than 200 service providers across the
US. Its talent pool has grown from 300
neurodivergent job seekers in March
2022 to over 33,000 today.

26

NOT ONLY IN THE UK
Hundreds of communities around the US
will share more than $1 billion in federal
money to help them plant and maintain
trees under a federal programme that is
intended to reduce extreme heat, benefit
health, and improve access to nature.
The US Department of Agriculture
announced the $1.13 billion in funding
for 385 pre-approved projects.

CARBON DIOXIDE BATTERIES DEVELOPED
Rechargeable batteries may seem like a good thing from an environmental point
of view, especially compared with disposable ones. However, they’re actually
full of heavy metals and have an environmental impact when they reach
the end of their lives. Battery developers have long sought
an alternative, and now carbon dioxide consumer batteries
have been produced which are good for
up to 500 recharges. A team at the University
of Illinois in Chicago has come up with
carbon-neutral batteries that may mean
portable electrical products become
greener than ever before to use.

www.platinummediagroup.co.uk | OCTOBER 2023

’MARTHA’S RULE’
COULD GUARANTEE
THE RIGHT TO A
SECOND OPINION
UK ministers are considering a change
in law aimed at ensuring individuals
have the right to seek a second medical
opinion. This has been spurred by the
advocacy efforts of parents who lost
their teenager to sepsis.
Known as “Martha’s Rule,” this
proposed law, named in honour of 13
year-old Martha Mills, is intended to
simplify the process for patients and
caregivers to question the decisions
of healthcare professionals. Martha
succumbed to sepsis in 2021 at King’s
College Hospital, London, following a
bicycle accident.
A report later stated her chances of
survival would have been good if she
had gone into ICU earlier, while her
family’s concerns were ignored.
The plans have received support from
across the medical profession.

SOLAR
INSTALLATIONS
ON THE RISE

NEW TECHNOLOGY
ALLOWS BLIND
PEOPLE TO
PERCEIVE LIGHT
A novel technology has been
demonstrated in the US which allows
blind people to gain more visual
perception. A research team from
UCLA Health has used surgical implants
in four blind patients to allow them to
perceive light and dark. A wireless device
‘looks’ at objects which then sends
signals to the implant. The brain is then
able to perceive the implant’s stimulation
as patches of light and
dark. In some cases, blind people
have been able to sense individual
objects and even movement.

The UK government has published solar
panel deployment statistics which show
a total of 15.2GW of solar capacity, an
increase of 6.7% in the year since June
2022.
The yearly increase is the highest seen
since September 2017, and there are now a
total of 1.35m solar installations in the UK.
The government report records 18,808
installations in June 2023, amounting
to 84MW of solar capacity. This was the
highest monthly figure since March 2023,
and is much higher than average figures for
2016-21.
From 2016-21 the median number of
solar installations a month was around
3,000, but in the past year the figure has
been over 15,000 a month. Meanwhile,
solar energy experts believe that the
data only covers subsidised installations.
Unsubsidised projects are not included in
government figures.

❛❛

In a world
that wants women
to whisper,
I choose to yell
Luvvie Ajayi

❛❛

We need to get
women to the point
where they aren’t
apologising.
It’s time to take
ownership in our
success
Tory Burch

DEALING WITH CLIMATE ANXIETY
Climate change is a looming threat, but our anxious
feelings around it may actually have an underlying
positive purpose. A University of Bath study
suggests that climate anxiety may actually
serve as motivation to take action.
According to the research, people
in the UK who experienced climate
anxiety were more likely to engage
in behaviours that reduce their
carbon footprint, including buying
second-hand items and repurposing
items, saving energy, and cutting
down on meat consumption.

OCTOBER 2023 | www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

27

In our exclusive Spotlight feature, we highlight women
who are doing good things in their community.
They’re not always seen but we think they should be.

SPOTLIGH T
Gilva Tisshaw
Senior Solicitor & Collaborative Lawyer,
Gilva Tisshaw founded Tisshaws Family Law
Solicitors in 2012. She was the winner of the
Lawyer of the Year Award at the Dynamic
Business Awards 2023. Here is her story…

A strong believer in justice for all, Gilva has initiated
business policies designed to help the most diverse and inclusive range of clients possible, as well as supporting those
traditionally underrepresented in the legal world. These efforts have not gone unnoticed, and Gilva and the team
were proud winners of the British Chamber of Commerce
Trailblazing Equality Award 2022, for both Sussex and the
entire Southeast regions.
“Looking to the future, we hope to consolidate and build
on our success by prioritising client service and staff welfare,
alongside helping to increase diversity within the profession.”

Gilva first qualified as a solicitor in 1989. Today, 34 years on,
she is the most experienced family law solicitor working in
Mid-Sussex. Having built a successful legal career over the
following decade after qualifying, she was a founding partner
of Hamnett Osborne Tisshaw, before establishing her own
01444 472700www.tisshawssolicitors.co.uk
family law firm in 2012.
info@tisshawssolicitors.co.uk
“My motive for setting up Tisshaws was to create a culture
tisshawssolicitors.co.uk
of care for both clients and staff, in a specialist firm,” explains
Gilva. “People are at their most vulnerable when dealing with
a family breakdown. The most important aspect of the work,
Legal expertise within a
Fixed Fee Divorce
for me, is that they feel they are represented by someone who
£450 + VAT
genuinely cares and who can guide them appropriately.”
& Court Fee
This ethos is at the heart of the firm’s DNA, and Gilva
Initial meeting
is proud to have built a team of likeminded colleagues,
Tisshaws is a specialist family law
£50 (incl. VAT)
who enjoy supportive office relationships, alongside flexible
practice offering advice on divorce,
up to one hour
working arrangements.
– no obligation
children and financial matters.
“We offer a range of resolution services including
Ranked in the top
mediation, collaborative practice and arbitration. This saves
500 UK law firms by
clients the cost and stress of going to court, and instead
The Legal 500
have a meeting room which can be set up as a courtroom for
arbitration and video link hearings. This range of services
puts us on par with larger London firms, but with more
Tisshaws Limited T/A Tisshaws Solicitors. Authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority SRA No.566801
competitive rates,” she reveals.

Culture of Care

A strong believer in justice for all,
Gilva has initiated business
policies designed to help the
most diverse and inclusive
range of clients possible
28

www.platinummediagroup.co.uk | OCTOBER 2023

Lucy Dawe
Lucy started and runs her own estate agency,
Lawton & Dawe in Hove. But it hasn’t always
been like that…

I certainly never dreamt I would be owner of an estate agent;
I always wanted to be a lawyer. There was something about
righting wrongs that spoke to me from a young age and
when I ‘fell’ into this industry as a teenager, I soon realised
that working in the property sector would involve promoting
a level of integrity not often seen.
I started as a receptionist for a Housing Association
and quickly found that having empathy and a listening
ear was vital. I learned quickly that caring about the people you are dealing with will always stand you in good
stead. I moved into Property Lettings
for
independent
and
corporate
agencies alike, and I excelled in my career before I relocated to Sussex from
Hampshire in 2010.
From the beginning, I was always
told that my business model was too
‘fluff y’ to be successful, mainly because
I didn’t want to focus my team on hitting
financial targets and getting their commission over client satisfaction. I was
told clearly that estate agents are ‘commission first, service
second’, and this was the opposite of my plans.
I have two businesses, Lawton & Dawe Properties
which turns 13 years-old in October, and Property Fusion
which hits its tenth anniversary in the same month. I have
a team of ten valued staff who know I respect them and
their work for me. They, in turn, respect me to carry on our
ethos ‘be better; do better’.
The company I started was in a location where I had
no contacts and no existing relationships to rely on.
Therefore, everything that we have now has been generated by my belief that an estate agent who prioritised kindness
and empathy has a space in this market. We still network
rather than advertise to grow our business. If you know what

I do, like what I do, and trust me in what I do, those referrals
are priceless.
One of the main challenges I have faced is that still
some people view a female estate agent
with a lack of respect. Only 13% of all
estate agents are owned by women –
13%! I feel that this statistic is incredibly disheartening, and only when the
talents of female estate agents and the
attributes that they can bring are fully
valued and appreciated will this ever
change. I know I will always push my
daughters to not settle for anything less
than what they want, regardless of traditional gender expectations.
I want to continue to show that there is nothing ‘fluff y’
about caring; that teamed with an unmatchable work ethic and a genuine heart this can get you to anywhere you
want to be. If that is a mother of two, wife, daughter, friend,
CEO and Founder of two companies, then you can be all
that – and more.

One of the main
challenges I have
faced is that still
some people view
a female estate agent
with a lack of respect

www.lawtonanddawe.co.uk
#knownolimits

OCTOBER 2023 | www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

29

SPOTLIGHT

Chrissie Masters
Chrissie is the Founder and Editor
at Changemaker® Media, a social
impact business based in Kent

Starting a new business is like writing a first novel - the
temptation is to throw all of your ideas into the plot.
I have several goals for Changemaker Media and
Marketplace. First up, to mentor contributors who want
to write about the environment and nature. Secondly, to
feature charities, social enterprises and individuals supporting the planet and thirdly (take a breath), to sell and promote
eco products. All of this on my own and unpaid. Unrealistic,
I know.
Our first two contributors secured amazing roles.
Olivia, a graduate who covered
politically-led news, landed an
amazing job lobbying MPs
in Westminster. Ali, graduate
photographer, joined a fashion
company that needed to become
more sustainable.
Happy days. Yet the big question remained - how do I turn
this service into a self-financing business? Enter Dynamic
Magazine and the University of Brighton’s School of Business
and Law. I completed the intensive Help to Grow “MBA”,
and now have a network of inspirational colleagues and
entrepreneurial expertise.

As a magazine editor who grew up on Cosmopolitan,
Marie Claire and Hello!, I feel blessed to have the
opportunity to share my experience with aspiring writers.
I have also been a founding director at The Design Gallery
for 21 years, which aligns with
this new venture.
Have I learned how to
manage the constant stream of
ideas? In a way, yes. I get into
my metaphorical helicopter and
take an overview for a few hours
every week, and I remember
that I’m doing this because
I want to support others - and that others support me.
Thank you to Dynamic Magazine, my mentor David
Lynn CDT, Pam Gordon of The Franchising Centre and to
my contributors and to everyone working in sustainability –
we can’t do it without you.

How do I turn this service
into a self-financing business?
Enter Dynamic Magazine and
the University of Brighton’s
School of Business and Law

www.changemaker.media
Instagram: @changemaker.marketplace
E: chrissie@changemaker.media

30

www.platinummediagroup.co.uk | OCTOBER 2023

Sophie Lee
Sophie Lee is the founder and director of
Electric Peach, a brand storytelling and
impact agency for purpose-led businesses
and B Corps. Here, she tells us her story…
In 2017, the seams of my life finally burst open. The day had
been coming for some time. My life was in a bad space and,
although I was the head of the content and PR department
at a Brighton-based creative agency, I was utterly miserable.
Life looked great but felt like an empty void.
Then, the toxic relationship I found myself in ended, and I
was left with my share of the flat sale and the opportunity to
take a deep, painful look in the mirror. As fate would have it,
I met Alice Reeves just a few months later. We bonded over a
shared disdain for the industry we both worked tirelessly for.
It was agreed. Marketing needed a makeover.
The Joyful was born in September 2017 with an audacious
vision: to transform marketing from a manipulation machine
into a force for good, a way to electrify audiences with impossible-to-ignore stories that unite communities around a
shared vision, and galvanise them to action.
Earlier this year, Alice lovingly left to start Joyfully
Different, a community for neurodiverse entrepreneurs. We
rebranded to become Electric Peach, at the same time as becoming an accredited B Corp with a score of 107.

Electric Peach works with organisations such as CIEEM,
the United Nations, and nationwide colleges and universities,
as well as impact-driven, global brands. We donate over 20%
of our profits to aligned organisations, and are on track to
becoming employee-owned.
I am also a non-executive director at the Organisation for
Responsible Business, a trustee for Recovery Connections, a
lived experience recovery charity, and a business mentor for
Enterprise Nation. I’m passionate about the importance of
responsible business practice and the power of brand storytelling to shift the narrative and drive real social change and
impact.
www.electricpeach.co.uk

The Joyful was born
in September 2017
with an audacious vision:
to transform marketing
from a manipulation machine
into a force for good
OCTOBER 2023 | www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

31

FE ATURE

MENOPAUSE
AWARENESS MONTH
While mental health often takes the spotlight, it’s important we continue
to open up the conversation on the less talked about aspects of our health; like
menopause awareness. Since 2009, the IMS (International Menopause Society)
alongside the World Health Organisation (WHO) designate October as World
Menopause Awareness Month

Menopause

(noun)
the time in a woman’s life when
she gradually stops having periods
The Cambridge Dictionary definition of the menopause is
very succinct. In fact, some might say this is an unfortunately
scant description of a major life event that affects all women
who reach later life. That the definition is so brief could
be seen as a reflection of the fact that the social impact of
menopause has for years been taboo or dismissed entirely in
our society - especially in the world of work.
Yet the menopause is a complex event which can display
many different facets depending on the individual and their
environment. This, combined with a stigma which has
lasted for generations, makes it a difficult topic to discuss
both formally and informally. In recent years there has been
growing awareness of menopause.
Increasingly, women are being encouraged to open up
about issues and discuss the changes and effects which
happen to them. Many businesses – with the help of expert
consultants – are rolling out menopause policies, and
working to create a culture that promotes openness when it
comes to menopause.

+

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS
OF MENOPAUSE?

Common symptoms of the menopause can include hot
flushes, mood swings, loss of sex drive, fatigue and ‘brain fog’.
These are symptoms which can have an impact on your
daily life but are not always talked about.

32

www.platinummediagroup.co.uk | OCTOBER 2023

GOVERNMENT (LACK OF) INTERVENTION

A 2022 Government inquiry by the Women and Equalities
Committee examined the extent of discrimination faced
by menopausal people in the workplace, and investigated
how Government policy and workplace practices can better
support those experiencing menopause.
The result of this inquiry was a range of recommendations.
These include appointing a Menopause Ambassador, and
introducing menopause leave. On January 24th 2023,
MPs rejected these recommendations, and also dismissed
a further recommendation to include menopause as a
protected characteristic under the Equality Act.
Against this backdrop, we wanted to investigate the view
of workers - both male and female - of the menopause at
work. It’s a phase of life which affects 51% of the population.
And with women over 50 representing the fastest growing
segment of the workforce, it is crucial that businesses and
organisations work to retain this talent.
‘Older women,’ as a defined group, can be an untapped
resource of knowledge and experience. In many cultures,
menopausal women are seen as the wise and experienced
people to turn to for guidance and support.
We believe there is an opportunity here,
for businesses to actively seek out women
who are going through this life stage.
Our report uses quantitative research of
UK workers mixed with expert commentary
to examine this issue, and suggest solutions,
tactics and methods to help create menopausefriendly work cultures for everyone.

❛❛

Our society sexualises women when they are still
girls and discards them at their most powerful.
With an ageing population, poor female
representation at board level, and a gaping hole
in the workforce, this is as financially ludicrous
as it is sexist and ageist
Claire Lowson, Founder of Supermenopause

❛❛

Menopause is not an
illness, it’s a natural
phase of a woman’s life
Pat Duckworth
Founder of Smarter Menopause

WHO KNOWS ABOUT THE MENOPAUSE?

The DAPS Agency, PR, marketing and communications
agency that states it ‘thrives on a challenge’, along with
Prospectus Global, an independent, international research
and insights agency, published a paper on their findings
having spoken to men and women of all ages on society’s
view on the menopause.
Some of their findings make for some eyebrow
bungee-jumping…
• On a fundamental level, 19% of people (a quarter of men
and 12% of women) admit that they have no knowledge at
all about menopause.
• 21% of men, and one in 10 women even have no idea when
women might start menopause.
• One in five of all 18-to-24-year-olds are unaware of what
the symptoms of menopause might be.
• 61% of women over 45 agree that “menopausal” is often
used in an insulting or pejorative manner.
• 49% of women aged 45 and over would not feel
comfortable talking to a line manager about menopausal
symptoms.

MENOPAUSE IN THE WORKPLACE

The study found that only 37% of managers have been
offered training around menopause. This results in some
unacceptable responses from bosses. When these managers
were confronted with people who told them they were
suffering menopause symptoms • 27% admitted they were shocked
• 25% didn’t know what to do
• 16% thought they were being lied to
• 9% thought the complainant was making a fuss about
nothing
• 8% ignored them.
In all 47% of women did not feel supported during their
menopause.
While women have some protection for their menopause
from the Equalities Act 2010, which means that
discrimination on grounds of sex, disability or age is illegal,
making menopause a protected characteristic, alongside
others such as pregnancy, would be a big step forward.

OCTOBER 2023 | www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

33

FE ATURE

HOW TO RAISE

MENOPAUSE
AWARENESS AT WORK

Speaking up about the menopause often does not come
easily for many women; as a result, many will suffer in
silence. There are ways to increase menopause awareness at
work and celebrate World Menopause Awareness Day at the
same time.
Champion Health in London has created a whole range
of helpful guidance notices for women to raise menopause
issues, and for individuals and organisations to treat them
appropriately.

PLAN TRAINING SESSIONS AND EVENTS

Your first challenge in raising menopause awareness is to
tackle the stigma surrounding it. Do this by turning the
menopause into a normal topic of conversation.
This means helping others to understand what
happens during the menopause. Increasing this level of
understanding isn’t just helpful for other women, it’s key for
all of us because it gives us the skills we need to support our
colleagues, friends and family. Several organisations provide
menopause training within the workplace, like Menopause
in the Workplace.
Looking to create your own training? The Faculty
of Occupational Medicine has published guidance on
menopause in the workplace, which you should utilise. It
can also be hugely impactful to invite staff members to
share their own experiences of the menopause – if they are
comfortable doing so.
You may also want to consider creating an informal
support group, giving your employees a safe space where
they can discuss their experience and offer peer support.

❛❛

If we are serious about making
a difference to those who are
going through menopause,
we have to accept that there
is no one menopause.
Each woman experiences
her menopause with her
own individual challenges
Dr Rachel Taylor, Neuroscientist

+

Women often avoid talking about the menopause at work
because they’re afraid it will jeopardise their job. That means
one of your challenges in raising menopause awareness is
to tackle the stigma surrounding it. Do this by turning the
menopause into a normal topic of conversation – don’t be
afraid to talk about it openly in meetings and emails.
The best organisations will also introduce awareness
sessions and train line managers on how to have the right
conversations and offer the best support.
This also means reaffirming your zero-tolerance policy
on discrimination – which includes the menopause.

❛❛

It is essential to create safe spaces for open
dialogue among women, while also ensuring
the availability of trained individuals who
can offer support and find solutions
Emma Freivogel, Founder, Radical Recruit

SHARE IMPACTFUL GUIDES

It may feel daunting to take in so much information about
the menopause, especially when you want to present this
to your organisation. Luckily, there are some fantastic
resources out there just waiting to be shared with your
organisation – including:
• For everyone: Managing the Menopause at Work PDF
Guide
• For organisations: Menopause in the Workplace: What
Organisations Can Do
• For professionals: How to work through the menopause
We also highly recommend CIPD’s Line Manager Guide to
the Menopause, which you can download at
www.cipd.org/uk/topics/menopause

IT’S TIME TO END THE STIGMA

FURTHER READING
AND RESOURCES

• www.imsociety.org/education/world-menopause-day
• https://perspectusglobal.com/wp-content/uploads/
2023/09/Perspectus-x-DAPS-Menopause-Report-2023.pdf

34

TALK OPENLY ABOUT THE MENOPAUSE

www.platinummediagroup.co.uk | OCTOBER 2023

If you can, use this information to raise menopause
awareness in your organisation. By helping to break down
this damaging stigma, you’ll help to improve the lives of
women across the world.
https://championhealth.co.uk
https://perspectusglobal.com
https://dapsagency.com

Financial advice,
built around you.
• Personal finance advice
• Retirement planning
• Business support
• Generational planning
• Tax year-end advice

I’m proud to represent both male and female clients. And, while it goes without saying
that both can experience the same stressors, there’s no avoiding the fact that women
face several unique challenges.
My 20 years’ experience has shown that women can therefore greatly benefit from
highly personalised financial advice, which takes these challenges into account. This is
why I’m so passionate about empowering women with the confidence and tools to help
them achieve their long-term financial goals.
So, whatever your financial journey so far, let me give you the guidance, support, and
stability to help you plan a happy and financially secure life.

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

Wellesley House, 50 Victoria Road, Burgess Hill, West Sussex, RH15 9LH
01444 712672 | info@wellesleywa.co.uk | wellesleywa.co.uk
SJP approved on 08/03/2023
Wellesley is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised
and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the group’s wealth management
products and services, more details of which are set out on the group’s website: www.sjp.co.uk/products. Wellesley is a trading
name of Wellesley Investment Management Limited, registered in England & Wales No. 6530147. Registered Office: 44 The Pantiles,
Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 5TN.

WELLBEING

The topic of bone health isn’t given anywhere near as
much airtime as weight gain, hot flushes, mood changes
and sleep issues, yet it’s really incredibly important to
pay attention to, writes TANYA BOROWSKI

THE BONES OF
THE MATTER
Worldwide, one in three women aged 50 or over will suffer
an osteoporotic fracture. Fractures caused by osteoporosis
can be life-threatening and a major cause of pain and longterm disability.

SO LET’S START WITH - WHAT IS BONE?

Bone is a beautiful, unique material; light yet strong, thereby
providing the perfect internal scaffolding structure for our
skeleton which muscle overlays, to facilitate easy movement.
In addition, the skeleton protects many of our organs –
the rib cage shields the heart and lungs. Some bones, within
the bone marrow, are also factories for red blood cells,
responsible for delivering oxygen around the body (to
prevent anaemia). They are mostly in the spine and hip bones,
so a fractured hip could mean your blood cell production
factory declines!

+

WHAT IS BONE
MADE FROM?

1 COLLAGEN
Specifically Type III collagen gives bone a framework. Much
like the supports of a building that carry the weight of other
parts of the structure and any imposed load, collagen
allows for the incorporation of minerals, mainly calcium and
phosphate, providing a flexibility. In that way, the bone can
deal with pressure and resist breaking.
2 CALCIUM
Phosphate mineral complexes which fill the spaces between
the collagen framework, making bones solid and strong.
3 LIVING CELLS
Osteoblasts and osteoclasts remove and replace weakened
sections of bone in a continual process called remodelling.

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BONE HEALTH TO-DOS

Calcium supplements have traditionally been the go-to
for bone health, but this doesn’t support bone flexibility
adequately, and too much calcium supplementation can
cause serious health issues and interfere with the absorption
of other minerals such as iron and magnesium.
Health care professionals prefer that you aim to get all the
calcium you need from your food. The daily recommended
intake is 700mg a day. If you have a diagnosis of osteoporosis,
then increase this to 1200mg a day.
There are plenty of foods you can eat to get calcium
through your diet. Foods rich in calcium include:
• dairy products, like plain yoghurt (125g provides
300mg calcium) and cheese (40g of edam or gouda
provides 300mg of calcium)
• green leafy vegetables (a small bag of watercress
or 110g broccoli provide 50mg calcium per serving)
• Almonds (10 nuts provide 50mg calcium)
• sesame seeds and tahini (1tsp provides 100mg calcium)
• sardines (50g provides 200mg of calcium)
• Beans pulses and tofu

Health care professionals
prefer that you aim to
get all the calcium you
need from your food

The four stages
of osteoporosis
1

2

3

4

The Royal Osteoporosis Society has a wonderful calciumrich food selector on its website. To see whether you’re
getting enough calcium from what you eat and drink, you
can use this online calculator, from the University of
Edinburgh.
Vitamin D helps your body absorb and use calcium.
There’s a small amount of vitamin D in some foods, but
it’s difficult to get enough vitamin D from food alone.
Foods containing vitamin D include oily fish, such as herring,
salmon and mackerel, eggs.
Our bones also need a range of minerals, such as boron,
copper, magnesium, silicon, zinc and potassium for the
mineralisation of collagen fibres and bone.
Vitamin K ‘turns on’ a protein called osteocalcin which is
necessary for bone building and bone healing.
Vitamin K1: is found in green leafy vegetables, broccoli,
spinach, cauliflower, asparagus, okra, parsley, fruit, cereals
and vegetable oils. Smaller amounts are in meat, eggs, dairy
and cheese.
Vitamin K2: most is provided by the bacterial flora of
the gut. It’s also found in fish, meat, liver and eggs, soy
foods and some fermented dairy, such as cottage, ricotta,
brie and Gouda cheeses, yoghurt and kefir.
Collagen works to support healthy function in all
components of the living bone tissue, which is why it trumps
calcium supplements. Collagen comes in different forms
and different molecular weights to reach different body
tissues: a ‘skin, hair and nails collagen’ will not reach your
bones!
I particularly favour specific bioactive collagen
peptides found in a product classified as a medical food
‘bonebalance™,’ which has been optimised to be absorbed
into bone tissue and to stimulate the bone cells by:
• Signalling the osteoblasts (bone building cells)
into action.
•Reducing the activity of the osteoclasts
(bone breakdown cells).
And don’t forget, bone thickens in response to physical
activities with repeated loads e.g. weight-bearing exercises such as weight lifting, yoga, pilates, gardening, walking
and classes like boxfit . Do what brings you joy - not dread!
https://theros.org.uk/information-and-support/bone-health/
nutrition-for-bones/calcium/calcium-rich-food-chooser
www.tanyaborowski.com
SEPTEMBER 2023 | www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

37

RE VIE W

Yda Bouvier is an executive coach and author of Leading
with the Right Brain. While most of us, through our careers
and education, have been trained to be left-brain thinkers –
analytical, strategic and goal-focused – Yda argues that by
tapping into the more visual, creative and empathetic right
brain, we could unlock our leadership superpower

FURTHER
READING…
Remote working has become a common practice since the
COVID pandemic. While working from home offers staff
more flexibility, many leaders also worry that it causes less
engagement with work, and fewer collaborative connections
between colleagues.
Many leaders and teams are proficient ‘left-brain’ thinkers – logical, analytical, strategic. Yet the unique strengths
of the ‘right brain’ are vital for nurturing strong virtual
working relationships.
The right brain is the centre of our capacity for empathy,
the ability to share and understand the emotions of others.
Activating the right brain when working remotely allows
leaders to build resilient virtual communities where teams
can foster deeper connections with each other.

THINK AGAIN

How do you cultivate
braver, more
daring leaders?
And, how do you embed
the value of courage
in your culture

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THE POWER OF KNOWING
WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW
By Adam Grant
WH Allen (2023)
This million-copy bestseller focusses on
the importance of the willingness and
ability to change our minds and beliefs.
To have the edge, we all need to
develop the flexibility to unlearn old
beliefs and adapt when the evidence
and the world changes before us.
Told through fascinating stories,
informed by research and illustrated
with insights from Adam Grant’s
conversations this is the ultimate guide
to keeping your thinking fresh, learning
when to question your ideas and update
your own opinions, and how to inspire
those around you to do the same.

While working from
home offers staff
more flexibility,
many leaders also
worry that it causes
less engagement
with work

ACTIVATE YOUR REMOTE STAFF’S
‘RIGHT-BRAIN THINKING’

The first ingredient for fostering a virtual community is to
activate the right side of the brain as quickly as possible, and
allow colleagues to really get to know each other through
right brain connections. As the right brain processes in
images rather than words, visual stimulation is very
important. For instance, you could ask staff to find and
share an object from their home that describes a key part
of their personality; to tell the story behind the object
and explain what part of their personality it represents.
Sharing a piece of your home is not possible to do during
in-person meetings and adds a unique flavour to the virtual
environment. So it becomes a new and exciting space, not
just an attempt to replicate an in-person meeting.

WORDS THAT CHANGE MINDS

THE 14 PATTERNS FOR MASTERING
THE LANGUAGE OF INFLUENCE
By Shelle Rose Charvet
Bloomanity LLC (2019)
Want to find out how people get
motivated, make decisions, to be more
persuasive with everyone? Learn how to
use the right words with the right people,
and get through the “Communication
Wall.” Shelle Rose Charvet shows you
how to match your language to people
around you (in your work, with your
colleagues, your boss and your clients,
and at home, with your partner, family
and other relationships).
This book is powerful tool that enables
you to understand, predict and
influence behaviour by decoding
the language people use.

SHOW UP FOR EACH OTHER
WITH ‘RIGHT-BRAIN THINKING’

The next ingredient is making the time to show up for
each other, being as happy to give as you are to receive.
Interactions need to be structured so that there is real
exchange and collaboration. One of the most impactful ways
of achieving this is by orchestrating problem-solving within
a metaphor, inviting right-brain thinking into the conversation with images.
For example, you could ask a team member, “what
metaphor captures the complexity of your current
project?”. They might say “it’s like being on a ship on an
open sea”. You can activate the other team members’
right-brain thinking by asking what they would do if
they were on the ship, triggering everyone’s right brains
to then find solutions collaboratively.

DARE TO LEAD

BRAVE WORK. TOUGH
CONVERSATIONS. WHOLE HEARTS
By Dr Brené Brown
Vermilion (2019)
Brené Brown spent over two decades
researching the emotions that give
meaning to our lives. Over the years, she
found that leaders ranging from small
start-ups and family-owned businesses
to non-profits, civic organisations and
Fortune 50 companies, are asking the
same questions: How do you cultivate
braver, more daring leaders? And,
how do you embed the value of
courage in your culture? Dare to Lead
answers these questions and gives us
actionable strategies and real examples
from her research-based, couragebuilding programme.

OCTOBER 2023 | www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

39

SCENE
ART

By KELLIE MILLER

Flight of the Bird Men

THE WORKS OF RACHEL WILLIAMS
My practice is an exploration—always. I don’t feel any
particular need to continue down one path for years and
years. I feel the need always to be making new work,
breaking new ground, making something interesting to me,
that is exciting to me, that fulfi ls my need to create things
with faith, that everything feeds into everything else.
New Zealand-born Rachel Williams works across
several disciplines, from oil on canvas and wood panel to
paper and plastic. From her first love – printmaking – comes
the need to make the transferred marks which permeate
her work. The similarity and difference theme provides
much background to her practice. Perceptions of sameness,
repetition, and subtleties of difference perceived or actual
pepper her output. Rachel rarely uses a brush but instead
prefers to scrape and imprint the paint onto the surface
using a variety of often mundane objects such as cardboard,
acetate, cloth and bubble wrap.
She is open to all printing forms but is particularly drawn
to mono-printing. Mono means ‘one’, a printing process that
only produces one piece. Rachel naturally favours original
printing techniques and is interested in capturing a spark in
the moment of inspiration.
Her recent collection explores the notion of museums
and how a museum would move an object from one place
to another, therefore containing and displaying the artefacts
of the world. The museum concept is like her printmaking
process. She calls this Transference, whereby she uses many
materials and objects to create her marks and imagery.
Other themes she has been working on are endangered
animals’ connection with museums and archaeology, which
is a natural progression. It feeds back into her interest in the
mark-making of cave paintings and a fascination with the
combination of human and animal, whether a BirdMan or
Cynocephalus.

Talisman Bird

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Rachel is obsessed with creating BirdMen. The bird
symbolism that is perhaps associated with freedom the
Egyptians symbolised as Ba, the bird that appears as a
physical soul symbolising rebirth, equates roughly to our
idea of personality and is often shown as a bird whose duty
was to feed the deceased.
She is strongly linked with archaeology, ancient culture
and grave goods. She is connecting to how we live and
the proximity to the now. We still have talismans and
superstitions. And many moments of everyday life are not
that different now from times gone by. There is a sense of
the afterlife and the laying of time in Rachel’s art, which is
also captured in her printmaking processes.
It is inspiring to witness that her art never stops still, just
like the artist herself.
Kellie Miller is an artist, curator, critic and gallery owner.
www.kelliemillerarts.com

We still have
talismans and
superstitions.
And many moments
of everyday life
are not that different
now from times
gone by

Grave Goods IV

Birdman I

OCTOBER 2023 | www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

41

TR AVEL

How to spend
a swish weekend
in Amsterdam
Which Amsterdam is the one for you?
TESS DE KLERK has gone for the more
refined, upmarket one. Here’s why…

AFTERNOON

Recently a friend wanted us to spend a weekend in
Amsterdam. She had never been, and I knew that she
would not appreciate two days of ducking stag dos, clouds
of marijuana or breaking an expensive heel on a dirty dance
floor. Challenge accepted. Chic all the way.

Certainly peckish now, Mana Mana West is just a couple
of minutes away, serving Middle Eastern cuisine in a laidback cafe. But if you’re looking for something classier and
leaning more toward Dutch cuisine, head for De Belhamel,
a stylish canal-side restaurant with picturesque views at the
edge of the Jordaan quarter. Jordaan is one of Amsterdam’s
most central neighbourhoods, and one of the prettiest too.
With maze-like streets, quaint art galleries, boutiques and
flower-lined canals, it’s the perfect neighbourhood to while
away the remainder of your afternoon.

GETTING THERE

EVENING

Airport queues and screaming toddlers on budget fl ights
have long since taken the wind out of air travel. Instead,
I booked us onto Eurostar. The £300 return ticket (cattle
class) seemed unreasonably steep for
a short journey but I’m glad I chose
this option. Customs was a breeze (in
August!) and we sat back, ate our sushi,
read our papers, all in relative peace.
The whole journey from the time we
arrived at St Pancras to Amsterdam
Centraal took five hours.
We arrived rather late on this particular Friday
evening but if you do emerge from Amsterdam Centraal
during daylight hours, take a wander along the lovely
Brouwersgracht (literally - Brewers’ canal) west of the
station. The pretty bridges mean it is justifiably Amsterdam’s
most photographed canal.

Take an evening canal boat cruise and soak up the charm of
the city by twinkling lights. We booked an evening cruise
with Pure Boats and loved it. The boat was plush, pretty and
electric with only a handful of other
travellers accompanying us. A Dutch
cheese, wine and beer tasting rounded
it all off nicely. For something more
intimate and romantic, book a private
evening cruise.
After our cruise, we simply headed
back to the Waldorf Astoria to be
wowed by chef Sidney Schutte at the two Michelin-star
Spectrum. Sidney is certainly one of the best chefs in town
and cooks with finesse and flair, giving the odd surprising
twist to a local ingredient – such as crispy tulip bulbs, or a
white asparagus dessert.
Now, if you have it in you, put on your dancing shoes and
head for one of the famed Amsterdam nightclubs. Not that
my friend and I had it in us!

To make the
most of your visit,
start early at the
Rijksmuseum

SATURDAY - MORNING

Start your day with a leisurely breakfast at swanky lodgings.
We stayed at the Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam, which
was created by combining six 17th-century canal palaces
together. Located on Herengracht – or Gentleman’s canal –
it is ideally located in the heart of the city, close to all major
museums, theatres and shops. Other chic hotel options are
Hotel Pulitzer and Anantara Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky.
Our hotel offered complementary bike hire but no matter
where you’re staying, bike hire is never far away in this
city. Hop on for an easy 20-minute cycle to Fabrique des
Lumières where famous artists and their works come alive
in this incredible exhibition. Watch as renowned artworks
are projected onto walls up to 17 metres high, aided with
light, video and sound. Walk among the brushstrokes of
masters and become a part of their creations.
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Fabrique des Lumières

SUNDAY - MORNING

Wear your most comfortable shoes – today is the day
for exploring the three major museums located at
Museumplein. I don’t suggest trying to squeeze in all
three though. You’ll just feel rushed and that’s hardly
swish. To make the most of your visit, start early at the
Rijksmuseum, aiming to arrive around 9:15 am to avoid
the initial rush when it opens at 9am. Don’t miss the
carefully curated Asian collection in the museum’s
basement, before taking a welcome lunch break.

Rijksmuseum

AFTERNOON

Head for De Pijp, the very trendy district with foodie
cafes galore that is a ten-minute meander away. Not yet
had the obligatory stroopwafel (syrup waffle)? Rudi’s
Original Stroopwafels makes stroopwafels big enough
to serve as lunch.
The bakery is located in the Albert Cuyp Markt,
Europe’s largest street market replete with colourful stalls
and ‘gezellige’ vendors. If peaceful is your preference, you
can’t go wrong with Vondelpark, Amsterdam’s gorgeous
city park. Have a picnic by the pond or snack at the
Groot Melkhuis, a waterside café since 1874.
Choose another museum on Museumplein – we went
for Stedelijk Museum for a good dose of contemporary art
and design. Alternatively, head back towards the centre
through the Spiegelkwartier arts and antiques district to
enjoy one of Amsterdam’s greatest delights, a walk through
the Grachtengordel district; the concentric rings of grand
canals laid out in the 17th century are here.
The best view? The point where Prinsengracht and
Reguliersgracht meet. Zigzag your way towards the
Negen Straatjes to shop in the alleys of hip and quirky
shops that criss-cross the main canals.

Oriole Garden Bistro

EVENING

We just loved Oriole for dinner. A true haven of calm in the
bustling city centre. Book ahead for a spot on the terrace a real secret garden feel. Dishes are a contemporary take on
Mediterranean flavours while the ‘Oriole Express’ set menu,
with different options for each course, showcases the cuisine
and produce of a given country every month.
A fitting last supper in the always exciting, cosmopolitan
Amsterdam.
OCTOBER 2023 | www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

43

DINE
&
WINE

AYDO
Lounge & Grill

By TESS DE KLERK

Brighton Marina restaurants have been a real hit-andmiss through the years, more often missing everything but
franchise eateries. On occasion, independent restaurants
have opened on the seafront but they never seemed to last
- a real pity since the marina is a pleasant location with
what’s becoming rarer than hens’ teeth in Brighton – easy,
free parking.
Aydo opened recently, serving classic Turkish and
Middle Eastern cuisine plus the occasional unexpected
item such as empanadas. The menu is quite extensive with
choices for most people. I would say that there is a focus
on meat but there are still plenty of choices for everyone.
Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free plus dairy-free are clearly
indicated on the menu – joy!

The service at
Aydo was fantastic.
Nothing could be
faulted there
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We started with the classics - cacik (tzatziki) and
baba ganoush (made with smoked aubergines and
peppers) served with flatbread. The baba ganoush was
unexpectedly yogurty. A second look at the menu though
and I could see that it was indicated and some chefs simply
prefer the dish with yogurt, making it mild and velvety.
For mains, I opted for the tiger prawns cooked with
a garlic and parsley butter sauce, with spring onion and
a hint of chilli, all served with seasonal vegetables.
My dish arrived at the table sizzling hot and delicious.
The chilli really was just a hint which is what I wanted
but so often in the past, a hint has meant hellfire.
Next arrived my companion’s tasty main - Turkish
meatballs with tomatoes and peppers, finished with
melted cheese on top. Again it arrived sizzling hot and
served with flair by two very attentive servers.
Speaking of servers, the service at Aydo was fantastic.
Nothing could be faulted there. What I appreciated even
more than the good service though was the location right
on the marina boardwalk. Or, more precisely I really liked
how our table was inside, protected from the elements,
yet the fronts of Aydo open up, giving the feeling
of being outside, feeling a slight breeze and taking in
the salty air. The whole inner area of the restaurant has

What I appreciated
even more than the
good service though
was the location
right on the marina
boardwalk

a contemporary lounge-like feel with plush chairs in
muted blues and greens. There are hints of sparkle everywhere with twinkly lights bouncing off silver accents.
Modern decor blends with traditional Turkish motifs,
with the interior design carefully considered.
The bar area looked inviting too, and Aydo prides
itself on a diverse menu of alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks. Traditional Turkish raki is used in
their signature cocktails, amongst the more common
choices such as Pornstar Martinis. Near the bar, you’ll
find the open-view kitchen, with chefs earnestly working
their magic.
It was lovely going to the marina and finding a place
with such attention to detail. Aydo was clearly created
from a desire to showcase Turkish cuisine and service at
its best and we hope that it will stay long and prosper.
££
Opening times:
Sunday – Thursday: Midday – 11.30pm.
Friday – Saturday: Midday – Midnight
www.aydorestaurant.co.uk
OCTOBER 2023 | www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

45

CHILDREN’S EVENT
GODSTONE

HALLOWEEN
EXTRAVAGANZA

Get ready for a spook-tacular time at
Godstone Farm this Halloween and
join us for a day of friendly frights and
spellbinding fun. Master the art of
broomstick flying, trick or treat the
kids to a round on our Halloween mini
golf course and dare them to explore
our bone-chilling skeleton scavenger
hunt.
Godstone Farm, Godstone
October 21st-29th
https://godstonefarm.co.uk

WHAT’S ON...
A brief snapshot of art and culture in Sussex and Surrey

ENGLEFIELD GREEN

ART IN THE GARDEN
The Surrey Sculpture Society returns for
the sixth year of Art in the Garden. Set
within the 35 acres of The Savill Garden,
this exhibition combines eye-catching
sculpture with horticultural excellence. As
you explore the Garden, you’ll encounter
sculptures in varying styles, subject
and materials; all inspired by the natural
world and accompanied by the artist’s
statement.
The Savill Garden, Englefield Green
Until October 31st
www.windsorgreatpark.co.uk

DORKING

POETRY WITH
ROGER MCGOUGH

The harvest is the most significant time
of the year in the vineyard and following
the exceptional summer, the anticipation
surrounding the 2023 harvest is palpable.
The Harvest Secret Vineyard Trail is the
perfect opportunity to learn about the
2023 vintage, including winery tank
sample tastings. Your experience includes
a tasting glass and Denbies vine to take
away.

Immerse yourself in the mesmerising
world of poetry as Roger McGough,
one of the most beloved poets of our
time, takes the stage. Known for his
wit, charm, and insightful verses,
McGough will enchant the audience
with his unique blend of humour
and profound observations.

Denbies Wine Estate, Dorking
October 20th
www.denbies.co.uk

46

HORSHAM

HARVEST SECRET
VINEYARD TRAIL

www.platinummediagroup.co.uk | OCTOBER 2023

St Margaret’s Church,
Warnham
October 14th
www.eventbrite.co.uk/
e/a-celebration-of-poetry-with-roger-

BRIGHTON

RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE

THE INQUIRY

CHICHESTER

FALMER

The largest drag show on earth, RuPaul’s
Drag Race: Werq The World, is heading to
Brighton with an all-new production this
autumn.
Set in a dystopian future, the stars of
RuPaul’s Drag Race must choose between
the real world and the artificial world they
have come to know.
Acclaimed for their amazing production
values, this is the fifth iteration of the
ground-breaking tour in the UK.

Arthur Gill has just become the Secretary
of State for Justice. However, an inquiry
is about to publish its findings about a
public health disaster. As the waters grow
murkier, how far will he go to hide his past
and protect his future?
The Inquiry is a gripping drama about
the pernicious collision between politics,
justice and ambition.

The Coast is Queer is a festival of talks,
books, spoken word and ideas from an
LGBTQ+ perspective.
It brings together an exciting lineup of
nationally and internationally acclaimed
queer writers, poets, performers
and activists in a three-day festival of
accessible, lively in-conversation events,
workshops, films and discussions
celebrating LGBTQ+ lives and writing.

The Brighton Centre
October 22nd
www.werqtheworld.com

THE COAST IS QUEER

Chichester Festival Theatre,
Chichester
October 13th - November 11th
www.cft.org.uk/events/the-inquiry

Annie Soudain: printmaking

The Attenborough Centre,
University of Sussex
October 12th-15th
https://coastisqueer.com

Sally Underwood: knitted accessories
BEXHILL-ON-SEA

SUSSEX GUILD CONTEMPORARY
CRAFT SHOW
Fifty Guild makers will exhibit beautiful, hand-made crafts
at the sixth show, featuring a wide range of disciplines,
including work by new and more recent members. Meet
the designers who are always pleased to discuss their
work or to explain any specialist techniques they use.
De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill
October 21st-22nd
www.thesussexguild.co.uk
Kate Schuricht: ceramics

OCTOBER 2023 | www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

47

THE GOODWOOD REVIVAL 2023

The Greatest
Show on Earth

... and with very good reason
By Motoring Editor Fiona Shafer, MD of MD HUB
If you are in need of a life enhancing tonic that
supercharges your spirits way beyond a glass of Veuve
Clicquot, then look no further than a visit to The Goodwood
Revival.
It was not a weekend where I would ever have
envisaged I could also get a tattoo, make a pair
of my own vintage knickers, have a fairground
ride and end up winking at a very handsome
bearded man dressed as an SAS Desert Hero.
Sadly, he left the tent before I could get his
number – and I thought this was all meant to
be about cars…
Th is was my first Revival experience
thanks to the birthday generosity of my great friend
Kerry Kyriacou, who thought it was about time I was
initiated into a bygone era.
For the uninitiated, the Goodwood Revival is a
wonderful celebration of British motor racing in some
of the most beautifully designed and engineered cars in
racing history, combined with vintage aircraft, motorcycles, army jeeps and an array of memorabilia.
Nestled in the lower grounds of the glorious
Goodwood Estate, with a view up to the white pavilions
of the Goodwood Racecourse on the hill, the revival is
so much more than just motor racing, oil and rosettes.

Starting with The Over The Road site – named as such
as it is literally over the road from the main racing
circuit and accessible by bridge or road. Th is can be
accessed on the Thursday evening, before the circuit opens
early in the Friday morning, and houses the car auctions,
revival car show, fairground, exhibitors, bars and food.
There is also a rather marvellous oudoor cinema seating
250 deckchairs and 1960s Chevvies that
can also be booked in advance – showings of Willy Wonka and The Chocolate
Factory, Grease and The Italian Job
were running throughout the weekend –
something for all of the family of all ages.
We thoroughly enjoyed talking to
Yorkshireman Mark Lamb, the technical
lead for Twisted. The company restores,
modifies
and
preserves
classic
vehicles
like
a Land Rover Defender or a Suzuki Jimmy, and who has now
also launched Twisted Marine. It was great not to be sold
to, and learn about Mark’s passion for his work and to hear
more about this great British brand which is very well
worth looking at www.twistedautomotive.com – he set us
up well for the evening ahead.
A new discovery was a visit to the absolutely stunningly Sebring Works custom-built 100% electro retroinspired sports cars (definitely one to put on your Christmas
list should anyone ask) www.sebring-works.com.
Whilst Kerry was busy buying miniature cars

So many very
beautiful cars
– it really
was heaven

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The Goodwood
Revival is a wonderful
celebration of
British motor racing
in some of the most
beautifully designed
and engineered cars
in racing history

(your secret’s out, my friend), I had a gander around some
vintage clothing stalls, marvelling at the array, quality and smell of the outfits, which took me right back to
my grandmother’s wardrobe. Put it this way, if you have not
got yourself organised with an outfit for the weekend, you
won’t be short of options the night before the big opening.
Friday dawned and off we hopped on the bus from
Chichester Station to the Revival. It was clear we had
a very hot day ahead or us and my 1940s parasol was
a blessing. Whilst I was expecting a lot of very smartly
dressed folk in 1930s, 40s and 50s and even 60s outfits,
it was all so much more than that. There was a real breadth
of outfits for comfort, style as well as practicality.
The fashions ranged from land girl dungarees, to boiler
suits, complete military outfits to a lot of men rocking some
very cheeky Peaky Blinders shirts, braces and flat caps.
Given the heat of the weekend, I think that they
probably had the best idea. It was also rather lovely to see
so many people looking like they had all really enjoyed
getting dressed up.
There was a new look Revive and Th rive Village on
the main site with pop up boutiques, repair workshops,
talks including how to make your own pair of vintage
knickers, to a talk on making vintage fashion work for
all body shapes, through to a really rather marvellous
fashion show in the afternoon for the ‘Best Dressed People’
at the event.
But I guess I should really let you know what I thought

of the cars. So many very beautiful cars - it really was
heaven. It is hard to know where to even start, so I will
stick with the Fordwater Trophy – a 45-minute two –
driver race for 2.0 litre, short wheel base Porsche 901s
and 911s built before 1966.
My money was on No.65 with Jensen Button, but sadly
he let me down but it was surely one of the most unbelievably exciting races I have ever witnessed – I did have to close
my eyes and remember to breathe as all of that engineering
beauty hurtled towards and navigated the chicane at speed.
I loved it !
The Goodwood Revival is an annual event,
and next year’s show takes place on the
weekend of September 6th-8th 2024.
www.goodwood.com/motorsport/goodwood-revival
OCTOBER 2023 | www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

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