IQ-Magazine-Issue-7

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IQ welcome
Welcome to the seventh edition of IQ Business Magazine, a
quarterly publication that offers insight and inspiration
to SME business owners in Cambridgeshire and Suffolk.
FOLLOW US on TWITTER
@iqbusinessmag
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IQBusinessMag
If you would like to pass any
comment on this edition of
IQ, or you have any business
news to report, contact
Georgie Campbell on
01638 666432 or email
georgie@cubiqdesign.co.uk
With the final few days of the
year in sight, it’s no wonder
that many businesses across
the region are taking stock
of their workforce, as they
look forward to a prosperous
2014.
Whether it’s the merriment of the festive season or general New
Year good wishes, the region seems to have taken a significant
turn for the better. The Suffolk Chamber of Commerce’s third
Quarterly Economic Survey has already shown that the domestic
market performance is strengthening, whilst at the same time the
county’s exporters continue to report improved sales and shortterm
prospects for trade, making a real improvement across the
region. Spreading into Cambridge, this economic upturn has set
East Anglia as a whole in good stead for 2014.
Identifying employees as the key backbone to most local businesses,
this quarter we have taken a look at some of our region’s most
prosperous team building activities (page 53). Rewarding staff
through the turn of a new year can only heighten morale and team
spirit within the business – something that we at IQ Magazine
cherish deeply.
With the first gauntlets being thrown down ahead of the 2015
General Election, we also take time to look at what the political
parties are proposing for business on a local level. As there is some
contention here, we at IQ are keen to know what you think, so
please email us at info@iqmag.co.uk with your thoughts. Turn to
page 8 for the full feature.
I would also like to take this time to invite our esteemed readers
to our next networking venture, which will be hosted by the
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel on 28th November. If you would
like to attend this free networking event, please email info@iqmag.
co.uk or call the team on 01638 666432. More information can be
found on page 33.
to receive your free issue of iq
Visit www.iqmag.co.uk and sign up to the IQ database to receive your free copy of IQ each quarter.
issue 7 | page 5

IQ contents
IN THIS ISSUE
08 Business overview
11 Is Your Business Prepared For The Unexpected?
12 Top 100 Surveys Throw Spotlight On Business Performance
15 How To Introduce Flexible Working
17 Twelve Business New Year Resolutions
18 No Toll Tax On Suffolk
21 Naming Your Business
22 Bringing Your Health & Safety Policy To Life
25 Employment Law Update 2013
29 Networking Necessities
30 A The Modern Age Meet And Greet
34 To Mail Or Not To Mail
45 Business Diary
53 Total Team Building
58 Improving Your Experience
60 A Day In The Life Of
63 The Creative Accelerator
64 Our House Is Your Home
The Team
John Treby Creative Director | Gemma Treby Sales and Marketing Director | Georgie Campbell Editor
Rhiannon Smith Editorial Assistant | Catherine Bradfield Publication Sales | Becca Plaxton Publication Sales
Eugene Hector Designer | Sophie Barnes Designer | Jess Pack Designer | Matt Cockerton Designer | Steve Parr Designer
Oli Shilling Designer | Emma Sheppard Designer | Sarah Allen PR + Marketing
Expert Contributors Glyn Mon Hughes | Steve Elsom | Miles Vartan | Jacqui Kemp | John Dugmore
Cubiqdesign | Goodwin Business Park | Newmarket | CB8 7SQ | 01638 666432 | www.iqmag.co.uk
issue 7 | page 7

IQ business overview
BUSINESS
OVERVIEW
In wake of the General
Election, Glyn Mon Hughes
discusses the impact on SMEs
as the debate begins to heat
up on a local level
When the last delegates left after the
Conservative conference in Manchester,
commentators quickly declared that the
major parties had fired starting guns for
the 2015 General Election.
Every day there’s mixed news on the
economy. Unemployment is falling, but
some say it’s not doing so fast enough.
Borrowing remains stubbornly high,
yet manufacturers seem ever more
optimistic. The housing market is
moving after years in the doldrums. But,
when one For Sale notice disappears,
the doom merchants are saying that
the Government’s schemes to help
first-time house buyers will expand an
inflationary bubble, which is doomed
to burst.
Few would deny that the economic
life of the nation has been a struggle
since things took a turn for the worse
in 2008. Most people would say that
the next election will be a tough fight
for the economic heart and soul of the
nation, especially in East Anglia, where,
according to most commentators,
things have not been as bad as in other
parts of the country.
So what are the parties proposing for
business?
“Small businesses are the backbone of
our economy and account for almost
half of private sector employment,
more than a third of turnover and,
by some estimates, up to 85% of
new jobs,” said Matthew Hancock,
Minister for Skills and Enterprise and
Conservative MP for West Suffolk.
“We must do everything we can to
support them both directly and by
improving regulation.”
“Directly, we are backing small
businesses through measures like the
Employment Allowance – a £2,000
National Insurance tax break which will
mean a third of employers will pay no
NI at all. We have also introduced other
tax relief schemes like the EIS/SEIS,
which have proved extremely successful,
cut personal and corporation tax,
extended Small Business Rate Relief
to 2014 and extended the enormously
popular StartUp Loans scheme.”
Hancock also pointed out the help to
small business as a result of cutting red
tape. “The ‘One In, Two Out’ rule
means this will be the first Government
to reduce this burden,” he added. “We
have also introduced important changes
to tribunals and health and safety
issue 7 | page 8

IQ business overview
Small businesses are the backbone of our economy
and account for almost half of private sector
employment, more than a third of turnover and, by
some estimates, up to 85% of new jobs.
rules. Reforms to late payment,
Government procurement rules
and the UKTI are making them
all more small business friendly.
“These measures make it easier
to start a business, grow it, take
the vital first step of employing
someone and, for some, start
exporting. We have seen record
numbers of new businesses under
this Government, and I want that
to continue.”
It’s no surprise that the message is
much the same from the Liberal
Democrats, coalition partners
with the Conservatives, although
come the election, things might be
rather more fraught.
“Small businesses are absolutely
critical to the success of the
economy, in terms of jobs and
growth,” said Julian Huppert,
Liberal Democrat MP for
Cambridge. “There is a lot that we
are doing and will do to help small
businesses to grow: removing
unneeded red tape, so people
can get on with doing what they
do best, and providing a £2,000
National Insurance threshold,
so that it is cheaper to hire new
employees.”
But he had a warning for banks
who fail to open their coffers to
assist in job creation. “We are
tackling the banks and their failure
to lend to good businesses, and
supporting other ways of raising
money, like crowd funding,” he
added. “We have also extended
the level of public procurement
that has to come from small
companies. And for high-tech
companies, we recreated the
SMART award scheme and
extended R&D tax credits.”
Huppert’s Labour opponent in
Cambridge come the election,
Daniel Zeichner, opposes
the Conservative view that
government should get out of
the way of business, and believes
it should instead involve itself in
creating new businesses.
“Labour has used the period since
the last General Electionv to listen
carefully to small businesses, and it
is a particular interest of mine in
a city which has one of the most
vibrant hi-tech and clean-tech
sectors in the world,” he said.
“Ed Miliband is right to say
new jobs in the future will come
from a large number of small
businesses, not a small number of
large businesses, and for Labour,
high-quality jobs are the key
to future economic success. In
Cambridge I’ve worked closely
with my Labour predecessor
Anne Campbell MP, and others,
to improve the Small Business
Research Initiative, which has
proved crucial in America in
harnessing government spending
power to boost new enterprises.
“Unlike the Conservatives, who
believe Government should just
get out of the way, I strongly
believe an active government can
help shape markets and provide
the right environment for small
enterprises to take root and
grow. I want to work closely with
the sector to make Cambridge
the powerhouse for economic
recovery.”
Politicians seem keen to listen
and battle lines are being drawn.
Maybe it’s time for business to
start calling the shots.
more information
Visit www.iqmag.co.uk for
further stories and information
issue 7 | page 9

IQ showcase
issue 2 | page 10

IS YOUR BUSINESS
PREPARED FOR THE
UNEXPECTED?
IQ law
Greene & Greene Solicitors Mark Daly and Wayne Perrin
discuss the importance of planning the future of your business
As a business owner, have you given serious
thought to the future and what the outcome
would be if something unexpected happened to
you or one of your business partners?
Amazingly, more than two thirds of people in
the UK still do not have a Will. This is not only
essential to ensure a smooth transition of your
business affairs, but it is also an important tool for
reducing your estate’s tax liability.
But a Will is only one piece in the jigsaw. What
happens if the wishes contained in your Will
conflict with your company or partnership
constitution?
Although your Will may provide that your spouse
or child should receive your shares or partnership
interest, the constitution, shareholder or
partnership agreement may not permit this.
Your business partners may have a right of first
refusal over your stake; they may be permitted to
block a transmission to your beneficiaries or an
inappropriate valuation mechanism may apply,
reducing the value
that your family
was expecting.
In the case of
partnerships, a
failure to put in
place a formal
agreement has
devastating effects.
An automatic
dissolution occurs
and that could
mean a forced
sale of the
business. This
must be avoided
at all costs.
What about
illness or injury
meaning that
you cannot
manage your
own business affairs? A well thought out Power
of Attorney, appointing an appropriate person,
is the solution. General partnership law does
not address the incapacity. It may be covered
by your partnership agreement, but many older
partnership agreements require the automatic
expulsion of the partner. That could be
catastrophic in terms of estate planning as well
as disruptive for the business.
Sole traders and sole director companies are
at greatest risk and incapacity of the person in
charge could be disastrous for everyone involved.
A court application to resolve matters might
take six months or more, potentially destroying
the business. Although more complex for
companies, if the point is considered in advance,
the constitution can be changed to minimise the
overall destructive effect.
Estate planning is generally thought to be the
province of the elderly or something that can be
put off ‘until I retire’, but the risk exists for us all.
more information
Contact Mark Daly on 01284 717500 or markdaly@greene-greene.com or Wayne Perrin on 01284 717454 or
wayneperrin@greene-greene.com. Find out more about Greene & Greene at www.greene-greene.com and @greenegreenelaw.
issue 7 | page 11

IQ showcase
TOP 100 SURVEYS THROW SPOTLIGHT ON
BUSINESS PERFORMANCE
Highlighting Suffolk and Cambridgeshire’s top 100 companies ahead of this year’s results
How are Suffolk and Cambridgeshire businesses faring
as we begin to see signs of an economic recovery? Are
they in good shape to face the future?
Providing a detailed insight into the performance of
Suffolk and Cambridgeshire’s top 100 companies, this
year’s Ltd surveys will offer an overall indicator of the
health of the counties’ economies.
Announced throughout November (12th November
for Suffolk and 27th November for Cambridgeshire)
by financial and business advisors Grant Thornton,
the Ltd studies have become recognised events in the
business calendar, with Suffolk Ltd now in its 12th year.
James Brown, Practice Leader at Grant Thornton,
said: “There are many business surveys carried out
each year, but our Ltd studies are unique in that they
drill down on a county by county basis and analyse key
performance indicators such as turnover, margins and
employment figures, to give a valuable insight into how
each county’s economy is performing. There is also a
breakdown of the financial data by industry sector.
“Last year’s survey results found that both Suffolk
and Cambridgeshire businesses were proving resilient
despite the continuingly weak trading conditions. We
look forward to finding out what the 2013 results will
show as the economy slowly begins its recovery.”
more information
Visit www.iqmag.co.uk to view the results once announced.
issue 7 | page 12

IQ showcase
SPOTLIGHT:
We take a look at some of last year’s Ltd leaders
specflue
Specflue, based in Sudbury, Suffolk, is the UK’s
leading provider of flue, chimney and renewable
energy solutions to the non-domestic sector, and
featured at number 53 in last year’s Suffolk Ltd top
100 list.
Founded in 1992, Specflue has grown from a small,
family run operation to a £16.5 million turnover
business employing 100 staff. This success has
been fuelled by a strong focus on offering valueadded
services. This included the launch of
Specflue’s dedicated solid fuel training centre in
2006, now the most comprehensive in the UK,
enabling those in the solid fuel, heating and plumbing
industries to gain the required accreditation to
offer renewable installations which qualify for the
government Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI).
Specflue Managing Director, Jeremy Fry, says:
“Specflue’s growth has necessitated the introduction
of a six-strong senior management team, five of whom
have been recruited from within the business, to help
run the company. It’s been a challenge to hand over
some of the responsibility, but the process is working
very well.
“We learn something new every day whilst making a
continuous, active effort to improve our services - a
strategy which has been at the heart of our success.”
Five Tips From The Top
Jeremy Fry, MD of Specflue, shares the key lessons he has learnt
over the past 22 years in business:
• Share your vision for the business often and ensure all
your team know their part in it.
• Understand what your customers want from you -
ask them.
• Don’t chase turnover, make profit.
• You can’t delegate soon enough.
• Trust your team.
move with us
Featuring in 22nd place in last year’s
Cambridgeshire Ltd top 100 list, St Ives based Move
with Us provides estate agency, asset management
and corporate property services to estate agents,
home builders, financial institutions and consumers.
The £85 million turnover business currently
employs 320 people and was named in the ‘Sunday
Times’ Profit Track 100’ in 2008, 2009 and again
this year.
Assisted by Grant Thornton, Move with Us has
recently undergone a capital restructuring to prepare
the business for further expansion.
Move with Us Finance Director Nigel Berry says the
firm’s rapid, organic growth is a result of a strategy
to anticipate trends, a flexibility to adapt to changing
markets and not being afraid to disrupt existing
markets in order to provide better levels of customer
service.
“Since Move with Us began in 1999, the UK has
seen the worst recession ever to hit the housing
market. This has meant we’ve had to take a highly
innovative and entrepreneurial approach to the
business. Creating the right management structure
to handle our rapid growth has been imperative, as
has setting very high internal standards which are
then reflected externally to our customers.”
Five tips From The Top
Nigel Berry outlines some of the pearls of wisdom he has
gleaned from his experience with Move with Us:
• Challenge established practice – be disruptive and
get noticed.
• React quickly to market changes - don’t wait to see
what others do.
• Plan for it to take longer than you thought to
achieve anything.
• Communicate regularly throughout the
organisation – good news and bad.
• Take a chance on good people – you can find the
right role for them later.
For further information on Grant Thornton’s Ltd surveys or to request a copy of the Suffolk and/or Cambridgeshire
2013 reports, please contact deborah.baker@uk.gt.com.
issue 7 | page 13

IQ showcase
issue 2 | page 14

HOW TO INTRODUCE FLEXIBLE WORKING
The Government proposes to extend the right to request
Flexible working to all employees at some stage in 2014
IQ employment
Flexible Working - The Law
The current law allows parents with
children under 17 (or 18 if disabled)
and carers to request a change to
their working hours, the times they
work or where they work. This
includes the right to request to work
from home.
The Benefits of Flexible Working
Studies have found that employers
offering flexible contracts to all
workers tend to have employees
who are more emotionally engaged,
more satisfied with their work, more
likely to speak positively about their
employer and less likely to quit.
Helping Managers Adapt to
Flexible Working
At some stage the law will change,
which means that unless managers
adapt, they may have a negative
approach to anyone working flexibly
which is not good for business -
consider the cost of a claim for
constructive dismissal. So, how can
you help your managers to change
the way they think about flexible
working?
8 STEPS TO INTRODUCING FLEXIBLE WORKING
1 Draft your policy and procedure for handling requests.
2 Inform your managers about the legislation. Lunch and
learn sessions are great for keeping managers aware of new
policies and procedures, and for getting buy-in.
3 Listen: don’t presume to know what managers are thinking.
Using a lunch and learn session to listen to what your
managers’ concerns are, will give you insights into what your
potential issues will be. This is not a time to be dismissive of
the concerns raised; they are genuine concerns.
4 Encourage open exploration of the issues; if a manager is
worried about reduced productivity, talk about how you
currently measure productivity, and whether that would
need to change? Don’t dismiss their concerns or give all the
answers; you don’t need a sledgehammer to crack this nut,
just a bit of patience.
5 Respond to feedback: be open to making adjustments to the
policy and procedure. You never know, managers may have
ideas for other ways of working flexibly that may not be part
of the legislation that you may like to consider.
6 Create the final policy: you may decide that another short
meeting with managers is needed before publishing the
policy. Be prepared to meet again, especially if there was a
lot of resistance at first; some people just need a little bit of
time to reflect, and you may be surprised at the difference at
a second meeting.
7 Publish the policy and inform staff in your usual way.
more information
AboutHR can help to ensure that your managers
have the skills to meet the challenges faced by
the demands of the modern workforce.
Call today on 01954 715406.
8 Support managers to implement changes.
The fact is, you are not going to receive hundreds of requests
to work from home. The businesses which currently offer
flexible working to all employees enjoy the benefits of closer
working relationships – you can too!
issue 7 | page 15

IQ showcase
issue 7 | page 16

TWELVE BUSINESS NEW
YEAR RESOLUTIONS
Area Director SME Banking for Lloyds Bank, Steve Elsom,
challenges all local businesses to take a look at the New Year ahead
IQ IQ showcase finance
Set goals.
What are you
planning to achieve
in 2014? Commit
your plan to paper.
Remember – be
ambitious but
realistic
Delight your customers/
clients. Seek feedback
from them on how pleased
they are with the service/
product, and what single
thing you could do
better to improve their
experience – then ask for
a recommendation
Know your
numbers:
ProFIt & Loss,
Margins, Key
Performance
Indicators
Review your pricing
policy – when was
the last time you
did this and what
was the outcome?
This feeds directly
to your bottom line
profit
DO YOU HAVE A
‘TRUSTED ADVISOR’
WITH WHOM YOU
CAN SHARE IDEAS
AND WHO CAN SHARE
IDEAS WITH YOU?
IF NOT, FIND ONE –
BUSINESS CAN BE
LONELY
Review your cash
flow and your terms
of trade. Cash is one
of the most important
commodities in your
business – guard it
jealously!
Chase debtors,
send out
invoices timely
and follow up
well before the
due date.
When reaching a
buying decision
people tend to say no
5 times before they
say yes. Are you still
in the sales game
when the customer
is ready to buy?
Keep in contact with
each customer in
every 90 day cycle
- this improves the
probability of them
increasing their
spend with you
Consider how
to reduce waste
in your business
– time/money/
resources/errors/
travel, as this will
improve profitability
Review your work/
life balance – is
it right? – Long
hours can lead to
stress which in
turn can lead to
poor judgement –
Take time to have
some fun!
Remind yourself
why you
started your
own business -
never lose
that feeling
With the end of 2013 just around the corner, now is the time to start considering these important questions.
Where will you stand next year and where would you like to see your business going? Set yourself goals to
ensure that your enterprise never remains static.
Let us know what
your New Year’s Resolutions
are @IQBusinessMag
more information
Lloyds Bank, Enterprise House, Chivers Way, Vision Park, Histon, Cambs, CB24 9ZR.
Email: sarah.devlin@lloydsbank.co.uk. Tel: 01223 227680.
issue 7 | page 17

IQ showcase
NO TOLL TAX
ON SUFFOLK
The Suffolk Chamber of Commerce
continues to campaign against proposed
charges within the region
more information
www.sufffolkchamber.co.uk/notolltaxonsuffolk
Local business owners are united in their opposition
to proposals to introduce a toll road as part of the
A14 improvements that were consulted on by the
Department for Transport in September this year
and are scheduled to commence in 2016. Through
a campaign led by Suffolk Chamber of Commerce
‘No Toll Tax on Suffolk’ businesses are queuing up to
speak out against the tolling aspect of the package.
“For many years, Suffolk Chamber, our members
and firms across the county have been calling for
improvements to this major part of our economic
infrastructure, however not at the expense of tolling,”
says John Dugmore, the Chief Executive of Suffolk
Chamber of Commerce. “There is no doubt though
that the proposals put forward by the Department
for Transport will be damaging to our economy, and
tolling of the A14 will have a detrimental impact on
business in Suffolk.”
Launching the campaign No Toll Tax On Suffolk, the
Chamber has received widespread support from many
local business owners and employees, many of whom
use the A14 as a means of transport and export.
“By placing an additional ‘local’ toll without a realistic
choice in alternative routes, there is a justifiable
concern that this will now increase costs in an
arbitrary manner, with no realistic outcome other than
local businesses absorbing this additional cost at a very
challenging time,” says Jonathan Burke, the General
Manager for Transport at the Mediterranean Shipping
Company. Yet with so much at stake, the two month
deliberation period put in place by the Department
for Transport seems less than satisfactory to many.
Home to 730,000 people, 305,000 jobs and hosting an
economy worth £12.6 billion every year, Suffolk, as a
county, may now face challenging times ahead should
the proposed tolls be granted permission to proceed.
The bottleneck to many of East Anglia’s ports, the
A14 is a busy commuter route providing vital access to
issue 7 | page 18

IQ showcase
many of the region’s firms, who are working harder
than ever through these challenging times to push
the number of exports from the UK.
“On behalf of the 100 plus members, encompassing
the wide variety of companies operating in and
through the port of Felixstowe, from shipping lines,
forwarders and haulers to warehouse keepers,
ship repairers, solicitors and computer companies,
we fully support the ‘No Toll Tax on Suffolk’
campaign,” said Simon Fraser, Chairman of the
Felixstowe Port Users Association in October 2013.
“A toll will distort competition between businesses
across all sectors located in Suffolk and competitors
elsewhere that will have lower transports costs to
get to market. There is no doubt that tolling the
A14 will have a detrimental impact on business and
the economy of Suffolk. Tolls on the A14 would be
discriminatory, adding costs to business in Suffolk
that are not faced by businesses elsewhere.”
Recently reporting on an arranged meeting with
a leading member of the Government, Patrick
McLoughlin, MP, the Secretary of State for
Transport, spoke with local Suffolk Member of
Parliament Therese Coffey, agreeing to meet with
campaign leaders to discuss the growing concerns of
business in the county.
“I will continue to press for a change of heart
from the Government and urge as many people
as possible to respond to the consultation,” said
Therese.Accused of lacking ambition and empathy
for the needs of both businesses and individuals
by many local managing directors and owners, the
campaign continues to fight through the consultation
period.
“It’s unfair to the county, its businesses, its working
population and the whole community,” adds Charles
Downie, Director of Bacton Transport Services. “At
my business, we estimate the toll would add more
than £20,000 a year to our costs. As consumers, the
toll will, of course, hit Suffolk people twice – once in
the increased price of goods and then again in the
cost of travel to and from the region.”
With the ongoing battle continued by the Chamber
and its local support, the Department for Transport
must now decide what is best for the region, the UK
economy and the communities involved.
“We’re delighted with the positive support this
campaign is receiving,” adds John Dugmore. “We
are at the start of a long journey, but we begin from
solid foundations of support.”
issue 7 | page 19

NAMING YOUR BUSINESS
Lynn Harris, Trade Mark Attorney at Dummett Copp,
discusses why trade mark searching is so important
IQ business start-ups
Many people think that
registering their business’
name at Companies House
is enough to protect their
new company identity. This
is simply not true.
Company names are the
legal identifiers for an
incorporated business.
They are registered at
Companies House when a
limited company is formed.
The only criteria is that they should not be
identical to another company already on the
register. So, for example, Trident Catering
Ltd and Trident Cooking Ltd can both be
registered to different people.
Surprisingly, registering a company name
does not give you the right to trade under
that name, and a third party
might own the rights to
Trident for catering services
by having a registered Trade
Mark.
Registered Trade Marks
are names that are legally
protected and give the
owner automatic rights to
stop others using the same
or a similar mark. Registered
Trade Marks may be
identified by the symbol ®.
This gives the owner these
So, is the name
you want to use
already owned
by others?
rights irrespective of how
new the mark is or how far
the reputation has spread.
So, is the name you want to
use already owned by others?
This could be a disaster if
you do not check first. We
have seen too many cases
where businesses have started
in a small way under a really
good name, and when the
business grows, they come to
the attention of a bigger company who own
the rights to that name.
Just as your business is taking off, you could
find yourself having to change the name.
So, it’s really important to get a Trade Mark
search done before you commit yourself
to using a name which in fact may already
belong to someone else.
Seeking advice on all aspects
of intellectual property to
help protect your business
ideas is key when first starting
out. Enforce your rights,
whilst adding value to your
business from the outset.
Established for 25 years,
Dummett Copp provides
clear, focused advice to save
you time and money. Let us
safeguard the future of your
business today.
more information
Dummett Copp LLP, 25 The Square, Martlesham Heath, Ipswich, IP5 3SL.
Tel: 01473 660600. www.dummett.com
issue 2 issue | 7 page | 21 page 21

IQ health showcase and safety
BRINGING YOUR HEALTH &
SAFETY POLICY TO LIFE
In the wake of the recent storms and high winds which have hit our region this
winter, Miles Vartan asks if your business is ready for such extreme conditions
issue 7 | page 22

IQ health & safety
As a significant low-pressure depression
approaches the country, UK PLC’s Health &
Safety Policy has sprung into life with frequent
weather warnings and messages not to travel
unless absolutely necessary being broadcast.
High bridges, such as the Orwell Bridge in
Ipswich, have been closed to all vehicles, and
train services have been cancelled until at
least 09:00; the likelihood of overhead cables
coming down is relatively high, so it’s much
better to keep trains in their respective stations.
The net effect, apart from major
inconvenience to business and public life, is
that the likelihood of serious injuries will have
been reduced because these safety measures
have been put into place.
Employers have a responsibility to be in
control of their health and safety arrangements
during these difficult times. Some degree
of dynamic risk assessment will be taking
place across the country as business owners,
directors, managers and supervisors decide
whether or not drivers should be sent out in
company vehicles, or whether, if builders are
sent onto construction sites to work at heights,
extra precautions should be taken to prevent a
fall.
The Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 requires
this type of decision to be made. How will you
make sure that you’re providing a safe place
to work for your employees, contractors and
others?
When reviewing how your organisation coped,
and performed, during these and other unusual
circumstances, consider how effective your
respective risk assessments and safe working
procedures were.
If a major accident had happened, would
you have had all the information at hand
to handle the incident? For instance,
could the various parties involved
have communicated with each other
effectively, and would your business
continuity plans have worked? If your
business had been affected, would you
have been able to locate your Business
Continuity Plan?
The essential point to bear in mind,
however, and to do something about, is
that this type of review should be part of
the everyday fabric of your business.
All too often, my organisation finds that
policies and procedures are in place but
they have not been reviewed, and what’s
more, they are not understood and are
often not followed by those that they are
designed on paper, to protect.
more information
Miles Vartan Consultancy Ltd, Epsilon House,
West Road, Ransomes Europark, Ipswich, Suffolk,
IP3 9FJ. Tel: 01473 276175 / 07879 695 077.
www.milesvartan.co.uk
issue 7 | page 23

IQ showcase
issue 2 | page 24

EMPLOYMENT LAW
UPDATE 2013
IQ employment
Jacqui Kemp of About HR looks towards 2014 and
the continuation of the Pension Auto-Enrolment
Well, that was a very busy year indeed. It really is
quite rare to have such a busy year of employment
law changes, and a lot of the changes came out of the
Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill.
One change that will continue to affect businesses
into 2014 and beyond is the introduction of Pension
Auto-Enrolment.
All employers have a date by which they must
automatically enrol certain employees into a pension
scheme. The date you have to start auto-enrolment
is called your staging date. Auto-enrolment is being
staged over six years, to 2018.
What should you do?
Know your staging date:
• Staging dates depend on the number of employees
you have on your payroll.
• Enter your PAYE reference into the Pensions
Regulator’s staging date tool to find your staging date
www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk
Know your workforce:
• Employees aged 22 to 65 and earning more than
£9,440 pa must be automatically enrolled into a
workplace pension scheme unless they expressly opt
out.
• Employees aged 16 to 74, earning between £5,668
and £9,440 pa have the right to opt into your pension
scheme.
• Those aged 16 to 74 earning up to £5,668pa have the
right to join a pension scheme after your staging date.
Know the risks:
Companies which have failed to comply so far, have
fixed penalty fines from the Pensions Regulator
and a daily penalty of between £50 and £10,000,
depending on the number of employees affected.
Understand the costs:
• It takes time to gather data and prepare for autoenrolment;
do you have the staff to take this on?
• Will your current payroll software cope?
• Your pension scheme must comply with government
rules; if you have a pension scheme already, get it
reviewed to ensure compliance.
• Once the scheme is set up, your minimum employer
contribution will be up to 3% of the employee’s
annual salary.
Take expert advice:
• To set up a pension scheme you need to take expert
advice. A good Independent Financial Advisor will
guide you through introducing a pension scheme,
but there is only so much they can do; you really
need one person responsible for ensuring the IFA is
updated.
• Do not assume that your payroll provider will tell
you what needs to happen. It is your responsibility to
ensure you have a compliant pension scheme in place
by your staging date.
more information
www.abouthruk.co.uk
issue 7 | page 25

IQ showcase
issue 7 | page 26

IQ showcase
IMPROVED PERFORMANCE HOME AND ABROAD
Suffolk economy sees a rise in performance
Following the publication of the
latest business data, improvements
to the domestic economy as well as
increases in exports are ‘cause for
optimism’ in Suffolk, according to
one business group leader.
The Suffolk Chamber of
Commerce third Quarterly
Economic Survey has shown that
domestic market performance is
strengthening, whilst at the same
time the county’s exporters continue
to report improved sales and short
term prospects for trade.
“Our improved domestic market
performance combined with
our continuing export strengths,
supported by the Chamber’s
‘Exporting is Good for Suffolk’
campaign, gives us real cause
for optimism that the economic
recovery in Suffolk is gathering
momentum,” said Dr Peter Funnell,
the President of Suffolk Chamber
of Commerce.
“Taking account of our strengths
and improvements across these
and almost all of the other
key indicators in the Survey,
including employment and
business confidence, there is a real
consistency to the local picture that
is to be welcomed,” he added.
The domestic market performance
for Suffolk firms represents a
welcome rebound in Quarter 3 after
a decline in Quarter 2, which went
against the national trend.
Manufacturers were similarly
upbeat regarding prospects for the
coming quarter, with the Suffolk
position strongly positive, and, as
in Quarter 2, well ahead of the
national picture.
“To see Suffolk manufacturers’
home deliveries increasing
significantly indicates a strong inquarter
improvement,” Dr Funnell
continued. “The service sector had
excellent results too, with strong
rises in orders and deliveries orders
both locally and nationally.”
In the service sector, concerns
decreased overall, with only
inflation being of concern to
more than half of businesses.
This matched the results from the
manufacturing sector, although the
latter also reported a notable rise in
worries over exchange rates.
Service sector firms are more
cautious about employing additional
staff, with Suffolk firms showing
a small rise in employment and
slightly reduced intentions to take
on new staff in Quarter 4 of 2013.
“Due to their hard work and
entrepreneurial spirit, Suffolk
businesses are now showing clear
signs of growth,” said Suffolk
Chamber of Commerce Chief
Executive, John Dugmore.
“There remain concerns in some
areas, such as inflation and cash
flow, but the overall picture this
month is very encouraging,” he
concluded.
The survey was conducted in early
September 2013, and the results
were analysed by a research team at
Suffolk County Council.
more information
www.iqmag.co.uk
issue 7 | page 27

IQ showcase
issue 2 | page 28

IQ networking
NETWORKING NECESSITIES
Ed Goodman of the Cambridge Business Lounge reveals his top tips
for successful networking
Professor Robin Dunbar, a British anthropologist, wrote that
the maximum number of people with whom we can maintain
relationships is 150. This means that whenever you meet someone
at a networking event or co-working space, or even in the queue
of a coffee shop, you could be just two handshakes away from over
22,000 people.
We all know how important word of mouth is to support growth
within our business, which means not only ensuring that our
existing customers spread the good word for us, but also that we
need to get out there and meet new people.
Here are my three top tips for
making that initial connection
in any networking situation:
Be Interesting
The most common question I
hear asked at any networking
event is “What do you do?” If
someone insists on asking you
this question, try an answer
that doesn’t involve your name
and rank. I’m sure you do a lot
more than consult or design.
Let the person you’re talking to
know the real you.
Be Interested
The more you know about
someone, the stronger the
connection will be. In a
networking event, you have
a fantastic opportunity to
cultivate the rapport and
likeability that is crucial to be
memorable. To help you truly
understand a person’s values
and interests, ask questions.
You can also understand their
needs, which will help you to
follow up with them after the
initial connection.
Follow Up
It would be a complete waste
of time if you ticked all the
boxes at a networking event,
and let your new connection
slip away afterwards. The
best thing that I’ve found by
way of follow up, is to send
an article or news item to
your new connection, once
you’re back in the office.
It shows that you listened
and that you’re genuinely
interesting in adding value to
their lives.
Everything we’ve learnt and everything we’ve experienced will have had a huge impact in driving
our achievements to this point, but it’s the people we know and the relationships we have built that
will determine our ultimate success.
more information
For any questions about networking or our networking workshops,
e-mail ed.goodman@cambridgebusinesslounge.com or @edagoodman.
www.cambridgebusinesslounge.com
issue 7 | page 29

IQ networking showcase
THE MODERN AGE
MEET AND GREET
IQ Magazine looks at the hash tag phenomenon that is taking
the region by storm
more information
www.iqmag.co.uk
www.twitter.com/CambsHour
For more information, and upcoming #CambsHour
Day dates, visit www.cambridgebusinesslounge.com
With social media
transforming the way
in which people interact
with each other online, a real
evolution is currently underway
in cyberspace as more and more
individuals are realising the advantages of
online networking in the
business world.
In a fast-paced, technology driven
world, time is now most definitely of
the essence, and online portals provide
businesses with an opportunity to further
strengthen their relationships with clients
and other companies.
Professional networking has always been
vitally important for anyone hoping to
be successful in the world of business, by
helping companies to gain a commercial advantage, as well
as make connections. Social media is adding to the mix of
this good old-fashioned process by making it easier and more
accessible to all businesses, wherever you may be.
Even from the comfort of your own home, social networking
sites stand as a fantastic platform for meeting new people
either in your line of business or with client potential. They
allow a direct conversation to evolve, sometimes on a more
personal level, all at the touch of a button.
Two people to embrace this phenomenon are local
entrepreneur Helen Reinson and business mentor Ann
Hawkins, who made the decision to launch this unique
networking concept within Cambridge just over one year
ago. The two named it CambsHour following the national
#hour trend seen in many other counties and special interest
groups.
“Helen heard about the #hours trend and asked me if I
thought it was worth trying to establish a #CambsHour,”
explains Ann. “We did and the rest, as they say, is history. What
issue 7 | page 30

IQ IQ
networking
showcase
makes #CambsHour
unique is that it gave birth
to #CambsHour Day and
physical networking.”
With the aim of creating an online
community for Cambridgeshire businesses,
Cambs Hour encourages business people not just to
connect professionally, but to connect personally too.
Every Wednesday at 8pm, the social networking website
Twitter plays host to an engaging hour for companies
across Cambridgeshire to meet and talk, using the hash tag
#CambsHour.
Inviting anyone to engage and offer a range of topics on a regular
basis, #CambsHour allows business people to not only promote
their line of work and share tips, but, most importantly, to get to
know and understand the people behind other companies - either
as friends or as potential partners for future business ventures.
Following the continuing popularity and success of its weekly
online events, Cambs Hour has recently taken the next step in
networking and launched #CambsHour Days, so that regular
contributors to the Twitter conversations can meet face to face.
Held every couple of months, the event is hosted at one of
Cambridge’s newest venues, Cambridge Business Lounge, and
offers a day of mini workshops, talks, networking and co-working.
After attending one of the events, Kirsty Inman (@KirstyInman)
a regular contributor to #CambsHour, commented:
“#CambsHour day is great for networking with like minded
people, and learning from helpful presentations.”
Indeed, having connected over an online portal, attendees to
the #CambsHour Day already feel as if they know each other,
making way for a safe and supportive environment where
businesses can learn from one another, and improve and grow
as a result.
issue 7 | page 31

IQ showcase
issue 7 | page 32

IQ showcase
IQ MAGAZINE
LAUNCHES
'WELCOME'
Business
chat
NETWORKING
Introducing our quarterly networking event
Bringing together the business minds of
Cambridgeshire and Suffolk, IQ Magazine is
pleased to announce its very own networking event,
‘Welcome’ Networking.
Held quarterly in correlation with each new issue,
the new networking event welcomes employees,
business owners and advisors to an informal free
evening of introductions.
Hosted by the IQ Magazine team, the events look
to introduce many corresponding services to one
another, whilst educating all in attendance with a
short presentation from a local guest speaker.
Having hosted its first event in April 2013,
the business magazine saw a great benefit in
introducing the local businesses it works with to one
another in an informal setting.
“In each issue of IQ Business Magazine, we often
find businesses in need of the services provided
by other clients,” explains IQ Business Magazine
Editor, Georgie Campbell. “Whilst we are able
to make recommendations, launching our own
networking event has enabled us to introduce these
services on a face to face basis, which can often lead
to strong business connections in the long run.”
Announcing the dates and locations of each event
on the magazine’s website, www.iqmag.co.uk, the
event looks forward to welcoming a good mix of
business from across the region to each and every
event.
“We’re looking for guest speakers to take part
at each event, so that we can make sure that the
evenings are worthwhile for all,” adds Georgie.
“The first event, held in April 2013, welcomed
Ed Goodman from the Cambridge Business
Lounge, who gave a lighthearted, yet informative
speech on the importance of networking and first
impressions.”
The next event, scheduled for 28th November at
the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Cambridge,
already has a thought-provoking line-up, with Steve
Elsom, Area Director SME Banking for Lloyds
Banking, stepping up to the podium to discuss the
best forms of business focus for 2014.
With the next event scheduled for February 2014,
the magazine is looking for guest speakers to take
part. If you are interested or would like to know
more about the events, please email
georgie@cubiqdesign.co.uk.
more information
www.iqmag.co.uk
issue 7 | page 33

IQ showcase
To Mail Or Not To Mail
Managing Director and Founder of Cubiqdesign Ltd, John Treby,
discusses the importance of direct mail marketing
When it comes to direct and promotional marketing, a good
old branded pen or mouse mat just won’t cut it these days.
Direct marketing is all about connecting with the customer
in a real way. If you want impact and results, your direct
mail marketing needs to appeal on all fronts through its
content, messages, incentives, creativity and interactiveness.
Direct mail marketing brings the marketing tool right to
your audience’s doorstep, so making an impact there and
then is key. With our focus nowadays on digital media, it’s
easy to forget that traditional marketing communications
are still extremely important and are drivers of leads, brand
awareness and sales.
The Direct Marketing Association’s (DMA) recent survey
on direct marketing effectiveness in the UK surveyed 600
companies and found that the four most popular techniques
to market businesses included:
• Display advertising in newspapers and magazine (20% of
spend)
• Direct mail and door drops (16% of spend)
• Email marketing (16% of spend)
• Search advertising (pay per click – 15% of spend)
Some other key information from the survey suggested that
23% of turnover for the companies polled was directly
attributed to their direct marketing.
So how can we make sure that we’re making the most of
our exposure?
Messaging and Content
Look at the content, messaging and hierarchy. What is the
main call to action, the incentive for the audience to open
or read the marketing? Make sure the branding is clear and
concise and the copy is punchy - waffle just won’t wash.
If it’s a welcome pack or company overview, then a clear
flow of content and message will help guide the audience
through the information, and, as an end result, encourage
them to make an enquiry by phone or online.
Audience
Focus on your target audience - what drives them to read
your marketing? Targeting a specific market does not mean
that you have to exclude other audiences which do not fit
your criteria. Rather, targeted marketing allows you to focus
your spend and brand message on a specific group that is
more likely to be reactive. This is a much more affordable,
efficient and effective way to reach potential clients and
generate business.
issue 7 | page 34
Creativity
Creativity is one main key driver to entice the audience.
Making the marketing piece interactive and intriguing to
the audience will enable immediate engagement, making it
stand out from the other mail that arrives on a daily basis.
Adding elements to the piece which serve a purpose and
can also be kept by the recipient, will help to leave a lasting
brand message.
Linked Campaigns
Make sure the campaign is thought out and linked to other
marketing. If the audience decides to visit your website,
making sure the marketing message is consistent with the
direct mail is key. Also key is making sure there is a clear
route on your website for users to access from the landing
page. Is your advertising backing up the direct mail to
enhance brand awareness across all material?
Direct mail marketing brings the marketing
tool right to your audience’s doorstep, so
making an impact there and then is key.
- John Treby, Cubiqdesign Ltd

IQ showcase
8 Dos When It Comes To Direct Mail
• Focus on your target audience
• Personalise your messages
• Use direct mail to acquire, retain and win back customers
• Make it easy for your audience to respond
• Provide an offer or incentive for the audience to respond
• Test everything
• Set goals and measure results
• Engage with a specialist if you have never worked with direct mail
8 Don’ts When It Comes To Direct Mail
• Mail dated material too close to the due date
• Copy your competition
• Forget a call to action
• Try direct mail once and give up – it takes time
to build a great programme
• Rely on one media channel
• Get complacent with your mailings
• Assume, since you like something, that your
audience will too
• Use direct mail as a branding tool and
expect sales results
MORE INFORMATION:
Cubiqdesign Ltd, Goodwin House, Goodwin
Business Park, Willie Snaith Road,
Newmarket, CB8 7SQ. Tel: 01638 666432.
www.cubiqdesign.co.uk
issue 7 | page 35

IQ showcase
issue 7 | page 36

issue 7 | page 37
IQ showcase

GADGET UPDATE
IQ review
David Donnan, Managing Director of Igentics, a full service digital agency in Cambridge,
offers his verdict on this month’s gadgets
Libratone Zipp
£369.99 l Available
from John Lewis
Initial impressions
Opening the box, the Libratine Zipp looks like a well
designed and constructed product. The speaker itself
is quite large but because of its orientation, it takes
up very little space on the work surface. Solidly built
and surprisingly heavy, the speaker has a zip-off
cover and, with a range of colours available, you can
change it to match your mood or wallpaper.
In Use
Like all AirPlay devices, the Libratone
connects to a wireless network and allows
IOS devices to connect and stream music
to it. Whilst this works well in a networked
environment, it is pretty tricky for a portable device
to connect when there is no Wi-Fi. The Libratone
Zipp overcomes this by using what it calls PlayDirect.
Basically, this is a Wi-Fi network provided by the
Libratone Zipp, which the user can connect to
directly.
I have to admit that the installation was a
little painful, mainly because I had mislaid the
instructions. However, once I’d worked out the
basics, it was pretty straightforward to connect an
iPhone and even a Noika Lumia running Windows
Phone 8 and get music playing across the kitchen.
In use, it is also very straightforward; you select the
song or playlist on your phone, hit play, select the
Libratone in airplay and off you go; instant disco.
This worked very well at home; however, we had
a weekend away with friends, and the house we
stayed in had no network and no cellular connectivity.
Resetting the Libratone to use its internal network
and making new devices connect was more of a
chore than it should have been, so in the end we
resorted to plugging phones directly into it. This had
the added benefit of charging the phones.
Summary
Battery life is rated at 4 hours with wireless on, and
8 with it off. We did use it on battery a lot, and it
seemed to cope very well. With regard to sound, the
Libratone Zipp is very good. The sound quality was
on a par with many non portable airplay devices at
the same price level, which I feel gives this product a
distinct advantage.
Initial impressions
Retro-tasic! Billed as a ‘true studio condenser
microphone’ designed for both iPad and USB, it brings
professional recording capabilities to the IPad mobile
platform. ‘Cool’ is the first word that sprang to mind when
I unpacked this, cool and good attention to detail. In the
box is the microphone, the stand, some cables and a nice
bag to carry it all about in. This attention to detail gives
me confidence in the team that released the product.
In Use
It is very easy to use: select it in the relevant application
and then make noises at it... I did some quick tests using
a normal speaking voice and the quality improvement
over the standard in built iPad microphone was, as you
would expect, very good. Noise isolation was excellent
as well, which is important. It is also worth remembering
that this is a directional microphone, and so only picks up
sound from the front.
The controls on the microphone are straightforward;
a main control knob on the front allows control of the
headphone volume, mic gain and mute. At the back is a
focus control switch, which changes the microphone’s
sensitivity. I did some very basic tests with it on and off,
and did not notice a difference. It is all very easy
to use, however.
Summary
Without another microphone it is difficult to give
a proper comparison; however, I think that the
build quality, ease of use and quality of recorded
sound make this an obvious choice for high end
home recording.
Blue Microphones Spark Digital
£199.99 l Arriving soon at Curry’s and PC World
more information
Igentics offers clients a wide variety of digital services, whether to develop their current website or build a larger SEO strategy and social
media solutions. Current clients include Cambridge University Press, Norgren, Marley Eternit, Britvic and the University of Cambridge.
#thecambridgeagency. www.igentics.com
issue 7 | page 39

IQ review
BOOK REVIEW
BIO: John Wells is Professor of Management
Practice at Harvard Business School. With a
wealth of experience in business and industry,
he has adopted numerous roles over the
years, including business school president,
advisor, scholar, senior executive, director,
entrepreneur and CEO.
John teaches many courses on strategy
in the MBA and Executive Development
programmes, as well as his own courses on
Strategic IQ. His current research addresses
how companies increase their agility through
pioneering approaches to strategy, structure
and systems, and, having written over 50 cases
on strategy, he regularly speaks on the subject
all around the world.
REVIEW: In the aftermath of the economical
downturn in recent years, it seems that no
one could have predicted that such a high
percentage of companies would eventually
meet their demise. With once-successful and
globally renowned names in business, such as
Toyota, slowly halting trade, it is apparent,
now more than ever, that past performance
and reputation are no longer sufficient to
prevent a sudden collapse.
As the issue of failing companies gains more
urgency, it seems that John Wells has come
as a breath of fresh air to senior executives.
However, when I was presented with this
book, my initial thoughts were sceptical
as I was concerned that it could simply be
jumping on the bandwagon - so to speak - and
not have the depth to be able to turn failing
businesses around.
However, I’m delighted to say that I couldn’t
have been more wrong - especially when
a book bravely reveals the fundamental
flaws of traditional metrics, such as revenue
growth, profit and market share, to determine
a company’s success, and introduces an
innovative way of ensuring how a business
survives in this economic climate.
John sets up an extremely clear and direct
line of argument in this book, firstly
highlighting that it is a successful company’s
determination to resist change that leads to
its failure. Demonstrating that it is imperative
for businesses to stay one step ahead of the
changing landscape, he prompts executives to
analyse their market effectively and diagnose
what is needed to respond to the real threats
outside.
The book provides distinctive guidance
on a company’s strategy, offering a global
perspective from one of the leading
international business schools, and practical
guidance on how to diagnose, assess and
improve your strategy, as well as four kinds of
intelligence crucial for a business’ survival.
Strategic IQ is an enlightening source
of information that causes you to forget
everything you knew about what makes a
successful company, while providing lessons
that are easy to apply to your current business.
R at i n g : This book is a perfect resource for
senior executives to diagnose which steps are
needed for their company’s success. 5 out of 5.
Strategic
IQ: Creating
Smart
Corporations
Author:
John. R. Wells
issue 7 | page 41

IQ showcase

IQ review
BOOK
REVIEW
The Yes/No
Book: How
To Do Less...
And Achieve
More
Author:
Mike
Clayton
BIO: Mike Clayton’s original
profession focussed on project
management for a diverse
range of clients, including
local, central and third sector
government, as well as global
businesses such as General
Motors, BAA and Vodafone.
His wealth of experience
in leading project teams
encouraged Mike to develop
his understanding of
management, leadership and
personal effectiveness. Skilled
at communicating complex
ideas to managers and leaders
at all levels, Mike has gone on
to write and speak in seminars
on all areas of the subject -
from advanced communication
skills to personal and
professional development.
In demand as a public speaker,
and the author of eight books
to date, Mike is renowned
in the industry for being
proactive and encouraging
change.
REVIEW: Pledging to empower
the reader with decisionmaking
skills that will allow
you to develop an increasing
amount of control over your
life and become more focussed
and more productive; this
book has set high expectations
for itself. It seems that far too
many proclaimed self-help
books struggle to speak to the
reader, or indeed, alter years
of hard-wired practice.
This book, however, is instantly
an exception. Mike’s lighthearted
tone and direct key
points make the information
easy to absorb, whilst examples
throughout create an instant
connection with the reader, as
we relate the topic to our own
situation, whether in a business
or personal sense.
Although simply written, Mike
is in no way condescending
or flippant as he introduces
a number of fascinating
and powerful psychological
theories. Beginning by
examining our addiction to
saying ‘yes’ to things that
offer no benefit or joy, Mike
provokes us to think about
why we would want to do
something.
The second half of the book
challenges us to break this
habit, to think about how we
can prioritise our time and to
start using ‘no’ without fear or
guilt, so that we can refocus
to become less busy, yet more
productive.
The Yes/No book is ultimately
about choice, and aims to
empower you with the ability
to know exactly when to say
‘yes’ and when to say ‘no’
in your everyday life with
confidence and self-assurance.
A clever, clear and challenging
read
R at i n g : As a thoughtprovoking
book that I can see
myself going back to time and
time again, 4 out of 5!
issue 2 | page 43

IQ showcase
issue 2 | page 44

BUSINESS DIARY
IQ diary
The Coffee Morning
A relaxed and informal way
to meet some of Newmarket’s
local businessmen and
women. Each week a
different company acts as
host.
Date: Every Thursday
Time: 10:00
Venue: The Rutland Arms
Hotel, Newmarket
Organiser: Roger Herring
Booking details: Tel: 01638
666595, or e-mail:
rogerherring@hotmail.com
Cost: Free for participants; events
can be sponsored at a cost of £30
Further information:
www.thecoffeemorning.com
The Very Early Lunch
Club - Cambridge
This business networking club
provides business support and
networking opportunities for
local businesses in a relaxed,
welcoming and supportive
environment. There is
a choice of breakfast,
networking and a guest
speaker.
Date: Friday 1st November
2013, the first Friday of every
month (holidays permitting)
Time: 7:20 - 9:30
Venue: Anglesey Abbey, Lode,
CB25 9EJ
Organiser: e-mail
admin@velc.co.uk
Further information:
www.velc.co.uk
BforB Networking -
Bury St Edmunds
Business for Breakfast Bury
St. Edmunds is a local
business networking group
that meets to provide relaxed
but structured events.
Date: fortnightly on Wednesday
mornings
Time: 7:15 – 9:10
Venue: The Old Cannon
Brewery, 86 Cannon Street, Bury
St Edmunds
Organiser:
Booking details:
www.bforb-networking.com
Best of Bury Coffee
Morning
A well-established informal
coffee morning held at
Benson Blakes. Sponsoring
costs £30 and allows for a
15min speech, demonstration
or Q&A session.
Date: Alternate Tuesdays
from 13th Aug
Time: 10am - 12noon
Venue: Benson Blakes, 88 - 89
St. Johns Street, Bury St Edmunds
Organiser: Best of
Bury St Edmunds
Booking details: :
www.thebestof.co.uk/local/buryst-edmunds
Cambridge Business
Women’s Coffee Club
An informal fortnightly group
for Cambridgeshire business
women to meet like-minded
people, as well as exchange
ideas and experiences. No
membership or booking
required.
Dates: Tuesday 5th November,
19th November, 3rd December,
17th December
Venue: Cambridge Business
Lounge, Burleigh House, 52
Burleigh Street, Cambridge, CB1
1DJ
Organiser: Cambridge Business
Lounge
Booking details: Call
01223 324040 or e-mail info@
cambridgebusinesslounge.com
Cost: £10, to cover room hire,
food & drinks.
Cambridge Network
Event: Meet Cambridge
Network - Huntingdon
This seminar offers larger
organisations the opportunity
to find out about the
benefits of membership and
additional services available,
including Recruitment
Gateway and the possibilities
of ‘Learning Collaboration’.
Date: 6th Nov 2013
Time: 9:30 - 11:00
Venue: Building 56,
Alconbury Weald, Huntingdon,
Cambridgeshire PE28 4WX
Organiser: Andrea Mitchell
Booking details: Call 01223
341061 or e-mail andrea.
mitchell@cambridgenetwork.co.uk
Cost: Free to members and nonmembers
Cambridge Network
Event: Cambridge
Technology and the
Bloodhound Project
This event focuses on the
Bloodhound Project, which
highlights the best of the
UK’s engineering prowess,
and the Cambridge hightech
companies who are
contributing to it.
Date: 7th Nov 2013
Time: 18:00 - 21.30pm
Venue: Robinson College, Grange
Road, Cambridge CB3 9AN
Organiser: Dawn Nicholls
Booking details: Tel:
01223 341053 or e-mail dawn.
nicholls@cambridgenetwork.co.uk
Cost: Free to members. £50.00
+ VAT for non-members
Cambridgeshire
Chamber of Commerce
Informal Networking
Evenings - Cambridge
A free opportunity to raise
your business profile and
meet with like-minded
business people in an
informal setting. Come along
to promote your company,
make valuable new contacts
and even discuss the issues
currently affecting your
business at this free, informal
drop-in event.
Dates: Thursday 7th November
2013, Thursday 21st November
2013
Time: 17:00 – 19:00
Venue: Holiday Inn, Bridge
Road, Impington, Cambridge,
CB24 9PH
Organiser: Peter Watts,
the Chambers’ Membership
Development Officer
Booking Details: Tel: 07545
697799, or e-mail
p.watts@cambscci.co.uk
issue 7 | page 45

IQ diary
BUSINESS DIARY
Cambridgeshire
Chamber of Commerce
Speed Networking
Breakfast
Promote your business,
broaden your network of
business contacts, and pitch
ideas to potential business
partners. You will have
just 60 seconds to make a
great first impression and
put your message across
before moving on to the next
person.
Date: Friday 8th November
2013
Time: 7.45 - 10.00
Venue: The Moller Centre,
Storey’s Way, Cambridge CB3
0DE
Organiser: Karen Dawson
Booking Details: Call
01223 209 808 or email
email@cambscci.co.uk
Cost: Members: £15.00
(plus VAT); Non-Members Fee:
£22.50 (plus VAT).
Cambridgeshire
Chamber of Commerce
Informal Networking
Evenings – Ely
A free opportunity to raise
your business profile and
meet with like-minded
business people in an
informal setting. Come along
to promote your company,
make valuable new contacts
and even discuss the issues
currently affecting your
business at this free, informal
drop-in event.
Date: Monday 11th November
2013
Time: 17:00 – 19:00
Venue: The Lamb Hotel, Lynn
Road, Ely, CB7 4ej
Organiser: Peter Watts,
the Chambers’ Membership
Development Officer
Booking Details: Tel 07545
697799 or e-mail p.watts@
cambscci.co.uk
How To Be A Social
Media Manager That
Stands Out From The
Crowd
This workshop is set to
discuss the contradictions
of social media, the realities
of creating brand awareness
and the difference between
followers and influencers,
amongst other topics.
Date: 13th November
Venue: Venue: Cambridge
Business Lounge, Burleigh House,
52 Burleigh Street, Cambridge,
CB1 1DJ
Organiser: Cambridge
Business Lounge
Booking details: Call
01223 324040 or e-mail info@
cambridgebusinesslounge.com
Cost: £56.
Link4Coffee, Ely
Link4Coffee events are
informal morning drop-in
sessions, where you can
connect with local business
people and all kinds of
interesting individuals from
your local community. There
are no attendance fees.
Date: Thursday 14th November
Time: 10:00 - 11:30am
Venue: The Cutter Inn, Ely
Organiser: Anita Turner
Booking details: www.
findnetworkingevents.com
Women In Business
network
Improve your business
opportunities by networking
with like-minded women
in a non-competitive
environment. There are
three groups in the region.
Bury St Edmunds
Dates: Thursday 14th
November 2013, Thursday 12th
December 2013
Time: 12:00 - 14:00
Venue: Bury St Edmunds Golf
Club, Tut Hill, Fornham All
Saints, Bury St Edmunds.
Organiser: To register
interest in any of these groups,
please contact Siobhan, siobhan.
costello@wibn.co.uk or call
01223 746222.
Cost: The meeting fee for visitors
is £24:00, which includes a onecourse
lunch and refreshments.
Cambridge North
Dates: Thursday 21st
November, Thursday 19th
December
Time: 12:00 - 14:00
Venue: The Plough and
Fleece, High Street, Horningsea,
Cambridgeshire, CB25 9JG
Cambridge West
Dates: Tuesday 26th November,
Tuesday 17th December
Time: 12:00 - 14:00
Venue: Madingley Hall,
Madingley, Cambridge CB23
8AQ
South Cambridge
Coffee Mornings
Mid-morning networking
opportunity.
Date: Every Friday
Time: 10:00 - 12:00
Venue: Holiday Inn Express,
Cambridge Duxford, Whittlesford
Station, Whittlesford Cambridge
Organiser: South Cambridge
Coffee Morning
Booking details: www.
southcambridgecoffeemorning.co.uk
Cost: £5, pay on the day
issue 7 | page 47

IQ diary
BUSINESS DIARY
CambsHour Day
Returning for the fourth
time, this popular networking
and workshop day welcomes
businesses from all over
the region. Discussing
websites, marketing, the Ten
Commandments of Business,
and more, register your
attendance in advance.
Date: 20th November
Venue: Cambridge Business
Lounge, Burleigh House, 52
Burleigh Street, Cambridge, CB1
1DJ
Organiser: Cambridge Business
Lounge
Booking details: Call
01223 324040 or e-mail info@
cambridgebusinesslounge.com
Cost: Free
Business Owners
Breakfast
Join a peer group of business
owners to discuss various
business topics and share
ideas at this friendly and
informal business support
meeting.
Dates: Friday 22nd Nov, Friday
20th Dec, Friday 17th January
2014
Time: 8:00 - 9:00
Business Growth
Workshops
These monthly workshops
Venue: St John’s Innovation
Centre, Cowley Road, Cambridge,
CB4 0WS
Organiser: Ann Hawkins, The
Inspired Group
Booking details: www.
meetup.com/Cambridge-Business-
Networking
allow you to concentrate on
improving your business in
a group of your peers. They
follow a Business Owners
Breakfast, which you are also
welcome to attend.
Dates: Friday 22nd Nov, Friday
20th Dec, Friday 17th January
2014
Time: 9:30 – 12:30
Venue: St John’s Innovation
Centre, Cowley Road, Cambridge,
CB4 0WS
Organiser: Ann Hawkins, The
Inspired Group
Booking details: www.
meetup.com/Cambridge-Business-
Networking
The Bury Breakfast
Club
The Bury Breakfast Club
provides an opportunity
for business people to
meet, learn and exchange
business ideas, and be able to
network business to business
in a relaxed but structured
atmosphere. The meetings
offer the opportunity to listen
to regular guest speakers.
Dates: 2nd and 4th Friday of
every month
Time: 6:45 – 8:30
Venue: The Malt House, Bury
St Edmunds
Organiser: theteam@
burybreakfastclub.co.uk
Booking details:
Cost: £11 – limited to one guest
per sector
www.burybreakfastclub.co.uk
Grow Your Business
Through People -
Cambridge
This interactive workshop
will examine the challenges
that businesses face, and
help to identify the support,
advice and training available
to enable your business to
achieve its potential.
Date: Friday 22nd November
2013
Time: 8:30 – 13:00
Venue: SmartLife Low Carbon
Centre, Cambridge Regional
College, Kings Hedges Road,
Cambridge, CB4 2QT
Booking Details: e-mail:
d.rivetti@cambscci.co.uk
Cost: free, however places must be
booked in advance.
Menta Business Club
These regular monthly meets
provide guidance and support
for those with a new idea
right through to those with
the aim of being their own
boss. Make regular visits to
take advantage of different
topics. Refreshments are
available.
Haverhill
Dates: Thursday 14th November,
Thursday 5th December
Time: 12:30 - 14:00
Venue: Menta Business Centre, 2
Hollands Road, Haverhill
Cost: Entry free, no booking
required.
Bury St Edmunds
Dates: Thursday 14th November,
Thursday 5th December
Time: 15:00 - 16:30
Venue: Menta Business
Centre, 5 Eastern Way, Bury St
Edmunds, Suffolk
Cost: Entry free, no booking
required.
issue 7 | page 49

IQ showcase
issue 7 | page 50

HOW TO TURN TOXIC
TEAMS INTO HIGH
PERFORMING MACHINES
Business and Leadership Coach, NLP Practitioner
and DiSC Certified Profiling Trainer Julie Hutchison reveals how to
transform performance and maximise productivity and profits in your business
“What a load of rubbish!” whined Bob from behind his office
desk. “That guy has no idea what we need!” Caroline complained.
“He just waltzes in and dumps stuff on us and leaves, then we’re
expected to pick up the pieces and make something of it!”
Jimmy replied. “Yeah… we haven’t even been trained and
then he shouts at us for not having met the target!”
Bob pipes up again.
In these manic, overworked
and understaffed times,
the above story
is commonplace
across many offices
throughout the UK.
With the economy
struggling as it is, a large
proportion of managers and
directors believe that their
employees are fortunate to
even have a job, so dealing
with complaints is considered
inessential in the grand scheme
of things.
The Engine
Management
System
The Gear
Shift
Mechanism
Unfortunately, as soon as your employees begin to feel
The Misson
Re-ignition
System
The Team
performance
engine
that you don’t appreciate them, morale is destroyed,
motivation is lost and productivity is blocked. In the
long run, this will cost your company massively through
significant recruiting and training costs; so, it is
vital for leaders to listen and respond to the
voice of their workforce.
The root cause of an employee’s failure
to perform to the best of their ability
is not possessing a clear
The
Development
Dynamo
idea of what is expected
of them. Insufficient
guidance can result
in frustrations and
uncertainties dominating
the atmosphere of your
workplace - having a negative
effect on the rest of the team.
Therefore, it is important
to become an expert on
your employees. This means
understanding their needs, how
The Team
Accelerator
Process
they work, how to communicate with them, and what
their greatest fears are.
IQ training
To receive high commitment, motivation,
enthusiasm and results, all you need to do is
follow the 5 simple steps of this Team Performance
Engine:
Mission Re-ignition: Develop a clear and
communicated mission and vision for employees
to follow
Team Accelerator: Understand your team
through behavioural profiling, group coaching and
training
Development Dynamo: Build the confidence of
staff through individual coaching, strength analysis
and other areas of development
Gear Shift Mechanism: Show your team respect
and trust by delegating work and handing over
authority and responsibility
Engine Management: Create systemised
processes for workflow so members of the team
can follow without constant contact or intervention
from managers
more information
Contact Julie at Julie@juliehutchison.co.uk or 01799 390155 / 07947 823842. www.juliehutchison.co.uk
issue 7 | page 51

IQ showcase
issue 7 | page 52

IQ team building
TOTAL TEAM BUILDING
Installing morale back into your workforce this winter, IQ Magazine looks
a the local team building and conferences facilities across the region
Paddocks House,
Newmarket
Lock yourself and your team away in
the privacy of The Drawing Room,
spill out into the grounds from The
Reading Room or just enjoy the views
from The Garden Room. Whatever
you choose, Paddocks House’ exquisite
interior and adaptable spaces can only
work to enhance your team’s morale.
Use the abundance of lawn and
landscaped outdoor space for team
building games to really inspire.
Paddocks House, London Road,
Six Mile Bottom, Newmarket,
Suffolk. Tel: 01638 593222.
www.paddockshouse.com.
The First Ascent Group,
Milton
Offering a range of services to excite
and engage your employees, the First
Ascent Group can tailor individual
packages to suit your business. From
leadership, management, team, talent
and graduate programmes, each
programme is designed to ensure
the content, duration, budgets and
objectives are on side with your
business forecasts. Also offering one
day programmes to enhance personal,
team and organisation performance,
this is a great way to make the most out
of your business.
The First Ascent Group,
Milton Country Park, Milton,
Cambridgeshire.
Tel: 0845 680 1602.
www.firstascentgroup.com.
Westminster College,
Cambridge
Treat your workforce to an away day at
one of Cambridge’s esteemed colleges.
Currently undergoing a £7 million
refurbishment, give your team a morale
boost within Westminster College’s
outstanding grounds. Offering six
meeting rooms, all with their own
unique style, and with space to set up to
150 in flexible seating styles, reinforce
your business’ ethos as the New Year
starts.
Westminister College, Madingley
Road, Cambridge. Tel: 01223
330633.
www.westminster.cam.ac.uk.
issue 7 | page 53

IQ team building
TOTAL TEAM BUILDING
Newmarket Racecourses
Home to the world of flat racing, Newmarket Racecourses
provides the perfect team outing. With autumn, spring and
summer meetings spread across the Rowley Mile and July
Course, there are more than a few events to make the perfect
team building outing. With an extensive range of conferencing
facilities which can accommodate up to 300 in a theatre style,
you can spend your day in style in the Racecourses’ exquisite
surroundings.
Newmarket Racecourses, Westfield House, The Links,
Newmarket, Suffolk. Tel: 01638 675300.
www.newmarketracecourses.co.uk
Hotel Felix, Cambridge
A beautiful venue in which to spend your away day, Hotel
Felix offers a range of spaces to suit the needs of your business.
Choose from its range of conferencing facilities, which cater
for meetings, functions and events, including presentations,
press and product launches, interviews and training, or enjoy
the vast space found outdoors for team building activities. For
those looking to indulge in a networking lunch with the team,
the Graffiti restaurant offers first class catering that is sure to
impress.
Hotel Felix, Whitehouse Lane, Huntingdon Road,
Cambridge. Tel: 01223 277977. www.hotelfelix.co.uk.
DoubleTree by Hilton, Cambridge
Always a business which thinks outside the box, DoubleTree
by Hilton offers an exciting range of team building activities
from its city centre location. Choose from treasure trails,
chocolate tasting and making, afternoon teas and even
cocktail making classes to really bring your team together just
in time for the New Year.
DoubleTree by Hilton, Granta Place, Mill Lane,
Cambridge, Cambridgeshire. Tel: 01223 259988.
www.doubletreecambridge.com.
Go Ape, Thetford
A truly fun and adventurous outing, a visit to Go Ape promises
not to disappoint. Organise your workforce into teams, instil
a little bit of friendly competition and enjoy a day with a
difference. Choose from the Forest Segway experience or the
Tree Top climbing option, and make this one team outing you
won’t forget this winter.
Go Ape! High Lodge Forest, Thetford.
Tel: 0843 636 7036.
www.goape.co.uk.
issue 7 | page 54

IQ team building
TOTAL TEAM BUILDING
The Bull Inn, Barton Mills
The historic and charming Bull Inn provides the
perfect place to inject a little team morale and fun
into your team in the build up to the New Year.
Providing a quirky environment, award-winning
food and a great space in which to work, The Bull
can cater for up to 30 delegates in its exquisite
Oakroom.
The Bull Inn, The Street, Barton Mills, nr
Newmarket. Tel: 01638 711001.
www.bullinn-bartonmills.com.
Wysing Arts Centre, Bourn
Offering an inspirational and creative environment
to bring your team, enjoy Wysing Arts Centre’s
innovative Creative Accelerator programme to
get your workforce back on their toes and on your
side. With 11 acres of open space and 10 separate
buildings, choose your location to suit your team’s
needs.
Wysing Arts Centre, Fox Road, Bourn,
Cambridge. Tel: 01954 718881.
www.wysingartscentre.org.
The British Racing School, Snailwell
A beautiful and unique venue for your team building event, The
British Racing School offers breathtaking scenery combined
with stunning facilities. Learn whilst watching the paddocks
come alive with horses in training, before indulging in some of
the most delicious banqueting options to refuel your team.
The British Racing School, Snailwell Road,
Newmarket. Tel: 01638 665103.
www.brsconferences.com.
Jockey Club Rooms, Newmarket
Offering a wealth of history, style and inspiration, the
Jockey Club Rooms will truly inspire your team. Decorated
with portraits of the racing industry greats you can’t help
but feel inspired. Host your team event in one of its grand
conferencing spaces or enjoy the Hyperion Lawn for
outdoor activities.
Jockey Club Rooms, 101 High Street, Newmarket.
Tel: 01223 663101. www.jockeyclubrooms.co.uk.
issue 7 | page 55

IQ team building
TOTAL TEAM BUILDING
Artisan Entertainment, Cambridge
No matter where you choose to hold your team building
activity this winter, ensure your team is fully on board
with the help of Artisan Entertainments. Able to source
fairground rides, singers, magicians and so many other
acts, Artisan Entertainment can make your company
away day a little more fun. Engage your team with a few
activities at lunchtime, or a quick ride on the dodgems…
they’ll thank you for it!
Artisan Entertainment. Tel: 07894 745470.
www.artisanentertainment.co.uk.
Cambridge City Hotel, Cambridge
At the Cambridge City Hotel, enjoy a self-contained
conferencing space bathed in natural light to create positive
energy, alertness and morale in your team. The Hotel can
cater for any size of meeting, from just 2 people up to large
conferences for up to 250 people, so that even the largest
business can bring everyone together; it also has 4 spacious
suites available.
Cambridge City Hotel, Downing St, Cambridge.
Tel: 01223 464491.
www.cambridgecityhotel.co.uk
Bury St Edmunds Farmers Club
As a unique venue, the Bury St Edmunds Farmer’s Club
opens its exclusive doors to delegates to enjoy its intimate
and traditional atmosphere. From relaxed spaces such as
the oak panelled Lower Lounge with an open fire, to the
Oak Room which also offers access to one of the snooker
rooms, it offers the opportunity to build relationships
within your team.
Bury St Edmunds Farmers Club, 10 Northgate
Street, Bury St Edmunds. Tel: 01284 752460.
www.bsefc.co.uk.
Red Lodge Karting, Red Lodge
There is no better way to bring the team together than
through a hugely fun activity with a hint of competition,
such as karting. With a great selection of karting options
to suit your individual requirements, catering facilities
and different circuit options, it’s an effective way to instil
excitement and have a team outing that will be the talk of
the office.
Red Lodge Karting, Grange Farm, Red Lodge,
Bury St Edmunds. Tel: 01638 552316.
www.redlodgekarting.com.
issue 7 | page 56

IQ team building
TOTAL TEAM BUILDING
Poets House, ely
Combining a stunning, luxurious venue and excellent service,
Poets House in Ely offers two themed rooms. Suitable for
up to 100 delegates, The Writing Room has a sunny aspect,
abundant natural light and its very own outdoor space to
ensure alertness and motivation. For groups of up to 20 in
size, The Boardroom is more intimate, creating a mood for
focussed meetings as well as an element of seclusion, with
anything you need brought to the room.
Poets House, St Mary’s Street, Ely. Tel: 01353 887777.
www.poetshouse.com.
Mepal Outdoor Centre
As a purpose built outdoor activity centre, Mepal offers a wide
range of challenging land and water based activities. With a
stunning 20 acre lake, the Centre specialises in adventurous
activities that can be combined into a unique programme
tailored to meet your organisation’s needs and requirements.
There is also a meeting room with AV equipment available,
making Mepal a flexible and interesting venue for team
building.
Mepal Outdoor Centre, Chatteris Road, Nr. Ely.
Tel: 01354 692251. www.mepal.co.uk.
Wild Events
Believing that team events that are fun are the key to
learning and to building your team, Wild Events specialises
in organising team building events, games and activities,
and provides innovative event solutions and many new ideas
and games for 15 to 500 participants. The service is fully
mobile and focuses activities on increasing communication,
encouraging everyone to participate to feel valued and
rewarded outside the workplace.
Wild Events. Tel: 01787 269819.
www.wildevents.co.uk.
The Sweetie Factory, Cambourne
Add to your team building experience with the help of
this inspirational business idea. Brand your very own
sweetie cart to help instil a bit of seasonal inspiration in
your team, or reward your employees with their own
tailor-made collection of sweetie favourites. Choose
colours to coincide with your business’ styling to
reinforce the message and promote loyalty within your
workforce.
Sweetie Factory. Tel: 07798 912 572.
www.sweetiefactory.co.uk.
issue 7 | page 57

IQ showcase conferencing
IMPROVING YOUR EXPERIENCE
Renovating its current conference and events facilities, WESTMINSTER COLLEGE reveals
plans for a £7 million refurbishment
Whether you are in the process of
planning for a corporate function
or a team building event, the choice
of venue may be one of your most
important decisions. Setting the tone
for your event, not only will the venue
choice determine the morale and
excitement that characterises an event,
but it will also have a
permanent reflection
on any future functions
provided by your
business.
Recognising the
significance of
creating the right
atmosphere, whatever
the occasion may be,
Westminster College
began a year-long £7
million refurbishment
programme in June
2013, with the aim of
completely remodelling
and upgrading its
current venue and
facilities.
Set in the heart of Cambridge, in 4
acres of beautiful secluded grounds,
the imposing grade II listed building
has long been a perfect setting for
conferences, in addition to parties,
meetings and weddings.
With its popularity on the rise, this is an
ideal time for Westminster College to
accommodate the increasing demand
and improve its facilities to satisfy a
more modern clientele, and larger
groups of candidates.
Built in 1899, the College boasts a
wealth of stunning features from the
Arts and Crafts Movement, including
grand fireplaces and stained glass
windows, as well as its own enchanting
Chapel. Whilst these period features
will be preserved, the renovation
project will enhance the building to
maximise the potential of the space
available.
As a significant part of the programme,
the complete remodelling of the
current accommodation wing will
provide 38 en-suite bedrooms ideal
for candidates staying overnight. From
February 2014, these rooms will also be
available to the general public for bed
and breakfast. As an additional benefit
of the refurbishment, the seating in
the unique Chapel will be improved,
enabling it to accommodate wedding
ceremonies for up to 100 guests.
Whilst the oak panelled
grand Dining Hall
needs little alteration,
the room, which can
seat up to 125 guests,
will be complemented
by the addition of
an adjacent, stylish
break-out room, as
an alternative to the
College gardens.
The redecoration and
refurbishment of the
six meeting rooms and
the Dining Room is
due to be completed
this month in time
for pre-Christmas
events and end of
year conferences. The meeting rooms
will be equipped with the latest AV
technology and Wi-Fi.
The remaining renovations are still
under way, but promise to deliver a
venue that will not only stand the test
of time, but will also provide adequate
space for many local and visiting
businesses.
more information
Westminster College, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0AA. Tel: 01223 330633.
Email wmevents@hermes.cam.ac.uk. www.westminster.cam.ac.uk
issue 7 | page 58

IQ IQ conferencing showcase
FIND OUT MORE
To track the changes of the refurbishment programme, follow Westminster College’s building blog at
wmbuildingblog.wordpress.com.
issue 7 | page 59

IQ day in the life of
A DAY IN
THE LIFE OF:
ALEX TILL, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF MENTA
IQ Magazine finds out about the day to day
running of this flourishing support agency
Alex Till
Celebrating its 30th birthday next year, Menta, The Suffolk
Enterprise Agency (www.menta.org), offers business support
and advice to new, emerging and existing businesses. Menta
ensure that the businesses supported are successful in the
world of trade and commerce, and Alex Till, with his team
of advisors, assesses their needs and then provides a realistic
solution.
As Chief Executive of Menta, his role demands that he
constantly multi-task, as it involves keeping a check on
the organisation’s current services, reaching out to further
potential partnerships, securing funding to support the future
of the company and making sure that everything ticks over
smoothly with the help of a strong team of staff that support
him in training and development.
The company itself is a not-for-profit organisation, where
any financial gain is put back into delivering subsidised
enterprise-related activities. Alex is aware of the challenges
that face small businesses and he ensures the company is
constantly pushing forward and identifying the best possible
opportunities for those organisations within Suffolk.
Menta’s main identity is as The Suffolk Enterprise Agency,
Growing Suffolk Businesses, which offers one to one
business advice, workshops and networking opportunities for
enterprises and businesses to help them become an important
part of the future local and national economy.
Alex is also passionate about developing the next generation
of new businesses and recognises that a business idea can start
at any age, which is reflected in the company’s second brand,
GoMenta Create Your Future.
This brand directly focuses on the needs of people aged 13 to
30 and actively delivers programmes to young people enabling
them to develop their skills, enterprise or employability
issue 7 | page 60

IQ day in the life of
opportunites. Workshops are now being delivered
focussing on the business of music, the business of
gaming and the business of animation and photography.
Working with 9,000 businesses across the county of
Suffolk, 4,500 of which are regularly active, Menta
attains a strong presence in the region. Welcoming
businesses from across Suffolk and providing them with
the tools to flourish in the industry, it would seem that
Alex and the fantastic team at Menta deliver a first class
service, which is supported by the sheer number of
businesses that form partnerships with them.
Bury Free Press Awards
An average day
6:00: Wake up, listen to some classical music
as the alarm kicks in on the phone, quickly
scan emails and calender to find out what the
day has in store. Wake up fully to an exciting
new day. Radio 6 kicks in with a little bit of
light entertainment and a new genre of music.
6:30: Fit in some exercise with a varied
workout of sit-ups, press-ups and all over
body exercises. Have a light breakfast of
eggs and spinach to get the protein for the
day ahead, sip a coffee to get ahead in the
game. Then off to work.
8:00: Arrive at work. Make sure the premises
are safe and secure, open up offices. Work
out what needs to practically be done and that
everything is in order. Ensure all members
of the team have stated what they’re doing
for the day, double check calendars and that
everything is prepped and planned for clients
coming in, and that they will have a quality
Menta experience.
10:00: Respond to any emails and make
phone calls to project partners, follow up
clients offering one to one advice. First
meeting of the day about a youth project.
11:00: Second meeting of the day with a
start-up business. Research into enterprise
related products and services, look at where
more information
www.menta.org.uk
the organisation can gain more support for
new businesses.
12:00: Check emails. Business event over
lunchtime, a chance to network and relax.
14:00: Third meeting of the day. Write up
reports, make sure the brand of the company
is translated in all aspects of the business,
send out emails for speculating opportunities.
15:00: Final meeting of the day, and an
application to be written for a new project.
16:00: Make sure everyone has achieved
what they set out to do in the day, offer
support and guidance to the team and check
nothing has been forgotten. Final check of
emails.
17:30: Time to leave the office, light
relaxation and off to do some voluntary work.
Informal setting to find out what’s going on
in the community with like-minded souls,
regarding other businesses and charities.
Volunteer at The Prince’s Trust.
20:00: Grab a bite to eat, clear more emails.
22:00: Some chill out time with own personal
project, flick on some music and start to
research and sell 1950s and 1960s unusual
automotive items, from clothing to colouring,
all over the world.
23:00: Lights out... at the latest.
issue 7 | page 61

IQ showcase
issue 7 | page 62

IQ team building
THE CREATIVE ACCELERATOR
Escape the office and reignite the motivation within your team
With the turn of yet another new year on the
horizon, now is the time to sit back and take stock
of your business’ direction. Organising an employee
conference or team building day may offer food for
thought, as the darker months begin to play havoc on
morale in the office.
Finding an inspirational, fun, yet motivational task
for your employees to commit to may be the way to
get your company back on track, but finding the right
environment for your business’ goals is key.
In early October, senior members of the local
business community experienced the unique away
days presented by the Wysing Arts Centre. Branded
the Creative Accelerator programme, these unique
away days offer a range of original packages designed
to develop staff, entertain clients and promote the
business’ profiles.
The inaugural business brunch was intended to offer
a flavour of how Wysing is working with businesses,
encouraging all those taking part to use its impressive
range of artists’ studios, creative facilities and art
collections to inspire many across the commercial
industries.
Donna Lynas, Director of Wysing Arts Centre, said:
“We have been making new business connections
throughout 2013, and it’s great to hear how businesses
are keen to work with us to achieve mutual benefits,
from staff development through to using our site in
new ways. I look forward to seeing how these exciting
new initiatives develop.”
Designed to unlock creativity within companies,
the Accelerator programme offers many the
chance to improve team working, collaboration and
communication, all of which are key attributes to any
successful business model.
From its 11 acre meadowland site, which includes
artists’ studios, a gallery, outdoor sculptures, RIBA
award-winning buildings and a 17th century
farmhouse, Wysing continues to welcome many local
and national businesses to its doors all year round.
Wysing hosts a range of inspirational events
throughout the year, with its vast areas of usable
space providing active, yet creative surroundings for
business leaders to appreciate. Far removed from the
atmosphere that might be expected of an office or
agency environment, Wysing Arts Centre may be the
away day inspiration that your business needs to take it
to the next level.
more information
Wysing Arts Centre, Fox Road, Bourn, Cambridge, CB23 2TX. Tel: 01954 718881. www.wysingartscentre.org
issue 7 | page 63

IQ showcase conferencing
OUR HOUSE IS
YOUR HOME
The House Collection shows that its
boutique hotels mean business
Taking the region by surprise with its forward thinking
styles and immaculate interiors, the newest collection
of boutique hotels now looks forward to offering an
exciting range of executive services for discerning
companies in the region.
The House Collection, the hotel group behind Poets
House in Ely and Paddocks House near Newmarket,
has caused more than a stir amongst the business
minds of the region; having opened Poets House in
April 2013, it’s now set to launch its second location at
Paddocks House this winter.
Welcoming local and visiting businesses with an inviting
environment and expansive space in which to hold
business meetings, customer events and corporate
functions, the hotels look forward to introducing
bespoke day delegate and overnight packages this
winter.
Launched by business enthusiasts Ian Cross, Jonathan
Baker and David Toulson-Burke, The House Collection
has already seen demand drive its first boutique offering,
with Poets House listed as one of the Top 20 Cool New
Hotels for 2013 by The Times in recent months.
Now poised to welcome delegates to its newest venture
at Paddocks House, the services offered by this business
look set to capture the attention of many this winter.
Commenting, David Toulson-Burke, managing director
of The House Collection, said: “Whatever the occasion,
every business wants to make the right impression. Our
fabulous new hotels will meet growing demand for high
quality corporate hospitality venues in the Cambridge
and mid-Anglia areas that offer something special and
memorable.
“We very much look forward to welcoming members
of the business community and hope they will enjoy
the distinctive blend of affordable luxury, fine food and
elegant comfort with a distinctly modern edge.”
Tailoring delegate packages to the individual needs
of visiting businesses, the two hotels are able to offer
an exciting mix of character and first class hospitality.
Remaining flexible with all arrangements and offering
superb food, The House Collection has created a choice
of beverage and dining menus specially for corporate
events, which reflect its ‘foodie’ concept.
Full business support is available, including parking,
issue 7 | page 64

IQ IQ conferencing showcase
access to audo-visual equipment, reliable mobile
coverage and complementary Wi-Fi throughout. Live
music and entertainment can also be arranged.
Each hotel offers a range of rooms, seating
arrangements and options for hosting events which
make the most of the great outdoors. Poets House,
for example, has two delightful courtyard gardens for
intimate garden gatherings, whereas Paddocks House is
set in five acres of grounds with extensive lawns that are
suitable for anything from team building to large garden
parties with games.
The House Collection not only has on-site events
managers to ensure that your event runs smoothly, but
can even offer you the services of a butler to take care
of your requirements on the day.
Day delegate packages are available from £55 (inc
VAT), and 24-hour packages are available from £240
(inc VAT). Poets House has 21 bedrooms and can cater
for up to 100 in a theatre style, or 60 in a boardroom
style in its stylish Writing Room, which offers a space
full of natural light opening out onto an outdoor area.
The perfect place for your morning coffee and muffin,
The Writing Room is a great environment to start your
meeting on a high note.
For larger businesses and events, Paddocks House offers
space for up to 150 in a theatre style and dining setting
in its gorgeous Garden Room. Retaining the stunning
original features of the conservatory, The Garden
Room offers an abundance of natural light, overlooking
the beautifully landscaped gardens for true inspiration
at your team away day.
Also offering smaller meeting rooms and break out areas
in The Reading Room and Drawing Room, Paddocks
House is able to provide the inspirational environment
needed for your business this winter, whatever the size.
Combined with its superior restaurant dining, The
House Collection truly offers the perfect space in which
to motivate your team and client base. Combining
over 50 years’ experience of international hotel and
hospitality management shared by its three founders,
both hotels offer a service second to none, ensuring
that your business visit is not only a key part in the
development of your company, but also one that you
and your team will not forget in a hurry.
more information
Poets House, St Mary’s Street, Ely, Cambridgeshire, CB7 4EY.
Tel: 01353 887 777. www.poetshouse.com
Paddocks House, London Road, Six Mile Bottom, Newmarket, Suffolk,
CB8 0UE. Tel: 01638 593222. www.paddockshouse.com
issue 7 | page 65

IQ showcase
A NEW LOOK FOR THE JOCKEY CLUB ROOMS
The renovation of one of our region’s oldest establishments begins in January
The Jockey Club Rooms in Newmarket start
2014 with a carefully structured and sympathetic
restoration of one of Newmarket’s most iconic and
historic spaces, namely “The Coffee Room”.
Located just behind the statue of Hyperion and
the black metal railings of The Club, “The Coffee
Room” has played a key part in the development of
British Horseracing and the creation of the Jockey
Club since about 1755.
From mid-December, the painstaking work of
removing the artworks and historic artefacts for safe
keeping during the refurbishment will commence.
The unique leather booths, which are inset around
the room, will be carefully removed because of the
major renovations planned.
Work on the space will commence on Thursday
2nd January 2014, with a team of craftsmen and
experts starting the renovation of and repairs to the
fabric and structure of this wonderful space.
In addition to the surface renovation, some essential
works are being undertaken, including the removal
of the old heating system and installation of a new
under floor system to best utilise the biomass boiler,
which was installed at The Club earlier in 2013.
Not only will this renovation enable The Club to
provide eco-friendly hot water and heating, but
it will also form an essential part of The Jockey
Club’s sustainable wood management programme.
There will also be luxurious new curtains and
carpeting, new lighting, and the installation of a
discrete state of the art sound system alongside
an induction loop, providing all the technical
requirements for event organisers at a wealth of
corporate and public presentations.
The final delicate task in this comprehensive
restoration, which is expected to be completed by
the end of February, will consist of refurbishing the
banquette seating of the unique leather booths with
specially selected hides.
Bookings are now being taken for what will be a
stand-out location for conferencing and events in
2014.
more information
The Jockey Club Rooms, 101 High Street, Newmarket, Suffolk, CB8 8JL. Tel: 01638 663101.
www.jockeyclubrooms.co.uk. enquiries@jockeyclubrooms.co.uk
issue 7 | page 66