Autumn Statement : uncovered - November 2016

There were no significant surprises, but instead the promise of investment in infrastructure projects in housing, transport and digital technology with the aim of increasing the UK's productivity in the immediate post Brexit period.

In terms of significant changes in taxation, a consultation is to take place on "equalisation" of tax for incorporated and unincorporated business, which is likely to result in increased taxation for entrepreneurial companies and their owners.

You now need to identify the likely impact of the changes announced on your own circumstances... and this is where we can help.

Autumn Statement uncovered will guide you through the impact of Wednesday's changes... alternatively, simply pick up the phone and speak with your usual Kreston Reeves contact for something more bespoke, or email enquiries@krestonreeves.com for further information.

To download Autumn Statement uncovered click here

Getting to know your Better Business Show Keynote Speakers: Spotlight on Gillian Fielding 

Gill Fielding is an international motivational speaker, businesswoman, presenter and author.  Despite being born into a poor family in the East End of London with humble beginnings, she is now a self-made multi millionaire who enjoys the fruits of financial success as much as sharing her knowledge on wealth creation, financial education and investing skills to help others succeed.  Gill amassed her wealth with land & property, stocks and business investments.  She owns and co-owns a variety of businesses today including The Wealth Company and is a published author.

Gill was featured on ‘Secret Millionaire’ for Channel 4 and was a business expert on The Apprentice – You’re Fired show.  She has been a  financial commentator for the BBC, ITV and CNBC as well as appearing in a variety of other TV shows around the world. She is currently a financial expert for the BBC and hosts a monthly phone-in for BBC radio.

In her career, Gill has held many high profile positions in business life including Citicorp, being the Chief Executive of a financial services group specialising in tax free savings vehicles, was the Chair of a Unit Trust Trade Association, Director on the board of an ethical Unit Trust (with Lord Brian Rix)  and was an adviser to the Inland Revenue on tax free savings.

At the show, Patron of Worthing and Adur Chamber of Commerce Gill will talk about how she started from humble roots in London's East End and discovered and used her own resources to eventually achieve financial freedom for herself and her family.

Getting to know your Better Business Show Keynote Speakers: Spotlight on Darren Gearing  

Up until very recently Darren was an international deluxe Hotelier whose career spanned extended periods in the UK, USA and Asia working for the Marriott and award winning Shangri-La Hotel groups. Most recently he was based at the Shangri-La at the Shard as Executive Vice President where he oversaw 16 hotels globally, all including the development and opening of this Iconic London Hotel as depicted in the TV show "The Hotel in the Clouds". Darren is a Fellow of the Institute of Hospitality.

A native of Sussex, he now has entrepreneurial interests in a Sussex based plant hire business, in Worthing's Beach House and Corner House pubs and an active Hotel consultancy with large investors. For the immediate future Darren will assist his partners in growing these businesses in London and the South East, they are actively seeking further "opportunities" in Sussex.

At the show, Darren will talk about his time spent working for a Asian group out of Hong Kong, then relocating back to the UK and opening the Hotel at the Shard. How did the transition process work changing from working in a corporate environment to now working for ones self.

Getting to know your Better Business Show Keynote Speakers: Spotlight on Shaa Wasmund MBE 

Shaa Wasmund MBE is one of Britain's most highly regarded female entrepreneurs and was named in early 2016 by The Sunday Times as one of the Top 20 Most Influential Entrepreneurs in the UK. 

She is an international best selling author and award winning businesswoman, who the Institute of Directors voted one of the most connected women in Britain. Her first book, Stop Talking, Start Doing was the #1 Best Selling Business Book in the UK for 14 months in a row, breaking all records. Shaa’s experience is incredibly diverse.

Whilst still at University, she became the world’s only licensed female boxing promoter, working alongside Don King to put on 22 World Title fights. Shaa then started working with Sir James Dyson from around his kitchen table and helped build Dyson into one of the most recognised brand names in the world.

 In 2015 she received an MBE (Member of The British Empire) Award from the Queen for her “services to business and entrepreneurship”. Today, in addition to running her own successful online educational businesses (shaa.com), she is also an acclaimed international speaker, having spoken alongside the likes of Gary Vaynerchuk and Tim Ferris. And in 2016, The Guardian newspaper named Shaa’s events as one of the Top 10 Events to attend as a small business owner.

Shaa will be sharing how she’s had her most successful and happiest 2 years in business yet!

At the Better Business Show, 2nd February 2017 - Shaa will talk about how to:

- Make Money From The Skills, Expertise and Knowledge You Already Have
- Grow Your List With Zero Marketing Budget
- Build predictable, recurring online revenue of £5k a month
- Grow an audience of raving fans and repeat buyers
- Create, market and sell online courses to monetise your audience
- Automate your business to run itself and make money around the clock
- To build a business to live life on your terms and totally smash 2017!

Shaa's purpose is to help as many people as possible, build businesses they love and which deliver them what she says is her most valuable asset: FREEDOM.

Upcoming Sir Robert Woodard Academy Shows

Sir Robert Woodard Academy are pleased to announce two large shows at the Academy in December and January...

• The Academy drama production of A Christmas Carol  on 6^th, 7^th and 8^th December. If interested, you can book your tickets via the Academy website.

•  The Musical Spectacular of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, starring six local primary schools, on 25^th and 26^th January 2017. 

• The SRWA Junior Band have a Christmas Concert and Craft Fayre at the Academy on Saturday 10^th December.

Please contact Lynn Brown on 01903 875507 or by email lbrown@srwa.woodard.co.uk if you have any questions, or would like to purchase tickets for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.  

A West Sussex company which claims to be the largest seller of used books in Europe has sold a majority stake in the business to Bridges Ventures in a multimillion-pound deal.

Bridges has invested £13m to buy a majority stake in Goring-by-Sea-based World of Books, which was founded by a group of entrepreneurs in 2002 and is touted as a "pioneer" in the re-use and recycling of books.

The business works with thousands of charity shops and recycling merchants to collect and buy used books, while also purchasing unwanted books directly from consumers. It re-sells as many books as possible through its own platform, as well as other websites such as Amazon and eBay, while the rest are recycled to make corrugated cardboard packaging and news print.

Managing director Stephen Boobyer will lead the company as chief executive, and will be supported by co-founders Simon Downes, who has been promoted to chief technology officer; Mike Laundon, who will continue to run the company’s rare books division; and operations director Ben Maxfield.

"We chose Bridges as an investor because we felt they shared our values, understood our sector and our vision of what World of Books can achieve in the future," Boobyer said.

Chairman Kenneth Blair and co-founder Arthur Maxfield will transition from their current executive roles over the next six to 12 months. However, they will remain actively involved with the business as non-executive directors.

Bridges partner Oliver Wyncoll and investment director James Hurrell will join the World of Books board, while an experienced non-executive chairman will be appointed in due course. 

Spectrum Corporate Finance advised shareholders and acquisition debt was provided by Clydesdale Yorkshire Banking Group.

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Telecoms giant BT has been ordered to legally separate from its Openreach division after failing to address competition concerns raised by Ofcom. In a separate announcement, BT has appointed Mike McTighe as Openreach's first chairman.

The industry regulator is preparing a formal notification to the European Commission to start the process, and said it was disappointed that BT has "not yet come forward with proposals to meet our competition concerns".

"Some progress has been made, but this has not been enough, and action is required now to deliver better outcomes for phone and broadband users," Ofcom added.

Openreach is the division of BT Group that develops and maintains the UK's main telecoms network used by providers such as Sky, TalkTalk, Vodafone and BT's retail business.

In a separate announcement today (29 November 2016), BT has appointed former Ofcom executive Mike McTighe as the first chairman of Openreach. He will oversee the new board, which will operate from early 2017, and be "instrumental" in selecting further independent members.

BT said the appointment was part of its strategy to make Openreach more independent and transparent.

BT chairman Sir Michael Rake said: "We promised in July to create an Openreach board and we are delivering on that promise. I remain hopeful this significant move by BT can help to underpin a sustainable, proportionate and fair regulatory settlement that is in the interests of the whole country."

Picture: New Openreach chairman Mike McTighe

More From Insider Media

Get Involved in Stemfest 

Here is an opportunity not only for students to see some of the latest innovations and learn about careers in STEM but for their teachers to forge links with businesses in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) communities.

Coastal STEMfest is exciting and challenging. Getting young people engaged makes STEM subjects fun and relevant, it nurtures the capacity for thinking “outside the box” and becoming truly innovative.

Schools
If you would like your school or college to be involved with Coastal STEMfest, or for further information, email CoastalSTEMfest@brighton.ac.uk or call STEM Sussex on 01273 644178.

Activity providers
Coastal STEMfest provides an excellent opportunity for STEM providers to become involved with the local community. If you want to get involved or would like more information, email CoastalSTEMfest@brighton.ac.uk or call 01273 644178.

Employers
If you would like to support our work in engaging young people across the South East in STEM activities, please see the employer section.

University of Chichester recognised for outstanding student retention

THE University of Chichester has for the second time in four years gained national recognition for its outstanding achievement in student retention.

Chichester has been named as the ‘University of the Year for Student Retention’ for 2017 by the Good University Guide from The Times and Sunday Times newspapers.

The award is based on the drop-out rates of undergraduates against a predicted annual figure.

Good University Guide editor Alastair McCall said that supporting students through their enrolment to graduation is an underestimated quality but one which the award specifically recognises.

He added: “Students who drop out represent not only a waste of public money but, more importantly, each case can represent a personal disaster for those involved.

“Chichester provides an environment where students thrive and prosper, where their skills are encouraged and honed, and where, equally importantly, they have a good time in fine surroundings, enjoying the full support of the University’s excellent staff.”

The University of the Year award was presented to Chichester for having the largest gap between its expected drop-out rate - around 12 per cent - and its actual figure of 5.7 per cent.

It concludes a successful 12 months for the institution which was recently rated as one of the best in the UK for teaching satisfaction by the Times Higher Education.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Clive Behagg said that winning the accolade twice in four years is extremely gratifying and demonstrates the University’s commitment to creating a student-centred experience in a community atmosphere.

He added: “This is testimony to the work that our entire staff put in day after day to support our wonderful students - many of whom tell me they feel part of the Chichester community from the very first day they arrive.

“This award is a significant step towards achieving our vision that - by 2020 - we will be internationally-recognised as a beacon of good practice for high-quality, student-centred higher education within a supportive community of learning.”

The University has recently announced significant investment into its Chichester and Bognor Regis campuses which includes the development of a multimillion-pound Engineering and Digital Technology Park to provide an additional 30 degree courses.

Dr Mark Mason, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Student Experience) at the institution, said that students’ experience of university is now more important than ever before.

He added: “The new structure for university fees means that students are rightly concerned about value for money and access to high quality facilities – we have invested substantially in our campuses in recent years and I believe this partly explains our success.

“But the main reason for our success is in the caring learning community created by our staff.

“This combination of excellent teaching informed by research and wonderful support by staff gives our students a real sense of belonging and encourages them to participate, grow in confidence, and exceed their expectations regarding what they can achieve.”

To find out more about how the University of Chichester provides an inclusive and enriching experience of higher education for its students go to www.chi.ac.uk/about-us.

Alternatively for more about the University’s student retention ranking within the Good University Guide go to www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/gug.