The Insider
Thanet & East Kent Insider, 1st May 2010
1. Art & Business
As most readers of this weekly bulletin will be aware, the main objectives of the Thanet & East Kent Chamber are to boost turnover and reduce costs for our members. Maintaining or increasing margins is essential if companies are to meet the rising tax burden and fulfil their obligations to employees and shareholders. Being the cheapest in the market place may be the overriding aim of national companies with outlets across the UK, but local traders can achieve an advantage from exceptional service and more attention to quality. The Arts Festival highlighted in the attached file features Chamber members, Caroline Lovely of Lovelys Gallery and Joanna Hunt of Cloudberry who undoubtedly bring a quality approach to all aspects of their operations in Thanet. If you have some free time on Saturday 15th May, please do come along to the festival. You will note that a delegation from France will be part of the activities. One of the top wine-growers in Beaujolais will be presenting his wines which will be of interest to anyone wanting to stock up for the summer. We are especially keen to attract more overseas visitors to East Kent to benefit from the advantageous exchange rates. For more details, see http://www.doverartsfestival.org.uk/
Thanet & East Kent Insider, 24th April 2010
1. Petrol
East Kent readers who drive a car and buyers who watch company fuel prices will have noticed a sharp rise in petrol costs in recent months. At the time of writing, one litre of unleaded petrol at Asda Canterbury, Lakeside Service Station, Asda Tilbury and Shell Northfleet costs 117.9p. By contrast, a litre of unleaded from the pumps of Tesco Extra in Broadstairs costs 121.9p. Thus anyone filling a tank with 70 litres of fuel will find that it costs £2.80 more at Tesco Extra Broadstairs than at some of its competitors. In fairness to the “Every little helps” supermarket chain, enquiries by the Chamber reveal that the retailer receives very little of the selling price. The figures we have received show that a selling price of 119.9p a litre is divided as follows: duty 57.19p, product 39.85p, VAT 17.86p, retailer & delivery 5p. In case you are wondering, we have checked the addition twice and it did add up to 119.9p. Three times would have been tempting fate. It follows that if the 5p margin is raised to 7p, it produces a 40% increase to the retailer. On such small margins, it must be tempting to the petrol stations without a close competitor nearby to increase the retail price by a few extra pence. The cheapest petrol we have found in Thanet is at Ramsgate Service Station which asks for 119.9p for a litre of unleaded. At the risk of hearing readers mumur to themselves ‘grandmother’ and ‘suck eggs’, it clearly does not make sense to travel a long distance to fill up with fuel, but it probably does pay to refuel when you are going past one of the cheaper outlets.
Thanet & East Kent Insider, 17th April 2010
1. Great Opportunities for East Kent Businesses
As the Thanet & East Kent Insider reported in the edition of 14th August last year, Kent International airport at Manston is a “key driver for economic regeneration”. The study we quoted then concluded that “for every million passengers (workload units), European airports support around 2,950 jobs nationally, 2,000 jobs regionally, or 1,425 jobs sub regionally.” To benefit to the maximum from the expansion at Manston, it is important to know just what the airport owner and the airline operators are planning. The Thanet & East Kent Chamber is pleased to report that it will be hosting a business breakfast on Thursday, 20th May 2010 featuring presentations from the key senior staff at Infratil and at Flybe. Regular readers of the Insider will know that Flybe is the airline that will be starting daily flights between Edinburgh and Manston on Thursday of the following week. Given that Flybe operates more UK flights than any other company and that Infratil is looking to expand its destinations to other UK cities, the opportunitites for companies in the East Kent coastal business community are significant. Further details and how to book your place will follow in next week’s edition.
Thanet & East Kent Insider, 10th April 2010
1. Thanet Switches On
It began at 10 seconds before midday at the Marlowe Academy. The assembled group of directors, supporters and technicians was crowded into the hi-tech Studio I as the countdown began. At exactly 1200 hrs on 6th April 2010, station manager Pete Willson came on air for the launch of 107.8 Academy FM. In an uncharacteristically emotional voice, Pete welcomed listeners to Thanet’s community radio station; the ultimate professional understandably betraying his relief and joy at finally coming on air. Since director David Atkey sketched out the first plans some six years previously, turning a good idea into a fully functioning reality has not been easy. There must have been times when the former BBC producer might have wished he was back behind the scenes at Live Aid coaxing performances out of Paul McCartney, Queen and Bob Geldof as the forces of officialdom almost strangled the station at birth. Difficulties in securing the right wavelength and recent delays in reaching agreement with authorities in France and Belgium were mercifully put aside as David reviewed the best wishes pouring into the studio from across East Kent. The first on-air telephone call to Pete Willson came from the Principal of the Marlowe Academy, Ian Johnson, who had interrupted his Easter holidays to join in the celebrations. Ian was quick to point out that 107.8 Academy FM was conceived as a community resource from which all residents and students in the area can benefit. As well as staff at the Marlowe Academy, former Thanet College Chairman of Governors, Paul Trumble, and parliamentary candidate Laura Sandys have contributed considerable time and advice. Many public and private individuals have also joined East Kent’s greatest benefactor, Roger De Haan, to ensure that the station has the funds to operate until the end of the year. The Thanet & East Kent Chamber is working closely with 107.8 Academy FM on a sustainable future for Thanet’s newest media outlet and looks forward to representing the voice of business on its airways.
Thanet & East Kent Insider, 27th March 2010
1. Dreamland Has Woken Up
Last Wednesday, the Thanet & East Kent hosted a business breakfast at the Fayreness Hotel entitled “Dreamland Wakes Up”. Chamber members enjoyed an animated networking session and a cooked English breakfast served at table before the Chamber Chief Executive introduced to a full house the main speaker, Jonathan Bryant, Project Director. Any lingering doubts about the viability of the world’s first Heritage Amusement Park were quickly put to rest as Jonathan outlined the funding received to date and the rigorous business plan being formulated to ensure that the venue will be able to generate the revenue to meet its future running costs. Tracing the origins of Dreamland to a restaurant and dance hall which opened in 1863, Jonathan gave a lively account of the colourful owners to date who have included ‘Lord’ George Sanger, John Henry Iles, Billy Butlin, the Benbom Brothers and local entrepreneur, Jimmy Godden. Jonathan paid a warm tribute to the Chairman and founder of the Dreamland Trust, Nick Laister, “He knows more about seaside amusement parks than anyone else in the UK” and confirmed that a full team will be in place shortly to ensure an opening in spring 2012.
