Thanet & East Kent Insider

13^th November 2010      Issue No.: 132                    

1. Comfortable In Your Nest

You might not be comfortable if your nest stands for National Employer Savings Trust (NEST). We are grateful to Mick Rendell, an Independent Financial Advisor at Chamber member Acorn Bowman FIM Limited tel: 01843 609365 , who has written to the Thanet & East Kent Insider with details of the compulsory employer contributions which will be phased in under NEST arrangements from 2012. It’s a shame that Mick isn’t called Robin as it would allow for an interesting juxtaposition of names, but we cannot blame him for that. However, we can blame employers who do not take notice of their statutory obligations if they have employees aged 22 years or above earning more than £7,475 in the year 2011/2012. An estimated 13 million employees currently have no pension arrangements. The government expects another 8 million workers to take out a pension as a result of the new legislation. Any employer who induces a worker to opt out could be subject to severe penalties and there are swingeing fines for a variety of offences for which ignorance is not a defence. If you are one of those people who get tremendous pleasure out of reading all the technical details, you will find them on the government’s website at www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/cp-oct10-full-document.pdf.  For the rest of us who have fresh-faced complexions and get out in the open air from time to time, we can rely on the services of the professionals. Chamber members with a particular expertise in these matters sadly do not include a single nesting bird, but to avoid swallowing your pride in a court of law after a failure to follow the NEST regulations, feel free to contact any of the following: Acorn Bowman FIM Limited of Broadstairs tel: 01843 609365  County Financial Services of Birchington tel: 01843 265070  Financial Milestones of Staplehurst tel: 01580 892874  IGF Invoice Finance Ltd of Maidstone tel: 01732 849872  J Cleverdon of Broadstairs tel: 01843 866599  Levicks Chartered Accountants of Broadstairs tel: 01843 862716  Michael Martin Partnership Ltd of Whitstable tel: 01227 770500 and  Neville Weston of Ramsgate tel: 01843 594571 . If you have clicked on the Department for Work Pensions website link mentioned above and managed not to faint at the cost of £35.50 for the published hard copy of Making Automatic Enrolment Work, then you might have noticed the words at the bottom of the title page which read “Presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for Work and Pension by Command of Her Majesty October 2010.” It’s good to know that a proper sense of respect for our sovereign is at the heart of government.  

2. Transport & Tourism

In response to requests from members, the Thanet & East Kent Chamber will be hosting a business networking breakfast on the theme “Transport & Tourism”. Provisionally scheduled for a 7.30 am start on Friday 10^th December 2010, the session will include contributions from professional operators on land, sea and air. Further details will appear in next week’s edition of the Thanet & East Kent Insider, together with information on how to reserve your place.

3. Remembrance

The publication of this edition of the Thanet & East Kent Insider will be followed by Remembrance Sunday. The Chamber is grateful to the BBC for supplying details of members of our armed services who have died in defence of the United Kingdom since the outbreak of hostilities on 4^th August 2014. World War 1 led to the deaths to 886,342 in the period to the armistice on 11 ^th November 1918. World War II is still fresh in the minds of many of our senior Chamber members who recall the raids on Manston, Canterbury and Dover. An estimated 383,667 servicemen and women were killed between 1939 and 1945. We date the Palestine conflict as beginning in 1922 and ending in the British withdrawal in 1948. It produced 233 fatalities. The Malayan emergency which ended in 1960 provided a magnificent example to the United States on how to combat Communist insurgents and restore democracy, but it cost 340 British lives. Sadly, the lessons were not followed in Vietnam. The Yangtze Incident of 1949 was immortalized in the film of the same name which featured real-life hero and D-Day survivor Richard Todd; 46 of the UK servicemen involved were less fortunate. The Canal Zone emergency in Egypt, 1951 – 52, saw the deaths of 54 service personnel, but this was dwarfed by the Korean War 1950 – 53 with its 765 fatalities. Further conflicts in current or former Commonwealth countries continued as follows: country dates/fatalities Kenya 1952-60/12; Cyprus 1955-59/105; Suez 1956/22; Borneo 1962-67/68; Oman & Dafur 1962-75/24 and Aden 1963-67/68. The troubles in Northern Ireland caused 763 deaths in the military and thousands more among civilians there and in mainland Britain. The exemplary bravery of our forces sent to liberate the Falkland Islands in 1982 led to the loss of 255 servicemen. The first Gulf War of 1990–1991 and the Balkans conflict 1992–2001 saw 95 casualties in total. The rescue mission in Sierra Leone in 2000, Operation Barras, led to just one fatality; a brilliant exercise but a sad loss to 22 SAS D Squadron and to the family and friends of Trooper Bradley Tinnion. The war in Iraq has cost 179 British lives. Afghanistan remains our most costly current conflict with 343 fatalities to date in the period from 2001 to 11 ^th November 2010.  In the ninety-six years since the beginning of World War I, the BBC informs us that the British armed forces have suffered 1,273,440 fatalities. It makes you think that the rebellious colleague who sometimes pinches your favourite parking space and the imminent rise in VAT may not be quite such a disaster after all.

4. An Unusual Christmas Present From Mencap

The Thanet & East Kent Insider often features items relating to mental health issues. This is not because everyone at the Chamber is going bonkers, but because we believe that healthy profits require an enlightened attitude by all employers to mental health and to our responsibilities to our local community. It is therefore with especial pleasure that we report on the successes of East Kent Mencap. Jane Brooke has contacted the Chamber with news of an exhibition of photography at Cliftonville Library featuring images of Thanet’s landscapes and heritage. The images have all been taken by members of the East Kent Mencap photography group. Jane tells us in her email: “This is a great opportunity to see some fantastic shots and perhaps find an unusual Christmas present at a very competitive price.   The exhibition runs from Tuesday 15 November to Thursday 9 December at Cliftonville library which is on Queen Elizabeth Avenue, Margate, Kent CT9 3JX and is open Monday- Friday 9.00am – 6.00pm Saturday 10.00am –2.00pm, closed Weds and Sun.”

5. News From Dover

The bid by Dover People’s Port Trust Limited to take over the governance of the Port of Dover moved a step closer when Sir Patrick Sheehy and Algy Cluff joined the party that presented a formal offer to the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street recently. Sir Patrick, former Chairman of BAT Industries plc, is a much respected figure in the City of London. Algy Cluff certainly knows the value of a golden opportunity as any shareholder who has invested in his many companies will testify. With Richard Philips, former Group Financial Controller of a £1.4bn enterprise, among the Directors, there is mounting evidence to support Dover MP Charlie Elphicke’s assertion that “This is a serious bid backed by serious people. They wouldn't waste their time if it was unrealistic." The current management of the port is of entirely contrary opinion. In a strongly worded statement released on 8 ^th November 2010, Dover Harbour Board states: ”The People’s Port Proposal cannot be considered a serious proposal and the letter, full of inaccuracies, falsehoods and unsubstantiated statements cannot be considered a serious bid.” Readers can make up their own minds by reading the full offer letter at www.peoplesport.org.uk/our-bid/the-offer.

6. A Competition And Your Grandmother

Louise Askew of Thanet District Council would like to remind readers of the opportunity to win £500 of vouchers in the ‘This is Margate’ photography competition. As part of the build-up to the opening of the Turner Contemporary next year, the competition puts a clear focus on the many attractions of Margate. There are three entry categories for 16 years and under, students and adults. Full details are available on the website at www.thisismargate.co.uk/images-and-links/this-is-margate-photo-comp.aspx.  The closing date for entries is Friday 26 November 2010. In an interesting variation on the usual criteria, we learn that:  “We are also interested in receiving any historical photo entries submitted that fit into the themes of the competition.” So, if you have any black and white images of your granny with an ice cream on Margate beach or stepping out of a charabanc on a works outing to Dreamland, this could be your big moment. For an extra insight into your granny’s chances, give Thanet District Council’s Lucy Tuson a call, tel: 01843 577169  

7. Transport Minister & Thanet

We are grateful to Kos Media for its coverage of the visit of Transport Minister, Philip Hammond, see http://www.yourthanet.co.uk/kent-news/Isle-MPs-meet-transport-minister-in-Margate--newsinkent41966.aspx?news=local . As reported in last week’s edition of the Thanet & East Kent Insider, the details of the discussions remain confidential, but he returned to Westminster aware of many of the main barriers to growth that inhibit companies in the East Kent coastal business community from reaching their full potential. 

8. The Future Of Mobile

The Thanet & East Kent Chamber was represented at a presentation in London by Lee Epting, Director of Content Services at Vodafone. She is responsible for Vodafone's global content services portfolio which includes portal, applications shop, music, games and tv/video. She has a particular interest in the uses of the mobile telephone for everyday financial transactions and is a keen supporter of M-PESA which is operated by Vodafone’s partner in Africa, Safaricom. The average purchase by a mobile using the M-PESA system is just £8. More details of the talk will appear in next week’s edition of the Thanet & East Kent Insider, together with the comments of fellow presenters, Christian Lindholm and Ralph Simon.

9. Kinder, Küche, Kirche

Please don’t blame us for Kaiser Wilhelm II’s words in German. Not all our Chamber members are entirely in tune with the social progress of the past hundred years. SWIFT Codes for all Banks in Australia Some feel particularly uncomfortable with issues of political correctness, both in the workplace and at home. The Thanet & East Kent Insider cannot support such outdated and backward looking attitudes in any shape or form. It is only with the greatest reluctance and in the hope that it may serve as a warning to others who may be similarly tempted that we relate the following anecdote from one of our members. You may have your doubts about this story, but we leave it to our readers to judge for themselves. In a telephone call to the Chamber last week, we heard the following lament. “It was outrageous. I bought her a new hat for her niece’s wedding only a few years ago and now my wife wants another present. I just don’t understand it. Why does she want a watch of her own? There is a perfectly good clock on the cooker in the kitchen.”

12. 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 . 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 .

© David Foley November 2010

Thanet & East Kent Insider

25^th April 2011      Issue No.: 153

1. Energy Costs More Shock Horror

We last reported on energy costs in the Thanet & East Kent Insider of 8^th January 2011 when we listed the energy price rises for the previous year and stated that ‘some of the monthly figures quoted are alarming’. We continued that ‘Monthly fluctuations may normally be of interest to speculators more than the rest of us who have longer term trends in mind, but when the pace of rises is increasing so sharply, it suggests that anyone who does not review their energy costs now might have serious cause to regret it in the near future.’ That near future now appears to have arrived. We are again grateful to Martyn Young of Atlantic Business Resources, tel: 0781 353 7456, for bringing our attention to the E.ON Market Report of April 2011 which gives a detailed breakdown of the gas, oil, coal and carbon markets for the period March 2010 to March 2011. The huge earthquake off the coast of Japan on 11^th March 2011 and subsequent tsunami provoked a sharp rise in UK power prices last month. The reason is that power plants using fossil fuels will be required to contribute to the shortfall from the 10GW loss from Japanese nuclear plants. The abrupt closure of seven German nuclear plants will also impact on UK energy costs. During the month of March 2011 alone, the power and gas prices rose by 10% and 13% respectively. A monthly rise in oil prices of around 1% was not helpful, as anyone with a car, van or lorry to run will confirm. There is no disguising that the rises in energy contract prices over the last year and, in particular, the last month are frightening as the table below shows.

2. What Can Be Done About Energy Costs?

The global strategy is one for governments. We will certainly be raising the matter on your behalf with our Members of Parliament and with the Bank of England. On a local level, the sharp rises mean that it is more important than ever to get the best possible deal on your energy supplies. If you have not recently reviewed your energy costs, we strongly advise that you do so without delay. The following Chamber members are recommended: Martyn Young of Atlantic Business Resources tel: 0781 353 7456; David Batten of Auditel (UK) Ltd tel: 0797 349 6411; Jeremy Bailey of Auditel tel: 01843 588 776.

3. Your Money, Hadlow College, SEEDA and BBC

Many Chamber members have commented on the impact of public funds on the regeneration of East Kent. The consensus seems to be qualified support for strategically targeted spending on infrastructure developments such as improved transport links, a Manston Parkway Station, faster rail times to London and investment in better school and college buildings. As a general rule, our Chamber members prefer to keep their earnings rather than have them taken way by any remote body which thinks it can spend it better than they can. Is that surprising? Perhaps not, but as a Chamber we are duty-bound to reflect those views as we did last week on the BBC Radio Kent breakfast show; click on http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p00g1xxz/Breakfast_with_John_Warnett_and_Clare_McDonnell_21_04_2011/and fast forward to fast forward to 1:23:40. The recording is available until 28^th April 2011.

4. Turnover Is Vanity, Cash Is Sanity

We are grateful to our friends at the Institute for Independent Business for drawing our attention to a neat summary of the needs and problem areas of companies based on the fact that ‘99.5% of all businesses in western economies employ fewer than 200 people’. You can interpret this to mean that if your company has a workforce with more than 200 people, you can ignore the rest of this item with impunity. On the other hand, tycoons might just find something of interest in the tribulations of others. The IIB informs us that feedback from thousands of independent businesses has identified the following problems: Cash Flow, Funding, Lack of updated information, Lack of exit strategy, Lack of time, Health & Safety and other burdensome legislation, Loneliness, Loss of original vision for the business, Marketing, Profitability and Sales. It is interesting to note that Cash Flow heads the list and Sales is the last item mentioned. Regular readers may recall the advice of the Chamber’s credit control expert, Norman Gray, in the Thanet & East Kent Insider of 9 ^th October 2009 where he is quoted as saying: ‘If you make a sale of £20,000, all you have done is create a debt. It is the credit controller who ensures you get paid.’ Wise words indeed and worthy of repetition. Surprising for some but not perhaps for the owners of businesses is the presence in the list of ‘Loneliness’. The stresses and strains of owning and operating a company may not always be apparent to the workforce. The proprietors usually find it difficult to discuss every problem with their management team and often find that their own family and friends are happy to discuss anything but problems in the workplace. The Chamber’s Business Advice Clinics offer a friendly and confidential resource to businesses of all sizes where work issues can be discussed in complete confidence. The sessions take place on the first Friday of the month in Broadstairs and the first Wednesday of the month in Dover. To reserve your place, telephone 01843 609289 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.with the subject line ‘Business Advice Clinic’.

5. Bank of England

As a direct result of our close ties with the Dover District Chamber of Commerce, established in 1850, the Thanet & East Kent Chamber maintains strong formal links with the Bank of England (BoE). As the two Chambers are the largest business support bodies in their respective districts, the arrangement ensures that the East Kent coastal business community has a voice where it matters. The monthly meetings of the BoE’s Monetary Policy Committee set the interest rate for the UK. The bank also has a statutory duty to ‘ contribute to protecting and enhancing the stability of the financial systems of the United Kingdom’.   As always in these matters, the views of Chamber members are more important than our assumptions. SWIFT Codes for all Banks in Australia With two meetings scheduled with the BoE within the next month, we especially welcome your prompt comments on any aspect of financial policy. Please send these by email before Thursday 5 ^th May 2011 to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.with the subject line “Bank of England Comments”.

6. What Does the Bank of England Say About Business Conditions?

The BoE makes regular reports on UK industry which inform government and companies alike. The latest Summary of Business Conditions remarks on ‘a softening in the housing market’ but relates that ‘In the service sector, contacts expected investment to continue to grow at a moderate pace’. Inflation in the prices of raw materials contrasts with the news that ‘growth of exports of goods and demand from Europe and the United States was beginning to pick up.’ Under the heading of Consumption, we learn of a ‘shift towards consumption of lower quality products’ which is attributed to ‘falling confidence among households and the effect of high inflation on real spending power’. Fine dining establishments have suffered as “Dining out in restaurants had declined but demand for fast food continued to strengthen’. Fast rising petrol prices may be behind the BoE’s report that there was evidence of ‘a switch-away from the use of private cars towards public transport’. There is some comfort for companies in the higher end of the market where the bank notes ‘some reports of rising spending on premium brands of food, retail goods and cars’. For a copy of the full five pages of the report, Chamber members are invited to email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.with the subject line “BoE Summary of Business Conditions”.

7. Turner Contemporary Update

The Turner Contemporary gallery on Margate’s seafront has received extensive coverage on national television, UK and regional newspapers, radio networks and indeed in the pages of the Thanet & East Kent Insider. There have been many doubters in the last seven years and it may be no surprise that critics, fewer in number than before, nevertheless are still keen to talk down Margate, rubbish East Kent and generally spread misery to all those who will listen to their comments or read their views. We prefer to concentrate our efforts on putting money in the pockets of our members and their employees by working with the media in supporting the growth of our local economy by attracting inward investors and by encouraging visitors to appreciate the attractions around us. Not everyone may agree with our assertion see http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kentonline/news/2011-1/april/19/turner_visitors_disappointed.aspxthat the Turner Contemporary is 'Innovative, fresh, clean, exciting, good-looking, enterprising, regenerative and in the news’ , although it must be difficult to claim that it is not ‘in the news’, but we see little point in telling the world not to come here. The Thanet & East Kent Chamber will be cooperating fully with an independent economic impact study which is due to be completed before the end of the year. We confidently expect it to show positive benefits for the East Kent coastal business community.

8. Charity And The Law

Our experience with lawyers in East Kent has been wholly positive. Indeed, we are fortunate to have such well-known and respected legal firms in our membership. One Chamber member has been less fortunate and recalls a story from his time in London. We have our doubts about this account, but leave it to readers to judge for themselves. ‘One weekend, I was collecting money for the Mayor’s charity in our borough of North London when it occurred to me that the lawyer living around the corner reportedly earns over a million pounds a year. In all the years I had been collecting for various charities, to my knowledge he had never ever contributed. Determined to change this lamentable injustice, I went to his substantial residence, noted the three luxury cars in his large garage and rapped determinedly on the door. He came to the entrance with a gin and tonic in his hand and an aggressive look on his face. I explained politely that I was collecting for the needy and disadvantaged in the area and asked him for a contribution to the community in view of his considerable wealth. He replied: ‘I don’t know who did your research. Clearly, you are not aware that my mother is seriously ill with medical bills of many times her income.’ I mumbled something along the lines of ‘No er-r-r I didn’t.” He continued: “Or that my younger brother, a disabled serviceman who was injured in the war in Afghanistan in the service of his country, needs expensive specialist equipment in his house to make his life bearable.’ Again I just stammered: ‘Sorry, I had no idea’.   He added: ‘And my poor sister and her husband died in a car accident last month leaving three children without their parents and all alone in this world’. Embarrassed now beyond measure, I conceded with a humble apology and turned to leave. Sensing his complete victory, the lawyer added finally to my retreating back; ‘And so if I don’t give a penny to them, why on earth should I give anything to you?’.

Thanet & East Kent Insider

3^rd September 2011      Issue No.: 169

1.  Business Networking Breakfast

We are delighted to welcome Kieran Ring as the main speaker at our Business Networking Breakfast on Friday 9^th September 2011 at the Fayreness Hotel, Kingsgate. Kieran is the Chief Executive of the Global Institute of Logistics. A seasoned traveller, Kieran will give delegates the benefits of his extensive experience in moving goods from A to B. Based in an office in Fifth Avenue, New York, Kieran spends much of his professional life visiting ports of entry around the world and advising them on best practice procedures. Having worked as a printer, publisher and Executive Director of the European Institute of Transport, he is as much at home talking about the best way to get your business card noticed as he is about global standards at container terminals. To register for the Business Networking Breakfast, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.or telephone 01843 609289. Booking is essential. Cost: £12 for members, £16 for non-members including a cooked full English breakfast with a vegetarian option. Booking is essential.

2.  Herald Of Free Enterprise

The East Kent coastal business community was represented on 26th August 2011 on the BBC in the programme The Reunion, repeated several times on Radio 4. The broadcast brought together some key figures from the Zeebrugge Ferry disaster of 6^th March, 1987. Many of our members will recall the chilling developments as news seeped through during the following few days to reveal 193 fatalities from among the passengers and crew.  The Chairman of Thanet & East Kent Chamber, Dr Bill Moses MBE, speaks movingly of the effect on the surviving seafarers, many of whom could never again go to sea. Bill also chairs Dover Counselling Centre which continues to minister to the families who lost loved ones on that terrible night. Presenter Sue MacGregor handles the panel discussion with great sensitivity and insight. The recording lasts 45 minutes and can be accessed by clicking on http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b013fk5s, fast forward to 0:2:20. Any Chamber members new to the area may find that the broadcast will give them an insight into an event that that is still very much in the minds of anyone in East Kent at the time. The subsequent inquest under the expert direction of Kent Coroner Richard Sturt returned verdicts of unlawful killing. The sinking of the Herald of Free Enterprise led to significant developments in maritime safety and was a significant factor in subsequent public liability legislation and the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998.

3.  Sue MacGregor And The Facts

In The Reunion broadcast featured above at item 2, Sue MacGregor says: “This was the worst British peacetime maritime disaster since the sinking of the Titanic in 1912”.  It wasn’t, or at least it wasn’t if you consider that the First World War ended on Armistice Day on 11^th November 1918. On 1^st January 1919, HMY Iolaire sank off the coast of Stornaway with the loss of 205 lives, mostly servicemen who had survived the horrors of the Western Front or the U boats that menaced the Atlantic convoys, see www.adb422006.com/iolaire.html. It can be argued that WWI did not formally finish until the signing of the Treaty of Lausanne on 24^th July 1923. Sue MacGregor, one of the brightest stars of Radio 4, is excused; after all, her father did serve with the 14^th Army in Burma. Chamber members will have their own corporate policy on whether to allow their workforce to respect two minutes of silence at 1100 hrs on Friday, 11^th November 2011. It is worth remembering that 1.7 million people died in the service of Britain in WWI and WWII. Two minutes of our time is not a lot to ask, is it SWIFT Codes for all Banks in Australia ?

4. Thanet District Council

The Chamber Chairman and Chamber Chief Executive enjoyed a full discussion at a meeting last week with Thanet District Council’s Cllr Bob Bayford and Sue McGonigal. The matters under review covered a wide range of subjects including planning and support for local business. It was agreed that the meeting between Thanet’s largest business support body and TDC’s Leader and Chief Executive had been most useful. Both the Chamber and TDC look forward to future meetings where support for local business will again be at the top of the agenda.

5.  Hornby Hobbies

The Chamber was a delighted guest of Hornby last week and treated to a personal guided tour of its latest development at Westwood, Margate by its inspiring Operations Manager and Monckton Parish Councillor, Nick Cole. Anyone who doubts the commitment of Hornby to Thanet’s economy should see the new Visitor Centre in Margate. The stunning displays on offer will delight visitors of all ages, from the grandparents who will recognise the toys of their youth to the youngsters who will relate to models from their favourite films and television programmes. Make no mistake; this is a world-class company that posted a turnover in the last financial year of £63.4 million. Readers will be familiar with many of its proprietary brands such as Scalextric, Corgi, Humbrol and, of course, Hornby. Less familiar to those who do not scan the Financial Times or European toy catalogues are Electrotren, Riverossi, Joeuf, Lima and Arnold. Spotting the differences in manufacturing processes between the models of the toy makers in the Hornby group is one of the joys for the visitor. An unexpected delight for many will be the Cathedral Models Exhibitions. Constructed on a scale of 60 feet to one inch, they were built at the behest of royal composer and organist Sir Herbert Oakley (1830-1903) by the somewhat mysterious architect, William Gorringe. If in the next six months you are not able to visit Lincoln, Exeter, Chester, Hereford, Westminster Abbey, Cologne, Rome’s St Peter’s or any of the twenty other cathedrals on display, then you should see this magnificent collection while it is still at the Hornby Visitor Centre. Proving its community credentials to a wider audience, Hornby restored and refurbished the Cathedral models prior to an exhibition at the Sir John Sloane’s Museum in London. It is not only the owner of the collection, Canterbury Cathedral, that is grateful to Hornby for its exemplary commitment to East Kent. A wide variety of schools, community organisations and charities have benefited from this Chamber member’s patronage. As one American conglomerate departs from Sandwich, we should perhaps learn to appreciate more the contribution being made to our local economy and to our in-bound tourism sector by this famous British brand. 

6. Visit to Copy Shop

Also on the Chamber visit roster last week was Seaward Color Copy Shop in St Peters. It is difficult to believe that the youthful Tim Seaward has been in business for over 25 years. Either he has discovered the elixir of life or there is something in the ink of his printing machines that stops the clock. You can see for yourself by visiting this family-run company at Church Street, St Peter's, Broadstairs CT10 2TU. As well as state-of–the art printing, Tim and his team offer a wide range of office supplies such as rubber stamps, paper, printed t-shirts, mouse mats and branded gifts. If you can’t leave the office, give Tim a call, tel: 01843 602557 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Other quality printers in our membership include The Embroidered and Printed Clothing Company Ltd of Margate tel: 01843 209555, Lanes Limited of Broadstairs tel: 01843 861314, Media House UK Ltd of Margate tel: 01843 229111, Monster Graphics of Ramsgate tel: 01843 853311, Oyster Press of Whitstable tel: 01227 772605, Sharps Printers of Broadstairs tel: 01843 600123 and RG Print of Whitstable tel: 01227 264663. Premier Framework Displays of Hersden, tel: 01843 710104, make exhibition stands and banners at eminently reasonable prices.

7. Chamber Planning Symposium

Recent decisions by the Thanet District Council Planning Committee have been the subject of much concern among local companies looking to attract inward investors or to expand their business. Chamber Co-President, Roger Gale MP, made his position clear with customary decisiveness in his popular Roger’s Views. Although not a golfer himself, he understands how important it is to support the development of leisure facilities in Thanet where the appropriate environmental concerns are addressed and the transport links are in place, see http://www.rogergale.com/content_manager/page.php?ID=103213&dbc=0a245c51e92fe251a3ea49ec1dbbdcae. The rejection of the Golf Academy has caused some potential investors to turn their thoughts towards locations which offer a more welcome reception. With the words of the North Thanet MP firmly in mind, the August Chamber Planning Symposium brought together some of the key figures involved in supporting more business-friendly policies in Thanet. ‘Planning delayed is planning denied’ was a phrase that often occurred in the discussions that united local companies, land owners and surveyors in Thanet. Submissions from frustrated investors highlighted the need for a more enlightened planning regime along the lines of neighbouring councils where creating jobs and opportunities for school leavers take greater precedence in planning decisions.

8. Live Theatre

Forget the video. Switch off the telly. Leave your iPod at home and get out to the theatre. That must be the message from two of our Chamber members who offer live theatre for your entertainment. Michael Wheatley-Ward and his team at the Sarah Thorne Theatre Club in Broadstairs report a 20% increase in bookings this year for its Summer Repertory programme; a great result, Michael, of which Andrew Lloyd Webber and Bill Kenwright would have been proud. Coming up on the weekend of 17^th and 18^th September 2011 is a production of Dick Barton Special Agent when thehero of the BBC’s 1940s radio meets his arch enemies, Baron Scarheart and Marta Heartburn. Just like a day in the office? Give the theatre a call and find out, tel: 0845 262 6263 between 1000 hrs and 1400 hrs. The much-loved Theatre Royal in Margate is the venue for a production of West Side Story which opens on Wednesday of this week and has an extra afternoon performance on its final day, Saturday 10^th September 2011. Billed as “an unforgettable tale of young love set against a backdrop of 1950s American gang culture”, the show offers dancing and singing to warm the coldest heart. Invite your stern aunty and see the miraculous change at your next birthday. Make sure you book first, tel: 0845 130 1786. 

9. News From Dover

We are grateful to Howard Holt, formerly Head of Corporate Affairs at Dover Harbour Board and now head of his own maritime consultancy, Seeports.  Howard has focused attention on the campaign by the UK Cruise Ports Alliance to uphold the conditions of a £20 million public grant to Liverpool to build the City of Liverpool Cruise Terminal (CLTC). A condition of the funding from the EU and the British tax payer was that CTLC would not operate as a turnaround port, i.e. where cruise ships start and end their journeys, but would be a port of call. It is understandable that the ports operator at Liverpool, Peel Ports, together with Liverpool City Council should seek to change the conditions of the funding. It is very much in their interests for this to happen. But, in these times of public sector cuts, it is difficult to accept that the shareholders of Peel Ports should receive such a gift when deprived areas of our community in East Kent suffer. The offer to repay £5 million of the funding over 15 years is somewhat derisory. How many companies can borrow £20 million and pay back just a quarter over such a long period? The government rejected a previous attempt in 2009 with the words: “To allow the change of use would have an unfair and adverse effect on competition with other cruise terminals”. Businesses in and around the top two UK cruise terminals, Southampton and Dover, are following events closely. A petition has been raised at http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/ukcpa. The issue is likely to feature in next week’s television and radio news. In our view, it is unlikely that the Treasury will sanction the dodgy financial dossier being put forward by Liverpool.  This is not a case of “We can work it out”. The government may well decide that Peel Ports should pay back the full £20 million of development capital rather than allow it to divert custom unfairly from its Southern competitors. The view from this corner of England is that the Treasury should follow the advice of those most famous Liverpudlians and just “Let it be”. 

10. Empty Rates

Owners of commercial property in our area will be interested in a useful overview of the current provisions of the Rating (Empty Properties) Act 2007 which can be added to the extensive documentation produced by this Chamber over the past four years. Written by Charles Partridge of Lambert Smith Hampton, which has 27 offices in England, the article quotes chapter and verse on business rates liability and changes in the thresholds for rate relief, see www.estatesgazette.com/tenant-advice/business-rates/relief-for-businesses/. We understand from an article dated today by Nick Whitton of the Estates Gazette that: “The latest CLG figures also show that there are now 269,000 non-domestic empty properties in the UK - equivalent to 16% of the country's total stock.”

11. A Sign Of The Times

We have often commented on the curious signs that seem to flank our everyday movements as we travel around East Kent and beyond. In the past, Chamber members have generously sent their own particular favourites. We very much welcome further contributions. Here is the latest offering from one Chamber member who recently took his first trip on the High Speed train service from London St Pancras. “When wandering through this magnificent station, a picture of modernity in a 19^th century frame, I noticed a sign on the escalator between the East Midlands platforms (1-10) which go down to the underground gallery. If any of you are ever there, please could you send me a photo of it. It reads ‘Stand on the right and walk on the left’.  I tried this and fell over. So much for health and safety.” He does have a point, doesn’t he?

 © David Foley, September 2011

Thanet & East Kent Insider

26^th November 2011      Issue No.: 175

1. Media & Business with BBC, ITV and KRN

The December Chamber Business Networking Breakfast for December will take place on Friday 16^th December 2011 and will feature speakers from the BBC, ITV, Kent Regional Newspapers and a private network. The speakers will outline their own experiences in the media and will advise on how businesses can best interact with television, radio and the press. The event will take place at the Pegwell Bay Hotel, Ramsgate from 0730 hrs to 0900 hrs. Booking is essential. Tickets cost £12 for Chamber members and £20 for non-members. To reserve your place, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or telephone 01843 609289.

2. Darren Clarke & Co in Kent

The Chamber was the guest of Dover District Council at a meeting last Wednesday with Peter Dawson, the Chief Executive of the R&A, and his team to review the impact of the Open Golf Championship at Sandwich last July. During a concentrated analysis, traffic management, ticketing, accommodation, merchandising and other aspects were examined in detail. There was heartfelt relief that there had been no ‘incidents’ to test the emergency services and general agreement that Darren Clarke had proved to be a popular winner. Some concern was expressed by traders in Sandwich regarding access and footfall, but the overwhelming success of the tournament was acknowledged by all. Indeed, the economic impact on the East Kent economy in Thanet, Dover, Canterbury and Shepway was the main focus of the afternoon. During the whole session, not one person committed the heinous crime of referring to the “British Open”. As all patriotic golfers will know, the Open Championship was the first in the world and we leave it to others to add a few adjectives in an attempt to catch up.

3. Don’t You Just Invent Some Fancy Numbers?

Not at all. The economic impact figures were compiled by Sheffield Hallam University according to strict criteria following over 2,000 surveys with spectators. Further desk analysis drew on the data relationships established during the 2010 Open at St Andrews in Fife. The revenue listed refers uniquely to new money that is event-specific, which means that it originated from outside the host economy. In other words, spending from locals who would have spent their money one way or another during the week of the event was specifically excluded from the calculations.

4. How Many People Attended?

Most of the press reports list 180,000, but we can be more precise than that. On the practice days from 10^th July to 13^th July 2011, there were 31,222 spectators. During the four days of the competition proper, the crowds were as follows: on Thursday 14^th July 31,545; on Friday 15^th July 42,846; on Saturday 16^th July 36,471 and on Sunday 17^th July 38,007. Anyone with a calculator, spreadsheet or a just a good head for arithmetic will know that the total visitor number is 180,091. It is interesting to note that the most popular day was the Friday. The practice days amount more or less to an effective fifth day in terms of attendance.  

5. Where Did They All Come From?

There were some slight differences in the survey results, but the overall picture is as follows: East Kent 12.4%; Rest of Kent 12.3%; Rest of UK 65.5%; International 9.8%. The data reveals that the event attracted just under a quarter of its spectators from Kent, showing just how popular golf is in the county.

6. What Did They Spend Their Money On?

We can trace the direct spending from spectators on services and products in East Kent and Kent. The following figures show the total amount spent by spectators during the period of the 2012 Open. The figure for Kent as a whole includes East Kent.

7. Is That All?

No it isn’t. We can add all the other spending and add a mysterious “multiplier” which experience has suggested contributes to producing an accurate assessment.

8. Is That All Now?

Nearly. There is something to add which is called the Media Equivalency Value. In brief, all the television exposure over the course of the week would cost a huge amount on national television networks. The Open Championship was broadcast in 196 territories reaching 458 million households over 3,676 broadcast hours. For the sponsors at Nikon, HSBC, Doosan, Rolex and Mercedes-Benz as well as for East Kent tourism, this has an estimated value of £52.6 million. In summary, we can calculate that the 2011 Open Championship at Royal St George’s Golf Club in Sandwich had an economic impact of around £77 million of which £24.14 million came directly to Kent and £21.18 million to East Kent. Thank you very much, Mr Dawson, sir. Please come back soon.

9. Business Directory

The 2012 Chamber diary has now been published. If any Chamber member has not received a copy by Friday, 2^nd December 2011, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to arrange for delivery. The publication serves as the official business directory for the East Kent coastal business community from Whitstable around to Dover and will be used by a wide variety of private and public bodies to inform their purchasing decisions. The companies listed include almost every sector of the economy and we urge all Chamber members to consult their diary before they buy.

10. Exports to France

We are pleased to note strong interest from East Kent companies looking to find new export markets in France. So Now, the English-speaking French agency near Lyon that specialises in promoting East Kent companies in the Eurozone, reports enthusiastic interest from local suppliers and service providers who are looking to increase their sales into Europe. With a currency advantage of over 20% since 2007, an increasing number of suppliers are finding that their products and services are competitively-priced in France and neighbouring countries. Offering marketing studies, business plans, mailshots, designs, website translations and a host of ideas to assist your exports, So Now welcomes enquiries from Chamber members keen to boost their sales in the Eurozone or to enter European markets for the first time. For details without obligation, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and expect a prompt reply.

11. Thanet College Update

Last Tuesday, Chamber member Thanet College hosted its second annual Star Awards to recognise exceptional contributions during the year by staff members. Chairman of the governors, Professor Michael Wright CBE DL, joined Principal, Graham Razey, to congratulate the winners. Although not at last week’s awards evening, some of the biggest winners in the past year have been those Chamber members who have benefited from the College’s “Buy Local” policy. We are delighted to report that in the year to 31^st July 2011, a total of £1,362,608 was spent with local suppliers. This represents a record amount and provides an example to other Further Education colleges in the UK who are seeking closer ties with their local business community. Capital spending with local companies rose from 21% of budget in the year ending 31^st July 2010 to 93% of budget for the quarter to 31^st July 2011. There is nothing a company should like more than a customer and Thanet College has given the local business community every reason to like its own products and services. In a letter to the Chamber, Graham Razey writes: “There may be further developments in the future and so I would like to reassure you and the Chamber’s members that the College is continuing its commitment to ‘Buy Local’”.  Graham and his team are well supplied with the Chamber 2012 diary.

12. Surely Not More About Golf?

Just a little. The Thanet & East Kent Chamber in liaison with our sister Chamber in Dover is in the pleasant position of considering the many offers it has received to host our Golf Days. We will be reporting to members on the results of these negotiations. The Chamber Autumn Golf Day is the biggest corporate golf event in the East Kent business community and we look forward to even more teams entering in 2012. Readers are reminded that images of the 2011 Golf Days at the Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club and Prince’s Golf Club can be found on the official image website at http://www.photoboxgallery.com/DDCC

13. Unemployment

As always in presenting employment data, we look at the year-on-year trends rather than examine any monthly changes which can fluctuate widely and give a misleading impression of the state of our local economy. We are grateful to Kent County Council’s Research & Evaluation department for sending us their ever useful digest of the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics. Sadly, all 12 districts in the KCC area show an annual rise in unemployment. In just 3 districts is there less than double digit growth: Dartford +8.3%, Sevenoaks +9.8% and Tunbridge Wells +4.8%. For the purposes of this report, we write a “+” sign before all increases. There is no relief for job-seekers within the county boundary in Medway which shows +17.6% more registered unemployed in October 2011 than one year previously. The highest annual increase is in Gravesham at +21.9%, but Dover at +20.1% and Canterbury at +20.0% are not far behind. The recent announcement by government of measures to stimulate employment among the 18-24 year olds cannot come soon enough for KCC’s school leavers and resident graduates. This group has experienced a year-on-year increase in unemployment of +27.1%. Also not to be ignored are the 60-64 year olds where the data shows a +42.0% increase over the year in unemployment benefit claimants. The message to the county’s workforce might be: “Don’t fall out with your boss”. The data for East Kent is listed below.

14. How Are We Doing?

15. Regional Growth Fund

We are grateful to our Chamber Co-President, Laura Sandys MP, for supplying members with the official summary of the current state of the Regional Growth Fund. Details are in the attached RGF Fact Sheet and RGF Intervention Rates. We will advise members as soon as the application procedure has been finalised. We are assured by Laura that UK Trade & Investment, UKTI, will be promoting East Kent at every opportunity. In her words: “We will never be better promoted internationally”. UKTI will focus on attracting “Big Players” so that local suppliers can play a full part in the supply chain. In particular, Laura identifies engineering companies, life science innovators and service companies with the ambition and drive to meet the needs of international firms.

16. Business Advice Clinics

The Chamber Business Advice Clinics were well-supported this month. Regular readers will be aware that we hold sessions on the first Friday of the month in Broadstairs and on the first Wednesday of the month in Dover. Attendance is free of charge and open to companies and start-ups of all sizes which trade or seek to trade in the districts of Thanet or Dover. The Chamber has been successful in securing the backing of benign investors who are willing to consider applications for development projects. There is £1 million of funding available, subject to reasonable prospects of a good return over 5 years. Currently, four projects are being considered for investment sums ranging from £25,000 to £135,000.

17. Waste Not, Want Not
TW Services has launched a new website which has raised the bar for all UK waste processing and recycling centres. Featuring full social media links and on-line trading services, the website offers full access to the company’s domestic and commercial product range including skip hire, hazardous waste disposal and house clearances. Such are the advances that TW Services has made in recent years that even the keenest ecologically-minded critic will be impressed by its “Zero to Landfill” policy, embraced with enthusiasm by all the 80 or more staff members. Still in family ownership, the company can rightly claim to be the leading independently owned waste management company in Kent and has the resources, equipment and experience to process 750,000 tonnes of domestic and commercial waste every year. For more details, see the website at www.tw-services.co.uk or telephone head office in Ramsgate Road, Sandwich, tel: 01304 626364.

18. Boys & Maughan Expands

Confidence in the future of Ramsgate is very much in evidence at Boys & Maughan Solicitors which is welcoming three new members to its Ramsgate legal team. Lorraine Smith, Wills & Probate, Tom Moulsdale, Litigation, and Dawn Sahathevan, Residential Conveyancing, are joining Managing Partner Andrew Baker in strengthening the company’s presence in Thanet. Tom represents the third generation of the Moulsdale family to work at Boys & Maughan. Andrew Baker said: “With the high speed train link to London, the upgrading of the A256 and not forgetting the country’s only Royal Harbour, Ramsgate continues to be one of the shining jewels in Thanet’s crown.” For more details, contact Robin Evans by telephone to 01843 234000 or by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

19. Ramsgate Tunnels

Predict and prevent must have been words very much in the mind of Ramsgate’s ‘Mad Mayor’ ABC Kempe and Borough Engineer, R D “Dick” Brimmell when they first drew up plans for tunnels under Ramsgate. The Home Office repeatedly rejected requests for such an extensive network of bomb shelters but finally relented in the spring of 1939 after Hitler’s troops had marched into Czechoslovakia on 16th March 1939. The letter conveying the decision of the Lord Privy Seal Sir John Anderson arrived in Ramsgate on 20^th March 1939.  Working around the clock, Francois Cementation Co Ltd completed the project in time for the Duke of Kent to be guest of honour at the opening ceremony on 1^st June 1939. Capable of sheltering 60,000 people, the tunnels were an engineering marvel that were soon to prove their worth in saving the lives of Ramsgate citizens in the air raids of 24^th August 1940 which saw the Luftwaffe drop over 500 bombs on Ramsgate damaging 800 houses. Last Thursday evening, the Old Customs House in Ramsgate was the venue for a celebration of Kempe and Brimmell’s foresight and an update on the plans on how to spend the £53,000 recently awarded by the Jubilee People’s Millions Fund to help restore the tunnels. Introduced with consummate professionalism by the actor Clive Holland, an invited audience heard from Ramsgate Mayor Cllr David Green, Project Manager Peter Borrough and other committee members about some of potential uses for the tunnels and their undoubted impact in attracting visitors to Thanet. For more information, see the website at http://ramsgatetunnels.org   

20. Customer Service

Canterbury Christ Church University is offering a networking breakfast at Hall Place Enterprise Centre, Harbledown near Canterbury on Tuesday 6th December 2011 entitled “Customer Service, how can it set you apart from your competitors?”  Delegates will be invited to explore their own experiences of good customer care and service and will learn the different techniques required to meet the demands of businesses as well as the general public. Tickets cost an eminently reasonable £12 for the 0745 hrs to 1015 hrs session and include breakfast and coffee. For more details, contact Jenny Overy direct by telephone to 01227 782672 or by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

21. Manstonians Vote “Yes”

We learn from our good friends at the Isle of Thanet Gazette that the villagers of Manston have voted to support the airport and its plans for development. Manston Parish Council vice-chairman Bill Bell is quoted as saying: “I suppose people feel as if they are part of the airport, it is part of their history”. The villagers of Manston could teach the failing economies of the Eurozone a thing or two. Well done, Bill Bell & Co. If we are to maintain our schools, emergency services, social services, defence commitments and all the heavy demands we place on government at all levels, Chamber policy dictates that it is essential that we support the businesses that fund the public sector. The airport at Manston represents our best bet to create sustainable, worthwhile jobs in Thanet in the medium and long term. Successful airports breed development and industry, creating opportunities for school leavers and mature workers alike. We should cherish the airport owners, Infratil, and remind the doubters that Manston Airport has been in operation since 1915. See http://www.thisiskent.co.uk/Villagers-airport-s-plan-flying-night/story-13884772-detail/story.html

22. A Rounded Judgment

With all the serious local firms of solicitors in the Chamber membership, it is perhaps not surprising that we hear so many stories relating to justice and its various manifestations.  We have our doubts about the following account, but we leave it to readers to judge for themselves. “There are many reasons a divorce might be granted: adultery, a two-year separation by consent, a five-year separation without consent and, of course unreasonable behavior; but, we all have different ideas as to what is unreasonable. One recent case concerned a wife who still rather liked her husband but found his breakfast habits to be insurmountably distasteful. The main cause of her extreme distress was his habit of making coffee and then failing to clean the coffee machine properly. It appears that he ground the beans himself and always left a residual amount of coffee grounds in the electric grinder which infuriated his spouse who felt obliged to clean up after him. The accumulated stress of over 1,500 mornings of such anxiety had reduced her to a state of frenzy which eventually prompted her to seek a divorce. When the case came before the judge, he enquired of the wife’s lawyer just exactly how much coffee was habitually left to be cleaned. After much consideration and detailed discussions with the petitioner, the reply was given: “Around a level teaspoonful, my Lord”. The judge duly considered the new fact in the light of all that had been presented to him. In giving his final judgement, he first expressed his sympathy with the wife. He continued that had the excess coffee amounted to a dessertspoonful or more, his decision may have been different, but on the balance of the evidence before him, he had no option but to conclude that there were insufficient grounds for divorce.”  

© David Foley, November 2011

Thanet & East Kent Insider

6^th August 2011      Issue No.: 167

August 2011. Clients of OFP will be quietly confident that this firm will not be found wanting. Among the hundreds of satisfied buyers in the last few years is developer Keith Beavers who was quoted recently as stating: “Over the last 4 years we have successfully completed more than a dozen schemes with OFP ranging from 2 to 50 units in size. In my dealings with OFP Ltd it is very clear that they have a passion for their business that emanates from the very top of the Company.” To check if you were right about PEFC or BBA, see the website at http://www.ofptimberframe.com. This is a company that cares for its clients, cares for the environment and cares for its local community. Before you ask, OFP is of course a member of the Thanet & East Kent Chamber.

2. Sandwich & Deal Happy

Last Monday, Southeastern Railway Company made a public announcement of details of new high speed services from Sandwich and Deal to London St Pancras to start from 5^th September 2011. Journey times will be slashed to 90 minutes from Sandwich and 84 minutes from Deal. Three weekday early morning trains will operate leaving Sandwich at05:50, 06:18 and 06:50. There are two high speed return trains scheduled to leave St Pancras at 17:40 and 18:40. Additional high speed trains at weekends from Faversham, Margate and Dover mean that train passengers can content themselves with some good news about our rail links. Kent County Council will be funding the new timetable for a year as part of its support programme for the East Kent economy.

3. Chamber Praises Rail Company

Southeastern Railway Company was the subject of congratulations last Monday from a variety of quarters. The Chamber Co-President, Laura Sandys MP warmly welcomed the new high speed services and emphasised the incentive provided to start up companies. As she put it: “Businesses considering setting up in the region – particularly on the Pfizer site – will realise that East Kent is not only a superb place for their employees to live, it is accessible and within easy commuting distance from London”. Building on our links with our good friends at the BBC, we also added our support on Radio Kent, see http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/p00j8frlfast forward to 0:51:40, available for the next four days.

4. Business Networking Breakfast

Our next Business Networking Breakfast is scheduled for Friday, 9^th September 2011. Details will follow in future editions of the Thanet & East Kent Insider.

5. Hartsdown Highlights

We have just received at the Chamber copies of the Hartsdown Flyer of September 2010 and Spring 2011. What amazing magazines. Published by Hartsdown Technical College, the pages are full of lively articles of interest to the casual reader as well as to dyed-in-the-wool educationalists. Did you know about the end of school prom last year which saw school leavers arriving at Hartsdown in apparel which would have graced the Oscars? You would have done if you had seen the BBC South East’s Inside Out programme which featured four of the Hartsdown students preparing for the big night, all beautifully pictured in the Hartsdown Flyer. Some of the vehicles that brought the students to the prom would have brought envious glances from the presenters of Top Gear, especially the Ferrari, Rolls Royce and Aston Martin. Now that is class. The magazine’s pages reveal a wide range of visitors during the term such as X-Factor finalist Ben Mills and Chamber Co-President Roger Gale MP as well as Kent Police Chief, Ian Learmonth and Margate’s Police Community Support Officer, Tony Morris. News about IT Teacher Nicki Maddams winning £36,000 of computer technology from Microsoft sits alongside stories of students visiting, Italy, France and Kenya. Margate Mayor Cllr Mick Tomlinson appears as often as anyone, proving again what a dedicated and hard working front man he is for Margate. It is easy to see why the government places Hartsdown Technology School on its list as one of the fastest improving schools in the country. One of the keys to this success is involvement with the community, as evidenced by the solid support for the Dreamland Trust and the New Year Parade. Principal Andy Somers writes: “Everything we do has one central goal – to raise our students’ aspirations, to help them get the most out of their education and their lives.” Like the Marlowe Academy, St Lawrence College, Dover Girls Grammar School and Canterbury Christ Church University, Hartsdown is one of a growing number of educational establishments seeking to work ever more closely with the East Kent coastal business community. That’s what local companies want to hear, want to see and want to read. We wish all these Chamber members continuing success in the future.

6. Saving Fuel Costs

Regular readers will acknowledge that this Chamber has consistently highlighted the sharp rises in gas, electricity and petrol prices.  Since the launch of our Broadstairs Petrol Index in 2008, we have also raised awareness of the Thanet Surcharge, a grossly unfair addition to the financial burdens on our firms and residents. Last Thursday, motorists in Thanet buying a litre of unleaded petrol at Tesco Extra or Sainsbury in Broadstairs were obliged to pay 2.2p a litre more than customers at Asda in Canterbury. We have found no valid reason for the Thanet Surcharge which varies from 2p to 4p a litre. There may be some good news on the horizon for companies looking to reduce their fuel costs. We are grateful to Martyn Young of Atlantic Business Resources and our friends at the Federation of Small Businesses for the latest updates on a grant of up to £1,000 available to businesses which seek to cut travel costs by adopting new initiatives. Unless a franchisee of a national chain, SMEs trading in East Kent can take advantage of the funding provided by the European Regional Development Fund through the South East ERDF Competitiveness Programme 2007-2013. Grants will only be approved for activities that will have a significant impact on CO2. To see if you qualify, fill out the application form to be found at http://www.sustainableroutes.co.uk/applyor have a quiet word with Martyn Young, tel: 0781 353 7456 who will be pleased to advise. Information on how to reduce your gas and electricity costs is also available from Chamber members David Batten, tel: 01843 581322 and Jeremy Bailey, tel: 01843 588776. The price of one telephone call could you save you a packet and bring that dream of a Morgan Plus 4 a little closer.

7. Review Or Repent

Reports from Bradstowe Chartered Surveyors of Broadstairs suggest that many local companies have not reviewed their commercial insurance cover in the last few years leaving them open to significant risks in the event of a fire or serious damage to their property. Rising reinstatement costs and inadequate insurance make for a dangerous combination for established businesses as well as for start ups and successful companies moving to new leased premises. In an exclusive email to the Chamber, Bradstowe’s Jeremy Parkin writes: “If Chamber Members rent or lease premises, or intend to, they should ensure they do not pick up liabilities for repairs from previous tenants or occupiers. They can achieve this by having a condition report prepared, which can then be attached to the lease, and will cover the tenants in the event that the landlord or his surveyor prepares a schedule of dilapidations. Although the benefits are not immediately apparent financially, at the end of the lease, such a report could save thousands of pounds.” We could not agree more and we are happy to recommend the services of Jeremy who can be contacted by telephone to 01843 603325. All types of insurance cover are available from the Chamber’s own insurers, Millards Insurance. Phil or David in the Sandwich office would also welcome your call by telephone to 01304 613072.

8. More On Planning

Since we reported on the rejection of the proposed hi-tech, all seasons Golf Academy at Manston by the planning committee of Thanet District Council, we have been besieged by emails and telephone calls on other planning matters. We regret that we cannot support or comment on issues raised by companies which are not members of the Chamber. We are nonetheless happy to have received a copy of the speech made by the Leader of the Ashford Borough Council, Cllr Peter Wood on 9^th June 2011. His words are reproduced verbatim: “In terms of tools, the Council’s planning policies, and the Council’s attitude towards planning issues, are of critical importance – especially so given the harsh economic climate that we currently face.  Consequently, I declare here and now that while planning may be regarded as an esoteric art form in some Council, were it ever so in Ashford, then that is certainly no longer the case. Henceforth, in Ashford planning and planning policies are merely tools that serve the prosperity of Ashford Borough and the wellbeing of its residents. To that end we will adopt flexible, pragmatic and, above all, sane policies that serve that objective.” We like the phrase “merely tools that serve the prosperity of Ashford” and note that more start up companies survive five years in the Ashford district than in any other area of Kent.

9. Business Advice Clinics

The Chamber’s free Business Advice Clinics continue to attract companies of all sizes including start ups. It is a condition of the sessions that all discussions and advice remains confidential to the parties involved, but we are delighted with the progress to date. Over 50 sessions have covered nearly every aspect of commercial operations.  Recent visitors have benefited from free legal advice from a senior lawyer, frank comments from a PLC Chief Executive “Whatever you do, don’t do that”, cash flow guidance from a seasoned high street bank manager and sales leads into domestic and international markets. To make a booking, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the subject line “Business Advice Clinic”. Sessions take place on the first Friday of the month in Broadstairs and the first Wednesday of the month in Dover.

10. Make Money From Disability

Companies that ignore the spending power of disabled citizens may be missing out on a potentially lucrative market. Preliminary research by this Chamber finds that in one sector alone, the disability equipment market, UK sales in 2008 amounted to just under £1.6 billion, up from £1.43 billion in 2004. This accounts for 0.5% of total UK retail sales in 2008, see Equipment for the Disabled Market Report, Executive Summary, Key Note 2009. Key Note also predicts that: “The UK market for equipment for the disabled is likely to grow at well above the pace of inflation over the next 5 years”. Local activist Lynne Sutton has drawn our attention to the number of disabled people in the UK, just under 10 million according to the Employers’ Forum on Disability. SWIFT Codes for all Banks in Australia There are clearly advantages to many companies in having registered disabled in their workforce. Certainly, E.On Energy Solutions, part of the E.On group that is backing Chamber member the London Array, has a well defined strategy summarised by its HR Director, Sue LaVerne who writes in the Department for Work and Pensions press release of 27^th July 2011: "At E.ON each of our employees - whether they are disabled or not – brings enthusiasm and dedication to the role they do, so we see no reason why our disabled employees should not have the same opportunities and career progression as their non-disabled colleagues." Such statements must be music to the ears of the Minister for Disabled People, Maria Miller and James Partridge, Chair of the DWP Disability Employer Engagement Steering Group. James Partridge is quoted as saying: “"We, as employers, should not judge a person’s suitability for a role based on their disability. We should instead look at each individual’s ability and focus on what they can bring to our organisations if we provide the support, which in most cases is just about being flexible." The Thanet & East Kent Chamber will continue to monitor and report on the opportunities for companies to work with disabled people.

11. Jobs Fair

We are grateful to Penny Dadds of Job Centre Plus for informing us of a Jobs Fair at Margate Gateway on 7^th September 2011. Open to the public from 1000 hrs to 1500 hrs, the event is free to stand holders who are invited to email Penny for more details, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. All stand holders qualify for entry into a prize draw for a magnificent luxury food hamper containing local produce. Penny also welcomes calls from Chamber members to her mobile telephone number 07500 106 182.

12. Holiday Time

Due to staff holidays, there will be no edition of the Thanet & East Kent Insider next week. Any vital news or important messages will be sent to members by email as a Newsflash.

13. News From Dover

The prospect of Dover People’s Port Trust acquiring control of the Port of Dover moved a step closer last Monday with the publication of the Secretary of State for Transport’s revised criteria applicable to the sale of a trust port under the Ports Act 1991. The first element in the new guidelines is Community Participation. The very first paragraph of the ‘Essential Criteria’ begins with the words: ”The Secretary of State will not approve an application for the sale of a trust port under the 1991 Act unless the sale is considered likely to deliver an enduring and significant level of community participation in the port”. We interpret that to mean that selling off the UK’s busiest passenger port to any overseas investor with a few bob in his pocket is not an option. We also interpret the statement to mean that the DPPTL plan backed by 97.5% of voting local residents, the main union, all the major ferry operators and the majority of the local business community might have a chance. What do you think?

14. More About Getting It Right

Knowing of our interest in getting it right first time, one overseas reader of the Thanet & East Kent Insider chastises us gently for insisting on correct spelling. We all make mistakes, of course we do, but do we want them printed on our letterheads, websites and business cards? He writes that grammar is much more important than spelling and insists that the odd spelling mistake is not important. Recently returned to France from the USA, his email declares: “For example the sign I saw in a lift in my Hotel in America: 'Don't use elevator in case of fire' means the lift is highly dangerous and liable to burst into flames. ‘Dont use the ellavater if theirs a fire' would have been much better.” He’s probably right about that. But we think: ‘Don’t use the elevator if there’s a fire’ is better still.

15. Hungry & Forlorn

A Chamber member of some distinction contacted our news desk last week with an account about a wealthy friend of his. We have our doubts about this story, but we leave it to readers to judge for themselves. As our esteemed member put it: “He made his money in the housing boom of the 70s did our Jack and he’s lived the life of luxury ever since. Anyway, around 18 months ago, at the height of the recession, Jack was driving through one of the poorer, rural areas of Kent. As you know the downturn in farming and the increasing use of technology has left traditional farm labourers hard-pressed. Those without the skills to transfer were finding it difficult to keep heart and soul together. Not that that bothered our Jack, he bought a new Rolls Royce every four years and barely noticed the dent in his wallet. Anyway, as he was motoring serenely at the wheel of his latest pride and joy, he saw a man ahead next to a lay by grabbing a handful of grass and appearing to eat it. Intrigued by this, he stopped his limousine, got out and said: ‘Are you really eating grass? What’s this all about?’. The rather bedraggled rustic said: ‘Times is hard sir. Since we was made redundant from the farm, that’s all we has to eat, grass. You gets used to it. We all do.’ ‘Not to worry’, said Jack, ‘Get in the roller and I’ll take you to my place just down the road and you can really tuck in to a good meal’. ‘That’s very kind of you, sir, but I has my wife and three children down the road and I can’t leave, them can I.’ ‘Of course not,’ said Jack. ‘The more the merrier. Bring them along’. In double quick time, the hungry family eagerly piled into the back of the gleaming Rolls-Royce and within a few minutes they arrived at the imposing gateway that marked the beginning of Jack’s mansion driveway. Jack stopped the car and pointing to the lawn in front of his house, he said; ‘As you can see, the grass here is three feet high. That should keep you going for weeks. Bye’”.

© David Foley, August 2011