BUSINESS MAGAZINE - Kingston Chamber of Commerce

BUSINESS MAGAZINE

Fuel consumption in mpg (l/100km): Urban 24.4-64.2 (11.6-4.4); Extra Urban 46.3-83.1 (6.1-3.4); Combined 34.9-75.0 (8.1-3.8). CO2 Emissions 194-99 g/km. Offi cial EU Test Figures. For comparison purpose only. Real world fi gures may diff er.

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PRE – EXIT CONSULTING

KINGSTON BUSINESS

EXPO2015

Wednesday 10th June· Visitors go free· Opening times extended 8am – 4pm· Networking Breakfast and Speed-Networking· Reduced rates for Start Ups and Charities

Bookyour standtoday

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT: WWW.KINGSTONCHAMBER.CO.UK/EXPO CALL 020 8541 4441 EMAIL: [email protected] TWITTER @KINGSTONEXPO

“ The Kingston Business Expo, represents the single biggest networking opportunity

Business Community Lead Office, Kingston Council.

I am pleased to report that the pace and momentum of progressachieved last year has carried over into 2015 as January saw theofficial launch of the Kingston Young Entrepreneurs Club atKingston University Business School. I would like to offer mythanks to all those involved in the organisation of the event andthe 75, or so, young entrepreneurs who attended and registeredtheir interest in joining this exciting new development supportingnew enterprise in the borough.

As the economy continues to show signs of sustained improvement,there is probably not a better time for businesses to think aboutgrowth; maybe by developing new products or services, expanding intonew markets or, for some, through merger or acquisition. To do thissuccessfully, though, requires careful thought and planning and formany, perhaps, a bit of expert guidance. And so, throughout thecourse of this year the Chamber’s focus will be on providing all the helpour members need to ensure they maximise their growth potential. In May, we will be offering a series of seminars, facilitated byprofessional consultants, designed to help you develop your growthplans and don’t forget to visit our Business Expo in June where we willhave information, seminars and news about the future vision and growth strategy for Kingston as a borough.

I believe, this is a really exciting time for Kingston businesses, withsome great opportunities to maximise their potential in a rapidlychanging and growing environment. If you would like any furtherinformation about the future growth plans for the Royal Borough,please contact me or visit the Kingston Futures website atwww.kingstonfutures.org.uk

Membership: Jerry Irving

Finance, Events and Administration: Wanda McFarlane

Membership and Events: Amanda Mellett

Editorial, Advertising, Design and Production: The Creative Peoplewww.thecreativepeople.co.uk

Event Photographs: Paul Milsom www.paulmilsom.co.uk, Karen Powellwww.thecreativepeople.co.uk

The Royal Borough of KingstonChamber of Commerce Guildhall, High StreetKingston upon Thames KT1 1EU

T 020 8541 4441 E [email protected] W kingstonchamber.co.uk

Eureka is compiled with the utmost care,however, the publisher accepts noresponsibility for any errors or omissions.

Front Cover Left to right: Launch of Kingston YoungEntrepreneurs Club; KingstonChamber Breakfast at YMCA © Paul Milsom; Love Kingston Day © Karen Powell; Iain Duncan Smithand James Berry visit Databac; Raven’sAit; Kingston Chamber Lunch atWarren House.

Chief Executive, KingstonChamber of Commerce

[email protected]

Jerry Irving

Kingston Chamber NetworkingBreakfastCanbury Arms, Kingston

Kingston Market

Maple Works, Surbiton

Warren House, Kingston

Kingston

Glenmore House, Surbiton

Surbiton Golf Studios

Comptoir Libanais, Kingston

Charrington Bowl, Tolworth

All Saints Church, Kingston

Holiday Inn, Kingston

Glenmore House, Surbiton

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2014/15

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Welcome to the spring editionof Eureka and I trust you havehad a successful business periodsince our last winter edition.

Each year the President has thehonour of choosing a charitywhich the Chamber will supportduring his or her term. My chosencharity is Friends of Dysart Schooland I am so pleased the Chamberand its members have shownsuch support for it over this lastyear. Dysart School is a wonderfulspecial needs school located justdown the road from my office onthe Ewell Road. It educates

vulnerable children and young people (aged 4 to 19) withsevere, complex and profound disabilities. Over the last year I have been honoured to attend and support a number of itsevents and I am delighted to report that the Chamber, so far,has been able to contribute over £1300 towards the cost oftheir improved school playground project. In addition, wehave also been able to support the school in other ways,including the members of staff from my company, TaxAssist,

painting both the family room and nurse’s room beforeChristmas. And we are not finished yet as before the end of my presidency in May we have planned some further fund-raising events!

I am pleased to say that, so far, Friends of Dysart School havebeen able to raise £16,440 and have also secured a grant for£15,000 which means they are now able to refurbish thecurrent playground which will provide pupils with excitingnew equipment allowing them to engage in outside activities,promoting and encouraging exercise and healthy living.

My year as President has been rewarding, enlightening and not least enjoyable! It has been an honour to represent theChamber and indeed local businesses at many events andoccasions borough wide, especially our own Business Awards andBusiness Expo. Before my time is up I will be hosting the launchof the 2015 Business Awards at Warren House on 19 March.

I look forward to seeing you all at upcoming events over thenext few months and I hope you will also join us for theAGM and lunch on 20 May at Glenmore House where I willbe handing over the Presidential reigns to my successor!

[email protected]

President, KingstonChamber of Commerce

Bruce Burrowes

The launch of the new KingstonYoung Entrepreneurs Club, thefirst of its kind in the RoyalBorough of Kingston, took placeat Kingston University onThursday 29th January.Organised by Kingston Chamberof Commerce in partnership withKingston University’s Enterprise!Insights, the event was attendedby the Mayor of Kingston, Cllr Ken Smith who greeted over75 aspiring Young Entrepreneursfrom all over the royal borough.

Opening the event, the Mayor was keen to stress howimportant it is for Kingston that we invest in encouragingyoung and talented entrepreneurs who ultimately may become our key business leaders and employers of the future.

The club has been founded by an enthusiastic group of partners who are passionate about fostering youngentrepreneurship and representing them at the launch Jerry Irving, Chief Executive of Kingston’s Chamber ofCommerce said “It is not the role of we, the partners, to be prescriptive about how KYEC should develop, it must be anorganisation which is for young entrepreneurs, by young entrepreneurs. We believe our responsibility is to seed the idea and offer support to help it develop”.

The opening speeches were followed by a presentation from Tim Beeson, a Director of Natterbox, a young revolutionarytelecoms company. Tim talked about his path to becoming a highly successful business person. The evening concluded with a Launch Party in the Business School’s Atrium area where many of the event’s attendees registered their interest in joining the club.

If you would like to register your interest for future events, visit www.kingstonyoungentrepreneurs.club

or follow them on twitter @kyelub or like the Facebook page /kyeClub

To book an event visit our website:

www.kingstonchamber.co.uk

Business and Management ConsultancyMark Perry

Business DevelopmentNicolle Anderson

Financial ServicesLaurie Clay

Conferences and EventsRobert Dobbie

Business and Management ConsultancyAndrew Muir

HealthcareJehan Yehia

Import and processing of seafoodproductsJames Robinson

Interior DesignSarah Taylor

Professional ConsultingAdrian Wheeler

Restaurant, Pub CaféGary Gripton

Tell us about yourself and your role at New England SeafoodI have had 8 fascinating years now at New England Seafood. We are a privatelyowned Premium Seafood business basedin Chessington, supplying the likes ofWaitrose, M&S, Sainsburys, Yo! Sushi andItsu. We source over 25 species from 30countries, employing over 20 nationalitiesso we are a truly global bunch. Sales willbe just shy of £90million this year.

How do New England Seafoodsengage locally?I am told we are one of the largest privateemployers in the Borough of Kingstonwith over 300 employees and we arereally committed to employing locallywhere we can. We have an apprenticeprogramme and also take on graduates.We also employ those who are not ineducation, employment or training (NEET)to give people the chance to experience

the office and food processing facilitieswe have on site.

Why have you joined KingstonChamber of Commerce?We have started the Cox Lane Forumaround our Chessington facility, gettingseveral of our neighbouring businessestogether. The Chamber is helping usidentify how best to get the local supportand resources we need for the area as awhole. I also want my senior team totake advantage of the networking andtraining events that the Chamber offers,so I hope you will start to see us around.

James Robinson Managing DirectorNew England SeafoodInternational Ltd

[email protected]

Since winning the Commitment to the Community Award2014, Kingston Rotary Club continues to develop its localcommunity and international efforts.

With spectacular success, its Winter Festival raised over £14,000for local charities. The impressive, unmissable Rotree Installation,designed by Kingston College students, was strongly supportedby ASK and the Royal Borough. Around it 20 charities raisedmoney while Santa visited and musicians performed.

Elsewhere the Kingsmeadow Fireworks, organised withKingston Round Table, drew a record audience, the elderlyenjoyed film shows, and schools benefited from competitionsand business games. A new RotaKids Club has just started up atKing Athelstan School and our Dragon Boat Festival will be on19 July. Overseas the Club is planning a major grant to theSurbiton based charity African Vision Malawi. Always looking tostrengthen its capacity to help the community, the Clubwelcomes new members. Visit: www.kingstonrotaryclub.org.uk

Most excitingly Kingston Rotary is looking to create adynamic, new, flexible club: run to fit the needs of itsmembers and delivering new projects in the community.

Interested? Come for coffee at 10.30am 21st March at the Cardinal on Tudor Drive KT2 5QG or contact

Jackie Webber E [email protected] T 07906 480943

WE HAVE RAISED £70,000 FORGOOD CAUSES: WORK IN SCHOOLS,WITH ADULTS, DISADVANTAGEDCHILDREN AND THE ELDERLY.We also provide: drinking water in Cameroon, shelters forhurricane and earthquake victims, deliver 1,000 volunteer hours and impact on 10,000 local people. Rotary’s End Polio Now campaign has vaccinated 2.5 billion children.

VISIT: www.kingstonrotaryclub.org.uk

WE’RE FOR COMMUNITIES

If you are interested come for coffeeat the Cardinal on Tudor Drive KT2 5QG21st March at 10.30 am.Contact Jackie Webber [email protected] or 07906 480943

The Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith MP and James Berry,Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Kingston and Surbiton, visited Databac on 8th January to learnabout this family run business that has been trading inKingston for more than 43 years. Databac make ID cardsand badges and are one of a small number ofmanufacturers left in the borough.

They were shown around the premises and took the time tochat to the staff over coffee and biscuits. Brandel Dinzon Gotold them about his one year apprenticeship scheme anddiscussed the work opportunities it would open up for him.

Iain Duncan Smith was extremely impressed with the securityaspect of the cards that Databac manufacture. James Berrycommented to the local press that “It’s companies likeDatabac that lead theeconomic recoveryand help create jobs. I am behind small andmedium businessesand will doeverything I can topromote businesses in Kingston.”

IN ASSOCIATION WITHSSOCIAAIN WITHTION SSOCIA

Have you ever wondered about Kingston’s fascinatinghistory? If so, why not join one of the specially trainedKingston Tour Guides for an entertaining walk on aSunday morning?

The Guides are history enthusiasts and local volunteers,operating as a Council approved group since 1991. They givewalking tours to residents and visitors, as well as illustratedtalks and private walks to pre-arranged groups, and alsoarrange walks for Council staff to improve their awareness ofthe town’s heritage.

The cost of scheduled tours is £5 per person, and there is noneed to book in advance except for groups. The walks start at11am on Sundays – from the memorial gates in front of All Saints Church in the Market Place and last about 11⁄2 hours,operating weekly from 1 April until 30 September; from 1 October to 31 March there is just one walk each first Sundayof the month. There are also Surbiton tours which last about11⁄2 hours, starting at the front of Surbiton Railway station.These are held in the summer months only – on the secondSunday of each month from 1 April to the end of September.

Group bookings for tours can be arranged at times and datesto suit potential customers by calling 020 8399 0160.

Kingston was a location for coronations of Saxon kings, andthe market place and parish church date from the MiddleAges. The town also has a chapel which became a school in the reign of ‘Good Queen Bess’, the site of thefirst bridge across the Thames upriver from London Bridge formany centuries, familiar shops which were once coachinginns in an age of highwaymen; all these are revealed on aguided tour of our ancient market town.

So to gain an insight into over 1,000 years of the intriguing,entertaining and unique history of Kingston, or thefascinating growth of Surbiton at the birth of the railway age,join one of the Kingston Tour guides for a scheduled tour or book your own group for a private walk or talk to appreciate our local history.

www.kingstontourguides.org.uk

Home Eventends Sunday 26 April

LIVING ~ DINING ENTERTAINING

SHERIDAN KARIJINI Double Duvet Cover WAS £99 NOW £69

TEFAL 8 IN 1 COOKER WAS £59.95 NOW £49.95

FISSLER ORIGINAL PROFESSIONAL 5 Piece Set WAS £795 NOW £495

ASHLEY MANOR JACOBLarge Sofa WAS £1285 NOW £959

020 8546 1001

Serious About Sofas?We Make It Personal.

Meet Andrew Jones. Along with his wife Ruth, he runs Seriously Sofas of Kingston – home to some of the most beautifully designed bespoke and customised sofas, sofa-beds, corner units, chairs and accessories in the UK. In our showroom you’ll find quality products at affordable prices. And even better they can be customised to meet the exact requirements of your new home or extension. So why not pop in and discover a sofa or sofa bed to suit your personality as well as your space... a real focus on choice, quality and flexibility… and some of the most knowledgeable advice this side of the River Thames. We look forward to meeting you.

Please visit us online at

www.seriouslysofas.co.uk

Crown Arcade, Union St, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 1RP Tel: 020 8549 1233 Email: [email protected]

Kingston is not onlyhome to the well-known names we all love, it alsoboasts a unique andvibrant Independentscene perfect forshoppers seekingthat somethingextra special or oneoff – a winningcombination thatsets Kingston apartfrom otherdestinations andsecured the town the Great BritishHigh Street Award in 2014.

Explore over 800 years of history atKingston’s Ancient Market, discoveringhidden treasures as you walk through theApple Market. Castle Street, also known assandwich alley will tempt taste buds beforeheading to Eden Walk to the niche retailersand beauty boutiques.

If arts are your thing, head to Fife Roadwhere the specialists are resident; you’ll alsofind urban fashion stores for the discerningshopper.

Old London Road has an eclectic mix ofshops, from high-end hair salons andvintage clothing to Kingston’s AntiqueCentre where you can discover a unique gift or addition for your home.

If you are looking for a new sofa, head downto Seriously Sofas in Crown Arcade – voted‘Best Independent Retailer’ in the KingstonBusiness Excellence Awards. You will receive a warm welcome and great advice fromKingston Chamber members Ruth andAndrew who are passionate about their sofas.

Kingston has also been home to Bentallssince 1867. Steeped in history, Bentalls hasevolved from a small drapery shop into thepremium department store it is today.

For more information visit:www.kingstonfirst.co.uk

Former chief executive of Kingston Chamber of Commerce, Lisa Gagliani, has been awarded an MBE for her worksupporting young people and small businesses in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours.

After 11 years as CEO of the Chamber, Lisa left in 2012 totake up the role as CEO of the Bright Ideas Trust – a trustdedicated to helping disadvantaged people in London to getinto work.

Lisa said, “When I was CEO of the Chamber I decided tobecome a ‘useful intermediary’ between local businesses andschools. I became involved and latterly the chair of the areaboard for Young Enterprise. I was inspired by the number ofchamber members who so willingly put themselves forward tobe business advisors to YE Companies set up in localschools.”

Robin Hutchinson, the creator of events such as Seething SkiSunday and the Surbiton Food Festival, was also recognised inthe New Year’s honours list and made an MBE for services tothe arts and to the local community in Surbiton and Kingston.

Robin is a founding Trustee/Director of the Rose Theatre,Kingston and Chair of the charity Creative Youth, organisersof the International Youth Arts Festival in Kingston. Now init’s seventh year, the festival is driven and created by and foryoung people. He also established the Douglas Centre, nowthe Cornerhouse community arts centre in Surbiton.

Robin said: “This honour is really for all the wonderful peoplewho have helped, supported and given their time and energyto make brilliant things happen in the borough.”

Lisa and Robin are an inspiration to us all and their uniqueideas, enthusiasm and commitment to helping the communityhave been duly rewarded.

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JOIN THE HOUR

Celebrate Earth Hour 2015 byturning Lights-Off for one houron March 28 2015 at 8:30 pm.

Thousands of businesses,governments and organisationshave stepped forward to leadand commit to Earth Hour.

Engage and inspire youremployees, customers,suppliers, clients, communitiesand industry during Earth Hourand all year round.

HELP MAKE CHANGE A REALITY

The town centre was buzzing on 14th February when KingstonChamber members helped to raise money in aid of local charities and community projects on Love Kingston Day.

� A Little Holistic Oasis and Databacoffered relaxing back massages to weary shoppers in the Bentall Centre for a small donation.

� The Bentall Centre and Bentallsjoined forces to create a ‘Love Heart Bridge’. They soldred hearts and invited people to write on them what theylove about Kingston.

� Kingstonfirst organised ‘Love’ photo booths in John Lewisdepartment store and Eden Walk, where fun photos couldbe taken in return for a donation to the campaign.

� The Canbury Arms hosted a ‘free’ hog roast in return for donations, held a raffle, and sold craft beers supplied by local Park Brewery – a fantastic £415 was raised.

� St George PLC provided a forum for local artists to exhibit their work in the Old Post Office, Kingston. A donation from artworks sold were donated to the appeal.

The day ended with two more fun fundraising events –a ‘Rich Man, Poor Man’ dinner with live music and dancing,held at St John’s Church; and the Ahmadiyya MuslimCommunity Charity Dinner at the Shiraz Mirza Trust Hall.

For more information or to make a donation toLove Kingston visit www.love-kingston.org.uk

“Love Kingston Day is a time to unite and come together tohave fun fundraising to support the vulnerable living amongstus. There are over 400 charity and community projects doingamazing work across the borough. They are the glue in oursociety. They often need small yet vital grants to continuedelivering a service. The Love Kingston campaign supportsfive projects and is building the Kingston Legacy Fund forsustainable giving. We make it easy to give, so you can givewith confidence, knowing that all donations stay local”.

Elaine Miller, Fundraising Manager, Love KingstonE [email protected] T 020 8255 3335

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