Business Seek Outsourced Financial Services as Lockdown Eases

Companies across Sussex are turning to external experts to help them navigate the pandemic while preparing for an anticipated upswing in trading driven by a full lifting of COVID restrictions.

Leading regional chartered accountants Carpenter Box has seen an influx of clients for its outsourced financial services over the last year as businesses look not only to control costs but to gain access to high level skills. Over the last year, the firm’s Business Services outsourcing team has grown from 3 to 17.

“The last 18 months have shown many businesses the benefits of being flexible in enhancing internal resources with tailored external support,” said Carpenter Box Partner, Nathan Keeley. “Outsourcing can offer a cost-effective route for functions such as bookkeeping, credit control, payroll and cashflow management but can also enable companies to access expertise at a finance director level. This flexibility has attracted interest from companies of every size working in many different sectors.”

Carpenter Box’s dedicated outsourced finance team works alongside businesses to take over back office accounting and finance functions, ensuring that clients have access to the most up to date technology, systems and processes, while removing the administrative burden. The firm applies the skills, capabilities and technologies developed specifically to support finance and business functions.

Business Services Associate, Joshua Bowen, based in the firm’s Gatwick office, added: “As we start to move on from the pandemic, value for money is the prime consideration for just about every organisation. For many businesses, outsourcing can provide essential finance functions and access to experts in their field in a cost effective way. Certainly, we have seen growing levels of interest in adopting this approach.”

“Having a risk structure in place with up-to-date financial information is essential for any business to move forward from the pandemic and move towards a path of sustained growth.”

For more information, please refer to the Business Services Group at Carpenter Box at www.carpenterbox.com/outsource or call on 01903 234094.

Reach Work partners with Chamber Member, Watch This Sp_ce on diversity and inclusion consultancy

Watch This Sp_ce is delighted to announce our partnership with Reach Work a portfolio of specialist, market-leading job sites.

As recruitment specialists Reach Work understands the importance of creating diverse, inclusive teams and having received requests from clients for guidance driven by a growing concern for greater equality in the workplace, Reach Work have partnered with Watch This Sp_ce.

Watch This Sp_ce provides a combination of services to help organisations at every stage of their inclusion journey with a blend of digital and in-person solutions. Their interactive training courses and unique Inclusion Audit provide organisations with the tools they need to begin the process of making meaningful change.

About Reach Work

Reach Work is a portfolio of 3 specialist, market leading job sites: GAAPweb (finance and accountancy), SecsintheCity (PAs, EAs and business support) and TotallyLegal (lawyers and legal professionals). They are part of Reach plc, the UK’s largest national and regional news publisher.

About Watch This Sp_ce

An award-nominated diversity and inclusion consultancy, helping organisations to reimagine how they work to include everyone. Watch This Sp_ce work with organisations across a range of sectors offering coaching, communications and consultancy. The unique inclusion framework enables organisations to challenge the way they think, understand the gaps in their way of working, and create a roadmap for meaningful change.

 What I have learnt from 400 business leaders in lockdown.

March 2020. I was due to host a Future Skills Summit, with guest speakers from across the UK holding plenaries on the circular economy, the Internet of  Things and the changing workplace. I  was also facilitating a two-day summit on big data and tourism in partnership with the University of Brighton.

 As Programme Director for Essex 2020, over 1000 events stretched ahead, bringing together big engineering firms,  artists, libraries, teenage hackers – you name it – to celebrate science and creativity in misunderstood towns.  

But by the 23rd, I was suddenly very available. And quite frightened.

Much of my professional life has revolved around creating spaces for people to scale new ideas or deepen connections with the communities they serve. It took a little while to recalibrate and to fully understand that the spaces we now needed to occupy were digital ones. The upside is that the always possible team could spend time working with construction to the arts, hospitality, retail, tech, and more.  

If it’s possible to distil some of the  insights into five lessons, regardless of  sector or size, it is these: 

1. Never underestimate your team 

People tend to pull out the stops in a  crisis. And the past 12 months has pushed leaders to re-evaluate the value,  wellbeing and capacity to innovate of the people around them. Nearly always finding a previously untapped well of  ‘can-do and mend’. 
We’ve been asked to help with restructures and shifts to home-working, but the genuine joy is seeing people fall back in love with their work when they can permit themselves to do things differently, to step back and be reminded of their core mission. “We just feel so useful to our customers again”,  one tech COO told me – and that energy is infectious. 

2. Sounding-board  

Ambition + fear x decision-making =  noise. And we’ve been hearing over and again that many small business owners are getting tinnitus from the shrill push and pull of what they’re told they should be doing. From making spaces Covid secure to launching new digital products, we’ve learnt there is not a single new process that doesn’t benefit from some critical friendship.  

And it doesn’t need to cost the Earth.  Across Sussex, programmes such as the Business Hothouse, the BRITE  programme, and all local growth hubs have provided fully-funded support. In East Sussex, we’ve been running the >BRE AK THROUGH  programme for female and ethnic minority founders and giving access to over £1m of growth grants to a range of SMEs as part of the South  East Business Boost. 

3. Get an external 

Targeted mini-research projects are essential at getting teams back on track and putting their energy in the right places. And new resources like the  Brighton Business & IP Centre can help with that. 

4. Create an evidence-based of opportunity 

In the thick of Brexit and the pandemic,  ‘uncertainty’ has become the watchword. So the requests we have had for help rebuilding knowledge of the market, what customers actually need, and business and investor confidence. 

5. Breakdown your priorities  

INTO NOW, NEXT, AND LATER Through providing 1:1s, workshops and grants to over 400 businesses across the UK, the always possible team have perfected a way for businesses to navigate the next 12 months. Whether for a whole business or for a particular product or idea, the key is using engineering techniques that turn the mountain to climb, but a series of small mounds. 

Fourteen months on, and I can be more reflective about the different and complex decisions over 400 teams and executives have been making in the sectors we have more people, giving advice and practical support – but mainly just listening. 
❛❛It took a little while to recalibrate and to fully understand that the spaces we now needed to occupy were digital ones. ❜❜ 
--
always possible is looking for just 100 ambitious businesses to be part of a unique post-traumatic growth community, benefiting from a new style of mentoring, research and action planning that actually works.

To register your interest in free or low-cost access to post-COVID planning support and a unique network of peers  – visit alwayspossible.co.uk/The100 

Live events are back on the menu at St Barnabas - Hit the Downs MTB

It's time kick those lockdown blues to the curb this summer. Let's get back to being together for that feeling of start line butterflies, live crowd cheers and home stretch highs we've all been craving.

Hit the Downs MTB is back again with a brand new 80k route to challenge your inner trail blazer. 

Join Team St Barnabas on Sunday 11 July and blow away the cobwebs of the last year!

Register here: https://www.stbarnabas-hospice.org.uk/events/hit-the-downs-mtb/ 

Calling all small businesses to lead the charge to net zero

Small businesses can use the hub to find practical tools, resources and advice to understand their emissions and develop a plan to tackle them, as well as providing ideas for steps they can take. 

Get the free expert business support you need to succeed - The Business Hot House

With the economy predicted to bounce back strongly, this is a good time to get your business idea going or your existing business growing. With the help of cash from our Invest4 Grant Fund plus the free, expert advice and guidance from The Business Hothouse partnership, you can launch or expand your business knowing that on-going expert support is here to help you to succeed.

• Introduction to the Invest4 Grant workshop
• Grow your business with an Invest4 Grant
• Invest4 Fit For Finance boot camp
• Invest4 Money Sense boot camp 
• 1-2-1 Access to Finance session 

WTM announce exhibition by global internet sensation Hercule Van Wolfwinkle: Pet Portraits 

Worthing Theatres and Museum are excited to announce that the Museum and Gallery will be reopening with four fantastic new exhibitions, including Pet Portraits by Hercule Van Wolfwinkle in the Garden Gallery from Saturday 22 May until Sunday 8 August.

Worthing resident Phil Heckels created an internet storm during lockdown under the alias Hercule Van Wolfwinkle with his self styled 'rubbish' Pet Portraits. What started as a thank you card to his parents, as an attempt to get his reluctant 6 year old away from computer games – turned into hundreds of pet portrait requests flying in from around the globe and raising over £78,000 for West Sussex charity Turning Tides. 

Turning Tides is now the biggest provider of services for single homeless people in West Sussex. With over 5,000 supporters, 300 volunteers and 140 staff, they provide real pathways out of homelessness and are committed to supporting people at every stage of their journey. The breadth of their services empower people experiencing homelessness to become confident and find the strength and belief in themselves to create a brighter future.

Lucy Knowles, Fundraising Manager, Turning Tides has said ‘Phil (aka Hercule Van Wolfwinkle), has not only achieved a phenomenal international fan base, he and his followers have raised a staggering amount in support of Turning Tides. It seems very fitting that his artwork will be celebrated locally at Worthing’s wonderful Art Gallery. We would like to send our heartfelt gratitude to Phil, and everyone who has supported Pet Portraits, because in turn you have also helped the hundreds of men and women in your community who have nowhere to call their home. The ongoing support Pet Portraits has garnered is truly inspiring. Phil has managed to captivate people’s precious pets but also importantly, shared his passion to support the growing number of people who are experiencing homelessness across the county.’

This is Phil's first ever exhibition which opens on Saturday 22 May a week before the release of his first book Rubbish Pet Portraits on Thursday 27 May 2021. 

CEO Amanda O'reilly says ‘We are delighted to be reopening the museum offering the community access to a fantastic set of exhibitions, most with a local link, alongside an amazing programme of walks, talks and workshops. We have also been working hard behind the scenes and regular museum visitors should see some exciting improvements. We will continue to prioritise safety in all our venues, will be limiting the number of people inside the museum and continuing to implement additional safety procedures.’

Initially the museum will be open Saturdays (10am-5pm) and Thursdays (10am-8pm). The exhibitions and permanent collections are free to view, however as a charitable organisation WTM welcomes donations which support their work bringing arts and heritage to Worthing. Additional safety measures remain in place throughout the museum and visitors are asked to wear masks in line with government guidance. 

For more information and to book event tickets visit www.wtam.uk or call the WTM Box Office on 01903 206206. 

South East Manufacturers Aim for Growth through Innovation

Manufacturers in the South East are focused on future growth, despite the challenges of the pandemic and Brexit.

Although around a quarter do not expect a return to pre-pandemic trading levels this year, some sectors, such as electronics, were seeing encouraging growth. This was discussed at the latest online event for the Sussex-based Manufacturing Engineering & Technology Alliance (METALL), organised by Carpenter Box, Coast to Capital and DMH Stallard.

Chris Beck, editor of Manufacturing Management magazine, highlighted the uncertainty faced by manufacturers over the last year, with many business owners worried about the survival of their businesses.

Chris commented: “Times remain hard for manufacturers, but the UK economy is beginning to open up and business confidence and manufacturing output is starting to grow. This was reflected in the March 2021 PMI hitting its highest level for more than 10 years.

“However, Make UK recently reported that more than 25% of manufacturers do not expect to see their businesses returning to pre-pandemic levels for more than a year.”

Many businesses have survived through collaboration, resilience and their problem-solving skills, as highlighted on the webinar by Kathy Caton, founder and MD of Brighton Gin.

Kathy explained: “We’ll always find a way around challenges. Although Brexit has been spectacularly difficult for us and 90% of our customers in the hospitality industry remained closed during the pandemic, we were able to change production virtually overnight.

“We had all the ingredients, so we decided to make not-for-profit hand sanitiser; for every one sold over our website, two were donated to frontline workers. We have also started to produce new products with a new gin size and ready-to-drink products in recyclable cans that can be drunk outside.”   

Alan Edmonds, MD of Littlehampton-based SI Protech UK, described how post-Brexit arrangements covering delivery costs, tariffs and duties had significantly impacted the company’s exports, but that he remained confident for the longer term.

Tony Summers, Partner and Head of Manufacturing at Carpenter Box, said that while the trading environment remained challenging, local manufacturers were showing remarkable resilience, agility and innovation in adapting to the new normal.

Fargro set to bloom following management buy-out

Horticultural solutions and products specialist, Fargro Limited is shrugging off the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and preparing for accelerated growth in 2021 and beyond following the successful completion of a management buy-out (MBO) with private equity partner, Ashridge Capital.

Despite the closure of garden centres in 2020 due to Covid-19, Fargro has enjoyed a stellar operating year, capitalising on increased consumer demand as the UK population turned to its gardens and window-boxes to improve mental wellbeing during recent periods of pandemic-related restrictions.

The MBO and investment from sponsor Ashridge Capital will enable the business to adopt a more agile approach to its growth strategy, ensuring it is able to occupy its rightful position in a competitive marketplace. This new structure will allow Fargro to invest in R&D, new product development, and business growth, more quickly and with more flexibility than the previous structure would support.

Richard Hopkins, Managing Director at Fargro Limited said:

“Fargro is a fabulous, well-respected business built over a period of 75 years. The combination of this investment, our vision, and the commitment of our passionate team ensures that we are now more strongly positioned than ever for a long and healthy future.

We are in an exciting place, working in a technologically advanced, environmentally sustainable, and highly innovative sector. The business is perfectly placed to meet the increasing demand for our products as the UK continues to work through the impact of the pandemic, and as growers maximise the post-Brexit demand for home-grown food and flowering plants.

Thanks to the support from both Ashridge Capital and Shawbrook Bank, we can now focus fully on preparing for growth and writing the next chapter of the Fargro story under our own management ream.

My thanks go to Phil Green, our outgoing Chairman, for his assistance and advice in completing this deal. Thanks also to out departing non-exec Directors for their support and encouragement over the five years I’ve been in the business. Chris Moncrieff, Jonathan Zwinkels, Rosie Freshwater and Mike Norris have stepped down from the board and David Sherratt, our private equity partner, has joined as a non-exec director.

Our business depends on the loyalty and support of our wonderful customers, suppliers, distributors and partners. I look forward to continuing to work with them and deliver the same high levels of support as we have always done.”

David Sherratt, Founder and CEO of Ashridge Capital, said:

“Fargro is a great business with a leading position in a dynamic and growing sector and led by a very impressive management team.  It has been a pioneer in developing products and solutions to minimise disease, pests and wastage for growers.  We are delighted to support the MBO and its future plans, which include organic and acquisition-led growth.” 

Fargro was advised by Irwin Mitchell (Legal) and FRP Advisory (Corporate and Debt Advisory). Ashridge Capital was advised by Porter Dodson (Legal) and Jenson Solutions (Financial Due Diligence). Shawbrook Bank was advised by Shoosmiths (Legal).