Volume 29 Number 10 September 2011

Global cycle: Packaging firmhelps outtriathlete

Page 3

Business life cycle:Indispensible advicein association with

Withy King

Page 6

CountyBusinessPublishing

www.swindon-business.net01793 615393 info@swindon-business.net

News Brief

SWINDONBUSINESSNEWS

Job scheme reaches target

Plan 500, the innovative Swindonscheme set up to create 500 work-related opportunities for local youngpeople, has reached its target aheadof schedule.The project, launched last year byForward Swindon and SwindonStrategic Economic Partnership inresponse to the sharp rise in youthunemployment in the town, hashelped 503 young people. It is nowbeing replicated in other cities acrossthe UK.• Mentoring help for young people.See P5.

Coming next month...

Swindon Business News continuesits series of features on exportingnext month with a look at the nutsand bolts of trading overseas. We alsokick off the Christmas season with acomprehensive round up of corporateevents and commercial opportunities,analyse the latest trends in officeinteriors and name the movers andshakers in the local legal sector withour authoritative law review of 2011.For more information contact 01793615393.

The end for ‘Women’s fiction’

Swindon-based retailer WH Smithis to stop using the term ‘women’sfiction’ on bookshelf signs in all its1,000-plus stores after two femalecustomers complained to its chiefexecutive. Appealing by letter toKate Swann as a “successfulwoman”, the pair said they were“deeply offended by the unncessarypractice” which made they feel theywere living in the 1940s.

All change at Swindon station and iconic building

Work has begun on Swindon station’s £1.85m forecourt revamp. Meanwhile healthcare supplies company Vygon has

moved into the landmark former Motorola building. See stories, pages 13 and 14

Honda is promising much-improveddynamics and a higher-quality interiorfor the new, Swindon-built ninth-generation Civic – thanks to engineersat its plant in the town.

The car made its debut at theFrankfurt Motor Show earlier thismonth and will go on sale in the UKon October 1.

More than 20,000 miles of testinghas been carried out on British roadsto try to improve ride comfort.

Honda’s Swindon engineersconcentrated a huge amount of timeand effort improving ride quality andhandling of the Civic.

The development team sharpened

every detail of the design, build andaerodynamics and tested the car inEurope to tune it to suit the varyingroad conditions. They used Honda’sanechoic (echo-free) chamber in itsresearch and development facility inSwindon to fine-tune the cabininsulation.

One of the results of the work inthe anechoic chamber was to modifythe design and construction of the rooflining, and how it interacts with thebodywork.

The result, says Honda, is the mostaerodynamic car in its class, with aclaimed drag coefficient of 0.27.

See In Gear, page 15

Interest in Patheon plant

Contract drugs firm Patheon’sSwindon manufacturing plant could betaken over after the Canadian group’sthird-quarter losses widened to $3.2m(£2m) mainly due to rising costs. Thefirm said it is fielding indications ofinterest for the Covingham plant,which makes sterile and high-potencyproducts. For full story visitwww.swindon-business.net

Swindon Borough Council is facingtough questions over the failure ofDigital City, the company it helped setup to provide wi-fi for the town in anambitious project headed by localbusinessman Rikki Hunt.

The council lent the fledglingbusiness more than £400,000 –money critics say it will neverrecover.

The Digital City scheme had thelofty ambition of providing accessiblewi-fi for every resident and businessin the town. It then expected to sell itsbusiness model to other localauthorities, recouping funding torepay the council loan.

However, a trial in Highworthfailed to gain enough customers to

make it viable.Critics claim theplug should havethen been pulledon the project –and the councilfunding returned.But the scheme continued, despitesigns that it wasrunning out ofcash. Mr Hunt’sinvolvement also raised concerns insome quarters. The former boss ofSwindon-based Burmah Castrol’sfuels business and one-time chairmanof Swindon Town Football Club wasseen as an unlikely partner for thecouncil-backed project given his lack

Answers sought over Digital City of experience in the IT andcommunications sector. Mr Hunt wasvoluntarily made bankrupt in Marchwith debts of more than £1m whichare unconnected with Digital City.

He has since left the company andalso stood down from his role aschairman of the Swindon Strategic

Economic Partnership.Swindon Council leader Rod

Bluh believes some parts of DigitalCity can be salvaged. Howeveropposition councillors have called forhis the resignation, along with that ofcouncillor Gary Perkins, a council-appointed director of Digital City.

Rikki Hunt

In a class of their ownSpecial 4-page guide to theindependent school sector

Pages 7-10

Honda engineers are quietlyconfident for low-noise Civic

The new Honda Civic, unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show

26 Wood Street, SwindonWiltshire SN1 4AB

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Published by County Business Publishing Ltd.

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County Business Publishing also publishes a rangeof business leads newsletters: Swindon BusinessNewsletter; Bristol Business Newsletter; and SouthWest Business Media, as well as Estates WestBulletin, a property deals newsletter.If you are interested in receiving a free sampleplease call 01793 615393.

Events

People• Jackie Waller hasbeen made anassociate at Swindonlaw firm, Charles Lucas& Marshall. Jackie hasworked in residentialconveyancing for morethan 20 years, dealingwith all aspects ofresidential property law.She has a strong ITbackground and has worked extensively on thedevelopment of case management systems forvarious legal teams, including residentialproperty and remortgaging systems for one ofthe UK’s biggest lenders.

• Monahans’ recentgrowth has continuedwith a key appointment.Elsa Littlewood hasjoined as a seniormanager within theirthriving private clienttax division. Elsa hasrelocated from Deloittein Edinburgh, whereshe worked as a taxsenior manager,advising a wide portfolio of private clients. Shehas also worked in Jersey and London for anindependent trusts and tax advisory firm.

• www.interviewcoordinator.com the Swindon-based recruitment management website, hasappointed Stuart Collins as PR manager toexpand the promotion of its online interview

management software.The product is purpose-designed and tested for HR managers andrecruitment agencies. Interview Coordinatorsaves time and costs by streamlining therecruitment and applicant tracking process andis used on a pay-as-you-go basis. With anextensive commercial and communicationsbackground, Stuart, a chartered marketer, willbe responsible for building brand awareness ofthis new product, which is available on a 60-dayfree-trial basis.

• Simon Moore, one ofthe region’s leadingbankers, has joinedaccountants andbusiness advisersGrant Thornton as asenior consultant, oneof two top-levelappointments made bythe firm as it embarkson a new phase ofgrowth in the South West. Simon joins fromBarclays Corporate where he was chairman andmanaging director in Wales and the South West.Meanwhile James Morter, a director in the auditteam, becomes a partner in Grant Thornton’sBristol office. Grant Thornton senior practiceleader in the South West, Nigel Morrison, said:“These appointments mark a watershed for ourpractice as we enter a period for which we haveset ourselves some ambitious growth targets.We are an ambitious firm and will be creative interms of generating opportunities in a marketwhich will remain challenging for theforeseeable future.

• Anita Lowe, chief executive of Venues EventManagement, which was acquired by Expotel inNovember 2010, will now be heading Expotel’svenue-finding and event management servicesdivision. Anita will bridge the gap betweenExpotel’s four sites in the North of England andScotland and Venues Event Management, basedin Swindon. Expotel and Venues EventManagement placed a combined number ofmore than 40,000 meetings and conferencesworldwide in 2010. Anita said: “This move is partof the integration of Venues Event Managementand Expotel and is intended to bring together thegroup’s events teams to more effectively functionas one team. “The events side of Expotel’sbusiness has grown significantly since theacquisition and it makes sense for there to be asingle point of responsibility for this. I am lookingforward enormously to working with the 20-strongteam, together with Venues Event Management’s94 staff, to help continue to grow Expotel’sstrong client relationships and reputation as aleading provider of venue finding and eventsmanagement.”

Event: Domestic Violence and Abuse –What employers need to knowWhen: November 21 from 10amWhere:Steam Museum,ChurchwardContact: David Latham atdavid.latham@richmondfellowship.org.uk

Event: GW Business BreakfastWhen: September 21, 7:30am-9amWhere: Steam Museum,ChurchwardContact: Lisa Badger atlisa.badger@aldermore.co.uk

Event: Growth ClubWhen: Friday September 30, 9am-4:30pmWhere: Alexandra House,WroughtonContact: Nigel Scott on 07917602848 or email:nigelscott@actioncoach.com

Event: Employment Law Question Time When: Thursday 13 October6.00pm Where: Swindon Marriott Contact: 01793 433571 or email:david.latham@richmondfellowship.org.uk

Event: Becoming a DirectorWhen: September 23Where: Farnsby St, SwindonContact:www.businesslink.co.uk/events

• Event: Managing Discipline andGrievanceWhen: 6 September, 9:30am-1pmWhere: Acas, BristolContact: events@acas.org.uk

• Send your events to SwindonBusiness News @ info-swindon-business.net

SWINDONBUSINESSNEWS

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COUNTYBUSINESSPUBLISHING

ContactsForward Swindon01793 429250

GWE Business West08458 505066

Business Link0845 600 9966

SSEP01793 429259

Fast Forward0808 178 3657

First Great Western08457 000 125

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Swindon Council01793 445500

Wiltshire Council0300 456 0100

Chamber of Commerce 01753 870500

Train2Gain0845 600 9006

Visit Wiltshire0845 602 7323

Swindon-based Chordiem is nowpresenting Swindon’s newestcorporate Christmas party experience.The firm which has been organisinginnovative corporate events for morethan 10 years, is promotingDowntown Chicago - themed partynights at Liquid club in Swindon thisDecember.

Director Jon Hewlett says theseparties will be very different fromLiquid’s normal club nights.

“We are targeting the corporatemarket and changing the venue witha Downtown Chicago theme andfully-themed catering, cocktails andlive entertainment, including a superbchill-out lounge with free playgaming tables and dancing till 3am.”

For more information callChordiem on 01793 887 632.www.chordiem.com/services/chordiems-corporate-christmas-party-nights-2011

Themed party nightsto be held at Liquid

Jackie Waller

Elsa Littlewood

Simon Moore

Anita Lowe and her team

September 2011 Page 3

Business News

GWP packages up the ideal solutionWhen triathlete Dan Brunton wasselected to represent Great Britain at theITU Triathlon World Championships, hisfirst concern was how to get his top-of-the-range time trial bike to the event,which is being held in Beijing.

Unlike standard road race bicycles,time trial bikes are more complicated intheir design and can not simply bebroken down and transported in astandard bike case.

What was needed was a specially-designed case that would protect thebike and also withstand traveling acrossthe globe. Dan approached Cricklade-based packaging specialists GWPGroup to see if it could help - and theanswer was yes.

As well as specialist corrugated,coatings and conductive arms, GWPalso has a specialist protectivepackaging business, which can designand manufacture flight and aluminumcases for specific objects.

Dan worked with GWP Protective todesign and create a bespoke boxsuitable for a time trial bike. GWPdelivered a well-engineered, sturdy casethat was strong enough to protect thebike, yet light enough to fit the flyingcriteria of leading airlines.

GWP Group managing director DavidPedley, said: “We are used to designingand manufacturing flight cases for arange of goods from bespoke items tosurgical equipment and oil rig drill bits toengine components.

“Dan’s request was certainly a first forus but we are delighted with the outcomeand hope that this will allow us to breakinto a new market.”

Pictured: Dan Brunton and bike

Alliance Pharma, the Chippenham-based speciality pharmaceuticalgroup, has expanded its portfolio bypaying £2.4m to acquire the UKmarketing rights to six products fromBeacon Pharmaceuticals.

In the year to April 30 the productshad total sales of approximately £2mand gross margin of £900,000, mainlyfrom severe acne treatment Rizuderm(isotretinoin) which fits in well withAlliance’s dermatology business.

Alliance chief executive JohnDawson said: “This acquisition isimmediately earnings enhancing andis a valuable addition to ourdermatology portfolio. We continue toevaluate further acquisitionopportunities to complement ourorganic growth.”

Alliance is funding the cashacquisition by drawing a loan from the£20m revolving credit facility put in

place last November 2010 to fundacquisitions.

The takeover was announced atthe same time as Alliance’s results forthe six months to June 30, whichshowed pre-tax profits up by £1m to£7m on the equivalent period last yearon sales also up by £1m at £24.4m.

Stripping out slowing sales of itsDeltacortril gastro-resistant tablets,underlying sales growth was 29 percent.

Mr Dawson added: “Alliance'sresults for the first half of 2011 haveinevitably been impacted by theslowdown in Deltacortril sales. Butmore importantly, they also confirmthat the Deltacortril profits that wehave enjoyed during the past twoyears have been put to good use.”

Shareholders will receive aninterim dividend up 47 per cent to0.25p a share.

Alliance Pharmaon takeover trailas profits edge up

E-ticket to ridefor bus passengersSwindon bus passengers have givenThamesdown Transport’s electronicfares system the thumbs up, with20,000 smartcards issued since theywas introduced in 2006 – half of thosesince the beginning of this year whenthe old magnetic cards werewithdrawn.

The smartcard system allowspassengers to pay as they goelectronically using SmartFare,avoiding the need to find the correctchange. The smartcard can be toppedup with credit and can also be used tohold a TravelPass, making it moreconvenient and more secure than themagnetic cards.

Thamesdown managing directorPaul Jenkins said: “To have reachedthis milestone is great news,particularly as the number of peopleholding our smartcards has doubled injust eight months.”

Vacuum pioneersets up in DevizesOped, the German medicalequipment firm behind therevolutionary vacuum splint, has setup its UK base in Devizes.

The office, on the town’s HoptonPark, joins the firm’s overseasoperations in Switzerland, Australiaand the US. It will market the firm’srevolutionary orthopaedic rehabilitationproducts in the UK.

The company’s founders,professor Peter Habermeyer andAndreas Hassler, invented thevacuum split – now its flagshipproduct – to replace the traditionalplaster cast in treating a range ofinjuries. Oped, based in Bavaria,sells its pioneering products to morethan 1,000 hospitals, clinics andmedical retailers. Each year some60,000 patients are treated with itsVACOped vacuum splint for bonefractures or torn ligaments.

Mercedes-Benz of Swindon has swunginto action to put a local golfer on theroad to a successful sporting career.

The retailer is supporting BowoodGolf & Country Club’s Sam Matton,who has just completed his first seasonon the PGA Europro Tour.

After flourishing at amateur level,where he represented England as amember of the under 21 and 'A' squadsand won one national title, six countytitles and six open titles, the 23-year-old moved up to the professional circuitat the start of the year for his debutcampaign – the highlight to date beinga fifth place finish at Wensum Valley inNorfolk.

“I’m really enjoying the chance tomake a career from the sport I’veplayed since the age of 12 and I’mhappy with my first season’s progress,”said Sam. Now my focus is to qualifyto play on the main European Tour andto do this I must undertake theQualifying School in October.

“To have the backing of such aprestigious company as Mercedes-Benz of Swindon is fantastic and I’mgrateful for the support that they aregiving me, especially with theeconomic climate as it is.”

In Gear, page 15

Wiltshiregolfer on theroad to success

Page 4 September 2011

Business News

Inspiring thinking forfast-growing businesses

Ambitious local firms with strong potential for growth are invited to joina series of programmes being run by Business Link to further boosttheir performance.

Business Link spokesperson Andy Reeve explains: “Intelligent andwell-structured, these workshops help businesses achieve a stepchange in their development. They provide the fuel that high growthbusinesses need to really take off.”

The Strategic Leadership Programme is designed for seniorexecutives of small and medium-sized businesses facing change,looking at new opportunities or wanting to review their leadershipapproach and discover the skills needed to improve their performance.There are three half-day modules covering leading change, leading asan individual and employee engagement.

• 14, 21, 28 September at the Park House Conference Centre inSwindon

• 6, 13, 20 October at Stanton Manor Hotel, near ChippenhamA second programme called Right People, Right Results, will help

business owners identify the right people to achieve their businessobjectives. Delivered over a day and a half, this programme covers twomodules: Recruitment and Progression – which helps identify anddevelop the right people to enablethe business to meet its objectivesand grow, and PerformanceManagement, which will helpbusiness owners establish bestpractice in appraising, reviewing anddeveloping their people.

• 14 and 15 September at theBrook Madison Hotel in Swindon

Mr Reeve added: “Bringingtogether small groups ofentrepreneurs, these courses arecompelling to attend – and are alsouseful in building your networks oflike-minded local businessleaders.”

Contact Business Link on 0845600 9966 for further information.

Vector Resourcing’s South Westoffice, based in Malmesbury, hasexpanded its resource team tomanage and grow its extensivedatabase of South West-basedcandidates - exclusive to Vector -covering a wide range of skills.

The firm, which specialises inproviding a high-quality, targeted andprofessional IT recruitment service tocompanies, opened the South Westoffice in 2008 and has since gonefrom strength to strength.

New business this year has beengained in a wide range of sectorsincluding public, finance andengineering, with recent successesincluding working with a wealthmanagement organisation inGloucestershire to supplement itscore permanent team withinfrastructure contractors, offering

specialist skills around senior supportand for technology implementationprojects.

Vector also recently helped aBristol-based FTSE-250 companywhich had been looking for apermanent Oracle Business Suiteconsultant for four years. Vectorplaced one within two weeks.

Vector's growing reputation in theSouth West for providing aprofessional and efficient service ismirrored by established practicesfrom its head office in East Sussex,which has been serving other parts ofthe UK and Europesince 1997.

New business for IT recruiter

Rural expertise takesroot at Old MillAccountantsWith their office in Melksham 18months old, accountants and financialplanners Old Mill are now wellestablished as part of the Wiltshirebusiness community.

Old Mill has almost 1,000 localclients and partner Andrew Mooreattributes this success to the firm’sunique approach to business. “We donot fit the traditional image of stiff-collared accountants only interested inhelping the government to collect itstax. We want to actively help our clientsto be as tax efficient as possible andhelp them to grow their businesses.”

One key area that Old Millspecialises in is rural business.

“It is difficult to define what a ruralbusiness is,” says Andrew. “Yes, we arewell known for looking after manylocal farmers and agricultural supplybusinesses. Some of our biggest clientsare the food producers who utilise thelocal produce. We look after farmshops, food service businesses andretailers who sell their produce on.

“More than this we look afternumerous small businesses in themarket towns and villages of the county– and we have a strong input into manytourist businesses.

“In Wiltshire the rural economy isstanding the strains of the recessionwell and Old Mill is delighted to be partof that rural business scene.”

High growthfor high streetshopfitting firmSwindon-based shopfitting and hardware specialist EPOSPartners has defied the current economic climate andachieved a new high with 50 per cent year-on-year growthas sales for its products soar.

EPOS, which released a guide to setting up a shop forstart-up retailers earlier this year, has increased its productrange to further help new retailers.

EPOS e-commerce manager Jennie Knight said: “It’sclear that the recession has changed the face of retaildramatically, with household names such as Woolworthsdisappearing from the high street after surviving for almost100 years. It has shown us that nothing can be taken forgranted when it comes to trading and that even the strongestbrand names and cult followings won’t protect a retailerfrom the reality of closure.

“We know how critical the early stages can be in thesuccess of a new store and why choosing the right

equipment is important. With the retail industry as it is,retailers need to ensure they are fully prepared to take onthe tough problems that may arise and need to have the rightmeasures in place. With our full range of offerings we areenabling retailers to choose hardware at a price that suitsthem in the quantity they need. I fully believe that oursuccess and growth is down to the fact that we understandour customers and know the kind of products that they needto survive.”

To celebrate its recent successes, EPOS is revampingits website to improve customer service.

Three top employment lawyerswill give expert advice to anaudience of managers and businesspeople at a free event at theSwindon Marriott on ThursdayOctober 13, between 6pm –7.30pm.

Organised by Swindon MindfulEmployer Network and supportedby Swindon Business News,Swindon Chamber of Commerceand other business groups, theQuestion Time will feature panellists Kerrie Hunt ofThrings (pictured), Malcolm Gregory of Withy King andPaul Archer of Lemon&Co.

Threadneedle, the Swindon-based investment business,has secured a deal to manage the £8.5bn investmentportfolio of LV=, the former Liverpool Victoria insurancegroup.

Adding these assets to Threadneedle’s existingbusiness will push up its assets under management from£69bn to £77bn. Financial terms have not been disclosedbut all of Bournemouth-based LV= Asset Management’s79 staff will transfer to Threadneedle. The fundmanagement group said it will now review the businessbut would not be drawn on possible redundancies.

LV= said it had struggled to build scale in assetmanagement. Following a review it had “concluded thatmember interests are best served by focusing on the fastgrowing general insurance and life businesses”.

Crucial time for employers seminar Threadneedle sews up investment deal

Focus on the Rural EconomyAn in-depth analysis of the strengths, challenges and opportunities of doing business in

rural locations, including the drive towards sustainable business models and theimportance of powerful broadband.

Call 01793 615393 for more information, email info@swindon-business.net or go towww.swindon-business.net

September 2011 Page 5

Business News

Wincanton, the Chippenham-based distribution group, hasoffloaded all its mainland European interests to Germanrival Rhenus in a €74m (£64.2m) cash deal, allowing it to

concentrate on developing its UK business.Wincanton had built up the European operation to include 38

distribution depots across Germany and 30 in France. The Germanoperation included a major intermodal (road, rail and river) base inthe North-Rhine area of Germany. In total the business employsaround 3,000 people.

The business made an operating profit of approximately €4.1mon revenues of around €558m in the 12 months to March 31. Grossassets were approximately €181m.

Rhenus is paying €44m with an additional €30m to pay off the

pension deficit. The disposal is subject to anti-trust clearance andthe approval of Wincanton shareholders. Proceeds of the sale willbe used to reduce group debt.

Wincanton chief executive Eric Born said: “The sale of ourremaining businesses in Mainland Europe to Rhenus will enable usto focus on developing our leading position in the UK market, wherewe have greater scale and see significant potential for profitablegrowth.  

“Rhenus has a strong reputation in the European market and theaddition of these businesses to its portfolio will build on its leadingposition in intermodal services and contract logistics.”

Rhenus is one of Europe’s leading logistics groups employing18,000 people at more than 290 locations worldwide.

Swindon’s Plan 500 scheme, which helps youngpeople into the workplace, is promoting itsmentoring service.

This time of year can be tough for schooland college leavers having to make big careerdecisions if they either have not been successfulin securing a university place, or don’t knowwhere to start to enter the job market.

Lisa Smart, Forward Swindon’s Plan 500Project Manager said: “We have localbusinessmen and women who are fully-trainedmentors ready to offer support and advice toyoung people, and we are looking forward tohearing from them. Plan 500 mentors givehighly focused, bespoke support to individuals,which is provided completely free.”

Lisa can be contacted at Forward Swindonon 01793 612276, or visit the Plan 500 websiteat www.forwardswindon.co.uk/plan500 formore information.

Candidates for the mentoring scheme haveto be 18-24 years of age, and looking for work.

They usually have between one and fivesessions with their mentor, who they meet atleast once a month. The kind of support amentor will offer depends on the specific needsof the individual, but for example, activity mightinclude:

• Developing different CVs aimed at specificsectors, such as retail and administration;writing cover letters, coaching prior tointerviews, and de-briefing afterwards.

• Work experience within a particular sector,with support from the mentor to see if it matchesthe expectations of the young person.

• Signposting to other organisations whomay offer further skills development

The business mentoring scheme includes araft of activities which can lead young peopleinto a career path they can develop and enjoy. Ithelps them make informed choices about thesectors they wish to approach for work, buildingconfidence and professionalism with the supportof a local business expert.

Avon Rubber wins majorUS defence contract• Wiltshire-based Avon Rubber’s protection divisionhas landed a multi-million dollar contract with the USgovernment to supply filters for use in gas masks it hasalready sold to Washington.

Under the three-year contract, which is wortharound $38m (£23.4m), Avon will deliver an unspecifiednumber of its M61 filters to the US Department ofDefense. These will be fitted to Avon-made M50respirators used by US combat troops.

Melksham-based Avon expects to complete aninitial order worth $11m (£6.8m) in this financial year.

The filters will be made at Avon’s plant in Cadillac,Michigan, and so-called IDIQ (indefinite delivery,indefinite quantity) contract. Avon invested in additionalcapacity at the plant last year.

Chief executive Peter Slabbert said: “We are seeinggrowing demand for consumable filters as increasingnumbers of Avon mask systems are supplied andissued to the troops in the field. As the sole sourcesupplier of this unique conformal filter, we believe thisgrowth will continue.”

Government must do more tosupport UK firms, says Dyson• Pioneering household appliance firm Dyson hascalled on the Government to do more to help theUK’s innovative businesses as it reported risingannual sales and profits.

Chief executive Martin McCourt said theMalmesbury-based business’s success could berepeated by other UK firms if the Government wasmore supportive.

“We are consistently doing whatever we canto pressure the Government and offer moreincentives to encourage businesses like ours toinvest in ideas,” he said. “When you invest inideas it is a risky business. We just need tooffer some relief, better tax credits, and givecompanies some kind of incentive. That’s the keyto keeping manufacturing businesses successfulon the world stage.”

Dyson’s operating profits rose by 8 per centlast year to £206m on sales up 15 per cent to£770m.

Sales up for Latchways• Latchways, the Devizes-based safety equipmentfirm has continued to grow in European marketsmaking up for lower sales in the weak UKconstruction industry.

Trading had been robust between April 1 andAugust 9 with revenues ahead of the same periodlast year, the firm said in a stock market update.

New innovative products will be launched laterthis year, which the firm expects to generatesignificant revenues.

“We continue to invest in our sales andoperational infrastructure, to support the increasingpenetration of our existing product range, the launchof new products, and our growth in export markets,”the firm said.

Wincanton shifts focus back to UK as itpulls out of Europe with £64m disposal

Mentoring help for youngpeople provided by Plan 500

Healthy growth for SW manufacturersSouth West manufacturers haveachieved healthy growth figuresdespite the increasingly fragile natureof the wider economic recovery.

The upbeat picture emerges from amajor survey by EEF, themanufacturers’ organisation, andaccountants BDO. It shows 45 per centof the region’s manufacturing firmstaking part in the survey reportinghigher output and 41 per cent sayingthey achieved higher total new ordersover the past three months.

However, as the economic outlookhas become more uncertain, some

parts of the region’s manufacturingsector are forecasting tougher timesahead, particularly with the globaleconomic slowdown hitting exportmarkets.

Some manufacturers, includingmetals and electronics businesses,received weaker orders over the pastthree months with concerns about thecorresponding impact on output overthe next three months.

The balance between caution andoptimism also appears to have shiftedfor small companies, with lessvisibility around future orders keeping

confidence in check for the nextquarter.

EEF regional director Paul Knight,said: “Manufacturers have buckedother recent negative indicators,holding out hope that the recovery hasnot yet run out of steam.

“However, conditions have movedon from the broad-based recovery ofthe past 18 months to a more mixedpicture – for example, the percentageof south west companies reportinggrowing order books in the past threemonths fell from 61 per cent to 41 percent.

An Army Major awarded theGeorge Cross for Bravery and asolicitor who had to be dramaticallyrescued from Mount Kilimanjarowill be talking about a charity closeto their hearts at a forthcoming eventin Swindon.

Major Peter Norton GC, one ofonly 23 servicemen or women to beawarded the George Cross since theSecond World War, and Chris Kane,a partner in the corporate disputeresolution team at Withy KingSolicitors in Swindon, will discusstheir experiences and the importanceof Help for Heroes at the next GreatWestern Business Breakfast.

The event is at STEAM onSeptember 21 from 7.30am to 9am.To book visit www.gwbb.co.uk. Orcontact Lisa Badger atlisa.badger@aldermore.co.uk.

Charity on themenu at GWbusiness breakfast

Page 6 September 2011

Business Life Cycle

Sink or swim - getting the basics right

STARTING IN BUSINESS SEMINAR: SINK OR SWIM – GETTING THE BASICS RIGHTProperty, Employment and Corporate partners from Withy King will provide practical advice and guidance to

owner-managers in their first years of trading. There will be an opportunity to network after the presentationsThe free seminar is at the National Self Build Centre, Lydiard Fields, Great Western Way, Swindon on

Wednesday, October 19, from 4-6pm.

To book a place, email events@withyking.co.uk or phone Anna Arakcheeva on 01225 352833

The UK’s only artisan manufacturer offlavoured syrups for coffees andcooking was established in 2007 byJohn Taylerson, a former marketingdirector at Milk Link. Based in Oaksey,Malmesbury Syrups produces anextensive range of flavours, includingamaretto, fine vanilla and even aChristmas pudding flavour.

“I’ve been involved with food anddrink all my life, from milking cows onthe farm where I grew up to working inprocessing, packaging , marketing andeverything in between,” said John. “Ialways wanted to run my own businessbut the world doesn’t need any morecheese-makers, so I knew I’d have towork hard to come up with somethingdifferent. I learned that demand forflavoured coffees was rising but all thesyrups packaged and sold in the UKare manufactured abroad. I wanted tobe the first to produce them here –withnatural ingredients and to a very highstandard.”

Within the first 12 months,Malmesbury Syrups could be found in

Selfridges, Waitrose and John Lewis.But it wasn’t all plain sailing. “Therecession hit us hard and there weremoments when my blood ran cold,”said John. “In 2008 one of our largestcustomers went into administration andretailers no longer wanted to carry toomany lines or too much stock. Ourproduct turned out to be veryrecession-sensitive and we were forcedto find new channels fast.”

John realised the internet offered arelatively low-risk opportunity to buildthe brand and generate income. “Byoffering our products online, we wereable to learn very quickly what ourcustomers wanted. And positivecustomer reviews drive sales. Onlinehas helped generate cash at a timewhen retailers weren’t spending. But it’sby no means a panacea. Distribution isa huge challenge. It’s expensive andwe found it difficult to find a reliabledistributer.”

John is constantly reinventing hisproducts and his business model togive his customers reasons to come

Business Life Cycle case study: Malmesbury Syrups

Getting started in business is one thing. Growinga profitable, sustainable business is quiteanother – particularly during these challenging

times.Swindon Business News and Withy King, one of

the region’s leading commercial law firms, haveteamed up to develop a series of Business Life Cyclefeatures and seminars to help owner-managers weighup their options and make the right decisions at vitalstages in their company’s development.

In the first of the series, Withy King advisesowner-managers who have recently started a businessor are in the early years of trading.

Customer and supplier relationships

Building strong relationships with customers andsuppliers is at the heart of every business, but not atany cost, warns Withy King corporate partner AlexPyatt.

“If customers or suppliers default on payments ordeliveries, disregard your payment terms or simplydon’t provide the quality or service you wereexpecting, your business can very quickly run intodifficulties.

“It is essential that you invest time in developingrobust terms and conditions which set the parametersfor your customer and supplier relationships. Having

contracts in place provides peace of mind for allparties, demonstrates your professionalism andinspires confidence. It’s better to get the fundamentalsin place up front than deal with disputes and otherissues which could have a devastating impact on yourbusiness further down the line.”

Business premises

Your premises are an essential asset of yourbusiness. Peter Foskett, a partner in Withy King’scommercial property team, has the following advice:

• Before you negotiate the lease, understand theoptions open to you. The Leasing Code(www.leasingbusinesspremises.co.uk) is a usefulstarting point.

• When negotiating the lease, calculate the costof complying with your obligations. How does thelandlord expect the premises to be returned at the endof the lease and do you have to take down any changesyou have made? You can find a simple costings sheetat :http://www.withyking.co.uk/cms/document/Cost_of_occupation.pdf.

• Before you sign the lease, understand theliabilities you are taking on. It may be helpful to takeadvice from someone who deals with leases all thetime.

• Ensure some flexibility in the lease should youplan to downsize or expand.

People

Most businesses need additional staff as theygrow. Malcolm Gregory, head of the employmentteam at Withy King, urges employers to think long-term.

“Issuing terms and conditions of employmentwithin eight weeks of taking on an employee is a legalobligation. There are no exceptions to this, even forthe most fledgling of businesses,” explained Malcolm.

“You may feel you cannot afford the time andexpense of drawing up contracts and a staff handbookearly on but our experience shows you will benefitfrom having clearly defined contractual terms.Formalising established working practices intodocuments can be time consuming and employees canbe resistant to changes introduced some way into theiremployment. But get the basics right from the startand your business will benefit in the long run.”

Withy King has a wealth of experienceworking with companies at all stages in thecorporate life cycle. For further information,contact Malcolm Gregory, Alex Pyatt or PeterFoskett on 01793 536526 or visitwww.withyking.co.uk

John Taylerson, founder ofMalmesbury Syrups, offers thefollowing advice to new businesses,based on his own early experiences:

CASH: This is our biggestchallenge. We’ve learnt tomanage it by understanding thegross margin for every productand every customer. This is thekey to profitability.

FINANCE: Our bank has been verysupportive because we’ve alwaysput forward a sensible businessplan. Even if we tear it up andrewrite it every quarter, at least wecan show them sensible forecastsand contingency plans.

PREMISES: Finding the rightpremises on affordable, flexibleterms was difficult. Perseverancepaid off and we eventually founda landlord willing to be sensible.

CONTRACTS: These must be able toflex in line with sales; volume is keyto our profitability.

MENTORS: Experiencedbusiness practitioners who act asmentors have a lot to offer.

TECHNOLOGY: I believe it isimportant to re-invest in thebusiness. We recently replaced ourold equipment with new kit whichuses pulsed white light technologyrather than heat, which is far moreenergy efficient and even improveson the flavour of our syrups. We’renow getting invitations to talk toretailers who like what we do.

INNOVATION: Never stopinventing.

in association with Withy King

Swindon01793 536526

Marlborough01672 514781

Bath01225 425731

John Taylerson,

founder of

Malmesbury Syrups

From left:

Alex Pyatt,

Malcolm

Gregory and

Peter Foskett

Independent Schools

With household budgets being squeezed, manyfamilies are finding the investment they hadplanned in their child’s education is coming under

pressure.School fees, excluding nurseries, increased by an

average of 4.5 per cent in 2011, according to latest figuresfrom the Independent Schools Council (ISC).

However, this was the second-lowest fee increase since1994, and compares with a rise of 5.3 per cent in the CPIeducation component in the year to January 2011.

Some two thirds of a school’s costs are comprised ofstaff salaries with teaching staff costs as a percentage of netfees equal to 53 per cent in 2009.

But while independent schools have had to adapt to thisnew environment in a number of ways, the demand foreducation outside the state sector continues.

The UK independent sector as a whole educates around628,000 children in approximately 2,600 schools.

The is more than seven per cent of the total number ofschoolchildren in England, with the figure rising to morethan 18 per cent of pupils over the age of 16.

The average fee per term at an ISC school for2010/2011 was £4,290,with costs ranging from an averageof £3,655 for a day school to an average of £8,384 for

boarders. However, 164,105 pupils at ISC schools - 33.2per cent of the total - receive help with their fees. Themajority of these pupils – 138,975 - receive scholarships orbursaries from their school, the combined value of whichamounts to more than £660m a year. More than 80 per centof total fee assistance comes directly from the schoolsthemselves.

While independent schools continue to invest in newcapital projects - during 2009/10, schools spent £640.9m,or £1,265 per pupil, - they have cut back on expenditure byan average of 11.1 per cent year-on-year.

Boarding schools spent £78.1m on new or refurbishedboarding accommodation (£1,147 per boarder). Theremainder of the money was split between £285.8m on newbuildings, £153.2m on improvements to buildings, £56monequipment and £54.2m on information technology.

Of course, it is academic achievement that is paramountto most parents and ISC schools maintain low pupil-teacherratios to ensure that they cover a very broad curriculum.

Overall ISC A-Level examination results showed thatin 2010, some 51.5 per cent of entries were awarded at leastan A grade, with 17.2 per cent of entries awarded the A*grade. At GCSE, 60.2 per cent of entries were awardedeither an A* or an A.

King Edward’s School is one ofthe top academic independentday schools in the UK for girls

and boys aged three to 18 years. Thissuccess has been achieved throughthe highest standards in teaching, thequality and dedication of the school’sstaff and the individual guidancegiven to its pupils to realise their fullpotential.

The school provides a stimulatinglearning environment where childrenare encouraged to strive forexcellence and to acquire a lifelongpassion for knowledge, discovery andadventure. There is a broad anddynamic curriculum and a large rangeof extra-curricular activities tointerest and enrich the lives of allpupils. This is underpinned by‘outstanding’ pastoral care.

Pupils achieve success in manyareas. The strength of music in theschool is reflected in the excellentlevels of public performances, theconsiderable success in examinationsand the regularity with which pupilsgather honours at regional musicfestivals. The school has anoutstanding dramatic tradition, withtwo or more major productions a year,an art and photography departmentwhich is a centre of excellence and atradition of sporting success, with

many pupils competing at bothregional and national levels.

The school is also renowned forits excellent facilities in science andtechnology, sport, music, drama andthe arts. King Edward’s Schoolcontinues to invest in a qualitylearning environment; new gardenlevel reception rooms, a new ICTsuite and library have been completedat the Pre-Prep, a new design andtechnology suite, ICT room, two newclassrooms and drama andperformance space were added at theJunior School and at the SeniorSchool, a state-of-the-art academiccentre for science, geography, modernforeign languages and IT and a stylishsixth form learning and social centre.

“We look forward to welcomingyou to our open events which willprovide an opportunity to meet ourwelcoming teachers and talk topupils, see our excellent facilities andfind out how we can give your childthe best start in life. Quite a numberof pupils attend King Edward’sSchool who come from the Wiltshire,South Gloucestershire and Swindonarea travelling to school by bus andtrain.”

Contact St Edward’s Schoolregistrar on 01225 464313 or visit:www.kesbath.com

King Edward’s School:

investing in quality learning

Special 4 page feature

King Edwards has an

outstanding reputation

for drama and sport

(top), and it’s music

department

Education remains prioritydespite economic downturn

“Pupils’ achievement is outstanding across a widerange of activities,” according to the interiminspection report of St Margaret’s PreparatorySchool in Calne, recently carried out by theIndependent Schools’ Inspectorate (ISI).

The report acknowledged that “attainment isjudged to be high in relation to age-relatedexpectations”. It also remarked on how “thepupils’ successes are due, in large measure, to thestrong teaching, their positive attitudes, and theexcellent relationships” and that “meticulousattention is paid to detail with nothing left tochance”.

The inspection recognised that “pupils’ progressis supported by an excellent and wide-rangingcurriculum” and that “the well-structuredprogramme of personal, social and health educationbenefits their personal development”. Whenreferring to teachers, the inspectors commented that“teachers’ planning is detailed” and that “teachingstimulates the pupils’ interest and takes place in anatmosphere of mutual respect”.

The Early Years Foundation Stage was also inspected andthe report concluded that “the overall effectiveness and qualityof the provision is outstanding”.

Karen Cordon, headmistress of St Margaret’s, said: “I amvery pleased with the outcome of the report – what becomes

very apparent from reading the report is the excellentrelationship between the children and their teachers, as well asthe mutual respect that permeates throughout school. All theseaspects of the children’s education are of paramount importanceif they are to maximize their potential.”

For families working or living in the Marlborough area, St

Margaret’s has now introduced a mini-bus service. To find outmore about this service or the school, visit the school’s OpenMorning at 9.30am on Thursday October 13. Call 01249857379 to register or visit www.stmargaretsprep.org.uk. StMargaret's Preparatory School, Calne is an independent dayschool for boys and girls aged 3-11 years.

Independent Schools

ISI gives St Margaret’s, Calne an excellent Report

SCHOOL FACTS

Pupils at St Margaret’s Preparatory with a copy of the ISI Report

What is the percentage of sixth-form leavers from

ISC schools continue to higher education?

How many of the A-level entries from

independent schools in 2010 received the top A

grade?

How much does the Independent Schools

Council contribute towards pupils’ fees?

Focus on A comprehensive online guide to th

and colleges in the West of Englan

Bath, Bristol and Gloucestershire

This indispensable guide offers ed

the Independent and State sectors

themselves to the area’s business

executives, entrepreneurs and bus

Launch date: January 2012

Available through:

Swindon Business News

Bristol Business News

Bath Business News

Contact Claudia Carr on 01793

91.5%

Over half

Over£550m

Rose Hill Westonbirt School isdelighted following excellent SATsresults this year, which included:

• 92 per cent of pupilsachieving Level 5 Reading

• 100 per cent of pupilsachieving Level 4 English

• 58 per cent of pupilsachieving Level 5 English

Headmaster Neil Shaw wasjustifiably proud of the former Year 6pupils, commenting: “I am delightedfor the pupils who have workedtremendously hard to achieve theseexcellent SATs results. The resultsdemonstrate both the pupils’dedication and the high quality ofteaching at Rose Hill Westonbirt. I

wish all the pupils the very best ofluck for the next stage of theireducation at senior school.”

After an emotional yet celebratorySpeech and Prize Giving day on July8, which welcomed the ReverendPhilip Dixon, former Chaplain ofWestonbirt School as guest speaker,the Year 6 pupils travelled in style ona vintage open-deck bus for their finallunch together as a class.

All former Year 6 pupils gainedentry into senior schools of theirchoice, including Westonbirt School,Bath Royal High, Wycliffe,Warminster, Tudor Hall and topgrammar schools Stroud High andPates.

Westonbirt School is celebrating this summer followingoutstanding GCSE and A Level results.

Local girls were among the top achievers, includingformer head girl Ashley White of Old Sodbury, Bristol, whoreceived an excellent four A*s in chemistry, history, mathsand further maths at A Level to secure her place to readpolitics, philosophy and economics at St. John’s College,Oxford.

Emily Clare of Tetbury, Gloucestershire, gained three Asto read geography at Birmingham University and KatharineCurry of Norton, near Malmesbury, was awarded A*, A anda B and goes on to read biology at Exeter University. Superbresults were also achieved by Yvonne Chen who was

awarded three As and an A* to read aeronautical engineeringat Imperial College London and Angela Yeung who gainedtwo As and a B to read law at Warwick University.

It was a similar story with the excellent GCSE results,with 100 per cent A* and A grades in chemistry, physics,music and Spanish and 100 per cent A* - B grades awardedin biology, Latin, PE and textiles.

The outstanding results come shortly after WestonbirtSchool received a superb inspection report from theIndependent Schools’ Inspectorate, confirming that “girls’overall achievement at Westonbirt School is excellent,academically, in their community service and in theiroutstanding personal development”.

Rose Hill Westonbirt Schoolwelcomes excellent SATs results

Westonbirt celebrates outstanding results

Girls at Westonbirt School cheer their exam results success

Headmaster

Neil Shaw

with two of

his pupils

Education he leading schools, academies

nd, including Wiltshire, Swindon,

ducational establishments in both

s a unique opportunity to promote

audience including senior

siness owners.

615393 for further information

Independent Schools

Nursery • Junior School • Senior School • Sixth Form College

Our girls can be anything they want to be, because herethey are free to be themselves. They are equally at

home brandishing blow torches and rowing for gold, asthey are re-living Shakespeare and unravelling algebraic

equations. Our passionate belief in the pre-eminence of what we offer is rooted in the levels of courtesy,

collegiality, confidence and an unselfconscious mantra of ‘getting stuck in’ that our girls demonstrate here, at

university, throughout their careers and in achievingaspirations in every aspect of life.

We would love to see you at our Open Day.Saturday November 5th 10am - 12 noon.

Please contact us to arrange a private visit.

Lansdown Road, Bath BA1 5SZ t: 01225 313877 e: royalhigh@bat.gdst.net www.royalhighbath.gdst.net

GIRLS WILL BE GIRLS

The Royal High School, Bath isfast becoming an independentschool of choice for boarding

and day girls aged three to 18.Recognised for outstanding results, itfocuses on individual care and valueachievement beyond the classroom,inspiring girls to make the most oftheir unique talents and become thevery best that they can be.

This all-through, all-round, all-girls education from nursery to sixthform college, develops the confidence,capabilities and character needed tounderpin success at university,throughout careers and in achievingaspirations in every aspect of life. “Wehave been specialists in girls’education since 1864 and we have apassionate belief in the pre-eminenceof what we offer for girls and youngwomen,” says the head, Rebecca

Dougall. “This is anchored not only inthe outstanding examination resultsthat our girls routinely achieve butalso in the places they take up withconfidence at leading UK andoverseas universities.

“Culturally cosmopolitan andvibrant, Bath is the perfect place forgirls to live, study, have fun, makefriends, enjoy life and develop aglobal perspective in education.Belonging to the Girls’ Day SchoolTrust (GDST) affords us excellenteconomies of scale and able to offeran exceptional value, independenteducation. Our academic standards areamong the highest in the country andyet our fees are among the lowest.”

Scholarships and bursaries areavailable at Years seven and 12. Tofind out more contact our registrar on01225 313877.

All-round, all-girls education at Royal High

The Royal High School, Bath

In a tough and uncertain environment, leadership is more important than ever ingiving your company the competitive edge

Developed for senior managers and accredited by the UK’s largestmanagement awarding body CMI Business First are now able to offer:

• Level 7 Award in strategic management and leadership: designed fordirectors and senior managers, this qualification will build on the managerialskills and knowledge that you already have and give you a greater understandingof the roles and responsibilities involved in strategic management. Thisqualification can be tailored to suit your professional needs

For more information on this qualification and other areas of executiveeducation contact the Business First team on 01793 498404 or via email at:businessfirst@swindon-college.ac.uk

Leading the way on training

Business Education

Swindon is the location for theNational Skills Academy forRetail's 50th skills shops.

The venue, in McArthurGlen’sSwindon Designer Outlet, willprovide training for the retailsector and offer a range ofprogrammes to suit individual andemployer needs.

Skills shops are located acrossthe UK offering information andadvice on training opportunities toretailers of all sizes, theiremployees or those seeking to getinto the sector, including pre-employment courses,apprenticeships, management

training and bespoke programmes.Since launching in 2009, the

network has gone from strength tostrength with skills shops in allfour nations and in many majortowns and cities. As well asSwindon, skills shops will open thismonth in Cambridge, Canterburyand Hastings.

National Skills Academy forRetail head Jane Rexworthy said:“This is a huge achievement for theorganisation. Each of our skillsshops provides a valuable serviceto their area’s residents andbusinesses, where often retail is keyto the local economy.”

Retail Skills Academy opensits 50th outlet in Swindon

September 2011 Page 11

Finance

Reaching out to the international trademarket as a means of fuellingeconomic growth is becoming seen asmore of a viable option by South Westfirms.

This message emerges from thelatest Manufacturing BarometerSurvey by the ManufacturingAdvisory Service in the South West(MAS-SW), which is designed toprovide a snapshot of regionalmanufacturing trends and an overviewof the current economic climate andsector issues, suggests that 79 per centof respondents said that they haveconsidered selling overseas,reinforcing key indicators from thelatest DHL/BCC Trade ConfidenceIndex, which have shown that UKexport activity is continuing to growand recover beyond recession andpoint towards expansion.

However, it is not clear how manybusinesses are export-ready as resultsfrom the Barometer Survey indicatethat financial support and marketingknow-how remain two of the biggeststumbling blocks to manufacturers.

Commenting on the significanceof the findings, Simon Howes,managing director, MAS-SW, said:“Export is one of many optionsavailable to manufacturers and despite

the challenges, is worth careful andthorough exploration.

“An important consideration formanufacturers is to assess if theirproducts are suitable for overseasmarkets or if they will need to beadapted in any way, for example, interms of brand names, packaging,regulations and compliance issues orin response to different consumerbehaviour, demand and competitors. Itis also important to evaluate whatchanges will need to be made to theUK operation to service any overseasbusiness.”

Most of the support delivered byMAS-SW is free or heavily subsidisedand Simon added: “One of the ways inwhich our Manufacturing Specialistsare able to make a difference is byenabling directors to develop a clearstrategy for their business. Whereexport forms part of that strategy, wewill ensure a business has the rightcapacity and capabilities, processesand products to consider internationalmarkets. At this stage, our partnerssuch as UK Trade and Investment,Enterprise Europe Network in theSouth West and the sector-specificinnovation networks (iNets) in theSouth West, will be able to supportyour next steps.”

Exporting is becomingmore of a viable option

Rob Harman, corporate financepartner at Morris Owen CharteredAccountants, has been advising

the owners of small and medium-sizedenterprises on the financing ofacquisitions and mergers for manyyears. He acknowledges that it hasalways raised some interestingchallenges but perhaps never more sothan now...

Just prior to the 2008 banking crisis many transactionswere substantially financed by loan capital. Althoughevery deal is different, in those ‘heady’ days, leveragedfunding of two or three times loan to equity capital wascertainly not unusual. Since then banks and other third-party lending sources have become far more reticent toextend to that level of leverage with a ratio of one to one,or less, now being far more the norm.

While generally accepted that raising funds in thecurrent climate is more difficult, what is often missed isthe deflationary impact this reduction in leverage ratioshas on the current value of businesses.

By way of example; an investor seeking to achieve afive times multiple return on an equity investment overfive years would be prepared to pay around 20 per centmore for the target business if he is able to leverage £2 ofloan finance for every £1 of equity investment than hewould if he can only leverage on a £1 for £1 basis – proofof the numbers are available on request!

Of course the current business owner already has afairly clear view of the value of the target business,irrespective of how the purchaser is intending to fund theacquisition, so the potential acquirer’s valuation reducing

by 20 per cent, just because because loan finance ratioshave dropped, can often create a valuation gap that cannotbe bridged; resulting in fewer completions and aslowdown in the market generally.

The current financing realities bring into ever sharperfocus the absolute requirement to gain a good early stageunderstanding of the other side’s position. If this can beachieved, and the transaction approached with realism,successful outcomes are still very achievablenotwithstanding lending levels.

If you’re looking to expand your business throughacquisition or exit by disposal and feel a betterunderstanding of these issues would help you thencontact Rob on 01793 603900 or at:rob.harman@morrisowen.com

The difficulties of financing mergersand acquisitions in the current climate

Free export seminarlater in SeptemberWiltshire businesses considering exporting or already tradinginternationally but wishing to do more have an opportunity to attend a freeseminar later this month.Entitled How to Set Up New Markets Overseas, the event takes place

on September 26 at Salisbury Racecourse in association with accountantsFrancis Clark, NatWest and UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), theGovernment’s export support organisations.Representatives from each will provide an insights into the

fundamentals of overseas trade.Nick Field and Nicky Busst from UKTI will cover market selection and

key routes to market, Craig Cotton and Lynda Russell from NatWest willdiscuss how to finance overseas trade and Stuart Rogers from FrancisClark will advise on international tax issues.Nick Field, International Trade Adviser at UKTI South West, said: “This

seminar is a great opportunity for local businesses that are eitherconsidering their first steps into international trade or already have anexport strategy in place that they wish to develop further.“Attendees will hear from specialists from across banking,

accountancy and international trade, as well as learn from a localcompany’s insight and experiences in overseas markets. The seminar,which takes place between 4pm and 6pm, is free so I’d encourageanyone considering international trade to get in touch now as places arelimited.”Call 0845 6060 969 or email events@uktisouthwest.org for more

information.

Export

Rob Harman

Times may be hard but the vastmajority of private equity housesexpect the number of new buyouts tohold up in the coming months,according to Grant Thornton's latestPrivate Equity Barometer. Thechartered accountants say, however,that although there has been littledifficulty in funding new deals only asmall proportion have been refinancedrecently.

The quarterly survey of UKprivate equity executives shows thathalf still expect the volume of year-on-year new investments to rise while

only three per cent foresee a fall in thenumber of new investments. Theremaining 47 per cent anticipate nochange.

“Private equity funds with a goodtrack record have no problems raisingfresh equity for investments in theUK. Moreover, debt is readilyavailable for quality private equitydeals,” said Mark Naughton,corporate finance director at GrantThornton in the South West.

“So far UK private equity hascoped well with the economicuncertainty and is buoyed by the

resilience of privately held businesses.In total our respondents are planningto invest at least £3.2bn in the UK inthe coming 12 months with nearlythree-quarters expecting to investbetween £5m and £100m and aboutone in five investing more than£100m.”

Only 27 per cent of respondents tothe survey expect their ability to dodeals in the coming 12 months to bestymied by difficulties in finding debtto support new investments while 73per cent do not. For the full storyvisit www. swindon-business.net

Stand by for more buyouts in theSouth West, says Grant Thornton

Swindon Business News continues its series of

features on exporting next month with an overview

of the nuts and bolts of international trade,

including arranging export documentation, letters

of credit etc and the tax implications of trading

overseas. Call 01793 615393 for more information.

SWINDONBUSINESSNEWS

Page 12 September 2011

Leisure

Diners enjoying their meals at the Weighbridge Brewhouse,Swindon’s newest premier restaurant, would be hard pressedto imagine what the historic building looked like just sixmonths ago.

That was when building contractor John Saunders wascalled in by owners Anthony and Allyson Windle to helpwith their dream of converting the derelict 19th centuryGWR weigh house into a contemporary bar, restaurant andbrewery.

The couple, who own the award-winning Three Crownsat Brinkworth, had a clear vision of how they wanted theirnew venture to look. But first John, whose business JSaunders was appointed as main contractor, had toovercome a few problems.

“The project had quite a few challenges, to put itmildly,” he said. “For a start, the building had been leftderelict for a long time and had been broken into andvandalised.

“We had to do a lot of work on it before we could evenstart to think about the interior fittings to turn it into a newrestaurant and bar.”

John’s Brinkworth-based business, which he started

more than 20 years ago, usually builds new houses andhome extensions, so tackling a major renovation of anhistoric building and fitting a polished stainless steel bar,kitchen, toilets and everything else needed for the £2mproject was a new experience.

“The building was really just an empty shell when wefirst got in there,” he said. Some original features wereretained, including a spiral staircase, while new ones wereadded, including a wooden porch from a church inYorkshire.

The Windles wanted to engage as many local businessesas possible for the conversion work and, as well as John theybrought in electrical contractors C J Electricals to fit thecomplex electrical system, which included CCTV, a state-of-the-art music system and fully-integrated ordering andpayment systems.

At one time John had eight employees working with himon the project and another 10 from other contractors fittingout the interior. Among the other Swindon area businesseswas Elite Steel Fabrications, which designed and installedthe Weighbridge Brewhouse’s microbrewery, which willproduce three standard beers as well as seasonal ales.

All companies need to changeand adapt if they are to succeedin tough times.

But Utax UK has taken that astage further by radicallyrepositioning itself in its market togain competitive advantage over itsrivals.

The fact that Utax, based at theShrivenham 100 business park nearSwindon, is in the fairly traditionaloffice photocopier and printer markethas made its transformation all themore effective.

The German-owned firm, like itsrivals, built its business model aroundselling or leasing equipment,maintaining them under servicecontracts and supplying tonercartridges.

This model worked until therecession hit and the office equipmentmarket took a dive.

Utax UK managing directorShaun Wilkinson, who joined thebusiness in 2006, saw for himself theimpact the economic slowdown hadon the market – and realised thatsomething radical was needed.

“Sales weren’t good anyway andwe had been losing out to our rivals,”he said.

“So we decided to repositionourselves as a solutions businessrather than a photocopier business.

“The industry has always been runalong the lines of buy or lease.Nobody had looked at it from thepoint of view of working with theclients to minimise their costs andmove towards the paperless office bylooking at how they work.”

Utax introduced software to helpits clients minimise their costs,including giving them the choice ofprinting out or making electronicversions of documents – a counter-intuitive measure for a firm thatsupplies photocopiers.

“The previous model had been toget people to print as much aspossible,” said Shaun.

The radical move has paid off andUtax bounced back. Revenues grewby 34 per cent last year and so far thisyear are running 57 per cent ahead ofthis time last year.

“I think the recession was a bit ofa wake up call for our industry,” saidShaun. “It’s forced people to look attheir costs. Businesses still need toprint but it’s a case doing it cost-

efficiently. We’ve saved some of ourcustomers 20 per cent off theirprinting costs. Some businesses spend£10,000 a year just on toner cartridgesso that’s a serious amount of money tosave.”

Part of Utax’s solution is to banrecycling bins next to photocopiers.

“They just encourage people toprint or photocopy stuff they don'tneed. They throw it away in therecycling bin and think they aresaving money.”

Shaun sees further growth forUtax.

“Our products are basically thesame as what everyone else is sellingbut we now offer somethingdifferent,” he said. “And we areconstantly looking at how we can dothings better.

“Three years ago we had no ITtechnical people working for us. Nowwe’ve got four who work withcustomers on site .It puts us ahead ofour rivals.

“We have also just invested£30,000 in new software. We arelooking at ways we can keep costsdown on servicing our machines. It’simportant that we continue to invest.

“It’s also down to the people. Wehave got a great team spirit here. Wespend a lot of time and money lookingafter our people. We take everybodyout once a quarter as a company andwe have good incentives. We alsoinvest in training – we have reallyramped up our training budget overlast 18 months.

“It’s a false economy not to do it.Our customers tell me that we’rebetter than our competitors so itappears to be paying off.”

Cricklade-based packaging expertsGWP Group has awarded publicrelations and marketingcommunications consultancy Vox acontract to deliver public relationsactivity to help raise the profile of thecompany.

The GWP Group specialises increating innovative packaging.Comprising four divisions – packaging,protective, conductive and coatings –the company can design andmanufacture all types of packagingranging from cardboard boxes andelectrostatic cartons to protective flightcases and cases for delicate medicalequipment.

GWP recently created a bespokeprotective bike carrier for triathlete DanBrunton to transport his time trial biketo the world championships in China.Working closely with Dan, GWP

designed andbuilt a case thatwould supportand protect hisbike, whichcannot bedismantled likea road bike, onhis journeyacross theglobe.

Vox directorJulie Margerumsaid: “We’revery pleased torepresent GWP,which is truly an exciting andinnovative company.”

To find out how Vox can help raiseyour business’s profile call 01793511990 or email:enquiries@voxonline.co.uk.

Vox packages up the PRsolution for GWP Group

Utax gains a competitiveadvantage with innovative‘solutions’ strategy

Business News

Julie Margerum

Historic transformation atWeighbridge Brewhouse

Local hotelsgain strengthin JuneThe hotel sector in Swindon continuedits recovery in June with all three mainoccupancy measures up in comparisonto the same month last year, latestfigures from accountants and businessadvisers PKF show.

The occupancy rate was up by 5.4per cent to 74.5 per cent and averageroom rates were up marginally from£54.85 to £55.03, taking the overallroom yield an up by 5.8 per cent to£41. Neil Dimes, partner in charge ofPKF'S South West office, said: “Thisis good news for the Swindon hotelsector and is heartening to see anothermonth of growth.”

Shaun Wilkinson

September 2011 Page 13

Property

• Ambulance trust appoints GVA tohandle property reviewGreat Western Ambulance NHS Trust (GWAS) hasappointed property advisors GVA to help it moderniseits property estate.Chippenham-based GWAS’s 30 sites are spread

across Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and the West ofEngland and range from state-of-the-art facilities tobuildings nearing the end of their economic life.The trust wants to develop a modern, flexible estate

more aligned to its clinical strategy for accident andemergency and patient transport services. The Bristoloffice of GVA is supporting it on three key projects overa three-year period.GVA director Gordon Isgrove said: “Our multi-

discipline approach will look at all aspects of the trust’sexisting property portfolio to help us advise the trust onestablishing an estate more suited to its current andfuture needs.”GVA will be providing specialist advice in lease

negotiation, agency acquisition and disposal, planning,valuation, dilapidations and condition surveys.GVA was recently ranked the number one supplier

of services to the public sector nationally with a 44%market share, according to figures for 2010/11 from theGovernment Procurement Service.

• Industrial sale at CorshamWhitmarsh Lockhart has sold Unit One Leafield IndustrialEstate, Corsham to a private company. The 32,500 sq ftbuilding on a 1.76 acre site had previously been used forwarehousing and manufacturing. The guide price was£900,000 and the property was sold for an undisclosedsum.

Paul Whitmarsh, partner in charge of the agencydepartment, said: “It is always a pleasure to dispose of anindustrial/warehouse facility of this nature and see thebuilding come back into life generating new jobs andrevitalising the area.

“Unit One had been empty for approximately 18 monthsand had undergone an extensive refurbishment.”Whitmarsh Lockhart acted on behalf of the Barnes Group.

• Unit sold at Ash and Birch EstateActing on behalf of Rockspring Funds, CaissonInvestment Management hassold Unit 23 Ash at the Ash andBirch Industrial Estate,Kembrey Park, to MMGMagdev, a specialist supplier ofpermanent magnets.Unit 23 Ash is a detached

warehouse facility of 11,601 sqft at the entrance to the estate.It was available at a quotingprice of £755,000.Alastair Andrews of joint

agents Loveday and Lovedaysaid: “The units at the Ash and Birch Industrial Estateprovide unrivalled accommodation in the Swindonmarket. “The landscaped environment coupled with avery approachable on-site management team makesthis the ideal location to expand a business. Withvarious other units ranging from 1,000 sq ft up to14,000 sq ft still available, any companies seeking torelocate should get in touch either with myself or jointagents Jones Lang LaSalle and Alder King.”

Healthcare and medical device supplierVygon has completed its move toSwindon’s iconic former Motorola

factory, with the French-owned companysaying it will grow and develop in its new base.

Vygon, which celebrates its 50thanniversary next year, spent £15m buying the46-acre site at Groundwell and transformingthe landmark building into its UKheadquarters, with bespoke warehousing, state-of-the-art offices and an international trainingcentre. The building starred in the Bond movieThe World is not Enough as a Turkish oilplatform.

Parts of the 250,000 sq ft building, whichhad stood empty since Motorola ceasedproduction in 2006, have been demolished,including three of its four warehouses, andVygon has built a new 60,000 sq ft warehousewhich at 12.5m high is more suited to its needs.

It has also completely refurbished theexisting office pod and converted some roomsinto training suites which will be used byVygon staff from across the world – saving on

the cost of hiring external training facilities.The massive operation to find a suitable

site for Vygon to expand its UK operationsstarted three years ago and has been managedby Bristol firm Adapt Properties. Initially thefirm looked for a greenfield site to relocate itsCirencester head office and two satellitewarehouses at South Cerney. The company hadgrown so quickly in the UK that some staffwere based in portable buildings.

When Adapt’s search hit on the Motorolasite the company thought it ideal, given thehuge potential for expansion. As Vygon UKmanaging director Les Davies says: “We haveroom to grow here for the next 20 to 30 years.

“We’d built a great team in Cirencester sowe didn't want to move far but we wereoperating on three sites and it just wasn'tpractical.”

Some 15 acres of land surplus torequirements will be sold but the remainder ofthe site is earmarked to meet Vygon’sexpansion.

The building, which has been renamed

after Vygon founder Pierre Simonet, haseffectively been turned by 90 degrees to meetVygon’s needs. The firm supplies 4,500different product lines to 7,000 hospitals,clinics, distributors and patients in their ownhomes every month across the UK andNorthern Ireland. Its products, which aremanufactured in mainland Europe, includefeeding equipment for patients and customprocedure packs for use in operating theatres.

Vygon began moving into the building inthe middle of June in a month-long exercisethat involving shifting 4,000 pallets ofequipment, furniture and stock plus 100 staff.

The team behind the relocation andrefurbishment included Bristol architectsAngus Meek, which adapted and remodelledthe original building design by London firmSheppard Robson, building work was carriedout by Barnwood Construction of Gloucesterwith 5 Consulting of Herefordshire as quantitysurveyors and construction coordinator.3Sphere of Cirencester redesigned the officeinterior.

Alastair Andrews

Caerus Wealth, the advice firm set up by financial services veteran

Keith Carby, has moved into showpiece offices on Swindon’s

flagship Windmill Hill business park.

The firm has taken a five-year lease agreement on Building 120 -

formerly known as Sigma and one of the iconic smoke-glassed

offices on the park.

Mr Carby has shaped some of the UK’s most successful financial

advice firms including Swindon-based giant Allied Dunbar which he

left to launch St James’s Place Capital in Cirencester. He returned to

Swindon with Openwork but quit two years ago.

Fast-growing Caerus has ambitions to be a major player in the

wealth management advice industry and has been recruiting agents

from rivals since its launch last year.

The 2,260 sq ft office, which has a quoting rent is £16 per sq ft, was

let by joint agents Whitmarsh Lockhart and Hartnell Taylor Cook on

behalf of Windmill Hill owners St Martins Property Corporation.

What’s the tube for?Motorola needed a large open, efficient and modernmanufacturing space in the building so originalarchitects Sheppard Robson came up with theinnovative idea of putting all the services such as powercables in a 300m-long steel tube on roof.When Vygon bought the building they soughtpermission to demolish the tube as the company is notmanufacturing on the site. But Swindon Councilplanners insisted the tube stay as it has becomelandmark.Some 74 metres has been lopped off as Vygon hastaken down part of the building. But the rest of the tuberemains – even though now it is completely empty.

We’ve been expecting you...

Chartered surveyor Andrew Kilpatrick haslaunched Kilpatrick & Co, a Swindon-basedsurveying firm specialising in commercialproperty consultancy.

Mr Kilpatrick has more than 25 years’experience of Swindon and surroundingproperty markets and is a practicingarbitrator and independent expert, regularly

receiving appointments from the president ofthe Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors(RICS).

He is also a RICS-registered valuer andexpert witness, joint author of TheBusinessman’s Guide to Rating and amember of the Compulsory PurchaseAssociation.

He is joined in Kilpatrick & Co byStephen Brickell, who specialises incommercial agency and has more than fiveyears’ experience of sales lettings andacquisitions in Swindon’s commercialproperty market, and Conor McVie, whospecialises in property management, havingresponsibility for a wide range of properties.

Surveying firm launched by experienced agent

New Windmill Hill office for financial services firm

Page 14 September 2011

Property

Work is about to start on thelong-awaited £1.85m upgradeof Swindon railway station’s

forecourt – a project seen as essential tolifting the town’s image and animportant part of the wider town centreredevelopment.

The nine-month programme ofmajor improvements will give priority topedestrians, safely separating them fromtraffic.

There will be new passenger drop-off areas, a clearly-defined taxi rank with15 spaces and a new bus lane and shelter.

The whole area will be made moreattractive with granite paving, trees,improved signs, lighting and seating.

The scheme also aims to overcomeone of the key issues faced by visitors toSwindon arriving by train – how to reachthe town centre by foot.

As well as better signs, the designwill clearly indicate the route bycontinuing the forecourt’s granite pavingover the Station Road pedestriancrossing and along to Wellington Street.

Ian Piper, of Forward Swindon, theCouncil’s regeneration company whichis leading the project, said the existingstation area did not yet reflect the town’simportant strategic location betweenLondon and Bristol.

“We are delighted to be driving this

project for the benefit of Swindon,” hesaid. “The result will be an impressiveentry point into Swindon for businessvisitors and residents. “

Forward Swindon has negotiatedfinance for the scheme and will beoverseeing the project. More than halfthe funding has come from centralGovernment with the remainder fromSwindon Borough Council and NetworkRail.

Damian Poulter of main contractorsBritannia Construction said: “Beinginvolved in this key regeneration projectfor Swindon is exciting for us. Over thenext nine months we will be working toensure minimum disruption and to keepstation users, local businesses andstakeholders well informed of progressand access routes in and around thestation.”

Patrick Hallgate, route managingdirector for Network Rail, added: “Therecent upgrade in the station by NetworkRail and the plans ahead for the stationforecourt will make a big difference forthe community and businesses that relyon the railway for thousands of journeysevery day.”

The forecourt work comes ahead ofSwindon town centre’s planned 17-acre,flagship Union Square mixed-usedevelopment.

£1.85m train stationforecourt upgradeon track to start

Two new tenants have taken space at Westerngate, developer Durngate’s 11-unitindustrial/warehouse scheme on the Hillmead Enterprise Park.

High-end kitchen provider Kitstone has acquired Unit 3 for its distributionand showroom facility after searching across Swindon for a suitable location.

Westerngate was the only modern facility that fitted its brief which meansit now has excellent access to M4 Junction 16.

The other new tenant specialist providers of vending machines and vendingAutobar, which has moved into Unit 4 .

Autobar was also seeking a well-located modern facility close to Junction16 and Unit 4 Westerngate provided the best solution.

Ralph Wells at Whitmarsh Lockhart said: “It is good news to let two unitsin quick succession at Westerngate.

“The recent market in this size sector has proved quite tough. However,we are able to offer a flexible deal structure and impressive deals that are veryappealing to tenants.

“With this mixture of competitive deals and high-quality accommodation,Westerngate continues to be one of the preferred locations for tenants lookingfor units between 10-25,000 sq ft on the west side of Swindon.”

Whitmarsh Lockhart is joint agent for Westerngate with Cushman &Wakefield.

Westerngate welcomestwo new tenants

September 2011 Page 15

In Gear

Pebley Beach, the Swindon Hyundaidealer, is harnessing the power ofsocial media to back the launch of

the all-new Hyundai i40 Tourer to thefleet market.

The car, which has just gone on sale,boasts a wealth of state-of-the-arttechnology and other benefits of apremium model but without the premiumprice tag – making it an ideal companyvehicle.

To launch the i40 Tourer to thecorporate market, Pebley Beach directorDominic Threlfall is teaming up withSwindon Business News and using socialmedia, including LinkedIn.

Swindon Business News is topromote the car through a unique emailcampaign – ensuring that its marketingmaterial is seen by senior companyexecutives, entrepreneurs and businessowners in the area.

The campaign will tie in with eye-catching online advertising on SwindonBusiness News’ website –www.swindon-business.net - and in themonthly publication. Dominic is alsousing LinkedIn to gain the attention of

potential company car buyers, arrangetest drives for them and gain usefulfeedback.

All comments will be fed back toHyundai with special rewards for thosetaking part such as a free valet, MOTvoucher or labour on a service.

And those who are quick off themark in arranging their test drive, thereis also a chance of winning Euro 2012tickets. Go to: http://events.linkedin.com/Hyundai/pub/763989 to register.

Call Pebley Beach on 01793 816800to arrange a drive, fill out the feedbackform, choose the free gift from above andbe entered for the tickets.

Every i40 Tourer incorporates highlevels of equipment designed to helpkeep fleet drivers safe - ESP, 7 airbags,ABS, Brake Assist and Vehicle StabilityManagement (VSM), Bluetooth withvoice recognition - and reassured - withHyundai’s Five Year Triple Carepackage, the i40 Tourer boasts anunlimited mileage warranty (notavailable for taxi or private hire usage)

and five years’ roadside assistance.Dominic said: “We are a forward-

looking business and we are constantlylooking for new ways to engage with ourcustomers and potential customers.

“Social media is becoming moreimportant and we plan to be ahead of thegame with our campaign for the new i40Tourer. It’s a very exciting car so wewant to engage with businesses in anexciting way through this leading-edgecampaign.

“We can offer discerning fleetmanagers - and their drivers - a completepackage with the i40 Tourer. Whateverthe size of their fleet, they can enjoy thebenefits.

“From driving down the cost ofownership and lowering the taxefficiency of our vehicles to improvingthe on-the-road experience - our aim isthat both companies and drivers benefit.”

BMW wins sustainability award• German car group BMWhas been named as theworld’s most sustainableautomobile manufacturerfor the seventhconsecutive year.

The group, which hasits MINI pressing plant inSwindon, achieved topslot in the rankingpublished by the SAMGroup for the Dow JonesSustainability Indexes.

BMW is also the only automotive manufacturer to be listedin this family of indexes every year since it was established in1999.

BMW chairman Dr Norbert Reithofer said: “The success ofthe BMW Group is built on a long-term approach andresponsible action. Being ranked sector leader for the pastseven years underscores our corporate strategy and approach.I would like to thank all of our company’s 95,000 employeeswhose day-to-day work makes this progress possible."

Sustainability is an integral part of the BMW’s corporatestrategy - it appointed the automotive industry’s firstenvironmental officer in 1973. Since then it has systematicallyrefined its concept of sustainability ad two years ago it firmlyestablished corporate sustainability at group level.

Swindon car dealership expands Swindon-based car dealer group Cambria Automobiles hasadded a Vauxhall franchise to its portfolio following the acquisitionof a dealership in Southampton.

The deal takes Cambria’s locations to 27 while the addition ofVauxhall brings the total number of new car franchises to 39,including Citroen, Seat and Jaguar dealerships in Swindon.

The news follows the group’s pre-close trading statementwhich showed the group achieved another year of growth “broadlyin line with market expectations” despite a difficult market.

Cambria said it was on the lookout for further acquisitions andintends to pursue more opportunities with Vauxhall.

The acquired business in Southampton has been loss makingin recent years, and it is anticipated will dilute earnings in the shortterm while Cambria’s systems and processes are brought in. Thebusiness was acquired on a net asset basis and no goodwill waspaid.

Cambria chief executive Mark Lavery said he was confidentthe Vauxhall dealership will return to profitability in the mediumterm.

To book a test drive contact

us on 01793 816800

Pebley Beach Hyundai 01793 816800

West Swindon Motor Park, SWINDON, SN5 7SB www.pebleybeachhyundai.co.uk

E-campaign gets new Hyundai on the road

The new Honda Civic, launched at the FrankfurtMotor Show features a distinctive new dynamic,flowing exterior design which is complemented by ahigh quality interior finish.

The designers of the new Civic wanted to keepthe sporty and advanced elements of the car’scharacter but tailor them to express the new model’smore dynamic feel.

Nearly all of the body components on the newCivic have been redesigned with particular focus onride and handling, reduced CO2 emissions, designand interior quality, while retaining the class-leadingcabin, boot space and practicality.

Designed and developed specifically for theEuropean market, the new Civic will be offered as afive-door hatchback and will reach UK showroomsin early 2012.

New Honda Civic launched at Frankfurt Motor Show

SWINDONBUSINESSNEWSTelephone: 01793 615393www.swindon-business.net

Unique event will alertSwindon firms to impactof domestic violenceBusinesses are being urged to consider the impact thatdomestic violence and abuse is having on thewellbeing, mental health and, consequently,productivity of their staff.

Expert advice on ways of handling this difficultsubject for employers will be available at a free, one-off awareness session staged in Swindon in November.

The event, called Domestic Violence and Abuse –What employers need to know, is the result of a linkup between Swindon Community Safety Partnershipand the charity Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse(AAFDA) along with the Swindon Mindful EmployerNetwork which is managed locally by RichmondFellowship Wiltshire.

Speakers will include Neil Blacklock, a leadingexpert on domestic violence with the national charityRespect.

The event, free to attend for employers andbusiness people and which is supported by SwindonBusiness News, takes place at the Steam museum,Churchward, on November 21 from 10am.

To book a place contact David Latham atdavid.latham@richmondfellowship.org.uk

Swindon could get a direct high-speed rail link to Heathrow Airportunder a scheme being considered bythe Government.

Transport Secretary PhilipHammond, is understood to havedrafted fresh plans to build a spurline from the Great Western mainline at Reading Station into theairport, possibly straight to Terminal5.

The £500m project, which hasbeen considered in the past but nevergiven the green light, would allowtrains operating on the main Cardiff-London line through Swindon tostop at Heathrow – achieving long-hoped ambitions for business leadersin the West for a direct connection toone of the world’s busiest airports.

The plan could cut journey timesto Heathrow by at least 30 minutes,according to reports. At present railpassengers must either travel toLondon Paddington then change andtake the Heathrow Express back tothe airport, or get off at Reading andcatch a bus.

The station at Heathrow, whichcould be built by 2021, would alsolink to the planned HS2 London-Birmingham line – although its routeis fiercely opposed by campaigners,which could delay the project.

Reports of the Healthrow linkfollow the recently announced £1bnelectrification of the Great Westernline between Bristol and London.Councils in Bristol, Swindon andCardiff – backed by the businesscommunity – lobbied hard for thatplan to be brought forward after theGovernment put it on hold.

Some railway experts today saidthe Heathrow spur plan would morelikely involve shuttle trainsoperating from Reading Station toHeathrow rather than direct servicesfrom Swindon stopping there.

However, the plan – in whateverform it takes – will be welcomed bybusiness leaders across the region.

Philip Morton, director atproperty firm DTZ in Bristol, said itwould provide a welcome boost tothe regional economy.

High ranking Chinese officials visitingBritain to learn about heritageconservation were the guests of the

UK China Business Consortium at a lunchin one of Swindon’s most iconic industrialbuildings.

Consortium chairman Jeremy Holtwelcomed members of the ChinesePeople’s Political Consultative Conference,China’s equivalent of the Senate, toSwindon with a meal at the newly convertedWeighbridge Brewhouse. The Chinese

delegation, led by the former Governor ofHenan Province, visited Heelis, the NationalTrust headquarters at Churchward, beforemoving on to the restaurant in the formerGWR works weighhouse, which laterbecame Archers brewery.

The lunch was the second major eventarranged by the UK China BusinessConsortium since it was founded earlierthis summer. In June, the cultural attachéto the Chinese Embassy in London, Mr LiZhang, opened an exhibition of privately-

owned Chinese art not previously seen bythe public at Swindon Museum and ArtGallery, which was sponsored by theconsortium.

Mr Zhang returned to Swindon with theConsultative Conference delegation andsaid he was delighted to be back in thetown so soon, and once again meetmembers of the business community,Swindon’s Mayor Councillor Ray Ballman,her consort and senior representatives ofSwindon Borough Council.

The Chinese delegation with Mayor of Swindon Cllr Ray Balman, Jeremy Holt (rear), and Gavin Jones chief exec of the Council

Business consortium hosts top Chinese delegation

Heathrow high-speed direct raillink could get back on track

China trade event to be held

Firms seeking business opportunities in China cangain first-hand advice from experts in internationaltrade at a conference later this month.

Speakers from UKTI, China-Britain BusinessCouncil, Institute of Exports, Bristol ChinaPartnership and UWE will look at ways to expandinto the world’s second-largest economy.

The China Trade Conference, which takes placeon September 29 at HSBC’s offices in Temple Quay,Bristol, is being staged by the Bristol branch of theInstitute of Directors (IOD).