Torfaen Business Voice Newsletter August 2019 English

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AUGUST
2019
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DIGITAL COMMUNICATION
NEXT EVENT 5:00PM
Thursday 19th September 2019

Notes from
our chairman
Since the last newsletter we have had a busy time with our
regular meeting in Greenmeadow golf club, sponsored
by Natwest where Moneypenny gave a very entertaining
talk about how to keep staff happy. This was followed by
networking and a hog roast and ice cream (which made
me happy) and then an away fixture in Ebbw Vale jointly
hosted by Torfaen and Blaenau Gwent County Borough
Councils which was really well attended and gave our
members the chance explore the area (in my case for
quite a while due to sat nav issues) and more importantly
to meet a lot of neighbouring businesses.
It’s good to see that the number of new members joining
the club has doubled in the last year. Going forward we aim
to add more events into our calendar with the emphasis
on giving plenty of time for facilitated networking to give
our members even more opportunities to promote their
businesses.
Our next event will be sponsored by RPS Technology
Solutions who will talk about the opportunities and
advantages of moving to digital telephone systems
followed by networking. I look forward to seeing you all
there.
Our next event
Our September meeting is on Thursday 19th September,
5pm Greenmeadow Golf Club, and we are very pleased
to announce that RPS Technology Solutions are sponsors
and host for this event.
RPS Technology Solutions are Wales’ leading hosted
Voice Over IP Company providing the latest in
telecommunications services. RPS are unique in Wales
in that they have built and run their own telecoms network
as opposed to reselling another company’s service, this
means they maintain ownership of the connection from
desktop through to the UK network.
RPS will be presenting an overview of the new technologies
and how SMEs can use these new technologies to have
a positive impact on their financial performance.
Following this presentation will be a few rounds of
facilitated networking.
Members are entitled to 2 free places at this event, so
make sure you bring along a colleague, client or business
contact so that we can provide each other with valuable
connections for our businesses.
Members of Torfaen Business Voice can also bring along
a Pop Up banner – please indicate if you are bringing
yours on the electronic booking form.
Book Your Place:
http://bit.ly/tbv-sep-2019
Ashley Harkus
Chairman, Torfaen Business Voice
Dates for your diary
19/09/19 - Torfaen Business Voice - 5:00pm
All of our quarterly Torfaen Business
voice events are held at Greenmeadow
Golf and Country Club, Cwmbran
23/10/19 - Women in Business Event - 4:30pm
05/12/19 - Torfaen Business Voice - 5:00pm
IN THIS EDITION:
PAGE 4 PAGE 5 PAGE 6
Welsh businesses take on economic
uncertainty with digital fitness
Stay cyber-safe in
Gwent
Tech overload? How to navigate
the world of digital communication
Torfaen Business Voice | August 2019 Newsletter

Communicator GO: Available
anywhere, anytime
According to a recent survey by Airtasker, 73% of Brits
are now choosing to take their business to an SME rather
than a large corporation. As a result, it is not a surprise
that the same survey revealed over a third of SME owners
admit they are working over 50 hours a week.
When running a small business, you want to get the most
out of your day and often you continue to work out of
the office - whether this be on route to a meeting or at
home before or after hours. Mobile phones are commonly
used by SME business owners to communicate with
clients when out of the office. However, feedback that
we received from our own customers identifies two main
issues with this;
• Giving out personal phone numbers can disrupt
work-life balance. The mobile number becomes first
point of call rather than the main office number.
• Having to call numerous people can be time
consuming e.g. taking a call then having to call the
office for further information and then returning the
call.
Luckily, we have a solution for this - RPS Communicator
Go. As part of our telephony solution we offer this mobile
application. The app sits on your mobile and allows you
to be anywhere and appear as you are in the office, as
long as you have Wi-fi or a 4G signal.
You can receive calls free of charge from your office
number and if you are unable to take a call they will be
directed to voicemail (if enabled). If answered you can
transfer the call to another member of the team using the
app. Alternately if the office receives a call for you, they
can transfer this straight to you.
You can dial outbound calls either using the keypad
or contacts on your phone and your office number will
display - these minutes will be billed as part of your
business telephony package.
The app displays the status of all users so you can see
availability of team members in real time. They are also
able to see your availability and contact you and each
other internally free of charge.
Overall Benefits
• Available anywhere, anytime
• Get calls as if you are in the office
• Ring out displaying your office number
• Make transfers to team members in other locations
• Internal calls to team (free of charge)
RPS Communicator GO is used by a variety of business
sectors, whether you need it for on call, out of hours or
general day to day use our team will discuss with you the
best way to utilise this as part of your business.
http://bit.ly/communicator-go
http://bit.ly/business-leader-sme-traits
Torfaen Business Voice | August 2019 Newsletter

Welsh businesses take on economic
uncertainty with digital fitness
With economic uncertainty meaning flexibility is more
important than ever, staying digitally fit can help you
strengthen your business for the future.
So, it is perhaps unsurprising that last year saw more
Welsh SMEs turn to technology in a move to sustain
and grow their businesses while questions over Brexit
continue.
Which technologies companies embrace and how these
allow them to be resilient is becoming ever more apparent
if you follow Cardiff Business School Welsh Economy
Research Unit’s Digital Maturity Survey.
The report illustrates how digital helps with the heavy
lifting for business owners and staff alike by streamlining
resources so firms can focus on growth.
And increasingly the results are positive: Welsh
businesses are more able to hire people, with twice as
many SMEs reporting higher employment in 2018 than
the previous year; and more than half of businesses
using superfast broadband specifically increase profits.
Digital fitness in Wales is driven from the North and the
South East inwards to the Mid and West, where almost
half of businesses now employ in-house specialists to
help get them in shape. This reach goes beyond regions
and into sectors, where there is a rise across the board
in SMEs using online tools to manage specific parts of
their business.
For example, Cwmbran-based oil and chemical spill
specialist Zwanny Ltd has become more efficient after
replacing its outdated paper-based systems with online
tools, including a new customer relationship management
(CRM) system and Office 365.
Superfast Business Wales is helping Welsh SMEs
like Zwanny boost its digital fitness through free
workshops, 1:1 advice and its recently launched
Software Essentials Directory.
For free advice search online: Superfast Business Wales.
Stay cyber-safe in Gwent
Cyber-dependent and cyber-enabled crimes are a form of
serious and organised crime, which is the single biggest
threat facing UK national security today.
The latest figures show that businesses in Gwent lost
about £56,000 between April and September 2018.
Of the 3,616 cases of fraud reported to Gwent Police
between April 2018 and March 2019, 84 per cent were
cyber enabled. Many more cases go unreported.
4
To meet this growing demand, Gwent Police have
invested in a dedicated Cyber Crime unit. The unit,
based in Mamhilad, comprises a Detective Sergeant, two
Cyber Investigators, Cyber Protect Officer, Digital Media
Investigator and Cyber CSO.
Temporary Chief Constable of Gwent Police, Pam Kelly,
is the Cyber Crime lead for police forces in Wales.
Torfaen Business Voice | August 2019 Newsletter

Leigh Woolford, Cyber Protect and Prepare Officer, is
the latest member of the Gwent Police Cyber Crime Unit.
Her role is to support officers across Gwent Police to
reduce the risk of repeat victimisation of cybercrime. She
also delivers advice on becoming cyber resilient to local
businesses.
She said: “We know that thousands of businesses across
Gwent have been victims of some kind of cybercrime. We
also know that many more cases go unreported.
Temporary Chief Constable Pam Kelly: “Cyber Crime is
a priority for Gwent Police. We work hard to tackle the
ongoing cyber threat and alongside our dedicated Cyber
Crime unit, frontline officers have also been upskilled
to assist with investigations and provide cyber security
advice.
“Gwent Police also has a Cyber Community Support
Officer and Cyber Protect Officer who provide invaluable
Cyber Crime prevention advice to businesses and
communities.”
“Fortunately there are some really simple steps that
businesses can take to develop their cyber resilience and
become more secure. Businesses can also contact me to
come and give confidential advice and support. Above all
I would urge businesses that have been victims to report
it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.”
For cyber-crime prevention advice, contact Leigh on
Leigh.Woolford@Gwent.pnn.police.uk or
07970 164885.
Business tips to boost cyber resilience
1. Certify your business with Cyber Essentials. Cyber
Essentials is a simple but effective Government-backed
scheme that will help protect your organisation against
common cyber-attacks. More details are available at
www.cyberessentials.ncsc.gov.uk
2. Patching. Keep software systems and devices updated
regularly to ensure they are covered by the latest security
features.
3. Use cloud storage. Cloud storage is a secure way to
store your data instead of hosting it locally on hardware
which may be vulnerable to cyber attacks.
Jeff Cuthbert, Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent:
“More than 50 percent of all crimes recorded by Gwent
Police now have an online element. Policing must evolve
to cope with this new and emerging threat and that is why
I have put cybercrime at the forefront of my police and
crime plan.”
“Here in Gwent, we have invested in our specialist Cyber
Crime Unit to meet this growing demand but businesses
themselves need to be vigilant. Cyber criminals are
evolving and businesses must ensure that they stay upto-date
with the latest safety information and advice.”
4. Phishing. Utilise the free simulated phishing exercise
‘Not2Fish’ by the Regional Cyber Crime team to keep
yourself and your staff aware of the risks of opening and
clicking links from unsolicited emails. Contact Cyber
Protect Officer Leigh Woolford for more information:
Leigh.Woolford@Gwent.pnn.police.uk
5. Test your business resilience. Exercise in a Box is
a free, easy to use tool developed by the National Cyber
Security Centre which tests business resilience to cyberattacks
and practices response. Go to www.ncsc.gov.
uk/information/exercise-in-a-box
6. Keep cyber security policies up to date. Consider
becoming a member of the Cyber Security Information
Sharing Partnership which is a joint initiative set up by the
government and businesses to exchange information on
cyber threats in real time.
If you have been a victim:
If you believe your business has been the victim of a
cyber/fraud related crime, call Action
'
Fraud on:
0300 123 2040 or visit www.actionfraud.police.uk
where businesses have access to a 24/7 cyber-crime
reporting function.
Torfaen Business Voice | August 2019 Newsletter

Tech overload? How to navigate
the world of digital communiction
6
How many posts, articles and videos have you seen
this week that all begin with a promise to transform
your business with the latest technology? As digital
communication becomes ever more sophisticated, with
the latest cloud applications, cutting edge hardware and
even artificial intelligence all vying to be the next ‘big
thing’, the amount of time needed to just read up on all
this tech becomes a barrier in itself, a distraction from the
process of actually running and growing a small business.
In fact, 43% of those considering new innovation cite lack
of time as a key barrier to achieving this goal.
This isn’t to say however that small businesses aren’t
open to new technology. According to the FSB’s Spotlight
on Innovation report, 76% of them have introduced a
new innovation in the past three years, an indication that
there is both the desire and the capability to embrace
digital transformation, providing there is a clear rationale
for doing so. In short, small business owners and startups
need structured, practical information that empowers
their decision making and enables them to invest in
digital communication tools and technology that will make
a discernible difference to the success of their business.
Greater than the Sum of its Parts -
Digital Communication & Enhanced
Productivity
Developing digital communication isn’t just about
customer experience however. It’s no secret that the
success and productivity of a small business is deeply
reliant on employee experience and, as evidenced by
the fact that 77% of millennials would accept or decline a
position based on the level of technology available, digital
innovation is only going to become a more decisive factor
in this matrix. Fortunately, some of the best new tools and
technology available to small businesses are those that
improve how you and your team share ideas, collaborate
on important projects and optimise the structure of the
business itself.
Some businesses are even beginning to look at
integrating AI and augmented reality as part of their
digital transformation journey, exploring ways of creating
a more immersive and productive employee experience
from the moment they join the company. This can
include everything from learning key elements of a role
through augmented reality training to helping users find
documents, groups and projects faster through smart
search functionality in the company intranet. What’s even
more exciting for small businesses without lots of capital
to invest in new technology is that AI can even be found
in free collaboration and productivity tools. For example,
Google Drive uses AI to help you find your most opened
files faster and automatically suggests who you should
share them with, making starting new projects just that
little bit simpler and more efficient each time.
It often feels like investing in new technology is the
preserve of corporate giants and Silicon Valley tech firms
who have the budget to spare and whole teams dedicated
to implementing it. In fact, digital communication tools
have never been more accessible to small businesses
and start-ups; it’s simply a case of working out what needs
improving and which application, tool or piece of software
is going to be best placed to help you do just that. It can
be as straightforward as using Facebook or Whatsapp to
create a more dynamic relationship with your customers,
or investing in Office 365 to help increase the productivity
of employees who work remotely. Fundamentally,
investing in digital communication isn’t a goal in itself, but
a process where the end goal is happier customers, a
more productive workforce and most importantly, a better
business.
The first steps to better collaboration can often be as
simple as investing in tools and software that enhance the
way you and your colleagues already work. If you spend
lots of the working day in strategy sessions and meetings
about key projects, cloud based applications like Slack
and Office 365 can help you streamline your planning
process, collaborate on documents in real time and best
of all; ensure that every update is instantly shared with
the right people. Digital tools like this don’t represent a
large or disruptive investment in new technology, but their
ability to free teams from the constraints of the physical
office, by letting them communicate and collaborate
from home or on the go, can have a massive impact on
productivity.
Torfaen Business Voice | August 2019 Newsletter

Save the date
Wednesday 23rd October 2019
4:30pm - 8:00pm
Parkway Hotel & Spa, Cwmbran Drive, Cwmbran NP44 3UW
Great Value for money at just £12 per ticket*
Showcase your business
Trade tables and ticket for £48*
Display a pop-up banner
and ticket for £36*
*Prices including VAT. All ticket proceeds donated to Aneurin Bevan University
Health Board.
In aid of the New Breast Care Unit at Ystrad Mynach Hospital.
For more information and booking visit: www.southwalesbusiness.co.uk
Funding for Growth Session drop in surgery
On behalf of Torfaen Council we are holding a ‘Funding for growth session’ drop-in surgery from
10.00 – 14 .00 on the following date:
25th September 2019 at Springboard Business Innovation Centre, Cwmbran
As locally based representatives we are dedicated to ensuring that the businesses we work with secure the
funding they need to help with start-up costs or to support growth.
At the session, find out more about support available from the above organisations. Working together we
can provide funding to start or expand a business, supporting you with funding in order to purchase new
equipment or even buy a new business.
If you are a start-up or existing business come and talk to us about your business and future plans.
Please email: emily.wood@developmentbank.wales to book a 30 minute slot.
Or call her on: 02920 338 110
Torfaen Business Voice | August 2019 Newsletter

Meet the Member
The Vintage Vegan Catering Company was born out of a
love for festival life and all things foodie.
Nic, Heidi, Lisa and co are all avid festival lovers and back
in 2015 had the idea to create a food outlet that provided
a range of low allergen foods suitable for vegans, and
those with dairy and gluten intolerances. Historically,
festival food experiences were pretty much hit and miss,
with not much on offer for us to eat. So, rather than be
satisfied with ‘hit and miss’, Nic and Heidi decided to take
the plunge and buy their first van, a 1960’s Thomson mini
Glen caravan.
We offer small portions and discounted drinks to help
keep the costs down for families with children.
The aim of The Vintage Vegan Catering Company is to
offer reasonably priced tasty food for all and we link up with
local businesses as much as possible to source products,
often using own grown vegetables from Nic’s allotment
and adopting an organic approach wherever possible.
We have recently been working with Very Vegan treats
(homemade) to develop vegan afternoon teas and buffets,
as well as to compliment events that are not specifically
vegan. We have learnt a lot in our first year of trading and
met some lovely people whose delightful comments have
made all the hard work worthwhile and enjoyable. We
are looking forward to hopefully expanding the business
in the future with lots of ideas for another unit.
If you are interested in our buffets/afternoon teas
please give us a call on 07919208899 or e.mail
thevintagevegan@yahoo.com or find us on facebook
(the vintage vegan catering company) and message us
there, we’d love to hear from you.
Time was spent over the next 18 months honing recipes
with friends and family, restoring the van, and getting our
team qualified to a high standard.
In 2018 we developed our signature dish, ‘the smokey
dog’ which is always a winner! Teamed with our
homemade rainbow slaw and garlic mayo customers
constantly return to us to ask for our ‘secret’ recipe.
We provide a light hearted and fun approach to our work
and hope this comes through in our delicious food. As our
food is all freshly made we take time to get to know our
customers.
The Vintage Vegan Catering
Company
New Members
We would like to thank our contributors:
Aspen Waite
www.aspenwaite.co.uk
Escort School of Motoring
www.escortsom.co.uk
RWR Recruitment
www.rwrrecruitment.co.uk
SPR Training
www.sprtrainingcompany.co.uk
Uddr Services
www.uddr.co.uk
Torfaen Business Voice | August 2019 Newsletter