business connected essex edition 7

LeadingB2B Magazine

Business Networking

Featured Local News

BUSINESS

ESSEXCONNECTED

June / July 2014

Introducing our latest Premier Partners

Passion energy commitmentOur aim is to support you to achieveyour goals

www.cbhc.uk.com

Founded in 1997, Antony Batty & Co LLP is an established and well

respected Insolvency Practice with offices in London and Brentwood.

Specialising in Business Recovery and Turnaround, Corporate Insolvency

and Financial Restructuring, the Brentwood office is headed up

by Nicole Southwell who has over 22 years experience in helping

businesses across Essex and the UK.

We pride ourselves on giving Companies and Directors professional,

honest advice, and our initial ‘no obligation’ meeting is confidential

and free of charge. Our aim is to guide our clients through the available

options, treat them with courtesy and respect, and make the process

as straightforward as possible. We have extensive experience in

most areas of business, with Construction, Travel, Transport and

Retail being particular specialties. Our Firm has over 150 years

combined experience.

Please visit our website for client testimonials,

and examples of how we have successfully helped

businesses in financial difficulty.

Contact our team in Brentwood to get some

impartial and confidential advice on 01277 230347

or email Nicole Southwell [email protected]

Nicole Southwell Head of ABC Brentwood

Help when you need it most

Gary Waskett Business Development Manager

ABC Brentwood

01277 230347 | [email protected] | www.antonybatty.com
























ABC Brentwood

























ABC Brentwood


Save locally

SHAWBROOK BANK LIMITED IS AUTHORISED BY THE PRUDENTIAL REGULATION AUTHORITY AND REGULATED BY THE FINANCIAL CONDUCT AUTHORITY AND THE PRUDENTIAL

REGULATION AUTHORITY. REGISTERED OFFICE, LUTEA HOUSE, WARLEY HILL BUSINESS PARK, THE DRIVE, GREAT WARLEY, BRENTWOOD, ESSEX, CM13 3BE. REGISTERED IN

ENGLAND, COMPANY NUMBER 388466. SHAWBROOK BANK LIMITED IS A MEMBER OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES COMPENSATION SCHEME. * AER STANDS FOR ANNUAL

EQUIVALENT RATE. IF YOU LEFT A SUM OF MONEY IN YOUR ACCOUNT ALL YEAR, THE AER WOULD BE THE INTEREST RATE YOU’D GET IF WE PAID YOU INTEREST DURING THE

COURSE OF THE YEAR AND YOUR SUBSEQUENTLY HIGHER BALANCE THEN EARNED MORE INTEREST (THIS IS KNOWN AS COMPOUND INTEREST).

S T A R T S A V I N G W I T H S H A W B R O O K

IN-HOUSE SAVINGS TEAM T 0845 266 6611

[email protected]

DOWNLOAD AN APPLICATION FORM ONLINE

W W W . S H A W B R O O K . C O . U K

At Shawbrook, we believe your bank should be a

pleasure to deal with and that your savings should

always achieve a good return.

Our best-buy business accounts have friendly,

experienced support from our team in Brentwood and a

Moneyfacts award to support our ethos.

You don’t need to change your bank to save with us, just

save with a new kind of bank - Shawbrook Bank.

1.25% AER*

100 DAY BUSINESS

NOTICE ACCOUNT

1.50% AER*

1 YEAR FIXED RATE

BUSINESS BOND

A4_SB_SA_Save_Locally_Business_May2014.indd 1 19/05/2014 11:10

The all-new Mercedes-Benz C-ClassThe all-new Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Born to Drive.Born to Drive.Introducing the sensational new Mercedes-Benz C-Class- available to pre-order from Lancaster Mercedes-BenzCorporate now.

The new saloon is designed from the ground up to giveclass-leading performance, cutting edge style andpioneering technology - not to mention just 104 g/km^and up to 70.6 mpg combined*.

Chelmsford John Vickers 0844 649 7074 Colchester & Ipswich Kim Hutson 0844 649 7075 Southend & Lakeside Adam Fisher 0844 649 7076

Lancaster Mercedes-Benz Corporate

*Business Users Only. Advance payment and fee applies. All payments subject to VAT: Finance based on Contract Hire agreement, 10,000 miles per annum. Excess mileage charges may apply. Rental includes Road FundLicense for the contract duration. Guarantees and indemnities may be required. Orders/credit approved on selected new C-Class models between 1 May - 30 June 2014, registered by 30 September 2014. Subject toavailability. Offers cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Some combinations of features/options may not be available. Credit approved subject to status by Mercedes-Benz Financial Services UK Limited,MK15 8BA. Prices correct at time of print 05/14 - subject to change at any time. Model pictured is representative only and may not reflect the actual specification featured.

Contact us on 0844 649 7074 for more information @lancastermb

CONTACTYOUR LOCAL

FLEETSPECIALIST

Whatever your business needs, you can trust our Essex and Suffolk expert teams to help youevery step of the way. Let us know what you’re looking for - and we’ll take care of the rest.

PRE-ORDER TODAY FROM LANCASTER CORPORATEPRE-ORDER TODAY FROM LANCASTER CORPORATE

From just £339 a month**

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C-Class Business Connected May14(version 21 BLEED).pdf 1 12/05/2014 16:25:25

Business Coach - How to Build Your Business in 201424

Technology Update - Google Glass, Yes or No?34

Business Advice - Pension Automatic Enrolment28

Contents

Welcome...Welcome to the June / July edition of the Business Connected Essex magazine. Our biggest news of the summer is that we are moving our ever popular networking events from bi-monthly to monthly, each of our venues will host a Business Connected event on the same Friday each month to help you plan your networking easier, more details can be found on page 4. We have been out and about a lot over the last few months including exhibiting across many venues in the South East, you may have seen us at Colchester Means Business one of the many expo’s the Business Connected magazine was represented at. In this edition we tackle the issue of auto-enrolment. Look at the latest HR update from SVC, discuss our Premier Partner scheme further and see the first regular editorial from ActionCOACH. The St Helena Hospice £50 challenge is well under way with take up this year increased so we are really pleased to be involved with that. More info on the challenge can be found on our local news round up on page 30.

I hope you enjoy this latest edition of Business Connected and look forward to seeing you all soon.

03www.businessconnected.co.uk

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part in any way without prior written permission of Business Connected Ltd. Whilst every effort is made to ensure accuracy, no liability can be accepted for any errors or omissions.

Get In TouchTel:

01702 513113

Email: [email protected]

Or Visit: www.businessconnected.co.uk

Follow us on Facebook

www.facebook.com/BusinessConnected

Follow us on Twitter

@Connected_Essex

Printed in the UK by Printwize www.printwize.co.uk

Lead Feature - Premier Partner Scheme

06 07

Charity News - CHAPS - The Men’s Health Charity20

Essex Round Up - News From Around The County30

Essex Networking Events - Recommended by Business Connected

18 19

HR Update - Flexible Working, Maternity and Paternity08

Richard Pond Managing Director

LeadingB2B Magazine

Business Networking

Featured Local News

BUSINESS

ESSEXCONNECTED

June / July 2014

Introducing our latest Premier Partners


www.cbhc.uk.com
























ABC Brentwood

























ABC Brentwood

























ABC Brentwood


Save locally








[email protected]











1.25% AER*

100 DAY BUSINESS

NOTICE ACCOUNT

1.50% AER*

1 YEAR FIXED RATE

BUSINESS BOND


The all-new Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Born to Drive.Introducing the sensational new Mercedes-Benz C-Class- available to pre-order from Lancaster Mercedes-BenzCorporate now.

The new saloon is designed from the ground up to giveclass-leading performance, cutting edge style andpioneering technology - not to mention just 104 g/km^and up to 70.6 mpg combined*.

Chelmsford John Vickers 0844 649 7074 Colchester & Ipswich Kim Hutson 0844 649 7075 Southend & Lakeside Adam Fisher 0844 649 7076

Lancaster Mercedes-Benz Corporate

*Business Users Only. Advance payment and fee applies. All payments subject to VAT: Finance based on Contract Hire agreement, 10,000 miles per annum. Excess mileage charges may apply. Rental includes Road FundLicense for the contract duration. Guarantees and indemnities may be required. Orders/credit approved on selected new C-Class models between 1 May - 30 June 2014, registered by 30 September 2014. Subject toavailability. Offers cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Some combinations of features/options may not be available. Credit approved subject to status by Mercedes-Benz Financial Services UK Limited,MK15 8BA. Prices correct at time of print 05/14 - subject to change at any time. Model pictured is representative only and may not reflect the actual specification featured.

Contact us on 0844 649 7074 for more information @lancastermb

CONTACTYOUR LOCAL

FLEETSPECIALIST

Whatever your business needs, you can trust our Essex and Suffolk expert teams to help youevery step of the way. Let us know what you’re looking for - and we’ll take care of the rest.

PRE-ORDER TODAY FROM LANCASTER CORPORATE

From just £339 a month**

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C-Class Business Connected May14(version 21 BLEED).pdf 1 12/05/2014 16:25:25

BUSINESS

ESSEXCONNECTED

04 www.businessconnected.co.uk

Business Connected is proud to be operating the county’s

premier b2b magazine, networking events and online

portal that focus on the business community of Essex. We

bring local businesses together via the many platforms that

we operate. Our magazine is distributed across the whole

country in print and online. The business connected website

which receives over half a million hits a month is dedicated

to up to date business news, a business directory and the

number one place to find out what’s going on in Essex. You

may have heard about the Business Connected Premier

Partner scheme which helps businesses be seen not just in

print but also online and through our fantastic social media

offering, full details on pages 6 and 7.

If you are like us and still like to see potential customers

regulaly face to face then our networking events might be

just the answer. We hold

four quality business

networking events.

Details of our upcoming

events below.

At all events we follow

the same proven

formula, we send

delegate lists out in

advance, have plenty

of time to network, listen to one or two short

but informative talks and get fed well.

We always make sure there is a real

focus on networking. Still not

convinced? Then have a

look at the videos of

our events at www.

businessconnected.

co.uk you can also

book your tickets here.

To advertise in any of our

forthcoming publications

or for any information

on anything Business

Connected related please

call us today on 01702

513113 or email info@

businessconnected.co.uk

To book tickets for any Business Connected event please visit: www.businessconnected.co.uk/our-events or call 01702 513113

Business Connected

@Colchester United

next event 25th July

and then every month

from September

Business Connected

@Essex Cricket Club

next event 18th July

and then every month

from September

Business Connected

@Southend Airport

Every month

from

September

Business Connected

@Ipswich Town FC

Every month

from

September

About us

Our Twitter service includes: Page branding

3 month Twitter strategy

4 tweets per day

Replies to all incoming messages

Attracting new followers (Average 1000 new folllowers in 90 days)

Links to your website and other social media

Does your business have a Twitter account?

Can you believe over 65% of UK businesses now have

a Twitter account?

There is now over 500 million registered accounts worldwide!

We here at Business Connected understand your time is valuable

and we are here to help. LinkedIn, Facebook and now Twitter! Twitter is growing so rapidly.

We can set up, manage and run your account. We can set up, manage and run your complete

twitter campaign.

Here is an outline of our great value Twitter service.

Not only will it help with your companies marketing but will also open you up to a whole other world of social media.

BUSINESS

CONNECTEDFollow us on Twitter@Connected_Essex

Page branding

3 month Twitter strategy

4 tweets per day

Replies to all incoming messages

Attracting new followers

Links to your website and other social media

The Business Connected

You may have heard us talking recently about

our Premier Partner Scheme and we are proud

to announce the latest partners to the Business

Connected family.

We only work with one company for each

industry so we can champion them and only

them within in their industry across the whole

county. Shown right are our current Premier

Partners and their industry categories.

With plenty of categories still available Business

Connected is looking to work with you.

Designed to support companies who need

to introduce a cohesive and co-ordinated

marketing strategy or a company who wishes

to enhance an existing offering. We provide

companies with an effective, structured solution

at an affordable price.

How often do you promise yourself that you’ll

invest more in social media, run regular email

and print campaigns but simply don’t have the

time or expertise to do it?

Our Premier Partner Scheme

could be the answer.

Asset Finance & Water Coolers

Radio

Recruitment


www.cbhc.uk.com
























ABC Brentwood

























ABC Brentwood

























ABC Brentwood


Lending

Accountants

Car Dealer

Car Leasing

Insolvency Practitioners

Loyalty System

Human Resources

Banking

Training, Coaching and White Collar

Franchise

Driving Dynamics

Printers

Save locally








[email protected]











1.25% AER*

100 DAY BUSINESS

NOTICE ACCOUNT

1.50% AER*

1 YEAR FIXED RATE

BUSINESS BOND


Premier Partner Scheme

BUSINESS

ESSEXCONNECTED

Exclusivity – We only work with one company of any type within the county.

Business Connected Magazine – A full page in every edition of this magazine,

we print and distribute 6000 copies, email 30,000 copies as well as uploading

to the Business Connected website and social media sites.

Social Media – Yes you may have a Twitter / LinkedIn / Facebook account but

how about a helping hand, we can set up and run your account, interact as a

“raving fan” or simply come over and give you regular training to all your staff.

Email Campaigns – Need to get the message out the masses? we have a

number of options which we can tailor to suit the needs of your business.

From monthly newsletters, your logos and links on our email campaigns or

simply a help with data.

Networking Events – Many people know Business Connected from our

countywide events and we want you to be part of them, fancy being a

speaker or displaying your banner at all our events? Being a Premier Partner

of Business Connected gives you tickets and access to all of our events from

Ipswich to Southend and everywhere in between.

Website – Our Business Connected website gets thousands of visitors a day,

being a countywide news based website we are the number one place to find

business news. We are offering our premier partners prime advertising space

throughout the site.

Account Manager – Probably the most important feature of the Partnership

scheme. Our account managers are working around the clock to find our

partners leads, from the many networking events we attend and run to the list

of leads. Our staff are introducing and passing referrals on a daily basis.

To find out how to become a Premier Partner and to see if your business

category is still available then give us a call today and we can pop in

for a chat and run you through the many features of becoming

a Business Connected Premier Partner. 01702 513113.


lexible working regulations are changing on 30th June. SVC have been updating their clients policies to reflect the new guidelines. Here are the basics to

flexible working, maternity and paternity leave.

Until now only employees who are the carer of a child being of the correct age could request to work flexibly, however, as a result of recent amendments this right will be extended to all employees that have 6 months continuous service.

The initial points to consider for a flexible working request are:

• Is the employee eligible?

• Do they have the correct length of service?

• Have they already applied for flexible working within the last 12 months?

If they qualify then they are entitled to request an adjustment to their hours, times of work, or place of work.

You must consider the request within a reasonable time and if there are valid business reasons as to why you may refuse a request for flexible working, for example:

• The burden of additional costs;

• A detrimental effect on the ability to meet customer demand;

• The inability to reorganise work among existing staff;

• The inability to recruit additional people;

• Detrimental impact on quality;

• Detrimental impact on performance;

• Insufficiency of work during the periods proposed to work;

• Planned structural changes;

You must communicate these reasons in writing to the employee but they have the right to appeal the decision.

Maternity LeaveThere are a few things to know about statutory entitlements:

• 2 weeks compulsory Maternity Leave immediately follows the birth (4 weeks for factory workers);

• 26 weeks of Maternity Leave;

• A further 26 weeks that the mother can take, or she can transfer them to either the father or her partner;

• Maternity Pay (you can choose to provide enhanced Maternity Pay with a minimum of SMP) as follows:

Higher: 6 weeks at 90% of average weekly earnings;

Lower: 33 weeks at SMP or 90% of the average weekly earnings (whichever is the lesser);

To qualify for SMP they must:

• Have 26 weeks continuous service at the 15th week before expected week of childbirth (EWC);

• Have had average earnings at or above the lower earnings level for the 8 weeks before the last pay day prior to the qualifying week;

• Still be pregnant at the 11th week before EWC or have had the baby;

The earliest that maternity leave can start is the 11th week before the baby is due.

Not all employees qualify for Maternity pay, because of length of service or earnings, if they do not qualify for SMP they must be provided with an SMP1 form for maternity allowance.

Ten ‘Keeping in touch’ (KIT) days, may be completed if mutually agreed by you and the employee, these were brought in to help integration back into the work place and will be paid at, at least minimum wage, but normally at the employees usual rate of pay, this does not effect SMP.

When returning from maternity leave the employee can:

• Request to return early providing at least 8 weeks notice;

• Return to work the next working day after their Maternity Leave with no notice;

• Return to their previous role on the same terms and conditions but can request to work flexibly;

• Choose not to return back to work and provide the required notice as stated in their contract of employment;

Paternity LeaveThere are two types of paternity leave:

• Ordinary Paternity Leave (OPL) which is two weeks leave (taking in one or two consecutive weeks and not odd days);

• Additional Paternity Leave (APL) which is up to 26 weeks leave and is where the mother can transfer some or all of her 26 weeks leave;

An employee must qualify for the OPL to be eligible to take the two weeks and the APL to be eligible to take the 26 weeks.

Statutory Paternity Pay is calculated the same as SMP and the employee will only receive Additional Paternity Pay during the time their partner would be receiving SMP.

If you require any further assistance or guidance on how to manage these processes or any other HR related issues please do not hesitate to contact our qualified consultants on 01206 262117.

HR

Update


F

Flexible Working, Maternity and Paternity

* Written by Claire Linton, SVC Group

Human Resources

SVC Human Resource provide a professional, cost-e�ective way to manage Human Resources. From o�ces in Colchester, we serve the whole of East Anglia and the UK beyond.

Outsourcing to SVC can save you time and money, providing advice from qualified personnel, when you need it most. You pay for what you want - getting the exact support you require at an agreed price. Whether a “one o�” service project or a regular monthly HR service, SVC can help.

Human Resources SupportREWARD MANAGEMENTPERSONNEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMSEMPLOYMENT LAW COMPLIANCE WITH CURRENT LEGISLATIONMANPOWER PLANNING

To find out more about SVC HR services, contact Roz Mortlock on 01206 262117 or [email protected] or visit www.svcgroup.co.uk

The following step by step guide helps illustrate

how Success Recruit will help your business

when providing recruitment and HR support:

After over a decade of working in

recruitment Vicki Edwards decided to

establish her award winning company

Success Recruit in 2012, a genuine

consultancy business supplying staffing

solutions to local businesses. Success

is going from strength to strength and

making a real impact on the Essex

business community.

• INITIAL CONSULTATION – We will arrange to visit your premises for a formal discussion about your business and its requirements;

• DELIVERY OF OUR SERVICE PROPOSITION – We have taken great care to develop a range of packages that help us meet our clients needs;

• SEARCH & SELECTION – We are able to appeal to a vast range of candidates and our experience enables us to identify who are most suitable for an interview;

• MANAGEMENT OF PROCESS –

We will arrange interviews, prepare candidates for interview, discuss feedback with you and deliver feedback to candidate;

• AFTERCARE – Success values our clients and will always be on hand to provide expert guidance and advice, both during and after the recruitment process.

Please visit our website for client testimonials and further information on how we can help,

www.successrecruitltd.co.ukOr Contact our team in Chelmsford on 01245 409839

or email [email protected]

E S S E X C O U N T Y W I D E W I N N E R S 2 0 1 4 – S M A L L B U S I N E S S O F T H E Y E A R

The following step by step guide helps illustrate

how Success Recruit will help your business

when providing recruitment and HR support:

After over a decade of working in

recruitment Vicki Edwards decided to

establish her award winning company

Success Recruit in 2012, a genuine

consultancy business supplying staffing

solutions to local businesses. Success

is going from strength to strength and

making a real impact on the Essex

business community.

• INITIAL CONSULTATION – We will arrange to visit your premises for a formal discussion about your business and its requirements;

• DELIVERY OF OUR SERVICE PROPOSITION – We have taken great care to develop a range of packages that help us meet our clients needs;

• SEARCH & SELECTION – We are able to appeal to a vast range of candidates and our experience enables us to identify who are most suitable for an interview;

• MANAGEMENT OF PROCESS –

We will arrange interviews, prepare candidates for interview, discuss feedback with you and deliver feedback to candidate;

• AFTERCARE – Success values our clients and will always be on hand to provide expert guidance and advice, both during and after the recruitment process.

Please visit our website for client testimonials and further information on how we can help,

www.successrecruitltd.co.ukOr Contact our team in Chelmsford on 01245 409839

or email [email protected]

E S S E X C O U N T Y W I D E W I N N E R S 2 0 1 4 – S M A L L B U S I N E S S O F T H E Y E A R

The high end

London tailoring

service that

comes to you

• Made-to-measure suits and shirts

• Personal attention

• Colour analysis

• Corporate packages

• Loyalty scheme

To arrange an appointment call John Parrett

01708 438761

www.foxtailoring.com 187 Station Lane Hornchurch Essex RM12 [email protected]

Orient Business Club Sponsor and supplier of Match Day Suits

Our unique service will enable

every client to benefit from our

extensive knowledge to achieve

well fitting clothes with quality

touches that single out the stylish

from the safe and the samey.

We also provide made-to-measure

shirts with fabrics and styles that

are fresh and totally individual.

Save locally








[email protected]











1.25% AER*

100 DAY BUSINESS

NOTICE ACCOUNT

1.50% AER*

1 YEAR FIXED RATE

BUSINESS BOND


T A I L O R E D S O L U T I O N S T O S U I T Y O U R B U S I N E S S N E E D S

Securing funding takes time and effort

no matter how experienced you are.

The good news is we’re here to get

the finance you need, and to make the

process as straightforward and stress

free as possible.

01787 312 817www.chevingtongroup.co.uk

We are an independent finance and

leasing company who underwrite all

of our financial solutions. We are not a

broker and as such you will be dealing

directly with the decision maker.

Finance packages are available from as little as £500 to £100,000.

Chevington Finance and Leasing is a

family run business that specialises in

bespoke finance and leasing packages

to companies within the UK. We pride

ourselves on outstanding customer

service and can tailor a package to

your business needs.

Leasing and Finance for Companies in Essex, East Anglia and the UK

CHEVINGTON

FINANCE & LEASING LTD

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How can an SME afford a Finance Director?

So how can a small business like ours justify the expense of a financial director? And what does a financial director do that my accountants don’t do anyway? Those are questions we often get asked when talking to either existing clients or potential ones.

Well quite simply an accountant works on recording the historical numbers and ensures that they comply with all relevant tax and Companies Act legislation but an FD takes matters much further into areas such as:


www.cbhc.uk.comPassion energy commitmentOur aim is to support you to achieveyour goals

www.cbhc.uk.com


PassionenergycommitmentOuraimistosupportyoutoachieveyourgoals

[email protected] www.cbhc.uk.com

Where is the company now and where does it want to get to over the next 5 years.

What do those numbers look like if I achieve them and what is the exit route from my business?

How can the FD and the business owners work together to ensure they meet those numbers?

How does the company really make its profits and what does it need to do more of (and stop doing) to ensure it is more successful.

What succession plan does the company have to ensure that the owners can pass the business down successfully to management or the next generation, or maybe achieve a sale to a third party and maximise the proceeds in the process.

How can business owners maximise profits, not just by good cash and cost management, but by maximising sales revenues and ensuring our brand and intellectual property within the business is maximised.

As I am sure you will agree, the foregoing areas are very much above and beyond what you would expect from an accountant you may currently only meet once or twice each year. We ensure that we are fully linked to our clients’ finances by getting them on cloud based accounting packages like Xero so that we can drill down to their current actual numbers at any time and help them to manage the key areas that have most impact on their bottom line.

Xero is the world leader in accounting software in the cloud and are fast growing in the UK and the USA, having originated in New Zealand and Australia. As Gold Partners of Xero we have in excess of

40 companies on their accounting system so far and are keen to get this to 200 within the next year or so. We see this as dramatically changing the dynamics of the accountant: client relationship and we see our service offering now much more akin to that of an outsourced FD rather than just as an accountant. Of course, we still do all the year-end accounting and tax work you would expect of an accountant but take it up to the next level.

If you need the input of highly qualified FD’s but at only a fraction of the cost of hiring one full time, contact Gary White now at: [email protected]
























ABC Brentwood

























ABC Brentwood


Taking part

Fright Hike is designed for both teams and individuals – sign up as a team and support each other or sign up as anindividual and our Fright Hike crew will support you.

Individuals – if you want to join us but can’t get a teamtogether please don’t let that stop you. We will ensure you get the right motivation to see you complete the event. Therewill be groups of other individual walkers taking part to meetand share the Fright Hike experience along the way.

Teams – why not take part and support each other? Manyteams will be taking part – corporate teams, groups of familyand friends, sports clubs – anyone can form a Fright Hike team.

The Fright Hike Package

To help you prepare we will provide you with a comprehensiveevent guide, training guides, kit and equipment lists andfundraising advice. We have also teamed up with some greatretailers to give you some great discounts on gear andequipment.

Charity No. 1091058

1 November 2014

30km – 6 hours – 1 night

For more information please visit: www.ageukessex.org.uk or telephone 0800 840 7114

The organisers – Global Adventure Challenges has been successfully operating worldwide charity challenge events since 2000. The Fright Hike Event Crew will be made up of experience challenge leaders and will follow Hikers to ensure continued safety.

Have you got what it takes to complete Fright Hike?The Fright Hike challenge is simple, but not for the faint hearted! Set in Epping Forest, one of the spookiest of forest locations, eachwalker makes their way around the 30km route within 6 hours.

EARLY BIRD BOOKING OFFERS!

Sign up for only £29 before the end of August 2014.

Fright Hike A4 ad:Layout 1 15/5/14 13:20 Page 1


Essex Networking Events

Recommended by Business Connected

JuneJune

0503Friends of

Braintree Town

Braintree Town FC

CM7 3RD

7am to 9am

Cost: Free

Membership Required:

Optional

Brentwood Biscotti

Marygreen Manor,

Brentwood CM14 4NR

9.15am to 11.00am

Cost: Free


No

June

Success in the City

The Bay Horse

Chelmsford

CM2 0LG

5.00pm to 7.00pm

Cost: Free


No

June

JuneJune June June

17

20 2720

Thurrock Biscotti

Brewers Fayre,

Thurrock

RM16 6YJ

9.15am to 11.00am

Cost: Free


No

The Business

Woman’s Network

Five Lakes

Crowne Plaza

CM9 8HX

10.00am to 12.30pm

Cost: £15.00


No

Chelmsford

Professionals Lunch

The Bar, Chelmsford

CM2 6FH

1.00pm to 3.00pm

Cost: Free


No

FSB

Thames Barge Trip

Barge: The Thistle

CM9 5HN

6.00pm to 10.30pm

Cost: £43.50


Optional

Friends of

the City Expo

Chelmsford City FC

CM1 2EH

12.00 noon to 3.00pm

Cost: Free


Optional

The FSB is the UK’s leading business organisation representing the interests of around 200,000 members nationwide.

In Essex, the FSB is campaigning on the importance of Keeping Trade Local and in July launches the

Keep Trade Local Trail during Independent Retailers Month.

Visit: www.fsb.org.uk/essex or search: #ktltrail

June

ebn Basildon

The Campanile Hotel

SS14 3AE

7.00am to 9.00am

Cost: £10.00


Yes, £195 per year

12 & 26

20

09 & 23

For more

information on

these or any

Essex based

networking

groups

please call

Business

Connected

01702 513113

19

Essex Networking Events

JulyJuly

1818Business Connected

@Essex Cricket Club

Essex Cricket Club,

Chelmsford

CM2 0PG

7.30am to 9.30am

Cost: £20.00


No

Chelmsford

Professionals Lunch

The Bar,

Chelmsford

CM2 6FH

1.00pm to 3.00pm

Cost: Free


No

July JulyJuly

15Bishop’s Stortford

Chamber of

Commerce

Great Hadham

Golf Club SG10 6JE

8.00am to 10.00am

Cost: £15


Optional

Brentwood Biscotti

Marygreen Manor,

Brentwood CM14 4NR

9.15am to 11.00am

Cost: Free


No

July

01 01Success in the City

The Bay Horse

Chelmsford

CM2 0LG

5.00pm to 7.00pm

Cost: Free


No

Thurrock Biscotti

Brewers Fayre,

Thurrock

RM16 6YJ

9.15am to 11.00am

Cost: Free


No

Sponsored by

July July July

Friends of the City

Chelmsford City FC

CM1 2EH

7.00am to 9.00am

Cost: Free


Optional

FSB Auto Enrolment

Pensions

The Eagle Pub

CM15 0AA

6.00pm to 8.30pm

Cost: £5 members

£10 non members


Optional

Business Connected

@Colchester United

Colchester United

CO4 5UP

7.30am to 9.30am

Cost: £20.00


No

www.businessconnected.co.uk

The FSB is the UK’s leading business organisation representing the interests of around 200,000 members nationwide.

In Essex, the FSB is campaigning on the importance of Keeping Trade Local and in July launches the

Keep Trade Local Trail during Independent Retailers Month.

Visit: www.fsb.org.uk/essex or search: #ktltrail

24 24 25

July

ebn Basildon

The Campanile Hotel

SS14 3AE

7.00am to 9.00am

Cost: £10.00


Yes, £195 per year

10 & 2407 & 21

HAPS Men’s Health Charity aims to be a single, independent and authoritative source of information and an advocate for men’s health issues in Essex.

Why? Because men are notoriously reluctant to seek medical care and advice. Too many are unaware of the significance of warning symptoms or ignore them till too late and present with advanced or incurable diseases such as cancer. Perhaps this is why our cancer cure rates still lag behind those of most of our European neighbours.

Here in Essex we are luckier than in many parts of the country with people living longer than the average across the UK. But we cannot be complacent as there remain many local areas of social deprivation closely linked to poor survival rates. For instance a man living in Jaywick is likely to live 13 years less than one only 5 miles along the coast in Frinton!

How can CHAPS make a difference? We believe that by constantly highlighting the causes of premature death in men, constantly repeating the early warning symptoms that indicate underlying disease and constantly promoting the benefits of awareness, early detection and prevention, we can save lives and make a difference.

So far CHAPS has produced booklets and leaflets that tackle important questions, describe the main problems that afflict men, and provide specialist advice. Our Men’s Health Passport lists “red flag” symptoms, outlines the benefits (and risks) of cancer screening programmes and provides a handy format for keeping key personal medical data.

We are expanding the range and number of organisations for whom we can provide speakers on men’s health and related topics such as the NHS reforms, not just to men’s groups but to women’s groups as well. Women are much more familiar with the benefits of screening! If you need a speaker, please contact us – the talks are free but donations to the Charity are welcome.

The diseases we continue to target for special attention are prostate cancer – now the number one male cancer diagnosed in the UK – heart disease, which remains the

commonest cause of male deaths and impotence which is frequently an early warning sign of serious underlying heart disease.

Fortunately we perceive that men themselves are beginning to take active steps to safeguard their health and the men’s health agenda is getting much more publicity and support.

CHAPS has now run 3 successful annual Men’s Health Days at The Weston Homes Community Stadium in collaboration with Colchester United and the number of men coming for heart checks, prostate cancer checks and aortic aneurysm screening has increased each year from nearly 200 to over 300 this March. Because of this success we have received a Big Lottery Fund grant and been engaged by Enable East to run health days across East Anglia with major events at Southend United on May 19th, Newmarket Racecourse on 7th June, Ipswich Town Football Club on 16th October and with Clacton Lions on 13th November.

In subsequent issues Business Connected will deal with specific conditions and offer advice on how

to get the best out of various medical services available to you for their detection and treatment.

I hope this will serve as a useful introduction and pointer for the future.

Mr Chris Booth, FRCS Consultant Urologist & Clinical Director CHAPS Men’s Health Charity Master Weavers House Southfields Dedham Essex CO7 6AH

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CHAPS – The Men’s Health Charity

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Opening the event at the Weston Homes Community Stadium are Chris Booth,

Chief Inspector Richard Phillibrown and the Mayor and Mayoress of Colchester,

Cllrs Colin and Laura Sykes

The queue waiting to come in

th

Sponsored by

Saturday 12th July - Wednesday 16th July

Colchester T20 Beer & BBQ PackageSaturday 12th July

Superb chefs BBQ meal with dessert table and an unlimited selection of beers, ciders and soft drinks.

Packages start from just £99 + VAT per person

Royal London One-Day Cup Packages

Tuck into a charcuterie style grazing bu�et whilst indulging in a game of One-Day cricket. Enjoy a hot bu�et served during the interval and make use of the Woodland Group Pavilion Marquee pay bar. Price includes ground admission, matchday programme and superior viewing facilities.

Prices from £69 + VAT per person

Royal London One-Day Cup 50 Over

Thursday, 31 July Leicestershire Chelmsford Foxes

Tuesday, 05 August Lancashire Chelmsford Lightning

Friday, 08 August Gloucestershire Chelmsford Gladiators

Wednesday, 13 August Hampshire Chelmsford

The First Class Package(Monday-Tuesday)Join us for a traditional day of English cricket. With the First Class package you will receive a two-course meal, match day afternoon tea, ground entrance tickets, admission to the hospitality area and superior viewing facilities.

Prices from £75 + VAT per person

We return to Castle Park in 2014 for the 100th anniversary of the Colchester Cricket Festival.

Once again, we will provide an action packed festival programme with hospitality packages to suit both corporate and family diners.

During the 2014 season, 50 over domestic cricket will return to The Essex County Ground. A format in which

Essex Eagles have been successful in recent years, join us for a full one-day match experience.

Royal LondonOne-Day Cup Packages

Very Limited T20 packages left for all games

packed festival programme with hospitality packages to suit both corporate and family diners.

Very Very Limited T20 packages left for all left for all left for all games

gamesgamesgames

Call: 01245 254120e-mail: [email protected] Now! Essex County

Cricket Club@EssexCricket Essex

Cricket

Chevington Services specialises in making your workplace better. Not just with great products, but with great services delivered by great people ! Friendly, well trained, knowledgable personnel delivering efficient, reliable services are the reasons why our customers choose Chevington.

We’re built around servicing your business with the very best and

the best prices

0844 800 7371www.chevingtongroup.co.uk

Suppliers of Professional Workplace Solutions

The business has moved on from being focussed only on

water coolers to now much more of an overall environmental

services provider. We are now able to supply, service and

maintain a wide variety of services for the business sector.

It now operates in three main areas which each have their

own appeal and use to business:

Waste Processing• Chevington Services can supply equipment that you can

use to make money from your waste, waste compaction is

an easy way to turn your waste paper and cardboard into

£££’s, so you benefit and not the refuse company.

Vending• Modern and stylish vending machines now available, which

can supply freshly ground coffee, snacks and cold drinks.

Water• Water dispensers available in a variety of styles and

capabilities.

• Bottled water in branded glasses. A business chooses

from a selection of bottle style which is branded in their

way to provide freshly filtered water to its customers, as

an alternative to the more expensive ‘branded’ water.

Very popular to offer this to customers, and is a cheaper

alternative for business, but also more environmentally

friendly as it does not require lorries travelling up and

down the country refilling and collecting.

W E L I K E T O S E E T H I N G S F R O M A D I F F E R E N T A N G L E

Some see things as they’ve always been and ask ‘why?’ We see things as they have never been and ask ‘why not?’

As a creative marketing team, we offer a complete service to arm your business with bluesky marketing; from strategy and planning to all the finished tools from the box: print, web & SEO, digital, PR and social media.

Call Steve Brown on 01449 765720 or email [email protected] for a chat on how we can help your business.

(tilt this page down to read)

bluesky-co.com | [email protected] | 01449 765720

Bluesky_Suffolk Mag_A4_140513ART.indd 1 13/05/2014 14:18

How to Build Your Business in 2014

Business C

oach


e have been seeing the economic indicators steadily going the right way in recent months but how are you using this change in environment to

ensure you build your business?

At ActionCOACH we use a six step process to coach clients through to ensure that they systematically and methodically keep moving in the right direction. Here is an outline of these six steps:

Step One – MasteryBefore any business can grow it has to ensure it is stable and in control. There are four areas that need to be addressed in this step. They are :-

Destination – have you got a business plan that will support your personal goals and ensure your business supports your life?

Financial – do you know your business numbers and do they show that if you grow your business revenues you will also grow your profits?

Delivery – Do you offer products or services that your customers value and that keep them loyal to you?

Time – Is there enough time in your business to enable you and your team to do all that needs to be done to take your business forward?

These four areas need to be in a state that you can answer YES to each of these questions before you can move to Step Two. Spending time on this step provides the foundation for sustainable and profitable business growth.

Step Two – NicheThis is the step where you set a plan to systematically grow profit and cash in the business. ActionCOACH use a five way method where attention is turned to five areas where results can be improved that direct affect business profits. These are best explained in these word equations

Lead Generation X Conversion Rate = Number of Customers

Number of Customers X Number of transactions per customer X Average transaction value = Turnover

Turnover X Margin = Profit.

To grow your profits you need to select strategies to implement to improve your numbers in the five areas of focus – lead generation, conversion rate, number of transactions per customer, average transaction value and profit margins.

How do you do this I hear you cry!! Well first you need

to know your numbers. Break your recent business performance down into these numbers and see what you learn from them. Then set an improvement target for each area and see what profit result that would deliver. NB if you grow each area by 10% you will see an increase in profits of 61%. Then decide what strategies you need to implement to achieve this target and take appropriate action.

There are a list of strategies available for each of these five ways that I coach my clients on to assist in the achievement – 353 in all. It is the implementation of multiple small improvements that deliver big results reliably rather than looking for “the big idea”!

Step Three – LeverageOnce profits and cash are reliably being generated within your business it is time to think about how you can implement business systems that grow your business efficiency and start to give you more time to spend ON the business rather than IN it. The focus here should be on systems, people and their use of time. A simple way to look at it is – systemise the routine and personalise the exceptions.

Step Four – TeamThis is when an owner can really believe they are building a structure for further growth. Most of the time is being spent on developing the team, so the team looks after the customers, the customers provide profit and cash for the business and the business truly supports the owner. Areas where I suggest you focus on here are recruitment and retention of staff, implementation of a business culture and “rules of the game” – the way the team members behave as part of your team, creating a business vision and mission.

Step Five – SynergyImplement a general manager to run the day to day aspects of the business.

Step Six – ResultsDecide what your exit strategy is and implement it. This may be buying another business, selling the business for maximum value or other outcomes such as making non-business investments to grow your personal wealth as a result of the business results you have built.

So there you have it, a six step method to grow your business and to achieve your personal goals. Thanks for reading. I hope you can take some lessons from this and apply them in your business and use this as a structure for future business plans.

If I can help you on your journey please contact me and ask for a complimentary coaching session so I can show you how you can achieve this in your business.

W

I am no stranger to success, both as a business owner and as a General Manager in the corporate world.

I have an extremely successful track record in all aspects of business gained over twenty five years in blue chip companies and of late have transferred these learnings as a business owner.

The successes in my previous role led my area of the company to a 325% increase in turnover with profit increase in line with this over a period of six years. This was achieved through major investment in my team and through implementation of robust systems. I also coordinated marketing, sales and product development activity to achieve this growth. I have always enjoyed training, coaching and developing team members.

I have a love of learning and I am extremely passionate about sharing my learnings with people I come into contact with. The key to my success is having the ability to take on any business whether it be old or new, thriving or failing and helping you to focus on getting what YOU want out of it.

So what? Well, I’m not just a theorist - I’ve had many years hands on experience in developing companies, executing financial, manufacturing and technical strategies and building great teams - experience that I am able to draw on for you as a client.

I understand how lonely it can be running a company, and how difficult it is to build a business and a team that can succeed. This empathy helps me to help you get through the dark days and cast off whatever is holding you back.

I also understand the pressures of severe cash flow challenges; I’ve experienced the problems of market downturns as well as the problems of rapid growth. In short, I know what you are going through and how to help you. As an organisation with over 1000 coaches

worldwide, ActionCOACH has a massive amount of intellectual property, business knowledge and experience available to me for you as my client.

So, if I don’t have the answer to a particular challenge, the chances are that somebody in the system will, because at least one ActionCOACH coach from our worldwide network will have either worked with, managed, worked in or even owned a business that was the same or very similar to yours.

ActionCOACH, as a company, are not preachers. Whatever we teach you or show you how to do, we have implemented not only into our business but thousands of other businesses around the world.

I’m there to help you, push you and teach you to become the business person that you would want to be, and to make your business into the successful concern that you dreamt it to be when you founded it. Your knowledge of your business with my experience and the wealth of knowledge in the ActionCOACH system of sales and marketing, team building, customer service, systems and business development make a fabulous team to achieve your success.

Personal Biography Roger Pemberton

“If you always do what you’ve always done… you’ll always get what

you’ve always got”

Roger Pemberton ActionCOACH Business CoachT 01508 494414 or 07511 969690 F 01508 494414E [email protected] W www.actioncoach.com/rogerpemberton A 26 The Ramblers, Poringland, Norwich, NR14 7QN

Fleximize is a UK-based direct funding company and web platform launched in January 2014. Our mission is to help small and medium British businesses grow by providing them with flexible financing solutions tailored to their unique needs and preferences. We are striving to provide our clients with experience and service traditionally available only to larger corporates. Your dedicated relationship manager will guide and support you from the moment you apply - no bouncing from person to person or waiting for hours on hold.

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Do you have what it takes?To join The World’s Number 1 Business Coaching Team...

What sets ActionCOACH apart?The returns are market-beating; on a single-operator licence for £41k including training, you can expect a six figure income with our guaranteed business model, if you meet 7 non-negotiables to be awarded the franchise.

“The quality of individuals in our network is second-to-none.” Lucas Vigilante, Franchise Partner

Here are just a few reasons why the best people are choosing to invest in the UK’s best:✔ Client generation centre means you can focus on the fun stuff

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Watch the opportunity overview video at actioncoach-franchise.co.uk/overviewIt could be the best 6 minutes you’ve ever invested.

To find out more call Rainy or Sam on: 01284 701 648

Fiona Cowie, Pensions specialist talks about automatic enrolment and the reality for small businesses.

n October 2012, the UK Government’s new Workplace Pensions Reform legislation came into effect. For the first time, all UK employers are required to

automatically enrol employees who meet certain minimum criteria into a qualifying workplace pension plan and make minimum contributions to that plan. You may know this as ‘Automatic Enrolment’.

After a number of years of hearing about automatic enrolment, the practical reality has now finally arrived for small and medium sized businesses! Employers with between 1 and 250 employees must meet the new pension automatic enrolment requirements on specific dates over the next few years.

A significant number of small businesses are burying their heads in the sand, choosing to leave the planning right until the last minute. Small business owners and managers are asking “What is all the fuss about?”. Many believe that automatic enrolment means simply putting in place a pension plan. Other small businesses that already have a company pension plan believe that there is nothing else they need to do to meet the automatic enrolment obligations. This could not be further from reality. So what IS all the fuss about?

It is a common misconception that automatic enrolment is all about the pension plan. The pension plan is important, however, research and experience suggests that only around 10% of the additional work that automatic enrolment will bring to a business is related to the pension plan. More than 90% relates to additional employee data management, administration, business processes and payroll activities. These can quickly have a huge impact on small businesses, putting strain on already stretched internal resources and adding significant additional cost.

Does automatic enrolment affect me?If you are a UK business and you have at least one UK based employee, automatic enrolment will apply to you.

Why do I have to do it?Meeting the automatic enrolment regulations is a legal requirement. If you are a UK business and you do not do it, you will not be meeting your legal obligations as an employer.

What will I be required to do?In very broad terms, you will need to put in place a pension plan that meets minimum requirements, assess your

workforce every time you run your payroll, automatically enrol employees who meet specific age and earnings criteria into your pension plan, make contributions into the pension plan, communicate with all employees on automatic enrolment and keep records for 6 years.

When do I need to do it?The Pensions Regulator has written to every employer with a Staging Date. This is the date on which you must meet your new legal obligations. You can find out your Staging Date at www.tpr.gov.uk

What happens if I don’t act?The Pensions Regulator has the power to issue fines for non-compliance. The initial fixed fine is £400 followed by £50 to £10,000 per day for continued non-compliance.

Where do I start?There are useful sources of information on automatic enrolment at www.tpr.gov.uk and at the government provided pension scheme website at www.nestpensions.org.uk. Fiona Cowie of Essential HR Solutions has the expertise to explain the new automatic enrolment legal requirements in plain English, saving you time and taking away the worry of getting something wrong. She can provide practical advice on everything from how to find a qualifying pension plan, to dealing with employee data and communication.

Fiona works with local service providers such as your accountant, payroll provider and IFA and others in the wider pension’s arena such as www.pensionplaypen.co.uk to ensure the most cost-effective solution for your business. She can help you to analyse the likely cost of automatic enrolment so you can plan ahead with confidence and she will also work with you to ensure that you get the best value from your additional spend and help to keep staff productive and motivated through this period of change.

Visit www.essentialhr.co.uk/pension-auto-enrolment/ or call Fiona on 01245 349492 to find out more.

Business A

dvice


Pension Automatic Enrolment - What Is All The Fuss About?

I

Tel: 01245 349492 Web: www.essentialhr.co.ukFiona Cowie, Pensions Specialist

BUSINESS OBJECTIVES WITH NO LIMITSDESIGN CREATIVITY STRATEGY RESULTS

This is the only thing we wil l ever screw up for you!

MARKETING DEVELOPMENTWEBSITES EMAIL DESIGN

0844 586 0020

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bc_advert_hr.pdf 1 20/03/2014 20:05


Essex R

ound Up

News From Around The County

For more from around the county and to find the sources to all of these and many more Essex news stories please visit www.businessconnected.co.uk Business news stories are updated every day.

BUSINESS

ESSEXCONNECTED

Essex Auto Group wins Gold at Business AwardBusiness Connected Premier Partner Essex Auto Group has scooped a gold award for Use Of Video For Business at a recent Essex based Business award. Essex Auto Group was entered into two categories and successfully made it to the five-strong shortlists in March.

Business Award win for Success RecruitBusiness Connected Premier Partner Success Recruit won the Small Business company award at the Essex Countywide 2014 Business Awards on Friday 9th May 2014. Ten companies were judged in the shortlist of finalists by Steve Atkins and Guy Hocking from Utilize IT Support.

Vicki Edwards, Lian Van-Der-Kwast, Sam Edwards, Rosalind Knight & Mandy Carr all celebrated the finals with over 500 other guests at the black tie event that was held at The Cliffs Pavilion.

Stansted airport has busiest month in 2.5 yearsEarlier this year in April saw the busiest month at the Essex airport since 2008. It took the passenger total for the previous 12 months to 18.16 million.

This was 3.4% up on the total for the 12 months ending April 2013 and it was the first time the “rolling year” total has passed the 18 million mark since December 2011.

St Helena HospiceRegistration for the Birkett Long £50 challenge has now closed and for the next three months the participating teams will be turning their £50 into

as much money as possible for St Helena Hospice. To find out what the teams are doing to fundraise, and get information on how you can take part in their events, visit the ‘Birkett Long £50 Challenge in aid of St Helena Hospice’ page on Facebook.

Mover and shakerAlex Ward MCMI, former Digital Director of Colchester-based Mosaic Publicity, has joined sustainable design agency Zero Above as part of a growth strategy to extend the scope of the business’ senior level team.

Stand out from the crowd.

Is your company’s brochure making the right impression?

LITHO & DIGITAL BUREAU 01376 500900

[email protected] www.printwize.co.uk

Call us on 01376 500900 or visit www.printwize.co.uk to discover what we can do for you.

Stand out from the crowd.

Is your company’s brochure making the right impression?

LITHO & DIGITAL BUREAU 01376 500900

[email protected] www.printwize.co.uk

Call us on 01376 500900 or visit www.printwize.co.uk to discover what we can do for you.

Call 07876 688996 or email [email protected] to see how Grouptrader can deliver for you and your business.

The ideal venue for:

Conferences

Meetings

Training sessions

Seminars

Networking events

Parties

Dinners

• Easy access from A12

• Free Parking

• Free WiFi

More than just a football club

01206 [email protected]

The ideal venue for:

Conferences

Meetings

Training sessions

Seminars

Networking events

Parties

Dinners

• Easy access from A12

• Free Parking

• Free WiFi

More than just a football club

01206 [email protected]

Technology Update

Google Glass, Yes or No?

here has been much talk about Google Glass over the last few years, so how far are we from seeing hoards of people on public transport wearing this

sci-fi looking creation? Well the answer is I am not sure. Will it take it off for the masses? I hope so, It certainly will make a refreshing change than seeing a nation with their eyes glued downwards tapping away on small boxes and bumping in to people in the street.

So what is Google Glass, if you haven’t been caught up on this new tech age device then let me explain. Google Glass is in effect a wearable computer and in simple terms a device built in to a pair of glasses. To get a list of options you say ‘ok glass’ there is also a Google Glass app called MyGlass. Google Glass displays information in a smartphone-like hands-free format allowing a number of features including hands free photography operated by the sound of your voice, integration of social media which in turn allows you see an image take a picture and upload to twitter for example whilst not using you hands. You can send sms messages, access sat nav and go nuts in google hangouts. Google search is the most-used search engine on the World Wide Web, so why shouldn’t it be available at a blink of an eye. If like me you are forgetful then have reminders beamed in front of your face with Google Now which is an intelligent personal

assistant developed by Google that is available within the Google Search mobile application.

It’s surreal but what new technology isn’t at first? They come in charcoal, tangerine, shale, cotton and sky or to me and you that’s black, orange, grey, white and blue. Google Glass officially is available to buy across the pond as of last month.

So what are the upsides and downsides? Well, the battery bulges behind your ear which is too big and doesn’t have a great battery life, barely enough for a full days use. It is surprisingly light though and fits in to pockets so don’t worry Google aren’t going to make you carry it around in its own brief case. It is extremely lightweight and weighs just 42 grams. Original prices for developers was £900 but the consumer model is expected to be considerably less.

In summary Google Glass isn’t there yet and is a product plagued by bugs with poor battery life. It’s disorienting with lots of headache reports and you currently still need a smartphone to get the most functionality out of it but hey what new gizmo hasn’t got its floors. Google will sort these issues and when they do sign me up as this is one gadget I wont want to be without.

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* Written by Simon Peterson

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9312-RESSX WHO A4 Ad port.pdf 1 17/03/2014 12:18

Business Solutions from Essex Auto Group

Vehicle Solutions That Mean Business

01268 952404 [email protected] @EAGbusiness Essex-Auto-Group

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per monthMazda Contract Hire£189*

THE OFFICIAL FUEL CONSUMPTION FIGURES IN MPG (L/100KM) FOR THE ALL-NEW MAZDA3 RANGE: URBAN 37.7 (7.5) - 60.1 (4.7), EXTRA URBAN 58.9 (4.8) - 80.7 (3.5), COMBINED 48.7 (5.8) - 72.4 (3.9). CO2 EMISSIONS (G/KM) 135 - 104. THE OFFICIAL FUEL CONSUMPTION FIGURES IN MPG (L/100KM) FOR THE MAZDA6 RANGE: URBAN 36.2 (7.8) – 60.1 (4.7), EXTRA URBAN 57.6 (4.9) – 83.1 (3.4), COMBINED 47.9 (5.9) – 72.4 (3.9). CO2 EMISSIONS (G/KM) 136 – 104. The mpg fi gures quoted are sourced from offi cial EU-regulated test results obtained through laboratory testing. These are provided for comparability purposes only and may not refl ect your actual driving results. *All monthly fi gures exclude VAT. Offer available to Business Users for orders received between 01.04.2014 and 30.06.2014. £189 (exc VAT) fi gure is based on an all-new Mazda3 150ps SE Diesel, without Metallic paint, on a non-maintenance contract hire package over 36 months. Advance payment equal to 6 monthly payments is payable followed by 35 monthly payments. £199 (exc VAT) fi gure is based on a Mazda6 Saloon 150ps SE Diesel, without Metallic paint, on a non-maintenance contract hire package over 36 months. Advance payment equal to 6 monthly payments is payable followed by 35 monthly payments. Excess mileage charge applies if contract mileage is exceeded. For full terms and conditions and specifi cation please refer to the Mazda Contract Hire Master Agreement and your local dealer. All quotations are subject to availability, status and agreement. Free Metallic paint is only available in conjunction with Mazda Contract Hire offer and applies to selected models only. Guarantees may be required. Terms are unavailable to existing customers under specifi c end-user terms with Mazda Motors UK Ltd. Details correct at time of print and may vary, e.g. if list price changes. Mazda Contract Hire Limited does not offer tax advice to individuals: company car drivers should consult their accountant on their tax position. Contract hire by ALD Automotive Ltd, trading as Mazda Contract Hire, Oakwood Park, Lodge Causeway, Fishponds, Bristol BS16 3JA. ^mpg fi gures shown are combined. Test drives subject to applicant status and availability.

As well as the stunning designs, the all-new Mazda3 and Mazda6 exceed expectations. Award-winning SKYACTIV Technology delivers the no-compromise combination of an exhilarating driving experience with outstanding fuel consumption and low CO2 emissions. The standard specifi cation is extremely generous and the low monthly payments, running costs and BIK payments keep it well within your budget.

business connected essex edition 7

Documents

years experience

brentwood office

business recovery

email nicole southwell

corporate insolvency

areas of business

extensive experience

respected insolvency