THE

Voice

October/November 2015

East Sussex

Your regional magazine from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)

What are your plans for Small Business Saturday? S

mall Business Saturday (SBS) is just under two months away on Saturday 5 December and the FSB are keen to see local members become involved.

Caroline Lucas MP, Brighton Pavilion, shopping in the North Laines, supports Small Business Saturday Streets. We want to use YOUR business case studies to help us make the case for change, faster broadband, better mobile coverage, Business Rate reform, small business friendly planning, parking and so on. So, send these to martin.searle@fsb. org.uk Our Region is lucky to have the official SBS campaign tour bus coming

Regional News Employment Health & Safety Finance Environment Telecoms

www.fsb.org.uk

7-8, 10 2, 11, 14 Legal 7 3-4 Consumer Law 3 Company Law 8 5 Taxation 9-10 6 VAT 9 6 Regional Contacts 14

Caroline Ansell MP for Eastbourne (right) carrying out the prize draw watched by members of the Eastbourne, Lewes and Wealden FSB team. The FSB exhibited at the Let’s Do Business Show at Eastbourne’s Winter Gardens, greeting members and signing up new ones. See who won our prize draw inside.

VOICE EDITORIAL: This publication is produced by and published for the Federation of Small Businesses, Sir Frank Whittle Way, Blackpool Business Park Blackpool, Lancs, FY4 2FE. © Copyright 1996 Federation of Small Businesses all rights reserved. Editor: James Connor. Tel: 01253 361179 Email: [email protected]. Whilst every care has been taken in the compilation of this publication errors or omissions are not the responsibility of the Federation of Small Businesses and opinions expressed are those of the authors and are not necessarily the policy of the Federation.

WELCOME to this latest edition of YOUR Regional Voice bringing you up-to-date news from the FSB. To

East Sussex

Voice

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CONTENTS

Rt Hon Amber Rudd MP Hastings and Rye with FSB’s Doug Thorogood (right) and Nicolae Trofin (centre) at the 1066 Business Awards. The FSB was the main sponsor at the 1066 Business Awards which saw a number of small businesses, many of them our members, grabbing the prizes. Read more inside.

to Brighton. The bus will be here on Monday 23 November where there will be opportunities for businesses to promote their services on the bus and business specialists are on hand to offer free advice. Don’t hesitate to contact Small Business Saturday to find out more about the campaign, the bus tour and how your business can maximise on the media opportunities. See www.smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com

CONTACT

Across the towns and villages of East Sussex and Brighton and Hove City, we see the Small Business Saturday campaign as a platform to promote small businesses, not only on the day itself, but throughout the year. It proved incredibly effective in 2014 with 16.5 million people shopping in a small independent business on the day, representing a 20 per cent increase in footfall on 2013. There were over 3.5 million Facebook views and #SmallBizSatUK trending at No 1 all day. So, what are your plans to make the most of Small Business Saturday for your business and your colleagues’ businesses? The FSB will highlight the issues faced by small businesses, not just in the retail sector, to local MPs and council leaders. We will also raise awareness amongst the public and the need to shop at independent businesses on our High

advertise in this magazine call Caroline McLoughlin on 020 7324 2777. For editorial, contact Martin Searle on 01424 754 686 or email martin.searle@ fsb.org.uk

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Chairman’s Voice

Dear member,

Scanning the economic outlook at this time makes for a mixed picture. Interest and inflation rates remain low and stable, whilst unemployment, unexpectedly, marginally rose in the second quarter of 2015. Nevertheless, the latest FSB small business index records the strongest small business hiring intentions since the index started in 2010, with a net balance of 14 per cent of our members planning to take on more employees over Autumn. Related to this, the Chancellor’s Budget item on the new National Living Wage for over 25’s is a radical development. As the Darran enforcement Hathaway measures are (right) introduced, with Fred the Thomas, Government from must communicate Business the change East Sussex to employers ensuring that businesses understand what they need to do. The FSB is lobbying for Ministers to review the Employment Allowance. At the Let’s Do Business Show in Eastbourne, I met with Fred Thomas, who runs the Business East Sussex service (pictured). One of the FSB’s objectives is to secure advice for our members and this service has Government funding for its launch year. I urge you to use the service. It is something we have lobbied hard for. Low cost support is out there for you to grow your business. Darran Hathaway Regional Chairman, East Sussex

Darran Hathaway

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Your FSB, your membership, your vote In the Autumn, the FSB holds events across the United Kingdom to let members know what our teams have achieved locally and what the plans are for the year ahead. Running a small business is tough and can sometimes be a lonely path. The FSB helps make the journey easier and offers friendship on the way. We therefore cordially invite you to your local event

to find out what is going on and make new friends. Brighton and Hove Branch AGM and dinner on Monday 26 October at Stanmer House, Stanmer Park, Brighton. Country Branch AGM and buffet on Monday 9 November at Di Paolo’s Restaurant, Bexhill-on-Sea. Eastbourne, Lewes Wealden Branch AGM and dinner on Thursday 12 November at Priory Court

Hotel, Pevensey. East Sussex Regional AGM and dinner at Thursday 19 November at La Locanda Del Duca, Eastbourne. At the AGM (free) you can vote for your new FSB team. The meal, to which your guests are invited, includes an interesting after dinner speaker. More details in the events calendar www.fsb. org.uk/eastsussex Booking: 01323 482018, eastsussex@ fsb.org.uk

FSB makes the right connections FSB Connect is the new national initiative aimed at connecting younger business owners with the FSB.

In East Sussex, a team of FSB Connect Business Champions has recently met and set plans for 2015-16. The team is headed up by Nicolae Trofin (pictured) who has a keen interest in recruiting and developing younger members. He said: “The events we are planning will be dynamic and relevant for younger, aspiring business owners. “Social media will be an important part of our connection strategy.” Martin Searle, the FSB’s local Development Manager, added: “Younger business owners have also underlined the important part the FSB can play in linking them to our more experienced

Colin Slaughter of the Brighton FSB presents Jasmin Christie with her Entrepreneurship Award at the University of Brighton members for mentoring, common-sense advice and contacts.” To start things off, the FSB sponsored the Entrepreneurship Prize category at this year’s University of Brighton Business School Awards.

Nicolae Trofin is the Region’s FSB Connector The winner was Jasmin Christie (pictured). To win her prize, Jasmin carried out a literature review on the advantages and disadvantages of franchising a business. She also developed a novel cafe-bar idea. One day she’d like to build upon her legacy and return to the Caribbean. If you have an FSB Connect idea, get in touch [email protected] @FSBEastSussex

Women in business The FSB offers two regular opportunities for networking over some nice food. The Autumn season of the Women’s Supper Club in Brighton and Hove is under way and Ladies’

East Sussex

Business Lunches take place across East Sussex. New FSB members and their guests welcome. See the on-line events calendar for dates and details www.fsb.org.uk/ eastsussex

A warm welcome at the Brighton and Hove Women’s Supper Club. www.fsb.org.uk

1066 Business Awards 2015 The FSB headline sponsored this year’s 1066 business awards for the second year, which were held at Bannatyne Spa Hotel, Beauport Park.

Danny Pike of BBC Sussex and Surrey hosted the evening which was organised by the Johnston Press Group. Notable FSB member firm successes included Swan House (Tourism and Leisure Business of the Year), Invest and Fund (Small Business of the Year) and Hastings Printing Company (Medium Business of the Year). The FSB filmed the event and interviewed many of the winners and VIPs including local MP, the Rt Hon Amber Rudd, who was

The Source won Overall Business of the Year, with the FSB’s Doug Thorogood (centre). newly-appointed to the Cabinet role of Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change. Highlights can be seen on the FSB East Sussex You

Tube Channel. The overall winning firm was The Source, an on-line BMX and Skateboard retailer who are investing in an initiative to build a skateboard and BMX

Park on the site of the old White Rock Swimming baths on Hastings seafront. Owner Rich Moore said: “It’s been hard work, but we’ve spent 18 months working with the council to ascertain the cost and then helping them to raise the £1.1m required to make it happen.” Doug Thorogood, 1066 FSB Chairman, said: “It is great to see business and entrepreneurs thriving in 1066 Country. “It is important we sponsor such a celebration to recognise achievement and inspire new businesses.” STOP Press: the FSB is headline sponsor for the Eastbourne Business Awards on 13 November. Entries are open until 20 October.

Facebook for Business

FSB Member Benefits top menu at Brighton curry night The FSB got together for an evening at the Memories of India restaurant at Brighton Marina on the waterfront (pictured). Colin Slaughter, Leader of the Brighton and Hove Steering Group, said the evening was a great success with businesses invited to review and use the benefits of membership on offer. Malcolm Harvey and Membership Advisor, Pat Rodohan, provided the double act, bringing, for instance, the FSB’s auto-enrolment pension offer to businesses’ attention and giving a sneak www.fsb.org.uk

peak at future benefits including a service aiming to reduce firms’ utility bills. Martin Searle, Development Manager, oversaw the filming of the event which is available on the FSB East Sussex You Tube Channel. He also conducted member interviews to highlight the views of the Brighton business community. Mr Slaughter added: “The Brighton and Hove FSB is in a good place and we are looking forward to a dynamic team of local business people taking our objectives forward after the AGM event this October.”

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FSB Brighton business members with the management of Memories of India restaurant

The FSB’s popular Share the Knowledge programme continued with a session run by Mina O’Brien of member firm Ditzy Media on Facebook for Business. The ubiquitous Mina O’Brien of Ditzy Media social media platform is (centre) shares Facebook a powerful knowledge with FSB members communication to plan action from the tool to support any session to make sure their business’s marketing plan. businesses benefit from Mina outlined in nonthis new knowledge”. technical fashion how to He added: “I often hear get started and make the businesses say I do not most of Facebook. have the time for social This included how to media because I have create an account and work to do. pages, what content to “For many businesses include (posts, photos, they need to understand video etc), how to use that, for the modern Facebook analytics and business, effective use of tips on communication social media is work, like style and etiquette. any other.” She answered questions The FSB is planning on Facebook advertising, further topical Share the web addresses, timelines Knowledge sessions in the and links to LinkedIn and Autumn/Winter including Twitter. an event in Brighton on Martin Searle, the 7 October entitled Your FSB’s local Development Money or Your Life! Manager, who attended Please keep your eye the session, said: “Mina’s on the on-line events style is easy to understand calendar www.fsb.org.uk/ and she paces the session eastsussex well. We urged members Page 11

CYBER SECURITY ESSENTIALS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES Register FREE to join our webinar Thursday 15 October 13:00 BST Visit fsb.org.uk for more details Register at http://bit.ly/1ivRlDw

Brought to you by:

Glasgow 2016. Glasgow hosts our National Conference in 2016. It is Scotland’s largest city and one of Europe’s most vibrant and dynamic destinations.

We look forward to welcoming you to our wonderful city of Glasgow next year!

Federation of Small Businesses Sir Frank Whittle Way, Blackpool Lancashire, FY4 2FE

01253 336000 www.fsb.org.uk/conference2016

FSB Small Business Expo & National Conference 17—19 March 2016 SECC Clyde Auditorium Glasgow G3 8YW

Dates for your diary For event details and for booking: www.fsb.org.uk/ eastsussexevents 01323 482018 FSB Eastbourne, Lewes and Wealden Branch Breakfasts: British Queen, Willingdon, BN20 9PG 0645 £10pp (£2 discount for FSB members) 13 October, 10 November, 8 December. FSB 1066 Country Branch Breakfasts: Alexander’s, Beauport Park Golf Course, St Leonards TN37 7BP 0645 £10pp (£2 discount for FSB members) 15 October, 19 November, 17 December. 7 October: FSB Share the Knowledge: Your money or your life? How to make life and legacy your business with Dr Jessica Morrod, The Genius Equation, Stanmer House, Stanmer Park, Brighton BN1 9QA £10pp (£5 discount for FSB members). 23 October: East Sussex Women in Business Awards http://www.sussexwomenin businessawards.com/ 26 October: Brighton and Hove Branch AGM and dinner, Stanmer House, Stanmer Park, Brighton, BN1 9QA. 9 November: 1066 Country Branch AGM and buffet, Di Paolo’s Restaurant, Bexhillon-Sea TN40 1DA. 13 November: Eastbourne Business Awards http://www. eastbournebusinessawards. com/ 12 November: Eastbourne, Lewes and Wealden Branch AGM and dinner, Priory Court Hotel, Pevensey BN24 5 LG. 19 November: East Sussex Regional AGM and dinner, 1830 La Locanda Del Duca, Eastbourne BN21 4NS.

Sussex Women in Business semi-final lunch Four FSB business women attended the semi-final lunch for the Sussex Women in Business Awards which was held at the Cavendish Hotel on Eastbourne seafront.

The FSB is sponsoring the New Business/Startup category which has attracted a large amount of entries. These awards are designed to highlight the achievements of women from all walks of life, many of whom had little in common other than a passionate desire to succeed in business, to gain recognition for exceptional products, services or ways of working which are outstandingly successful. The finalists (some pictured) through to the Grand Gala final in October are Tara McDonnell from

POLEGATE 3 High Street, Polegate. BN26 5HA Tel: 01323 482018 Email: [email protected] DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Martin Searle Tel: 01424 754686 Email: [email protected] REGIONAL CHAIRMAN Darran Hathaway, Debt Rescue, Units 1&2, Mays Farm, Lower Wick Street, Selmeston, BN26 6TS Mob: 07981 785 987 Tel: 08454 591 750 Fax: 01323 811 284 Email: [email protected] REGIONAL SECRETARY Violet O’Brien 14 Eridge Road, Eastbourne, BN21 2TG Tel: 01323 644951 or Regional Office: 01323 482018 Email: [email protected] REGIONAL TREASURER Patrick Trowell Tel: 01323 764722 Email: [email protected] NATIONAL COUNCILLOR Patrick Trowell Tel: 01323 764722 Email: [email protected] THE

Voice

South Downs Introductions, a bespoke dating agency; Stephanie Woolven from StephieAnn designs, who make luxurious silk lingerie and night wear; Mandy Catchpole and Natalie Foley from Infection Control Consultancy; Eastbourne’s Bella’s Secret and Bella’s coffee shop and lastly, Happy Working Mum, owned by Emily Thorpe, which supports mums everywhere to enjoy life. Alison Thompson,

Christine Purkess receives her prize from FSB Development Manager Martin Searle at the Innovation Centre, Hastings

REGIONAL OFFICERS

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Mandy Catchpole, Tara McDonnell, Alison Thompson (FSB) and Stephanie Woolven

East Sussex

1066 COUNTRY BRANCH CHAIRMAN Doug Thorogood GPS Taxi, Tel: 07711 496637 Email: [email protected] c/o Regional Office: See address at top 1066 COUNTRY BRANCH SECRETARY Peter R J Archer Tel: 01424 434 900 Email: [email protected] TEMPORARY BRIGHTON & HOVE CHAIRMEN Colin Slaughter CS Bailiffs [email protected] Tel: 07860 224 422 c/o Regional Office: See address at top. Arthur Mapletoft Marsh View Residential Care Home [email protected] Tel: 01323 841 920 c/o Regional Office: See address at top.

representing the FSB, presented the finalists who were at the lunch with their certificates and wished them luck for the finals. Judging will take place in the next few months and the winner will be announced at the Gala Dinner on the evening of 23 October at the Cavendish Hotel. Book a table and tickets for the black tie dinner at: http://www.sussexwomen inbusinessawards.com/

Christine is winner at Eastbourne show Christine Purkess of Shoppers Anonymous won the FSB prize draw at the Let’s Do Business show in Eastbourne. The next Let’s Do

Business Show is at Sussex Coast College, Hastings Station Plaza on 29 October. Visit the FSB at stand 103 on the first floor.

TEMPORARY BRIGHTON & HOVE SECRETARY Yvonne Newton-Turner Tel: 01323 895488 Email: [email protected] c/o Regional Office: See address at top EASTBOURNE, LEWES & WEALDEN CHAIRMAN Arlene Leake, AML Payroll & Bookkeeping Services Tel: 01323 842410 Email: [email protected] EASTBOURNE, LEWES & WEALDEN SECRETARY Violet O’Brien As above

JOINING THE FSB

Contact the Regional office, details at the top. Business legal and tax advice line: 08450 727 727 FSB benefits and membership enquiries: 0808 20 20 888 www.fsb.org.uk