Your Business Bulletin from Thanet & East Kent Chamber

Thanet & East Kent Insider

27^th March 2010 Issue No.: 

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. 



2. What Can Dreamland Do For Us?

Not much if you live in the Shetland Isles, but, an article in The Times on 3rd February 2003 noted, “One-fifth of all visitors to Thanet come for Dreamland”.  The decline in trade in Margate High Street owes much to the closure of Dreamland later that year. Margate may currently host the largest number of empty shops in the country and the end of Margate Harbour Arm may now be an unsightly building site, but the opening of the Turner Contemporary Gallery next year and the new Dreamland around twelve months later is going to bring serious trade to Margate retailers. There is no doubt that investors who have ignored Thanet’s coastal towns in the past are now showing a lively interest in the still relatively modest property prices. Suddenly the realisation that that cramped studio flat in Kensington could fund an office block in Margate and still leave enough left over for holiday flat and a lifetime membership of the local Golf Club does not look so dumb. As one local developer said in a telephone call to the Chamber, “There are a lot of personalised number plates driving around Margate at the weekends.”



3. Will the new Dreamland be like the old one?

The simple answer is ‘No’. The new amusement park will cover around half of the Dreamland site, the other half is scheduled for private sector development. The scenic railway is one of the prized treasures and will be restored to operations. The Dreamland Trust has already acquired many of the former attractions and has recently purchased a big wheel. Jonathan welcomes new ideas but he is keen for the new Dreamland to be attractive to families and tourists of all ages and not to be characterized as a museum of past attractions. Key to the right creative dynamism will be the design, colour schemes, concessions and catering available on site. Above all, Jonathan wants to ensure that “all visitors have a fun day out”. In questions afterwards, amusement was the order of the day when Jonathan said that he did not think a McDonald’s outlet would be appropriate for the site. The next question came from Paul Crocker, manager of five McDonald’s restaurants in Kent and a raging success at all of them.  Chamber member Paul has more reason than most to complain. In fact, like all retailers present, Paul is delighted at the resurgence of Margate’s premier tourist venue and is probably already ordering an increase in supplies in anticipation of increased business.  Given Paul’s long-standing support to the community and Jonathan’s keen interest in securing a sound commercial model, the Thanet & East Kent Insider suspects that cooperation is not impossible. After all, McDonald’s UK describes Paul as one of its most successful franchisees, “He does this by getting out into the community, and seizing every opportunity there is to sponsor events and distribute vouchers so that people have an incentive to visit.” See http://www.mcdonalds.co.uk/about-us/franchise/case-study.shtml Well, Jonathan did ask for ideas.



4. Calling Hotels & Restaurants

Following the success of the previous Thanet & East Kent Chamber Forum meetings on Property, IT, Consultants, Grants and Training, the Chamber Hotels & Restaurants Forum will take place on Wednesday 28th April 2010 at 1500 hrs at the Chamber HQ at the Kent Innovation Centre, Broadstairs.  The forum will be an informal gathering of like-minded professionals interested in sharing best practice and promoting business-to-business exchanges. Beginning with a short presentation on measures to boost income and reduce costs, delegates will be encouraged to promote business-to-business exchanges and find useful links to support their sales and marketing campaigns. Of interest to anyone with a management responsibility in the hospitality sector, the forum is open to registered members of the Thanet & East Kent Chamber and their associates. There is a nominal charge of £5.00 for Chamber members and £15.00 for non-members payable on arrival which covers room hire, tea, coffee, biscuits and administration. To register, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the subject line “Chamber Hotel & Restaurants Form”.



5. Easter By The Sea

The Thanet Coast Project is organizing a series of Easter events along the East Kent coast. These include the celebrated Roc Dock Walk from Kingsgate at 1100 hrs on Easter Monday, Surfing Lessons, Easter Egg Hunts, Storytelling Walks and Clean Up initiatives when children can get themselves dirty and parents are not allowed to complain. All the aforementioned are free. At cost is the Sea Safaris Easter Special for just £12.00;  landlubbers are taken by boat to the Kent’s largest National Nature Reserve at Sandwich and Pegwell Bay with a good chance of seeing seals and local wildlife.  A great programme for all the family. For details, contact Tony, Suzie or Rebecca at the Thanet Coast Project by telephone to 01843 577672 or 01843 577409 or by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. As this Chamber is always saying, “It’s happening now, it’s happening in Thanet & East Kent”.



6. Campaign To Keep It Unique

Fresh from its brief encounter with Gary Lineker, Frank Lampard, Jenson Button Pamela Anderson, and Marco Pierre White, see the Thanet & East Kent Insider of 13th March 2010, Sandwich is already preparing itself for an influx of visitors for the world’s premier golf tournament due to take place from 15th July next year. Curiously, the website “Golfing in Kent” appears to have renamed The Open Championship as The British Open. The Thanet & East Kent Insider has always considered that one of the Unique Selling Points of our championship is that it was the first and is therefore entitled to be billed without a national epithet. The same distinction is enjoyed by our stamps which uniquely in the world do not state the country of origin. Will Golfing in Kent based in Rochester be campaigning with the Post Office to redesign our stamps? We should be told. See http://www.golfinginkent.co.uk/



7. Grab The Money Before Someone Else Does

It may come as a surprise to some readers of the Thanet & East Kent Insider that Scottish bank notes are not legal tender in England. In Scotland, English bank notes are not legal tender and, curiously, neither are Scottish bank notes. This is an anomaly that does not seem to worry most people unduly. After all, legal tender has a narrow technical meaning and parties to a transaction are free to agree to accept any form of payment. A debtor cannot be sued successfully for non-payment when paying into court in legal tender, but the exact amount should be offered as there is no requirement to give change. For the technically minded and those who like going to pub quizzes and never seem to win anything, here are the legal tender amounts in England and Wales.

If any Chamber member is considering refusing service to a customer paying with genuine Scottish bank notes, be advised that there is probably a competitor around the corner only too willing to accept them and who is at liberty to exchange them at full value at a bank or post office. If any readers feel they have problems with excessive amounts of Scottish bank notes, the Thanet & East Kent Chamber would be pleased to relieve them of the anxiety.



8. The More You Practise, The Luckier You Get

If you are one of those golfers, like the editor of these columns, who has no difficulty hitting the woods, the problem is getting the ball out of them, you will appreciate the value of regular practice at Stoneless Golf Centre, tel: 01843 823133. A new clubhouse due to open in the first week of April and a new function room to follow in July are evidence of the success of Stonelees in attracting new members to the club located in Ebbsfleet Lane, Ramsgate.  Suzannah and Rob Chapman are offering annual membership fees in three categories; Birdie at £460, Eagle at £500 and Albatross at £550. All of them allow playing on seven days a week on one or more of the three courses. Included in the fees are discounts on the driving range and simulator and a £25 voucher for the bar; a useful refuge where you can explain your excuses to your playing partners for spending so much time looking for your ball in the woods.



9. London To Paris

Rob Evans of Boys & Maughan Solicitors is planning a sponsored bike ride from London to Paris. Go for it Rob. May you have good weather and a following wind. Raising awareness of testicular and prostate cancer can only be good, especially for cyclists. We hope that the terms and conditions of his ride from London to Paris also allow him to return. If not, we are sure that he knows a good lawyer. Rob will be passing by the site of the Battle of Crécy in 1346; widely viewed as the punch up with the French that represented the final flourish of classic chivalry, we trust that when he returns, he will still be as polite and good-mannered as before. If not, we will have to say to him “On yer bike”. We wish Rob all the best.



10. Dover Port Privatisation

As noted in some detail in the Thanet & East Kent Insider of 6 March 2010, the Port of Dover is giving serious consideration to changing its status from a trust port to a private company. This has significant implications for the Port of Ramsgate which is under public ownership and would benefit from new capital investment. In liaison with our associates at the Dover District Chamber of Commerce, we have forwarded a submission to the Secretary of State, Lord Adonis. The three-page commentary follows extensive consultations with companies in the East Kent coastal business community. We have also discussed the substantive issues with clubs, voluntary groups, democratically elected public bodies and our own Chamber Port Advisory Group. We have encouraged detailed representations that are SMART, i.e. Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound. Readers might be interested to know that the scale of the development proposed requires a Harbour Revision Order that is decided by the Secretary of State and not the local planning authority. Thus we have an obligation to give particular attention to the infrastructure surrounding Dover and the effect on our roads and lay-bys throughout East Kent. Any interruptions in service at Dover Ferry Port produce unacceptable delays to domestic commercial vehicles on an already inadequate road network. Anyone who has had their journey interrupted through Operation Stack will also share the concern of East Kent local authorities and the Port of Dover itself that the 10,000 lorries per day that pass through Dover require adequate overnight parking facilities which currently do not exist. To receive your copy of the Chamber’s final submission, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the subject line “Dover Privatisation Submission”.



11. Academy FM 107.8

With all the inward investment coming to Thanet from windfarms, the airport, the Turner Contemporary and a new Dreamland, you might think that Thanet deserves its own radio station.  You are quite right and now it has got one.  Academy FM will hit the airwaves with full force at 1200 hrs on Monday 5th April 2010. The driving force behind the non-profit making community station is David Atkey, Project and Operations Director and former BBC Radio One Executive Producer. David promises “an entertaining mix of music and discussion”. The Thanet & East Kent Chamber looks forward to providing the voice of business and will be taking a full part in supporting the Academy FM team both in their studios at the Marlowe Academy and in the outside broadcasts around the Isle of Thanet. Station Manager, Pete Willson, has enjoyed a stellar career at KMFM, Maidstone Radio and Invicta FM and will be bringing that local experience to bear as he hosts the 0700 – 1000 hrs Academy FM breakfast show. This will feature a guest for the “In the Armchair” interview as well as regular updates on travel, sport, local and national news. It’s happening now, it’s happening in Thanet and East Kent.



12. Easter News Break

As last year, the Thanet & East Kent Insider will be taking an Easter break next week. We will be returning on 10th April 2010 with more support for our sponsors and three additional new ones. We thank all correspondents for their input and especially the comment that “It is about time you improved the lay-out”. We agree and we will, but we will enjoy our Easter Eggs first.



13. Tiger Woods Returns

Regular readers will know that this Chamber is promoting links with Edinburgh in preparation for the launch of the Flybe flights from Kent International Airport at Manston. Our international contacts extend across the Atlantic, as the following golfing story from Georgia shows. In preparation for the Masters Championship and his rehabilitation into the public eye, Tiger Woods allegedly asked veteran golfer Arnold Palmer to accompany him on a round at the famous Augusta National Golf Club course where the great Arnie had won four times. When Tiger’s ball landed behind a 90 ft fir tree, he turned to Arnie and said, “Now what?” Arnie replied, “When this happened to me in 1964, I just blasted it over the tree and went on to win the tournament by six shots.” Tiger duly took out his favourite sand iron and hit the ball as high as he possibly could. The ball hit the tree smartly with a resounding THWACK and returned to land neatly at his feet. Disappointed beyond measure, Tiger turned to Arnie and said, “Look, how on earth did you manage to clear that tree?” “Easy”, said Arnie, “You see forty-six years ago that tree was only four foot high.”



14. Our Sponsors

The Thanet & East Kent Insider is grateful for the support and sponsorship provided by Girlings, Express By Holiday Inn and Adecco. Girlings Solicitors has been managing the managing the legal affairs of commercial and private clients for over a century. Twenty-six partners and one hundred and twenty members of staff ensure a comprehensive range of services from the local offices in Ashford, Canterbury, Folkestone, Herne Bay and Margate. Offices in France and Spain complement specialist departments for charities, individuals and companies. For details, telephone 01843 220274. Express By Holiday took on the daunting task of restoring the former Prospect Inn at Minster. The result is a spectacular hotel that combines the best of Oliver Hill’s 1930s design with ultra modern facilities and technological support. Conveniently located for business guests and holiday makers in East Kent, the meeting rooms and 105 bedrooms are available at competitive prices throughout the year. For details, telephone 01843 820250. Adecco is the world’ s largest HR solutions company offering a comprehensive service of temporary and contract staffing, permanent recruitment, outsourcing, outplacement, career services, training and consulting. Officially designated as a 2009 British Superbrand, Adecco is represented in Thanet and Dover by its Broadstairs office, tel: 01843 609292.

Your Business Bulletin from Thanet & East Kent Chamber

Thanet & East Kent Insider

10^th April 2010 Issue No.: 

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.



2. Who Will Listen to 107.8 Academy FM?

In the successful application to Ofcom of 14 November 2008, the mission statement of Academy FM was defined as aiming to “unite, support, involve and serve the Thanet community, to promote social gain and broaden listener choice”. Later in the application we learn that “radio is a one to one medium, where we talk to our listeners, not at them” which might be news to Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand, but seems sensible enough to the rest of us. A lively mix of music, news, sport, phone-ins, discussions and ‘in the armchair’ interviews should ensure that locals receive an attractive blend of information and entertainment to keep them interested around the clock. Sure to tune in are the signatories to the original application. Joining the Thanet & East Chamber and the aforementioned supporters in 2008 were names familiar to the East Kent coastal business community including  Cllr Steve Ward of Ramsgate,  Barry Coppock of Wantsum Savers, Keith Morris of Thanet Community Development Trust, Richard Samuel of Thanet District Council,  Chief Inspector Mark Nottage and Sergeant Sue Groombridge of the local police, Penny Dadds of Margate Jobcentre, Roger Gale MP, Dr Stephen Ladyman MP, Sue Buss of Thanet College, Cllr  Margaret Sheldrick of Birchington, Bernadette Whitlock of Thanet District Citizens Advice Bureau,  Jan Askew of East Kent Coastal NHS,  Frances Rehal of SureStart, Susan Priest of SEEDA and Andy Somers of Hartsdown College.



3. Hotels, Restaurants and The Open 2011

The Chamber Hotels & Restaurants Forum scheduled to take place on Wednesday 28th April 2010 at 1500 hrs at the Chamber HQ at the Kent Innovation Centre, Broadstairs will feature a short presentation from our associates at Dover District Council (DCC) on the opportunities for boosting business when the Open Championship returns to Sandwich in 2011. DDC has acquired an enviable reputation for supporting retailers in the district and its officers are keen to maximise the income for East Kent businesses from the moneyed visitors expected in July next year. Hotels and restaurants in the East Kent coastal business community can get ahead of the game by joining this informal gathering of like-minded professionals interested in sharing best practice and promoting business-to-business exchanges. Delegates will also be encouraged to promote business-to-business exchanges and find useful links to support their sales and marketing campaigns. Of interest to anyone with management responsibility in the hospitality sector, the forum is open to registered members of the Thanet & East Kent Chamber and the Dover District Chamber of Commerce and their associates. There is a nominal charge of £5.00 for Chamber members and £15.00 for non-members payable on arrival which covers room hire, tea, coffee, biscuits and administration. To register, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the subject line “Chamber Hotel & Restaurants Form”.



4. Thanet Business Exhibition

Businesses of all sizes are invited to attend the Thanet Business Exhibition on 11 June 2010 at G Casino Westwood Cross. Stands are available at prices from £160.00. Companies looking to boost their sales in East Kent are invited to contact organiser, Graham Rayner, tel: 078998 73535 for details. For booking forms email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the subject line “Thanet Business Exhibition”.



5. Port Privatisation Lunch

As noted in previous editions, the Port of Dover has presented privatisation proposals to the Secretary of State for Transport with a view to securing £400m of investment to build a new cruise terminal, a £30m marina and improvements to access roads. Around 14m passengers pass through the port each year as well as 100,000 coaches and 2.3m HGVs. The inadequacies of the road infrastructure bring misery to East Kent businesses and local residents every time severe weather or industrial action blocks the port. Operation Stack means No Operations for many businesses and unacceptable delays for all of us. With our associates at the Dover District Chamber of Commerce we are working with the Port of Dover to find a solution, see page 13 of “Our Plan for the Next Generation; Ferry Terminal 2” at http://www.doverport.co.uk/?page=PortDevelopment    We make no comment on the political aspects of privatisation, but we do agree that all serious traffic projections forecast increases in vehicles at the port and a remedy must be found. Keen to work with the two main business support organisations in the East Kent coastal business community, the Dover Harbour Board Chief Executive, Dr Bob Goldfield will be giving a briefing exclusively to Chamber members at lunchtime on Friday 30th April 2010. For details, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the subject line “Dover Port Lunch”. For a free copy of this Chamber’s three-page submission to the Secretary of State, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the subject line “Dover Privatisation Submission”.



6. Turner Contemporary Business Breakfast

Oh yes it has. Oh no it hasn’t. The pantomime approach may have been a feature once of the Turner Contemporary gallery as locals wondered if this project was ever going to start. Understandably, a certain scepticism greeted the news that the funding had been secured and a world-class gallery was going to be built on terra firma in Margate, better known for its amusement arcades, Dreamland (see the Thanet & East Kent Insider of 27 March 2010) and tasty seafood at the end of the Harbour Arm. As Frankie Howerd used to say, ‘Titter ye not”. Not only is the David Chipperfield designed building a reality, but the builders are already securing the roof. Gross Max Landscape Architects and David Chipperfield Architects are now turning their attention to the design of the external landscape. The project is on course to open to the public in Spring 2011. On 11 May 2010, Paul Gray, the charismatic Head of Operations and Resources Operations at the Turner Contemporary, will be presenting the latest developments at a business breakfast arranged exclusively for the Thanet & East Kent Chamber but open to all. Of interest to every local business, Paul’s talk will outline the role of this iconic building in helping the East Kent coastal business community grow and flourish; he should know as he used to work at Kew Gardens.



7. Chamber Golf Day

The East Kent coastal business community’s biggest golf tournament will take place at the Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club on 8 October 2010. Originally featuring a team contest between the Thanet & East Kent Chamber and the Dover District Chambers of Commerce, the tournament has now grown to include eight competitions and is attracting interest from overseas companies. Tournament director, Justin Bishop, is confident that the growth of recent years will continue. Prizes on offer include a new car. Bookings are already ahead of last year and any companies wishing to enter a team of four players are asked to email as soon as possible our events team at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  with the subject line “Chamber Golf Day”.



8. Travel & Leisure Show

On Sunday 28th March the third KOS Media Travel & Leisure Show took place at Dover Cruise Terminal and attracted a steady stream of trade and private visitors. The recent boom in cruise holidays was reflected in the interest shown in cruise ships calling at Dover. The last annual report of the Port of Dover revealed a 9.1% increase in cruise ships but a 28.9% rise in revenue; a staggering increase in a recessionary trading environment.  Retailers throughout East Kent would clearly benefit from attracting more independent cruise ship passengers to their sales counters. Visitors to the Travel & Leisure Show had to pass a beautifully presented brand new coach belonging to Carol Peters Travel which offers extended leg room and full facilities. Managing Director, Peter Howe, is keen to build on recent successes and, like many Thanet & East Kent Chamber members, has full confidence in the economic future of East Kent. Tight cost control and a heavy emphasis on customer service allow this company to compete on price and still invest nearly £250,000 in each new coach. An enterprising approach was also the order of the day from the Powell Cotton Museum, Quex House & Gardens, tel: 1843 842168, which provided a presentation featuring characters in full Victorian dress distributing own-brand potato crisps and an inspiring talk from a reincarnation of Major Percy Horace Gordon Powell-Cotton (1866-1940).   The museum has a first-class reputation overseas and yet mysteriously there are still residents of East Kent who have never been there.  Feeling guilty? Telephone 01843 842168 for details. Kent International Airport at Manston had one of the busiest stands as visitors queued for information on the new low cost Flybe flights to Edinburgh starting on 27 May this year. Booking well in advance at www.Flybe.com secures the best prices.  In summary, Liz Hare and her team at KOS Media made a great success of the third Travel & Leisure show which has now become a firm feature in the travel sector’s marketing calendar. If you have a crush on a cruise, give a call to Chamber member “That’s My Cruise”, tel: 0800 028 9754. Vincent or Sandra will be pleased to help.



9. Chamber Diary Dates

It’s happening now, it’s happening in Thanet & East Kent.



10. We are Wonderful …Yuk

The Thanet & East Kent Chamber receives many unsolicited corporate magazines from national companies in London and the big cities anxious to inform us how wonderful they are. Perhaps some of them are, but the text is often obscure and the images even more so. Pictures of one inebriated member of staff in evening dress at a Manchester hotel presenting another member of staff with an award does not make for the most riveting story nor necessarily inspire the reader to purchase the products or services being promoted. There is a threshold of acceptability regarding self-promotion which ends at the first line of text that states ‘We are wonderful’ or similar. Also, equanimity and metal health are not enhanced by a constant stream of advertising telling us that we are too fat, too unfashionable and do not smell right. How much more enlightening it is then for others to blow your trumpet so that you can just sit back and enjoy the music. Excessive modesty and an overriding duty to promote the corporate interests of our members prevents the Thanet & East Kent Chamber from singing its own praises, but we are happy for others to comment, as the selection of unsolicited correspondence at item 11 below shows.



11. Voice of Readers

‘As ever a great newsletter’ Thanet District Council; ‘Fantastic weekly newsletter’ Royal Harbour Hotel; ‘Class as ever!’ Ramsgate Estates; ‘Always a good read’ Barclays Corporate; ‘Great newsletter as always. Not being a local yokel myself I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Elvis yet – I don’t think!’ Big Solutions Ltd; ‘I always read with interest as I find them so informative of what is going on in Thanet and, as in this case, the UK’ Harrington Associates; ‘We have become avid readers of the TEKC updates, we must congratulate you on such a well written and informative newsletter. I read very little unless I have to, so this is a true accolade!’ Lavender Blue Media Ltd. ‘Excellent news. Really good!’ KM Group; ‘Excellent work’ CARISS; ‘An excellent mix of valuable information and amusing chat. Very readable. Well done and best wishes to you and your team.’ Start Anywhere; ‘Just a quick thank you for these informative - and often entertaining! – newsletters’ Canterbury Christ Church University; ‘First off, I just wanted to say how enjoyable I find your newsletter.  I receive a number of Chamber newsletters around the Kent area weekly and monthly and by far, yours is the most informative, well-written and entertaining.  The small snippets are easy to digest, to the point, and often make me chuckle and it is the only one I read in its entirety every week.’ 5 Star Computer Systems Ltd; ‘It’s great to have someone making connections.’ Margate Harbour Arm; ‘Just to say how much I enjoyed the presentation yesterday. Really well organised- great speakers and a great opportunity for the people of Thanet to ‘grasp.’ Barclays Business Banking; ‘Congratulations on the Breakfast Meeting, I’m blown away by the quality of the last two Breakfast Meetings.” Mach Associates. The only official comment that the Chamber can make is that it is comforting to know that we are blessed with readers of such perspicacity and objective judgment.



12. That’s Nothing

Item 10 refers to the perils of bragging to potential clients. There is always a risk in such instances that you expose your weaknesses so that a competitor will appear promoting a bigger, better, cheaper product. Of course, your competitor may not always be telling the truth. One Chamber member in the timber trade has sent us this anecdote. You must judge for yourself if it is entirely reliable. Three tree surgeons were sitting at a bar in Maidstone bragging about the prowess of their ancestors who had all been lumberjacks. One said, “My great grandfather lived in Sherwood Forest and could move an axe so fast that in one month he felled 250 trees.” “That’s nothing”, said his fellow professional on the next bar stool, “My great, great grandfather lived in the Canadian wilderness and was so strong that in one month he felled 250 trees, chopped them up into bundles of firewood and delivered them to the homes of needy pensioners throughout British Colombia. The third tree surgeon, a slim 75 year-old, had sat on his bar stool in dignified silence throughout this but finally volunteered, “My great, great, great ….. grandfather lived in the Sahara Forest and…” He got no further as he was interrupted with, “Surely you mean the Sahara Desert?” To which he replied, “Oh sure, it’s called the Sahara Desert now.”  



13. Our Sponsors

The Thanet & East Kent Insider is grateful for the support and sponsorship provided by Girlings, Express By Holiday Inn and Adecco. Girlings Solicitors has been managing the managing the legal affairs of commercial and private clients for over a century. Twenty-six partners and one hundred and twenty members of staff ensure a comprehensive range of services from the local offices in Ashford, Canterbury, Folkestone, Herne Bay and Margate. Offices in France and Spain complement specialist departments for charities, individuals and companies. For details, telephone 01843 220274. Express By Holiday took on the daunting task of restoring the former Prospect Inn at Minster. The result is a spectacular hotel that combines the best of Oliver Hill’s 1930s design with ultra modern facilities and technological support. Conveniently located for business guests and holiday makers in East Kent, the meeting rooms and 105 bedrooms are available at competitive prices throughout the year. For details, telephone 01843 820250. Adecco is the world’ s largest HR solutions company offering a comprehensive service of temporary and contract staffing, permanent recruitment, outsourcing, outplacement, career services, training and consulting. Officially designated as a 2009 British Superbrand, Adecco is represented in Thanet and Dover by its Broadstairs office, tel: 01843 609292.

Your Business Bulletin from Thanet & East Kent Chamber

Thanet & East Kent Insider

24^th April 2010 Issue No.: 

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.



2. News From Dover

Plans are moving ahead for the Cable Car linking Dover Seafront with Dover Castle. Following some positive meetings with the English Heritage Advisory Site Committee, the project has reached an advanced stage with the promise of significant benefits for retailers in the town. Dover District Council and Dover Town Council enjoy excellent relations with our sister Chamber at the Dover District Chamber of Commerce. Recent initiatives include the establishment of a Dover Business Support office in the town centre, plans for a Saturday market and support to inward investors. Both Dover District Council and Dover Town Council provide a first-class example of how local councils can work with the established Chamber of Commerce.



3. Blue Flags

Among the glories of Thanet are the beaches which stand comparison with any in the UK. Seven beaches received the Blue Flag in 2009, Minnis Bay, St. Mildred’s Bay Westgate, West Bay Westgate, Walpole Bay Margate, Botany Bay Broadstairs, Joss Bay Broadstairs and Ramsgate Main Sands. The Blue Flag system is administered in England by Keep Britain Tidy and in Europe by the Foundation for Environmental Education. It provides a powerful incentive to beach managers and councils. It is officially described as “a prestigious, international award scheme which acts as a guarantee to tourists that a beach or marina they are visiting is one of the best in the world”. A Blue Flag is given to “coastal destinations which have achieved the highest quality in water, facilities, safety, environmental education and management.” The 2010 winners are expected to be announced in May this year. The Thanet & East Kent Insider will keep readers informed of the results.



4. Reducing Costs

The Thanet & East Kent Chamber focuses much of our efforts on reducing operating costs for members. Sometimes this consists of helping to secure grants for new machinery, offering representation to minimize business rates or simply assisting members with cash flow issues such as unpaid invoices. We are always pleased to welcome initiatives that decrease expense and increase revenue. With this in mind, we welcome Auditel into our membership. This company offers a business health check using the resources of the largest cost management consultancy in the country. Manager, Jeremy Bailey, is keen not just to cut costs as to produce a single cash input to your business, but to manage those costs in the long term. As he put it in a recent email to the Chamber, “I review their costs, profile their spending patterns against similar sized companies in the same verticals and provide them with a detailed report against which they can make informed decisions about how they can get the best value for money. All without any upfront costs. We work purely on a contingency basis and ask only to share in any savings that we actually deliver.” Seems too good to be true? Give Jeremy a call and see what he can do for you. Details from Jeremy Bailey, Auditel, Cost Management Consultant tel: 01843 588776  or 07990 561616.



5. Quex Adding Value

The Powell-Cotton Museum, Quex House and Gardens are home to some thriving local businesses including, Jungle Jims Family Entertainment Centre and the Hannah Dining Suite. Around 3000 tons of potatoes are grown on the estate and supplied to a local supermarket chain with obvious benefits in terms of cost and freshness. Quex is also now producing its own bottled rapeseed oil. Managing Director Anthony Curwen is particularly keen to serve the local market with home grown produce. Key to the growth of Quex’s food products is the relationship with Thanet College catering department which has elected to use Quex Rapeseed Oil in its restaurants and in projects with students. This is another example of Thanet College using its international expertise for the benefit of local companies, justifying Quex Park’s Karen Botha’s claim of Thanet College as “a perfect partner”.  We need hardly add that both organisations are members of the Thanet & East Kent Chamber and maintain close ties with the East Kent coastal business community.



6. Events Summary

Booking is essential for the following Chamber events which have all been designed to help members increase turnover, reduce costs and provide friendly business-to-business networking opportunities :

7. Slogans

Item 1 on petrol prices does raise the question of the value of slogans. In an article for the BBC a few years ago, Cobra Beer’s Marketing Director, Simon Edwards, described Tesco’s catchy phrase “Every little helps” as “It includes a promise but also gets across what the company is about and gives an indication of its character". Tesco may not be helping East Kent motorists much, but the City and shareholders have no reason to complain. Yesterday’s share price of £4.51 shows a rise of 94p from this time last year when it stood at £3.57. 



8. More About Catch Phrases

Where would Bruce Forsyth be without “Nice to see you, to see you nice”, “Give us a twirl”, “good game, good game” and more recently “You’re my favourites”. The comforting familiarity of brand recognition is a key factor in marketing and one that has been fully exploited by Carlsberg’s “Probably the best .... in the world” slogan created by Saatchi and Saatchi in 1973. Does your business have a catch phrase? Some have embedded themselves in our national consciousness such as the British Army’s “Be The Best” from 1994. McDonald’s “I’m Lovin’ It” was launched in Germany in 2003 by Heye & Partner as “Ich Liebe Es” with a song added later for the UK version featuring Justin Timberlake. Some companies have succumbed to public pressure to change their slogans. In 2004, L’Oréal famously ditched “Because I’m worth it” for a less materialistic “Because you’re worth it”, neither of which seems to carry any great message for saving the planet. Lovelys Gallery in Cliftonville, tel 01843 292757, reminds visitors to its shop and website that it has won the award of “Art Retailer of the Year”, a prestigious accolade that puts this quality establishment  ahead of all its competitors which will be no surprise to any customers to its premises in Northdown Road. Silent Gliss, tel: 01843 863571, a truly world-class manufacturer in Broadstairs, introduced its unique system of panel glides earlier this year as “New Inspirations” and “Effortless Movement” which sum up its classy approach as the leading global supplier of motorised and manual curtain and blind systems to the high end market. Twin Towers Trading, tel: 01843 232346, knows a thing or two about the power of slogans to promote a product. With a worldwide client base, this company markets The World’s Sharpest Knife, The Great Wok of China and, intriguingly, The Euro Chopper which is currently not available in New Zealand and nor should it be; western Europe is underpopulated as it is. Twin Towers trading has a remarkable range of skincare products jewellery and useful gadgets for the kitchen. Sometimes a simple descriptive phrase is enough. WW Martin, tel: 01843 591 584, is one of the South East’s most successful construction companies. With an order book that includes a £1 million contract to build offices and welfare units for Thanet Offshore Windfarm, WW Martin has hundreds of satisfied customers throughout the private and public sectors which more than justifies its claim to be “Working in close partnership with clients to ensure high quality buildings on time and within budget”.  Doing what you promise to do is of course, the best advertisement there is, or as Ronseal first put it in 1994, “It does exactly what it says on the tin”. Even Bruce Forsyth couldn’t beat that one.



9. Fanatic

Next Wednesday’s Hotel & Restaurants Forum will include a briefing on the opportunities for businesses arising from the Open Championship in July 2011. One Chamber member has contacted the Thanet & East Kent Insider with his own account of the fanatical devotion that some sports inspire. According to Mr X of Lakeside Business Park, a colleague of his was once stranded for eight years on a remote Pacific island with just sufficient food and water to sustain life: well, that’s the way he tells it, anyway. No television, no family, no general election and no Bruce Forsyth. While strolling along the beach one morning, our latter-day Robinson Crusoe was surprised by an astoundingly beautiful woman emerging from the surf in a full wetsuit. As she removed her face mask, her lovely blond hair tumbled onto her rubber-clad shoulders. In a soft voice she said, “How long is it since you had a real drink?” “Eight years”, our friend mumbled. The vision in black unzipped a pocket on the right of her wet suit and handed over a bottle of single malt whisky which he immediately opened and took a long gulp with supreme satisfaction. “And how long, is it”, she continued, “since you had a good smoke?”. “Eight years”, our friend blurted out, almost completely mesmerised. The angel from the deep unzipped a pocket on the left of her wet suit and took out a perfectly preserved Cohiba Siglo VI Havanna cigar from Hunters & Frankau which the island’s sole resident accepted with grateful thanks. Then, with one hand on the zip that ran down the centre of her wet suit, the blond lovely said, “And have you had any fun at all on the island?” Our man could not contain himself any longer and shouted, “My God. I can’t believe it. Don’t tell me you’ve got some golf clubs in there as well?”

10. Our Sponsors

Girlings Solicitors has been managing the managing the legal affairs of commercial and private clients for over a century. Twenty-six partners and one hundred and twenty members of staff ensure a comprehensive range of services from the local offices in Ashford, Canterbury, Folkestone, Herne Bay and Margate. Offices in France and Spain complement specialist departments for charities, individuals and companies. For details, telephone 01843 220274. Express By Holiday Inn took on the daunting task of restoring the former Prospect Inn at Minster. The result is a spectacular hotel that combines the best of Oliver Hill’s 1930s design with ultra modern facilities and technological support. Conveniently located for business guests and holiday makers in East Kent, the meeting rooms and 105 bedrooms are available at competitive prices throughout the year. For details, telephone 01843 820250. Adecco is the world’ s largest HR solutions company offering a comprehensive service of temporary and contract staffing, permanent recruitment, outsourcing, outplacement, career services, training and consulting. Officially designated as a 2009 British Superbrand, Adecco is represented in Thanet and Dover by its Broadstairs office, tel: 01843 609292. CARISS design, install and support education and business computing systems as East Kent’s leading specialist company in Open Source Software.  To lower your carbon footprint, reduce your power consumption and adopt a thin client system, call CARISS, tel: 01843 823724. Mach Associates are the high-fliers in providing Internet technologies and specialist software solutions with a particular expertise in servicing the travel industry. A Microsoft Gold Certified Partner and with ISO9001 accreditation, Mach Associates also offers reduces telecom operating cost through VOIP/PBX phone systems. tel: 0870 321 9986. Sota Connect offers a comprehensive IT service covering best-value voice, data and Internet services for companies of all sizes as well as public sector organisations. The company operates two state-of-the-art data centres of over 10,000sq ft. Sota Connect owns and operates a unique 200km fibre network from London to Ramsgate with high bandwidth Internet access giving superfast Internet connections, tel: 0800 072 2420.

Your Business Bulletin from Thanet & East Kent Chamber

Thanet & East Kent Insider

8^th May 2010 Issue No.: 

1. Get a share of £80 Million

Companies in Scotland compete for a share of the £80 million dividend that results from the activities of Glasgow Prestwick Airport and that must be one of the ambitions of companies near Kent International Airport at Manston. To find out about the opportunities for your business, book a place at the business breakfast, “Kent International Airport; The Future” scheduled for 0730 hrs on 20th May 2010 in the departure lounge at Manston. Airport owners, Infratil will be joined by Flybe to give a briefing on the opportunities for local businesses and the projected rise in passengers and freight numbers. Flybe’s daily flights to Edinburgh begin exactly one week later. Booking is essential to secure your place at this popular event. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the subject line “Airport Networking Breakfast” Prices: £12.00 for members, £15.00 for non-members, includes breakfast with a vegetarian option.



2. What’s All This About Infratil?

Infratil is the New Zealand-based company that owns Kent International Airport at Manston. There are many misconceptions about this company, due no doubt in part to a confusion with previous owners of the airport. For all its sterling support for British business and fair play, even the Daily Telegraph can get its facts wrong, see http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/7657908/Romney-Marsh-and-keeping-the-Lydd-on-aviation-pressures.html The latest Infratil company report states, “From its listing in April 1994 to 31 March 2009 Infratil’s average after tax compound return to shareholders has been 18% per annum.” In the opinion of the Thanet & East Kent Insider, the strength of the company stems from two factors. Firstly, it is fully committed to a long term view. As the Chairman and Chief Executive put it, “Long-term investments tend to offer the best returns because more distant and uncertain rewards are generally not factored into the entry price and there is the ability to deliver compound returns by investing in growth.” But there is also the fact that the company has invested in a portfolio which encompasses renewable energy, the Australian energy market and urban mobility as well as air travel. Increasing demand in all these sectors suggests a solid basis for measured expansion as markets recover from the recession.



3. What’s Glasgow Got To Do With Manston?

Infratil owns Glasgow Prestwick Airport. We know from a recent report by SQW Consulting that over half the companies consulted in Ayrshire consider that Glasgow Prestwick makes an important contribution to their business. Tourism from the airport boosted 29% of the firms in the survey. It is interesting to note that over one fifth of companies quoted make sales direct to the airport. We estimate that 580,000 passengers visited Scotland through Glasgow Prestwick in 2006/7 and their expenditure amounted to £173 million which is equivalent to 4% of the total tourism spend in Scotland. The local economy received £40 million. The total added value to Ayrshire is calculated at £48 million with the airport supporting 1,733 jobs in the county and a total of 2,941 jobs in Scotland. Unemployment in Thanet currently stands at 6% of the workforce. It is not necessary to be an economist to assess the benefits to the East Kent coastal business community from a successful airport in the heart of Thanet.



4. Why Flybe?

Flybe was founded in 1979 as Jersey European. Walkersteel Group, familiar to fans of Blackburn Rovers, took over the company in 1983. In 2000, the company started trading as British European before changing the name to Flybe in 2002. In 2007, Flybe acquired BA Connect. Through an employee share scheme, British Airways has a 15% shareholding. The winner of many awards such as Most Recommended UK Low Fares Airline 2003 from Holiday Which and Air Transport World Regional Airline of the Year 2009, Flybe has now grown to serve 38 UK airports, more than any other airline. There are major Flybe bases at Aberdeen, Birmingham, Belfast City, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow. Guernsey. Inverness, Isle of Man, Jersey, London Gatwick. Manchester. Newcastle and Southampton, This is a useful factor to consider if you are looking for connecting domestic or international flights. Flybe will begin daily services from Kent International Airport at Manston to Edinburgh on 27th May 2010. Anyone who is thinking of letting the train take the strain might like to take into account the strain of paying £158.50 for a train leaving Margate at 0644 hours which arrives in Edinburgh 7 hours later. If you book sufficiently in advance, Flybe can get you to Edinburgh from Manston in 80 minutes for £24.99. Even the Greek Minister of Finance would not find that a difficult choice to make.



5. Arts Festival

Dover Arts Festival is now hitting the headlines in regional and national papers. Lovers of fine art, music, wine and patisserie will find plenty to appreciate on 15th May 2010 at Dover College. Thanet & East Kent Chamber members Cloudberry and Lovelys Gallery are among the quality exhibitors. More information can be found at www.doverartsfestival.org.uk where you can click on the titles art, music, wine & food, war memorial and sponsors for details.



6. Comments on Core Data

Last week’s edition of the Thanet & East Kent Insider reported on unemployment. This week we feature some core data on the district of Thanet. Some people take great pleasure in reading statistics of this type. You can bet that some readers of the Thanet & East Kent Insider, in fact maybe even both of them, will be at this moment salivating at the prospect of discovering the latest figures on Median Gross Weekly Pay By Residence. Nevertheless, there is a serious point to all this. The difference in pay between those who live and work in Thanet and those who live in Thanet and work elsewhere can be interpreted in two ways. A company owner in Thanet might consider that he will pay his worker on average £48.50 less per week than his competitor outside the district. On the other hand, the average skilled worker might prefer the higher average wages available in the surrounding districts. Given the rise in unemployment in the private sector since 2008, the figure of 35.3% of the workforce in the public sector is likely to have risen considerably. It will be interesting to see what measures a new administration in Westminster takes to address this issue. With only 9.3% of the workforce involved in manufacturing, there is limited scope for the benefits of an advantageous exchange rate and the resulting boost to exports being reflected in a general uplift in the local economy. We must surely do more to support those companies who make things and those workers who get their hands dirty doing it. 



7. Core Data on Thanet

8. Fred Perry

The Thanet & East Kent Insider has learned of a burglary at the Helter Skelter Boutique in Margate Old Town. If any readers are approached with the offer, “’Ere mate, want to buy some Fred Perry polo shirts what fell off a lorry, like?”, please inform Margate police who will be pleased to hear from you. You might also like to keep an eye open at any boot sales you attend in the next few weeks.



9. Beautiful Pictures Shared

As part of our increasing cooperation with the Dover District Chamber of Commerce, delegates at the recent Chamber Hotels & Restaurants Forum have been captured by our joint official photographer whose images can be found at www.photoboxgallery.com/ddcc . The site also shows pictures of the presentation given to Chamber members by Bob Goldfield, Chief Executive of the Port of Dover.  



10. Increase Your Turnover

Thanet Business Exhibition is receiving widespread support from companies wishing to promote their goods and services. Some companies have chosen to take advantage of a discount available for exhibiting in Thanet on 10th June 2010 at G Casino and in Dover the following day in Dover Town Hall. For details, contact our Membership and Marketing Officer, Graham Rayner, tel: 07899 873535.



11. Turner Contemporary

Delegates who have booked for the Chamber business networking breakfast and a presentation by Paul Gray, Head of Operations and Research at the Turner Contemporary Gallery, are reminded to present themselves at the Powell-Cotton Museum, Quex House & Gardens CT7 0BH at 0730 hrs on 11th May 2010. We will learn about the benign effects of the gallery and the good news for local suppliers of products and services.



12. Painting It Green

Saturday 15th May 2010 will see creative works of the highest order at Dover Arts Festival, see www.doverartsfestival.org.uk but one Chamber member has related a story about a more mundane kind of painting. Whether the incident genuinely refers to his neighbour, we leave you to judge. But this is what he told us. His neighbours are apparently an odd lot. The husband works long hours in an office at the end of the road and seems to spend most of his weekends polishing his precious car. His wife is a volunteer for a local charity and is excessively house-proud. If you pick up an ornament on the mantelpiece, there is a cross underneath so that it can be returned to the exact same spot. Nothing is ever tidy enough or clean enough in her house. One morning last week, just as she was leaving for work, she was approached at the door by an odd-job man. “Need anything doing around the house, Ma’am?”, he said   cheerily. “Not really, no thank you”, she replied, but then remembered that the garage and the rear door were beginning to look a little scruffy. “Well there is something,” she added. “The porch at the back of the house needs painting and so does the garage door. There’s some green paint and brushes and so on in the garage. It’s not locked. If you can do the porch and doors by the time I get back at 3.30 pm, I’ll give you £100 in cash when I return. Make sure you cover every inch.” Knowing a good deal when he hears it, the odd-job man said, “No problem. Just leave it to me”. Four hours later, the house proud neighbour returned to be met at front garden gate. “I did it all, green paint just as you ordered. Both jobs, beautiful. I even had some paint left over and so did two coats of Dulux gloss.” As she was handing over the £100 in five crisp £20 notes, the odd-job man said, “I did just as you said, but there’s one thing you should know. “Oh yes”, said Mrs Houseproud, “and what is that?” The odd-job man said solemnly, “The Porsche you mentioned is not a Porsche at all. It is a Lexus.”

13. Our Sponsors

Girlings Solicitors has been managing the managing the legal affairs of commercial and private clients for over a century. Twenty-six partners and one hundred and twenty members of staff ensure a comprehensive range of services from the local offices in Ashford, Canterbury, Folkestone, Herne Bay and Margate. Offices in France and Spain complement specialist departments for charities, individuals and companies. For details, telephone 01843 220274. Express By Holiday Inn took on the daunting task of restoring the former Prospect Inn at Minster. The result is a spectacular hotel that combines the best of Oliver Hill’s 1930s design with ultra modern facilities and technological support. Conveniently located for business guests and holiday makers in East Kent, the meeting rooms and 105 bedrooms are available at competitive prices throughout the year. For details, telephone 01843 820250. Adecco is the world’ s largest HR solutions company offering a comprehensive service of temporary and contract staffing, permanent recruitment, outsourcing, outplacement, career services, training and consulting. Officially designated as a 2009 British Superbrand, Adecco is represented in Thanet and Dover by its Broadstairs office, tel: 01843 609292.CARISS design, install and support education and business computing systems as East Kent’s leading specialist company in Open Source Software.  To lower your carbon footprint, reduce your power consumption and adopt a thin client system, call CARISS, tel: 01843 823724. Mach Associates are the high-fliers in providing Internet technologies and specialist software solutions with a particular expertise in servicing the travel industry. A Microsoft Gold Certified Partner and with ISO9001 accreditation, Mach Associates also offers reduces telecom operating cost through VOIP/PBX phone systems. tel: 0870 321 9986. Sota Connect offers a comprehensive IT service covering best-value voice, data and Internet services for companies of all sizes as well as public sector organisations. The company operates two state-of-the-art data centres of over 10,000sq ft. Sota Connect owns and operates a unique 200km fibre network from London to Ramsgate with high bandwidth Internet access giving superfast Internet connections, tel: 0800 072 2420.

Your Business Bulletin from Thanet & East Kent Chamber

Thanet & East Kent Insider

22^nd May 2010 Issue No.: 

1. Manston, KIA and Flybe

Delegates to the Chamber’s business breakfast last Thursday in Manston in the departure lounge of Kent International Airport heard a detailed report on the new daily flights linking Manston to Edinburgh which will begin exactly one week later on 27th May 2010. Delegates learned that passengers will fly in a Bombardier Dash 8-400 aircraft.  No-one in the East Kent coastal business community is in any doubt that the expansion of the airport will provide significant growth opportunities for local companies. Research by this Chamber suggests that the main worry for residents and some companies is the noise generated by aircraft flying over East Thanet. The authoritative work, “OMEGA Community Noise Study” of January 2009 by Southampton and Manchester Metropolitan Universities put this simply as, “Noise disturbance is often the most significant issue raised by local communities concerned about airport expansion and also accounts for the vast majority of complaints about airport operations.”  All of which explains one of the reasons why Flybe chose the Bombadier Dash 8-400 aircraft to service the route. It is known in the industry as the Q400 and the Q stands for quiet.



2. Surely More Aircraft, More Noise?

Not necessarily. In fact, the Glasgow Airport Noise Action Plan 2008–2013 of December 2008 quotes the results of a Civil Aviation Authority report: “It found that Glasgow Airport’s noise footprint shrank in 2006 compared to 2002, despite a rise in passenger numbers from 7.8 to 8.8 million. It also found that the noise footprint in 2006 was less than half the size it was in 1990. Thus while Glasgow Airport continues to grow, the airport operation is actually getting quieter for its neighbours and stakeholders.” In other words, modern aircraft are relatively quiet. This is certainly the case with Bombadier Dash 8-400 aircraft which will operate on the Manston - Edinburgh route. It has been chosen specifically by Flybe for its low noise in operation. Benefiting from an A rating for noise and fuel consumption by journey length, Flybe is understandably confident of justifying its claims for minimal environmental impact.



3. What About All The Extra Charges for a Tea or Coffee?

Economy passengers do have to pay for drinks but are allowed to carry 20kg of luggage in the hold as well as one piece of hand luggage weighing a maximum of 10kg. Economy ticket prices start from £24.99, which is less than the price of a bottle of good single malt whisky. Flybe pre-assigns you a seat before you board the aircraft. You can pre-book your seat online, allowing you to choose exactly where you want to sit on board and with whom. Leg room is reportedly “more than any other UK low cost airline.” Business passengers might elect to pay a supplement for a ‘Flybe Economy Plus’  ticket which allows for priority check-in, no cost flight changes, 40 kg of hold baggage, access to Flybe executive lounges, drinks and snacks on board and double reward points from “the UK’s most generous frequent flyer programme”. Rather like the Paris Metro, Flybe offers a Business Express ticket book for frequent flyers who can buy a book of 20 one-way Flybe economy plus tickets at a large discount on the published fare. With a market position between the European low cost airlines and national carriers such as British Airways, Flybe has certainly found a market among UK companies anxious to keep in face-to-face contact with key clients without spending time and money on long motorway journeys. The recent Business Travel Awards saw Flybe win the categories of 2010 Best Short-Haul Airline and 2010 Best Environmental Contribution.



4. Tech Spec

Anyone who has never had SAE 20W-50 on their hands, does not recognise the thump thump of a Merlin engine or who thinks the only Wright brothers worthy of mention played for Arsenal, might like to skip this item. The Bombadier Dash 8-400 aircraft, known by its abbreviation of Q400, has 2 Pratt & Whitney PWC15DA Turboprop engines, suggesting strong resistance to volcanic ash clouds and the like. The two six-bladed Dowty R408 propellers are similar to the R391s fitted to the Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules, which incidentally has the longest continuous production run of any military aircraft in history. Locals may recall that it was a Lockheed Martin C130 which was the transport of choice to take a Sumatran Woolly Rhino from Indonesia to Port Lympne Wild Life Park.  The Q400 carries two pilots and 2 flight attendants to service its 78 passengers. The maximum cruise altitude is listed by Flybe as 25,000 ft, although Bombadier claims a 27,000 ft ceiling, which is not quite high enough to pass over Mt Everest at 29,035 ft but more than enough to clear Ben Nevis, 4,409 ft. The manufacturers market the aircraft in Europe with the unique selling point that with 78 seats offering 30 inches of leg room, a low cost carrier operator requires a Passenger Load Factor of just 56% leading to “Q400 turboProfits”. This is good news for local business owners who are looking to establish new clients and suppliers in the Edinburgh area and require a sustainable service to meet their travel needs.



5. KIA

To an increasing number of residents and businesses the brand name KIA is becoming associated not with the second largest South Korean automobile manufacturer, but with an enterprising airport in East Kent. There are regrettably still some who associate Kent International Airport with its previous owners rather than the solid company that is Infratil. It is because of the success of its core businesses that Infratil can take a long-term view of its investments in European Airports. Last week’s edition of the Thanet & East Kent Insider took issue with the Daily Telegraph for printing an article stating that “Kent International Airport at Manston, outside Ramsgate, which lurches from crisis to crisis” when this is clearly not the case. The Infratil company report for the year ending 31 March 2010 claims an understated “Satisfactory year for shareholders”. The Chairman, David Marko, and the Chief Executive, Marko Bogoievski, must be popular with their investors as “Ordinary shares delivered a 22.5% return (dividends and capital gains) over the year.” A 16% rise in operational earnings would be welcome news in most boardrooms in Europe. They conclude their report with the words, “While the worst of the financial crises is likely to be in the past, and the economic recovery appears to be underway, Infratil will remain careful and conservative.”  Not many signs of a crisis there.



6. Locate in Kent

The offices of Locate in Kent have moved. Readers will be relieved to know that the new home is still located in Kent, a short distance from the former premises. Contact details are; Locate in Kent Ltd, 35 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent, ME19 4AX, United Kingdom. Tel: + 44 (0)1732 520700 Fax: + 44 (0)1732 520701, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..



7. Thanet Business Exhibition

The Thanet & East Kent Chamber Business Exhibition at G Casino on Friday 11 June 2010 has nearly attracted a full complement of exhibitors. If you would like to reserve one of the few remaining places, telephone the Chamber Marketing & Membership Officer, Graham Rayner, for full details, tel: 07899 873535 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..



8. Lavender Blue Helps You

“Increase traffic and potential customers by as much as ten times”’, that is the estimate of the effect of including short videos on your trading website according to Neal Ashford of Chamber member, Lavender Blue Media. Neal and his team of experts take into account that the internet and social media have transformed the way businesses communicate with consumers. Many traditional advertising tactics do not work on-line where a new generation of buyers requires animated images to retain their interest and a lively presentation to activate their credit card account. Lavender Blue Media can create for you an online video marketing strategy which could start you on a much more profitable relationship with your buyers and those who influence them.  a rich media content should strengthen your brand awareness, increase sales and give consumers an enhanced online experience For more information, give the Neal or Claire a call, tel: 01795 424252.



9. Apprenticeships

One aspect of skills training that received all-party support in the weeks leading up to the recent general election was the need to increase the number of apprenticeships offered to young people. Kent County Council in liaison with Thanet Works and Thanet District Council has 30 places available on a funded scheme which costs the employer just £50 per week. The apprentices are paid £105 per week and receive free training. Kent County Council takes on the responsibility on being the employer. The scheme runs for one year. For details, Chamber members should email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the subject line “Apprenticeships”.



10. News From The North

The Thanet & East Kent Chamber is the largest business support agency in the area with an increasing number of new members keen to take advantage of the growing opportunities for business-to-business sales. Although the Chamber is mainly focused on local issues, our membership now includes a growing number of companies from outside the East Kent coastal business community. One member from north of the Watford Gap escapes criticism for the following account. We have our doubts about this story, but readers must judge for themselves. A certain well-known businessman, Mr McTavish, sadly passed away a few years ago leaving a widow with a comfortable legacy following his prudent spending habits inherited from generations of thrifty McTavishes. Not wishing to squander her inheritance unnecessarily on writing to every family member and business contact, the widow McTavish went to the office of her local paper and said that she would like to place an entry in the Births, Deaths and Marriages column. The dutiful receptionist asked what words she wished to put and she replied, “Alec McTavish dead, funeral Thursday.” The kindly receptionist said, “The normal form of words is to add something along the lines of ‘sadly missed by family and friends’ and perhaps to add a few lines of poetry familiar to the deceased. Mrs McTavish asked sharply, “How much does that cost?” The receptionist said that there is a minimum charge of £15.00 to cover the first ten words with each additional word costing £1.50 each. After some careful reflexion, the widow McTavish accepted the form proffered and returned it with the minimum ten words duly completed. Accordingly, the next edition of the local paper featured an entry in the Births, Deaths and Marriages column which read, “Alec McTavish dead, funeral Thursday. Volvo for sale, recently serviced.”

11. Our Sponsors

Girlings Solicitors has been managing the managing the legal affairs of commercial and private clients for over a century. Twenty-six partners and one hundred and twenty members of staff ensure a comprehensive range of services from the local offices in Ashford, Canterbury, Folkestone, Herne Bay and Margate. Offices in France and Spain complement specialist departments for charities, individuals and companies. For details, telephone 01843 220274. Express By Holiday Inn took on the daunting task of restoring the former Prospect Inn at Minster. The result is a spectacular hotel that combines the best of Oliver Hill’s 1930s design with ultra modern facilities and technological support. Conveniently located for business guests and holiday makers in East Kent, the meeting rooms and 105 bedrooms are available at competitive prices throughout the year. For details, telephone 01843 820250. Adecco is the world’ s largest HR solutions company offering a comprehensive service of temporary and contract staffing, permanent recruitment, outsourcing, outplacement, career services, training and consulting. Officially designated as a 2009 British Superbrand, Adecco is represented in Thanet and Dover by its Broadstairs office, tel: 01843 609292. CARISS design, install and support education and business computing systems as East Kent’s leading specialist company in Open Source Software.  To lower your carbon footprint, reduce your power consumption and adopt a thin client system, call CARISS, tel: 01843 823724. Mach Associates are the high-fliers in providing Internet technologies and specialist software solutions with a particular expertise in servicing the travel industry. A Microsoft Gold Certified Partner and with ISO9001 accreditation, Mach Associates also offers reduces telecom operating cost through VOIP/PBX phone systems. tel: 0870 321 9986. Sota Connect offers a comprehensive IT service covering best-value voice, data and Internet services for companies of all sizes as well as public sector organisations. The company operates two state-of-the-art data centres of over 10,000sq ft. Sota Connect owns and operates a unique 200km fibre network from London to Ramsgate with high bandwidth Internet access giving superfast Internet connections, tel: 0800 072 2420.