Your Business Bulletin from Thanet & East Kent Chamber

Thanet & East Kent Insider

13^th March 2010 Issue No.: 

1. Caught In A Sandwich

There’s no doubt about our lead article this week. It is the Sandwich story. Since 1170, Canterbury has long benefited from the footfall generated following the martyrdom of Archbishop Thomas Becket in its cathedral. Cheddar still attracts cheese lovers from far and wide. Pontefract has its liquorice fans. Bordeaux and the Champagne region have obvious attractions and even Patna draws in the tourists who like rice.  Battenberg for cakes and Cornwall for pasties. The astute reader will notice that we have made no mention of Bakewell. Sandwich has largely missed out on trading on its name. This all changed on Wednesday of last week when Gary Lineker, Jason Button, Frank Lampard, Marco Pierre White, Pamela Anderson and the boy band JLS took a full part in the life of the town as part of a Walkers Crisps advertising campaign. Chamber member Matt Collins of the Bell Hotel tells us that JLS sang Happy Birthday to one of his housekeepers. If any readers have not seen the advertisement recorded on the day, it is available on line at www.walkerscrisps.co.uk   Rumours of Beyoncé coming to Birchington have not been confirmed, but there is no doubt that with the advent of the High Speed rail link, the publicity surrounding the Turner Contemporary and all the news about windfarms, this part of East Kent is getting an increasingly high profile on the national agenda. As it states at the end of the Thanet & East Kent Insider, “It’s happening now, it’s happening in Thanet & East Kent”.



2. But What is Happening With Windfarms?

Thanet Off-shore Windfarm is on schedule to meet its target completion date of October this year when it will become the world’s largest windfarm. The London Array promises to be even bigger. On Wednesday of this week, the London Array Project Director, Richard Rigg, gave a detailed presentation to the Thanet & East Kent Chamber and a selection of invited guests in the magnificent surroundings of Chamber member Court Stairs in Pegwell Bay Road, Ramsgate. With the assistance of Commercial and Operations Manager, Matt Britton, Richard gave a full account of the current stage of development and outlined the opportunities for local companies. The London Array is a consortium consisting of three shareholders. Dong Energy of Denmark has 50%. E.On of Germany owns 30%. The Masdar Initiative of Abu Dhabi is the proud possessor of the remaining 20%.



3. Where is the London Array?

The simple answer is that it is not in London. The windfarm is planned for an area of 245km² located 20km from the Kent and Essex coasts in the outer Thames estuary. It will be connected by undersea cables to a substation at Cleve Hill, near Faversham. Phase One will see the placing of 175 turbines capable of producing 630MW. The next phase will depend on the satisfactory outcome of bird studies, but promises to produce a further 370MW, bringing total capacity to 1,000 MW. Regular readers will recall from the Thanet & East Kent Insider profile of the Thanet Offshore Windfarm, see Edition 65 of 25th June 2009, that TOW should produce 300MW from 100 turbines, sufficient for 240,000 homes. The London Array seeks to supply 750,000 average households. The construction, operations and maintenance base will be in Ramsgate.



4. How Much Will It Cost?

The consortium partners have given the green light to an investment for Phase One of 2.2bn Euros, the equivalent of around £2bn. That is serious money that takes full account of Britain being the windiest country in Europe.



5. What About The Technical Details?

Phase One will see the installation of 175 Siemens 3.6MW wind turbine generators fitted with the new 120m Siemens rotor. There will be two offshore substations, 220 km of subsea 150 kV export cables and 209km of 150kV inter array cables.



6. When Will It Begin?

It already has begun with the start of the onshore construction in July last year. This year will bring the start of the pre-construction surveys, the mobilisation of the offshore construction base and the assembly of the offshore construction team. In 2011, the foundations will be installed with the turbine installation beginning in October. Phase One is expected to be completed by December 2012. Richard Rigg anticipates that visitors flying into the London Olympics over the Thanet and Thames coastline will have a fascinating view of the latest developments in green energy.



7. What Will Happen in Ramsgate Then?

There will be a Construction and Management Base of 2,500m² consisting of a 650m² temporary office of two storeys. As well as a dedicated car park and welfare facilities, there will be provision for a health and safety department, marine coordination and installation management with 40 – 45 people based in the port. The much larger Operations and Maintenance Base will cover 8,000m² in a purpose built two-storey facility offering secure storage, offices, workshop, warehousing and welfare facilities. Alongside will be a mooring for six 12-person vessels. A new pontoon is envisaged and the existing fuel pumping arrangements will be upgraded. As many as 90 people will work from this base. Full-scale control and operations of the windfarm should begin from here in October 2011.



8. What About Jobs?

Around 70 posts will be created in June of this year. The Chamber has been in close consultation with the London Array for more than two years to maximize the benefits of the project for East Kent. The construction, operations and maintenance services are expected to make full use of taxi transfers, hotel accommodation, long term rents, office equipment, cleaning services, waste/recycling operations, safety equipment, catering, crew boat maintenance, fuel supplies, spare parts, crane hire, small tool hire and purchase, building site maintenance, welding and fabricators. All Chamber members not in default of their membership fees on 30 March 2010 will be automatically included on the supply list for the London Array.



9. What About Skills?

The Thanet & East Kent Chamber has attended a series of meetings in the last year to assist the London Array in sourcing local staff with the appropriate skills. We have been working with Kent County Council, Marine South East, Thanet College, Job Centre Plus and private training providers. We are in contact with the key decision-makers and will be seeking every advantage for Chamber members. 



10. Who Has Got The Contracts So Far?

The fact is that the major Tier 1 contractors are mostly from overseas. We expect that the Marine Energy Industry in the UK and indeed, in East Kent will grow from the opportunities presented, as confirmed at the Marine Energy Summit last November, see Edition 84 of the Thanet & East Kent Insider dated 13th November 2009.  For the record, our understanding of the major contractors engaged to date is as follows: Marine Crew and Vessels: MPI, a wholly owned subsidiary with a UK base in North Yorkshire, and A2SEA, 100% owned by Dong Energy of Denmark. Turbines: Siemens Wind Power of Germany. Foundations: Per Aarsleff A/S of Denmark and Bilfinger Berger Ingeniuerbeau GmBH of Germany, UK base in Warrington. Two Offshore Substations: Fabricom, part of the GDF SUEZ Group, listed on the Brussels, Luxembourg and Paris stock exchanges with a UK base in Immingham, Lemants and Geosea of Belgium. 150kV subsea Export Ccables: Nexans Norway AS which unsurprisingly is based in Norway. 33kV Array Cables: JDR Cable Systems of Hartlepool and Littleport, Cambridgeshire (loud cheers everyone). Export and Array Cable Installation; Visser & Smit Marine Contracting of the Netherlands and Global Marine Systems Limited of Chelmsford (getting close).



11. What Happens Next?

A supplier event in late April, see the Thanet & East Kent Insider for details. The London Array acknowledges a responsibility towards the East Kent business community. Over the next few years, the company promises to “maximise the benefits for the local economy” and expects to “make contributions to the local economy through the use of local services and facilities”. The Thanet & East Kent Chamber will be working closely with its members to bring products and services before the key buyers.



12. Visit Kent More

These columns often highlight the advantages of the tourist industry and the key role it plays in the economy of East Kent. Our friends at Visit Kent are offering readers an opportunity to hear industry experts on how to boost your income from the UK’s fifth largest sector. On 30th March at Godinton House and Gardens Ashford, Visit Kent, Tourism South East and Business Link are offering a free advice clinic and workshop. For three hours from 1030am, owners, managers and senior staff in tourism related businesses are invited to hear how an action plan can attract more customers and increase turnover. Lunch and refreshments are included. For more details, contact Daniel Humphreys by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by telephone to 023 8062 5499.



13. Ten Years On

Boys & Maughan, the Thanet based law firm, has been awarded a certificate by Investors in People in recognition of 10 years of continuous attainment of the IiP standard. In receiving the award certificate Andrew Baker, Quality Partner at Boys & Maughan, remarked: “as an organisation that delivers knowledge on behalf of its clients, we have always invested heavily in our staff to enable them to convey their understanding in a people-friendly way”.



14. Dreamland Breakfast

This is a reminder of the Dreamland Wakes Up business breakfast scheduled for Wednesday 24th March 2010, as highlighted in the last two editions of the Thanet & East Kent Insider. The new Dreamland Project Director will be outlining the progress of the world’s first Heritage Amusement Park and all delegates will hear how their company might benefit from the increased footfall and selling opportunities. There will be no admittance without booking. For details, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. the subject line “Dreamland Breakfast”.  We know from an article in the Times of 3 February 2003 that at its height of its popularity “One-fifth of all visitors to Thanet come for Dreamland”.  Traders in Thanet will be looking to the Turner Contemporary, Kent International Airport at Manson, the London Array and the High Speed rail link to take the word ‘regeneration’ out of the land of dreams and into reality. As the largest business support organisation in the area, the Thanet & East Kent Chamber will be part of this transformation. There has never been a better time to participate in our events.



15. Opportunity in Europe

The Chamber has been approached by a French organisation looking for a partner for an INTERREG IVA cross-border project focusing on enhancing business development between the UK and France in the field of biomaterials. The project seeks European funds to establish a Euroregional cluster. Any medical, pharmaceutical or biosciences company is invited to contact the Thanet & East Kent Chamber with an expression of interest. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the subject line “Biomaterials INTERREG IVA”.



16. Going Down To The Beach

Do you know Spike Milligan’s well-known parody of a John Masefield poem, “I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky; I left my shoes and socks there - I wonder if they're dry”? Are you thinking, ”What on earth is a respectable Chamber of Commerce doing wittering on about poetry when I have a VAT return to complete before this evening’s post?” A fair point, but you might just know somebody who is looking for a job on the beach or near it. Thanet District Council has a vacancy for a young person aged 18 – 24,  or older if a resident of Margate Central, Cliftonville West, Ramsgate Eastcliff, Central Harbour, Newington or Dane Valley wards, for a job as a Thanet Coast Project Support Assistant. Reporting to the Thanet Coast Project Manager, the fortunate occupier of this position will spend some time in the Council’s offices in Margate but also a pleasant few hours on the local beaches where the main duties will be “to support the Thanet Coastal Project Staff working on public, volunteer and community activities with occasional help at environmental and coastal-related events”. There is no mention of whether the successful candidates should supply their own bucket and spade, but the job looks like a good opportunity to start a career in the growing sector of environmental care. More details available from the Thanet Coast Project, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or telephone 01843 577672 or 01843 577409.



17. A Party To Remember

In the last few weeks, we have featured the new daily £24.99 Flybe flights to Edinburgh from Kent International Airport at Manston. The reaction from Chamber members has been uniformly positive and we expect a brisk trade when the service begins on 27th May this year. Fans of single malt whisky and those who know how to enjoy themselves at the company’s expense might be interested to learn of the experiences of our new friends at the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce. After receiving its Royal Charter in 1786, one of its first tasks was to appoint a lighthouse man on May Island. The annual salary offered was £7 per year, a reasonable sum for a year’s work at the end of the eighteenth century. The committee of the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce that had to make the decision on which candidate appoint took their duties very seriously; so seriously in fact, that the drinks bill that accompanied their deliberations amounted to £12. From this, it can be deduced that the Edinburgh Chamber has always known how to enjoy itself and how to generate income. We celebrate our new link with this organisation and look forward to promoting trade with the members of the Thanet & East Kent Chamber. By the way, if you are thinking of getting a Royal Charter for yourself, the Privy Council Office tells us that you should have “at least 5,000 members” and “the corporate members of the institution should be qualified to at least first degree level in a relevant discipline”.  



18. 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

5^th March 2010 Issue No.: 

1. Edinburgh & East Kent Exclusive

The Thanet & East Kent Chamber is looking to develop commercial links with South-East Scotland following the announcement of £24.99 flights to Edinburgh from Kent International Airport from 27th May 2010. We are delighted to find strong fellow feeling from one of the most prestigious business support organisations In Scotland. In an exclusive message, the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce congratulates the Thanet & East Kent Chamber on our efforts to promote trade with our Northern neighbours. Ron Hewitt, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the announcement of Fly-be’s scheduled service from Kent International to Edinburgh airport.  He said, “With connections going back before the Battle of Britain when RAF Turnhouse (Edinburgh) joined RAF Manston (Kent) in the front line, it’s a great lift to see a new link being established in very different circumstances.  That this is the first scheduled service from Manston since 2005, joining existing international cargo, charter and maintenance business, is a great addition to Edinburgh’s hundred plus services.  It is no accident that Kent International wants to link with the UK’s second most successful financial centre, and we are keenly aware of the opportunities with the development of the High Speed Rail links and the value of Kent’s businesses from the Medway to the East Coast, that this is an important opportunity for both ends of the link to develop rewarding relations.  Our congratulations to Fly-be for their initiative and to Thanet & East Kent Chamber for their supporting role in joining the South-East of Scotland and England in this way.” We thank you warmly Mr Hewitt and we join you in the congratulations to Kent International Aiport and Flybe for what we hope will be the start of an increasing number of routes linking Manston to new trading partners.



2. Dreamland Business Breakfast

This is a reminder of the March Chamber business breakfast which should be of interest to any business or organisation interested in the regeneration of coastal towns. Amanda Cotterill, Chairman of Visit Kent, see item 6 below, tells us that tourism is the fifth largest industry in the UK. The advent of cheap holidays to Spain in the 1960s saw the beginning of a decline in traditional seaside holidays at East Kent resorts from which our coastal towns are only now just beginning to recover. Central to that resurgence are the new facilities such as the Turner Contemporary, a revitalised Dover Castle and the promise of a new Dreamland Heritage Park. Until 2002, Dreamland was responsible for 20% of the visitors to Thanet, see The Times of 3 February 2003. On Wednesday 24th March 2010, the new Dreamland Trust Project Director, Jonathan Bryant, will be speaking about the “the world's first heritage amusement park” at Dreamland, Margate. Local retailers and suppliers are set to benefit significantly from the increased footfall and boost to trade. The Dreamland Wakes Up business breakfast will start at 0730 hrs at the Fayreness Hotel, Kingsgate, near Broadstairs. Tickets cost £12.00 for Chamber members and £15.00 for non-members. Payment is accepted in cash or by cheque on the door. Booking is essential. To reserve a place, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the subject line ‘Dreamland Breakfast’ and the names of those wishing to attend. Non-members should give full company contact details.



3. Our Schools, Our Future

Chamber Member King Ethelbert School is delighted with the success of its new building which opened last January. Pupils are benefiting from a new learning space that is proving ideal for art, creative design, ICT, music and food technology. With further developments promised, King Ethelbert’s in Birchington is heading for the future with confidence. Head of School, Ms K Grieg is justifiably happy with the response from staff and pupils and wrote recently, “I am always very proud to hear so many positive comments from the public when our students are in the community and I know they are a credit to our school. I would like to take this opportunity to thank staff for all the many activities they provide and to thank you for your much appreciated

support of everything we do.” Schools everywhere in the UK are being exhorted to be more ‘business-like’. Kate Greig’s words would have graced any corporate brochure.  Kate and Executive Head Paul Luxmoore are building a school that is rapidly gaining the reputation as one of the best performing high schools in the South East. The OFSTED report of 19 November 2009 included the comments, "King Ethelbert School continues to provide an outstanding quality of education for its students. It rightly describes itself as a school where 'everybody is valued and supported, everybody is important and everybody works together', making the school an excellent place to be. A shared sense of purpose exudes across the school, and mutual respect and understanding underpin all its work. Common goals and hard work towards them are the norm.” It doesn’t get much better than that.



4. Business South East

The Chamber is grateful to the Enterprise Europe Network for an update on business confidence in the South East.  We learn from their latest publication that that under a third of companies expect a measurable improvement in 2010. The Federation of Small Businesses reported that just under a half (48%) of companies experienced a fall in sales.  Despite this sobering analysis, there was an improvement in turnover from 30% of those surveyed. The outlook for exports is sunnier in almost every respect. The Confederation of British Industry declared last month that the volume of exports had increased in the previous quarter and is expected to increase by 8% in the following three months. 



5. Proposed Encampment in Hersden

The Chamber has received many enquiries for information about a planning application at Island Road, Hersden, Westbere for what is officially described as, “Proposed 25 plot gypsy caravan site including mobile homes, touring caravans and utility sheds”. Mindful of the sensitivities involved in this controversial proposal, one Chamber member declared recently, “I am deeply concerned for the security to my property, and the knock on effect of my hopefully growing business.” The Chamber will be making its own submission to Canterbury City Council and welcomes the view of Chamber members which should be addressed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the subject line “Planning application CA//10/00232”. We also encourage all readers of the Thanet & East Kent Insider to submit their own opinion direct in writing by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by letter to Development Control, Canterbury City Council, Military Road, Canterbury, CT1 1YW. More details are available on the planning website at http://www2.canterbury.gov.uk/planning/acolnetcgi.cgi?ACTION=UNWRAP&RIPNAME=Root.PgeResultDetail&TheSystemkey=76088   A list of associated documents can be found at http://www2.canterbury.gov.uk/planning/acolnetcgi.cgi?ACTION=UNWRAP&RIPNAME=Root.PgeAniteDocs&TheSystemkey=76088 and six pages of maps are available at http://www2.canterbury.gov.uk/planning/anite/fetch.aspx?R=eAX7sMghONCRkUf1fNkgvmwTfvs9j8R1aX0ekx44c4tnFs23SGoEHhs600euL5eeB+o66/NloGGU3UP9tFRDP6CUMgiNoAetx3TZXz8sBBw= The South East England Regional Assembly, SEERA, has produced a fact sheet entitled “Meeting the needs of Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople” which is available for downloading at http://www.southeast-ra.gov.uk/documents/consultations/5/G&T%20factsheet%20(Feb09).pdf  Readers will note the following statement by SEERA: “However, racist representations need not be made intentionally or with malice, it is enough for a representation to be offensive to an ethnic group or make negative assumptions about them. A representation may therefore discriminate against Gypsies and Travellers, by assuming or implying that negative behaviour, such as fly tipping or criminal activities are typical of all Gypsies and Travellers and are ‘likely’ to occur if an authorised site is established. A comment stating or implying that all members of the Gypsy and Traveller communities partake in antisocial behaviour or have a propensity to violence is also discriminatory. It is also discriminatory to assume or imply, without supporting evidence that all Gypsies and Travellers do not pay council tax and constitute a financial burden on local authorities or society as a whole.”



6. Thanet Voluntary Sector

The Thanet & East Kent Chamber was a guest at the Thanet Voluntary & Community Sector Forum of 24th February which, as always, was organised with impeccable efficiency by Lisa-Maria Browning. Chairman Steve Ward thanked Chamber members Pfizer Social Club and Thorley Taverns for their support during the year. He was particularly pleased to report an increase in funds from a mere £600 in 2007 to a current much healthier £12,000. Among the speakers was Christine Jenkins of Pfizer Ltd who gave a most useful step-by-step account on how, why and when Pfizer makes funds available for local initiatives. With a brief to “improve the health of people in East Kent” Christine outlined to an attentive audience the exemplary community support Pfizer offers. Readers familiar with the impact this company has made on the East Kent will know that respect for the community in which it operates has been genuine, significant and very much in accordance with its corporate values which state, “Pfizer plays an active role in making every country and community in which it operates a better place to live and work, knowing that the ongoing vitality of our host nation and local communities has a direct impact on the long term health of our business” If you are one of the companies that has recently been besieged by unsolicited mail from companies or business support organisations purporting to be what they are not, you may take comfort from Catherine’s advice on the temptation to misuse office software, “Never send a round robin letter, it will go in the bin”.  So say all of us.



6. East Kent Area Reception

The Chairman of Kent County Council, John Davies and his charming wife hosted a splendid event at Thanet College last Wednesday evening. A metal detector on the door would have enjoyed few silent moments as the guests arrived wearing their chains of office and colourful badges. Speeches were short and praise for the resilience of Kent companies extensive. John Davies declared that his theme for the year was “Backing Kent business” and he was true to his word as guests were treated to produce from the Garden of England. Sue Buss, out-going Principal of Thanet College, took justifiable pride in the pre-eminence of the catering students that had graduated from the college to prestigious positions at Buckingham Place, Eastwell Manor and embassies overseas.   Sue also noted the many successes in other departments, including the warm relations with local companies which continue to inform and strengthen the college’s programmes for employers. The Chairman of Visit Kent, Amanda Cotterill, outlined her personal commitment to promoting tourism in East Kent and gave a rousing account of the opportunities available to local businesses in the next few years. Further contributions from Alex King, KCC Deputy Leader, and Kevin Lynes, head of KCC Regeneration and Economic Development, focused on the unique nature of East Kent and said much to change the minds of any remaining critics who perceive KCC to be unduly responsive to the needs of companies in West Kent rather than their county cousins in the East. Thanet & East Kent Chamber and Dover District Chamber of Commerce and the FSB were well represented as the leading business support organisations in East Kent. In a succession of informal discussions during the evening , the needs and interests of this Chamber’s members were cogently presented to the great and good among the public officials present.



7. Broadband

East Kent companies are suffering from slow broadband speeds. That is the conclusion from an informal Chamber survey of companies in Thanet and is supported by anecdotal evidence from enquiries. One Chamber member reports, “The low speeds available to my company restrict its future plans for development. It could be a deciding factor in relocating outside of Thanet in the future.” These words from the managing Director of a first-class media company represent a worrying development for all companies in East Kent. Internet usage will only increase as an increasing number of government departments move away from paper-based communication systems and the private sector upgrades to more memory hungry applications. Overseas competitors benefiting from ’leap-frog technology’ are able to build superfast broadband connections into the infrastructure of their business parks and urban developments. A little known fact is that there is a super fast cable running through East Kent, owned and operated by Chamber member, Sota Solutions. A total IT solutions company, Sota has put corporate needs at the heart of its progress over the last 15 years. Sota promises “to meet and surpass the expectations of the modern forward-thinking enterprise.” Find out more by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or give him a call to tel: 01795 413500.



8. KCA Ramsgate

The Chamber received late notice of the KCA's Psychological Therapy Service Centre Open Day, but we are still keen to bring this to the attention of any early birds who arrive in their offices on Monday morning with an open mind and an interest in ‘mild to moderate mental health’ and ‘substance abuse’. The KCA centre at 38 West Cliff Road, Ramsgate, Kent CT11 9NT begins activities with a formal welcome at 1030 hrs followed by briefings, short talks and workshops on issues such as Managing Anxiety and Feel Well. Lunch is offered to all delegates at 1230 hrs.



9. Cheque It Out Again

Our campaign with the FSB against the phasing out of cheques by UK banks has received positive support from many different sources. Feedback to date suggests that the main threat is to small businesses and voluntary organisations that do not have the electronic transfer systems enjoyed by larger organisations. Some may disagree with the view that “the decision-makers in London are so immersed in the big business world of multi-currency electronic bank transfers that they have no idea of what affects the lives of ordinary folk.” But many residents outside large conurbations will sympathise with the conclusion that “Many villages which have lost there post office have not only been deprived of a useful retail establishment but a welcome social market place where community values are strengthened and neighbourhood fellowship enhanced.” Perhaps the most heartfelt comment comes from Linda Durkin in Faversham who writes, “I have felt in despair recently since I heard about the suggestion of scrapping cheques. I work for [name supplied] in Faversham and quite frankly we work with cheques every day. There are certain complications with using on-line banking for us, not least dealing with the elderly.”   If you would like to join the campaign to retain cheques, there is still time to sign the petition by clicking on the link at http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/KEEP-CHEQUES/  Fifty signatures have been added since we highlighted the issue in the last edition of the Thanet & East Kent Insider which amounts to just 2.5% of our readership. Come on key decision-makers in East Kent, start clicking.



10. Port of Dover

With our associates at the Dover District Chamber of Commerce, this Chamber is playing an active part in the Port of Dover privatisation proposals. The Chamber Port Advisory Group (CPAG) held its inaugural session at the County Hotel Dover yesterday and received submissions from large, medium and small companies as well as community groups. The sum of £400m is required to develop the port. Since the borrowings of the Dover Harbour Board were included in the Public Sector Borrowing requirement, any funding that leads to an increase in the UK’s deficit is likely to have to compete against the needs of a host of requirements from the public sector including hospitals, schools and the armed forces. The Dover Harbour Board concludes that “Strong indications have been given to the Board that such borrowing would be extremely difficult, if not impossible to achieve in the present climate and for the foreseeable future”. In such circumstances, the Board prefers to fashion its own future with a defined plan rather than have one thrust upon it. Given the strategic position of Dover and its unique position in the local regional and national economy, every East Kent company stands to be affected to a greater or lesser extent. The Board states in its proposals that, “The Port organisation itself employs around 350 staff; however, the Port activity supports some 20,000 jobs, directly, indirectly and induced. 6,000 of those jobs are direct. The 2008 Arup independent report, commissioned by Dover Harbour Board, stated that the Port of Dover contributes almost £500

million annually to the South-East economy in the form of employee and visitor spending.” The proposals submitted by the current management of the Port of Dover envisage the creation of a wholly owned operating company (Opco) as a company limited by shares through a voluntary scheme under the Ports Act 1991. This would be approved and confirmed by the Secretary of State for Transport. The Board would then transfer to Opco all functions, rights, liabilities and property of the Board. Staff would transfer into Opco. Opco would then own and run the Port operation. The Board’s shareholding in Opco would then be disposed of to three entities; Employee Share Ownership Trust (ESOT), Port of Dover Community Trust (PDCT) and Private Sector Investors. The Thanet & East Kent Chamber welcomes attributable views on the proposals. With our associates at the Dover District Chamber of Commerce we will be making a formal submission on behalf of the East Kent coastal business community. Details of the proposals for restructuring can be found at http://www.doverport.co.uk/_assets/client/images/collateral/Briefing%20document.pdf Details of the plans for the new Cruise Terminal are available at http://www.doverport.co.uk/_assets/client/images/collateral/Our%20plan%20for%20the%20next%20generation%20T2.pdf



11. Premises Wanted

The Chamber has been approached by an organisation which is looking to rent, lease or buy premises in Thanet which could be used as a café with a function room, kitchen facilities, disabled access and a toilet or space to install one.  The building needs to be on a public transport route, preferably on or near a busy high street. The organisations can undertake some refurbishment if required. Please email any suggestions to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the subject line “Premises available”.



12. Ministerial Visit

Last Thursday, the Thanet & East Kent Chamber was invited to Margate Media Centre to meet Jim Knight MP, Minister of State for Employment and Welfare Reform. On a visit at short notice, the Minister was welcomed by Roger Latchford, Deputy Leader of Thanet District Council, Cllr Jo Gideon, Chairman of Thanet Works, Richard Samuels. TDC Chief Executive and Jacqui Ward Jacqui Ward - Integrated Employment & Skills Manager as well as board members of Thanet Works before joining some of the apprentices currently benefiting from the programmes funded by the Working Neighbourhoods and Future Jobs Funds. Accompanied by special Advisor, Catherine McDonald, the minister received a full briefing on the progress to date of Thanet Works and an unabridged insight into the local economy of the East Kent coastal towns.  As a former Minister for Schools and Learners, he clearly enjoyed the opportunity to meet participants in the Thanet Works programme and to learn of the progress being made in some of the most deprived areas of Thanet.     



13. In The End

During an average week, this Chamber receives many anecdotes, images and video links from members and associates for which we are most grateful. Some of them are entirely unsuitable for publication. Quite frankly, the one about the Scotsman and the hoover is probably also physically impossible, but decorum dictates that we cannot give you the details of this and anyway if he had bought an upright cleaner, it would never have happened. From time to time, we receive comments on a higher plane reflecting on the human condition and worthy almost of comparison with that great Thanet philosopher, the Venerable Elvis, whose words occasionally grace these columns. The Venerable Elvis is Kent’s only remaining hermit who lives in isolated contemplation emerging but rarely from his hovel and then only to comment on an exclusive basis to the Thanet & East Kent Insider. Thus, it is with especial pleasure that we treat readers to an insight from a Chamber member who owns and administers a considerable estate of commercial property in Thanet. He gives us a pithy statement on mortality as well as a warning to anyone offered a lift by the senior member of his family. “I want to die peacefully in my sleep, like my grandfather. Not screaming and yelling like the passengers in his car.” 



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

27^th February 2010 Issue No.: 

1. Dreamland Wakes Up

The new Dreamland Trust Project Director, Jonathan Bryant, will be outlining plans to restore Dreamland as “the world's first heritage amusement park” at a Thanet & East Kent Chamber business breakfast on Wednesday 24th March 2010. With the project already underway following the award last November of £3.7m by the Department for Culture Media and Sport, Jonathan will outline the latest details that promise to give a huge boost to in-bound tourism in Thanet. Widely viewed as the ideal man for the job, Jonathan brings with him senior management experience at Birmingham’s Thinktank Science Museum, the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust, Dundee’s Contemporary Art Gallery and a host of community initiatives. He is convinced that the new Dreamland should be run ‘as a business that stands on its own two feet’. Local businesses are set to benefit significantly from the increased footfall and raised profile. The Dreamland Wakes Up business breakfast will start at 0730 hrs at the Fayreness Hotel, Kingsgate, near Broadstairs. Tickets cost £12.00 for Chamber members and £15.00 for non-members. Payment is accepted in cash or by cheque on the door. To book a place, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the subject line ‘Dreamland Breakfast’ and the names of those wishing to attend. Non-members should give full company contact details.  



2. It’s Free and It’s Available Now

Chamber member, John Harrington of Harrington Associates, is offering Chamber members a free business health check to prepare themselves for the spring and summer season. As John puts it, ‘Every business that has made it this far should be making sure that it has the tank full and the resources to go the final mile; many will be faced with challenges they have not come across before and could, without taking the appropriate action, bring down an otherwise potentially successful company.’ In an email to the Thanet & East Kent Chamber, John offers to discuss any aspects of business in complete confidence and to produce a ‘a bullet point summary of the key aspects and what should be focused on going forward.’ This Chamber has heard first class reports of the assistance that John has given to local companies including reducing one firm’s inventory from £60,000 to £2,000 with significant associated cost savings. Reducing costs and increasing turnover for members are key objectives and of the Thanet & East Kent Chamber and we are happy to recommend John’s services. Chamber members are invited to drop him a line by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or give him a call on 07810 713023.



3. Cheque It Out

Our friends at the Federation of Small Businesses have drawn our attention to the possible removal of cheques from the banking system. Malcolm Bennett advises us that at least one bank is withdrawing cheque guarantee cards from 22 March 2010 which he feels will accelerate the departure of the paying facility on which many small companies depend. He advocates action now. Petitions on the Number 10 website require 500 signatures to pass the necessary threshold to generate an official response. If you feel strongly about this issue, you might like to add your name to some of the recognisable ones from the East Kent coastal business community who have already given their support by clicking on the link at http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/KEEP-CHEQUES/You have until 12 April 2010 to register. At the time of writing, 77 signatures are listed.



4. Jersey, Bergerac and Wham! 

Fans of Bergerac the TV series that ran for ten years and eighty-seven episodes until 1991 will be delighted to know that flights to Jersey are available from 29th May to 11 September from Kent International Airport at Manston and every Saturday from 10 July to 11 September from London Ashford Airport at Lydd. Both of these East Kent airports offer easy access and on-site parking with few of the anxieties or delays associated with Gatwick and Heathrow. The Jersey-based C. I. Travel Group is convinced that the new service will find a ready client base. Managing Director, Robert Mackenzie, bases his conclusion on ‘many more holiday makers deserting the Euro-zone in favour of a holiday closer to home’. Jo Oliver of Lydd Airport sees the initiative as a ‘fantastic opportunity for both the airport and communities across Kent and East Sussex’ . Star of the Bergerac series, John Nettles, is more familiar today as Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby in Midsomer Murders, but die-hard fans of his efforts in the lower ranks in Jersey will have no difficulty in recognisingSt Helier's Royal Square and the scenes where Jim Bergerac and millionaire Charlie Hungerford (Terence Alexander) enjoyed their humorous banter. Jersey is a small island measuring around nine miles by five. As a Crown Dependency, Jersey has a Lieutenant Governor, Andrew Ridgway. This former Colonel of the Royal Tank Regiment should not be confused with Andrew Ridgeley who sang in Wham! with George Michael. Early arrivals at the airport are not encouraged to sing ‘Wake Me Up Before You Go Go.’ To book your flights to Jersey, telephone 0844 415 6653 for Lydd flights or 0871 282 08996 for Manston.



5. Bye-Bye Sick Notes

We have been advised by the Department for Work and Pensions that sick-note culture is due for a radical change. From 6 April 2010, sick notes will be replaced by fit notes with doctors instructed to advise if a patient may be fit for work and to offer advice on the effects of their health condition. We learn that ‘Doctors will have the option to advise that their patient would be able to work, subject to the employer’s agreement, if temporary changes such as reduced working hours or amended duties could be accommodated.’ The government estimates that the British economy will benefit by £240m over the next ten years. Doctors will be able to advise that a worker claiming to be sick may still attend the workplace with the agreement of the employer subject to certain conditions such as altered hours, amended duties, workplace adaptions or a phased return to work. For information on how the new system might affect your business, see www.dwp.gov.uk/fitnote for details.



6. How To Promote Your Business

The Thanet Business Exhibition, open to all East Kent Companies, will take place at Westwood Cross, Broadstairs on 11 June 2010. The 2010 Chamber Golf Day will be at the Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club on 8 October 2010. For details of both events, contact the Thanet & East Kent Marketing & Membership Officer, Graham Rayner, by telephone to 078998 73535.



7. Save Energy, Save Costs

The British Chambers of Commerce has launched a partnership with the Carbon Trust to promote energy savings. Loans of between £3,000 and £500,000 are available for energy saving equipment that is intended to pay its way within four years from purchase. Details are available at http://www.britishchambers.org.uk/energysavinghub  The Thanet & East Kent Chamber membership includes a variety of specialists in cost reduction, all of whom offer a free initial consultation. For more information, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the subject line ‘Energy Cost Reduction’.



8. Pensions

Mick Rendell of Chamber member Acorn Bowman FIM Limited reminds us that there is no limit to the amount you can contribute to pensions but there is a limit on the amount of contribution that can benefit from tax relief and this will be the greater of £3,600 or 100% of your relevant UK earnings, subject to the new rules for higher earners. Mick is happy to advise on the level of contribution necessary to fund for specific pension and tax-free lump sum benefits. He notes that any personal contributions would be paid net of basic rate tax, with any higher rate tax relief being obtained via a self assessment tax return. Individual Savings Accounts limits will be raised to £10,200 from £7,200 from 6 April 2010. Anyone over 50 years old could have benefited from he higher rates since 6 October 2009. Mick would be pleased to discuss your particular needs and can be reached by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by telephone to 01843 609365.



9. Office Supplies Offer

David Burgess of Chamber member Eurostat Office Supplies has a special offer for readers of the Thanet & East Kent Insider. During the month of March 2010 he promises, ‘Buy 3 items from a long list of everyday products and you will get the cheapest item free of charge’. Too good to be true? Email David to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or telephone him on 01843 580960 for the good news. You might like to mention that you read about the offer in the Thanet & East Kent Insider.


10. PAYE Up or Else

We are grateful to Mark Hurdman of Levicks Chartered Accountants for alerting our readers to the penalties that HM Revenue and Customs will start to charge for late PAYE payments. Mark writes that ‘The penalties will be a percentage of the amount paid late starting at 1% increasing to 4% depending on the number of late payments in the year. There will also be penalties of 5% if any of the PAYE due is still not paid after 6 months and again after 12 months.’ Mark continues by giving us chapter and verse on the payment deadlines which will be ‘22nd of the month when paying electronically, 19th of the month when paying by cheque. If, however, these dates fall on a weekend or bank holiday your payment needs to reach HMRC by the last working day before deadline. If the amount you pay is likely to average less than £1,500 a month you can opt to pay quarterly.’ Still confused? Give Mark a call on 01843 862716 for an explanation.



11. Vacancies for Jobs in Thanet

Jo Moore, Children’s Services Coordinator at East Kent Mencap, tells us of two vacancies following the award of £4.9m by the Big Lottery Young People’s Fund. There is a full-time post as Regional Coordinator and a part-time position as Regional Learning Disability Consultant. For details and job descriptions, see www.mencap.org.uk/jobs. Readers are reminded that the following Chamber members specialise in finding key employees with the right skills, experience and background. Adecco Recruitment tel: 01843 609292; Connexions Partnership Kent & Medway Ltd tel: 01622 607578; HRGO tel: 01843 591798; Maximus Employment & Training tel: 01843 808410; Medics on the Move tel: 01843 599918; Morgan Jones Recruitment Consultants Ltd tel: 01843 604890; ILM tel: 01843 861616 and TNG (Avanta Enterprises) tel: 01843 570250;



12. Flybe Flight Stimulator

The imminent prospect of £24.99 flights operated by Flybe to Edinburgh from Kent International Airport at Manston, as reported in last week’s Thanet & East Kent Insider, has stimulated a lively correspondence from the membership. This has included general comments on flying such as ‘it was an optimist who invented the aeroplane and a pessimist who invented the parachute’. Closer to the route in question was an email from a regular air passenger who gave a remarkable account of an announcement on an aeroplane landing in Scotland. Allegedly, a stewardess is reported to have said over the microphone, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Glasgow, we hope you enjoyed your flight and thank you for flying Easyjet. If you didn't enjoy your flight, thank you for flying Ryanair.’ Both these companies have featured in the news recently and not just in the travel section. The recent spat following the publication by Ryanair of an advert featuring Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannu as Pinocchio is perhaps unlikely to be resolved by Ryan Air Chief Executive Michael Ryan’s challenge to Sir Stelios to a race around Trafalgar Square or a bout of Sumo wrestling. Flybe may not appear in the gossip columns as often as some of its rivals, but it flies to more UK airports than any other airline. Flybe’s Chief Commercial Officer, Mike Rutter, contented himself with a relatively sedate comment on the new East Kent destination, ‘We expect our new route to be popular both with business travellers and with those planning their holidays or weekends away and wanting their budgets to go as far as possible and we’d advise people to book early to take advantage of the lowest possible fares.’ There’s no invitation to mud-wrestling there and not a word about racing around Ramsgate harbour in the nude. But then, as the former Group Marketing Director for Securicor and the UK Head of Marketing for Ray-Ban sunglasses, Mike Rutter knows how to stay safe and play it cool at the same time. The lad will go far.



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’s1930s 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

20^th February 2010 Issue No.: 

1. Edinburgh in 80 Minutes

Kent International Airport at Manston has begun its much heralded expansion of passenger services with the announcement of flights to Edinburgh. In writing to the Chamber, the airport informed us that the tickets are now available for travel from 27th May this year at www.flybe.com at a price of £24.99 including taxes and charges.  A quick check on the rail fare to Edinburgh from Ramsgate departing on Tuesday morning at 0656 hrs revealed that a single standard seat costs £158.50 and the journey takes 6 hours and 41 minutes - and that is using the new High Speed service to London. The Flybe service promises a mere 80-minute flight on its fuel efficient 78-seat Bombardier Q-400 turboprop aircraft which will depart Manston at 1245 hrs from Sunday to Friday and at 1645 hrs on Saturdays. The launch has already stimulated new business. The Thanet & East Chamber is liaising with one local company about to sign a lucrative contract with its Edinburgh counterpart. This is great news for the East Kent coastal business community we represent. Congratulations to KIA and Flybe and MORE OF THE SAME PLEASE SIR.



2. Approaching Centenary

This is the 96th edition of the Thanet & East Kent Insider. The weekly bulletin has a growing readership of key decision-makers across Kent. Contributions from Chamber members are essential if we are to ensure that we meet the needs and interests of the East Kent coastal business community. In our 100th edition, we would like to feature some of your comments on the publication. If you have found any articles to be to your taste or have enjoyed any particular aspect of the bulletin, do let us know. We will not be annoyed at receiving frank criticism nor be embarrassed by effusive praise. We just want to know what you think so that we can serve you better.   



3. Margate in Focus

Last Thursday evening, Margate Town Partnership (MTP) celebrated its newly reconstituted board with an evening meeting in Margate Town Hall. Under the austere gaze of robed Margate Mayors of the past displayed in profusion on the walls, the invited guests gave voice to a deep-seated passion to see Margate flourish. The dynamic new Chairman, Terry Painter, orchestrated the meeting with his customary flair and ensured that all those present were included in his vision for a strong commercial future for the town. Fundamental differences in national politics were set aside in a shared enthusiasm to work together on local regeneration. Labour stalwart and board member of the Margate Old Town Action Group, Cllr Irish Johnson, joined forces with the Conservative Deputy Mayor of Margate, Cllr Mike Tomlinson, in promoting an agenda of responsible change. Lucy Tuson, Thanet District Council’s Economic Development Officer, was the main speaker and gave a succinct account of the Shop Local First Initiative targeted at retailers in Birchington, Broadstairs, Margate, Northdown Road and Ramsgate. Thanet & East Kent Chamber members John Harrison and Frank Thorley gave particularly lucid accounts of their own determination to raise income levels in Margate with property very much at the centre of the agenda. Rebecca Smith of Chamber member Thanet Gazette took careful note of the positive stories and the £2,500 available to prospective retailers willing to move into an empty shop in Margate or Ramsgate. The Turner Contemporary was well represented. There was unanimous agreement that the establishment of this world-class facility on Margate’s seafront will raise the quality threshold for all local traders seeking to benefit from the well-heeled visitors attracted by the £17.4m gallery.



4. Thanet Earth

The Thanet & East Kent Chamber hosted a well-attended presentation on Thanet Earth last year and these pages regularly chart the company’s progress. If world-class developments are a theme this week, then we must turn our attention again to this triumphant example of green science in action at the cutting-edge of hydroponics which expects to deliver 15% of the UK’s supply of tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers. An investment of over £80m is a wonderfully welcome addition to our local economy. Fresca provided 50% of the capital and three salad growing companies furnished the other half; Kaaij Greenhouses UK Ltd, Rainbow Growers and A&A. Newly installed Managing Director, Ian Craig, is looking forward to expanding the business. He brings with him extensive experience of senior decision-making roles in the fresh produce industry. In a letter to the Thanet & East Kent Chamber, Ian acknowledges the solid progress made in the last three years and relishes the challenge of bringing the company ‘to the next level of maturity and success’. With a strong and established management team in support, Ian is confident of building on the excellent platform provided by his predecessor, Steve McVickers. This Chamber thanks Steve for his first class backing and understanding of local businesses and looks forward to working with Ian in continuing the remarkable story of this world class business that has revolutionised greenhouse food production in the UK.



5. Predict & Prevent - Again

Chamber member, Jon Cleverdon of Jon Cleverdon Chartered Accountants tel: 01843 866599, publishes an excellent guide to help companies prepare for changes in legislation relating to accounting practices. With perhaps an acknowledgment of the rich maritime history of the East Kent coastal business community, he writes, ‘A sailor without a destination cannot hope for a favourable wind’. Jon recommends that every company should have a clear idea of its Key Performance Indicators and where it should be a year from now. In other words, if you do not know where you are going, you will never arrive where you should be. Jon also provides some helpful tips on how to generate new business from social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and My Space and offers some recommendations for ‘Useful IT Tools For 2010’. His list includes www.printanywhere.comwhich allows you print your documents on a remote printer anywhere in the world;  www.crossloop.comwhich connects computer screens for training and support; www.zhornsoftware.co.uk/stickies which offers electronic ‘post it notes’ and www.smart-survey.co.uk which allows you to offer satisfaction feedback and information request forms over the web. If you have ever wondered if the email you sent was ever read, check out the site at www.msgtag.com which allows you to deliver emails and not just send them. If you download the free software, you can arrange to receive an automatic acknowledgement when an email you send is opened.  This is all clever stuff which was not possible in the days of quill pens and leather-bound ledgers.



6. Monster Graphics

‘Making it big’ may be the dream of every start-up company but it is a daily occurrence at Monster Graphics, tel: 01843 853311. Specialists in producing large format designs, this Ramsgate company lives up to its name with a wide range of services for those advertising opportunities that require something to stand out from the crowd. Full colour reinforced PVC banners that resist the weather and displays for hoardings are all in the catalogue of products available from Damien and Chrissy Clarke. Add to these, roller banners, magnetic signs, digital wallpaper, textile flags and a 30ft x 10ft sign for that roadside splash and you can see why companies from as far away as Barcelona come to Ramsgate for their monster printing needs. With a minimum order value of £35 plus VAT and delivery, Chrissy and Damien are confident of meeting the needs of local companies looking for a quality solution at a reasonable price. We have also recorded excellent feedback from the following printers and signmakers able and willing to provide a level of service that only successful customer-focused traders can provide: Alphabet Signs of Cliftonville tel: 01843 229891; Framework Displays of Hersden tel: 01227 714830; Lanes of Broadstairs tel: 01843 861314; Oyster Press of Whitstable tel: 01227 772605; Seaward Color Copy of St Peters tel: 01843 602557; Sharp Printing Services of Broadstairs tel: 01843 600123 and Thanet Plastics of Ramsgate tel: 01843 590950.



7. Windfarm Benefits

The Thanet & East Kent Chamber is in discussions with the Windfarm operators to ensure that local companies receive the maximum benefits from the investment in East Kent. With a £2.5bn price tag on the London Array, companies of all sizes in East Kent will be looking to see if their products and services can interest the key buyers at E.On, Danish Oil & Natural Gas and Masdar. Following a series of meetings in Ramsgate and in London, the Thanet & East Kent Chamber will be working closely with the London Array on a Meet The Buyer event in April. Read your Thanet & East Kent Insider for details.



8. Art and Football Meet at La Loge

When managers speak to the press after a high profile game, their eloquence is sometimes in question. There was a marked improvement when some foreign managers arrived at our top clubs. Arsène Wenger is more likely to say, “There was Cartesian dualism evident in the concomitant mental acuity and physical ambition of the player” whereas Harry Redknap might content himself with “The boy done good”. Widely accepted as ‘the best manager England never had’, Brian Clough often expressed the simple truth in football. When the Swede, Sven Goran Eriksson was appointed England coach, Cloughie said, "At last they have appointed a manager who speaks English better than the players." A creative centre forward, manager and raconteur, even Cloughie could never be described as bringing fine art to football. However, there may be an exception. Between appointments in London last week, the editor of the Thanet & East Kent Insider called in at the Courtauld Institute to see the Impressionists, not Rory Bremner, John Culshaw and Harry Enfield, but the French painters. Among the ‘Loads of Monet’ is an undoubted star of the collection, a painting by Renoir, La Loge, known in English as “The Theatre Box”. Created in 1874 for the world’s first Impressionist exhibition, it is remarkable to note that this is a picture which speaks with a Geordie accent. The canny lass in the foreground is surely wearing a Newcastle United shirt. Judge for yourself in the image below… and isn’t that a young Jimmy Hill with the opera glasses? The art of football indeed.

A Box in Paris or at St James’ Park ?

9. 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

13^th February 2010 Issue No.: 

1. The Bank of England

At the invitation of the Bank of England, this Chamber attended the bank’s HQ in the City to hear the latest Inflation Report from those in the best position to know. The invitation stems from our increasingly close cooperation with the Dover District Chamber of Commerce which has worked with central government since 1850.  The Report reflects the deliberations of the Monetary Policy Committee under Governor Mervyn King and consists of a 52-page document which, as the foreword declares, ‘gives the best collective judgment about the most likely paths for inflation and output and the uncertainties surrounding those central projections’. The five chapters are headed Money and Asset Prices, Demand, Output and Supply, Cost and Prices and Prospects for Inflation. It is beyond the scope of the Thanet & East Kent Insider to repeat all the conclusions of the Bank of England, but every business in East Kent has an interest in the projections. Below is a selection of some of the main points of interest for East Kent businesses. As always in such matters, please read the disclaimer at the end of this email. This Chamber has written the comments in good faith but they are not endorsed by the Bank of England and include opinion.  Chamber members can obtain the complete unadulterated text of the Bank of England’s full report by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the subject line ‘Bank of England Inflation Report’.

2. The Bank of England on Money & Asset Prices

The historic low interest rate of 0.5% continues in the short term but is expected to rise markedly over the next three years, although it is anticipated that it will still be below its early 2008 level by the start of 2013. Stock asset purchases by the Bank will continue up to the limit of £200bn. Residential property prices continue to rise and in January 2010 were 10% higher than at the trough of April 2009; still 12% below the October 2007 peak. Bank lending was officially ‘weak’ in 2009 Q4 but there are signs of a slight improvement. Since last November, equity prices have risen a little as have gilt yields.

3. The Bank of England on Demand

This country’s GDP fell by 0.2% in 2009 Q3 but grew by 0.1% in the final quarter, as widely reported. The Bank considers that although stock building boosted growth in 2009 Q3, companies continued to reduce inventories. A number of our trading partners recorded positive growth in Q3. Domestic demand has stabilized, boosted by spending on vehicles. Uncertainty has lead to household savings reaching the highest levels since 1993. The bank makes a somewhat sobering assessment that ‘Even allowing for the sharp fall in GDP, the cumulative fall in business investment appears large relative to previous recessions’. Asian economies are recovering the quickest. Some good news is offered on UK exports which ‘increased by 0.7% in 2009 Q3, following four consecutive quarterly falls. Surveys of export orders point to a further improvement in Q4, with manufacturing export orders reported to be growing at an above-average rate’.

4. The Bank of England on Output and Supply

In brief, the information received by the bank suggests that the margin of spare capacity remains substantial which is likely to put downward pressure on inflation. The bank concludes that the fall in output has not been met by a commensurate fall in unemployment and admits to finding this odd; ‘it is surprising that companies have not reduced hours worked by more in this recession’. One of the reasons given for this is the cost of redundancies. Although lower real hourly product wages have helped companies to contain labour costs, this has not been sufficient to offset the decline in labour productivity per hour. ‘As a result, the share of income accounted for by compensation of employees, the labour share, has risen since the start of the recession, and the profit share has correspondingly fallen.’ As for capacity, the Bank concludes that ‘demand has fallen by much more than supply capacity, creating a substantial margin of spare capacity in the economy.’  Anyone familiar with commercial property in East Kent will know that investors in local industry have been particularly badly hit by the empty rates legislation.

5. The Bank of England on Costs and Prices

The Consumer Price Index rose sharply to 2.9% in December and is likely to have risen above 3% in January. This is the threshold that triggers an open letter from the Governor of the Bank of England to the Chancellor. The increase in VAT in January had an immediate impact on prices. Nevertheless, the Bank of England considers that ‘a temporary boost to inflation should not have significant implications for inflationary pressure in the medium term’. The Bank reports that the stance of monetary policy will determine inflation in the medium to long term. The Bank is reluctant to speculate on energy costs as ‘There is considerable uncertainty about the scale and pace of the pass-through of changes in wholesale energy prices to the prices of gas and electricity faced by households and companies.’ This Chamber interprets that to mean that even if wholesale oil and gas prices get cheaper, the energy companies are not necessarily going to cut our bills with the same enthusiasm or alacrity with which that they always seem to increase them when the wholesale price rises.

6. The Bank of England on Prospects for Inflation

The Bank is cautiously optimistic that a recovery is in prospect as it is supported by considerable stimulus from policy and will reflect global growth together with the past depreciation of sterling. The Bank warns of significant ‘headwinds’ including the continuing difficulty in finding credit and the need to strengthen public and private sector finances. With persistent spare capacity also restricting growth and CPI inflation remaining high, the UK economy will be restricted in its expansion. Assuming asset purchase policy continues with the limit of £200bn and the Bank Rate reflects the market interest rates, inflation is expected to be below the target rate in the medium term. Perhaps the uncertainty that currently bedevils all serious financial forecasts is summed up by the Bank in one sentence of which Sir Humphrey of “Yes Minster” fame would have been justifiably proud. ‘The prospects for inflation remain unusually uncertain and there are significant risks to the inflation outlook in each direction.’

7. British Networks International

Our friends at the Deal & Sandwich BNI invited the Chamber to a business breakfast at the Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club last week. Activities began at 0630 hrs with many of the delegates arriving much earlier.  If you wish to know if the early birds caught the worms, you could ask some of the Chamber members in attendance. One such early bird was Martin White of Empowered Business Ltd, tel: 01843 0776 8267515, who gave a summary of the strong and successful marketing and sales support he can offer to companies of all sizes. He was joined by fellow Chamber member, David Brown of Millards Insurance, tel: 01304 613072, who again illustrated the advantages of having an insurance broker who is accessible, understands the local markets and knows where the best value premiums can be found. The Thanet & East Kent Chamber works happily with the BNI chapters in East Kent and looks forward to more cooperation in the future.

8. Start Up Research

Gary Gardner has contacted the Chamber with a request to make contact with start up companies for a research project he is undertaking at Thanet College. Gary is looking into understanding the nature of start up business and ‘how they make their choices regarding ICT’. He promises to make the results of the research available to all those who participate. If you think you could assist, email Gary at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

9. Fairtrade

Thanet has led the way on District Council support for fairtrade goods. As part of Fairtrade Fortnight, readers of the Thanet & East Kent Insider are invited to Margate on Sunday 28^th February. For those of us who have been confused since birth with the admonishment, ‘You can’t have your cake and eat it’, the Fairtrade initiative offers a new perspective. Bring your our own cake and eat it too at Margate Winter Gardens from 3.00 to 5.00 pm. The cake must be ‘no smaller than 8 inches’ and should use at least one fairtrade ingredient. There will be entertainment and competitions for the best cakes with children under 12 years having their own contest. For more details, telephone 07891 038733. You might also discover what ‘no smaller than 8 inches’ means.

10. New Ferry Service From Ramsgate

In the Thanet & East Kent Insider edition of 23^rd January 2010, we published an article under the headline ‘Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word’ and related some of the problems suffered by passengers on Eurostar before Christmas. We also called for action on the projected new ferry service from Ramsgate ‘Euroferries, come on, we are waiting. No more delays please. Let’s get that Ramsgate to Boulogne ferry service launched’. We learned this week that LD Lines and Transeuropa Ferries will be launching a new service from Ramsgate to Ostend before the end of March 2010. We are grateful to the Managing Director of LD Lines, Christopher Santoni, for his confidence in the growing cross-channel traffic from Ramsgate. The General Manager of Transeuropa Ferries, Dominique Penel, summarised the appeal of the joint venture, ‘This makes good economic sense for both companies’. The vessel Norman Spirit is well-known to local travel agents as the former Prins Filip on the Dover – Ostend and Ramsgate – Ostend routes. Later, after a brief period as the P&OSL Aquitaine, the vessel was renamed Pride of Aquitaine. LD Lines acquired the vessel for the Portsmouth-Le Havre route and it entered service as the Norman Spirit in September 2005. After a brief period from last September on the Dover Boulogne crossing, the Norman Spirit will return to Ramsgate as a British-registered vessel with the name Ostend Spirit. In a press release from LD Lines and Transeuropa Ferries, Cllr Roger Latchford is quoted as saying, ‘This is marvellous news for Ramsgate and Thanet’. We agree with him and look forward to more traffic taking advantage of this new route to the continent. The LD lines website at www.ldlines.co.uk is currently offering a standard single ticket for a car and two passengers on the Dover –Ostend crossing for £24.

11. Young People Today

Do you recognise this portrait of the youth of Western Europe? ‘The young people of today think of nothing but themselves. They have no respect for their parents or old age. They talk as if they alone know everything.’ These were the words of Peter the Hermit nearly one thousand years ago. You might think he had a point. But there must be something more illuminating than that about being a teenager. If you would like to share your views, the Turner Contemporary would like to hear. Readers of the Thanet & East Kent Insider are invited to come to Thanet Gateway Plus in Cecil Street Margate to share their thoughts, memories, photographs and views on music and fashion as a teenager. If you have some free time on Tuesday 16 February between 1pm and 5pm, you might like to visit the MiPod diary room and record your thoughts on The Time of Our Lives’.

12. Free Swimming

We are grateful to Cllr Clive Hart for drawing our attention to the Free Swimming Programme offered by Thanet District Council to people aged over 60 years or 16 years and under.  Swimming is often listed as an ideal exercise for anyone not involved in regular sports activity. To date, 17,352 free swims for over 60s have been recorded in Thanet and 17,664 free swims for under 16s. There is a remarkable correlation between the two statistics suggesting either that grandparents are accompanying their grandchildren or that the youngsters and oldies are equally adept at recognising a bargain when they see it.

13. Websites

Business link warns us to be wary of adding pop-up adverts to company websites. We learn that there are four types that regularly appear: a banner, which usually pops up at the top or side of the welcome page; an interstitial advert which is often shown before the main content and overlays the initial web page; an expanding advert which changes size while you are viewing content and a floating advert which wanders across your screen to attract your attention. Business Link advises us to use such gimmicks with care as ‘Many browser and security applications now include pop-up blockers’. One Chamber member offers an effective method to promote your website which has none of the dangers of causing a communication breakdown or frustrating your potential customer; add a purpose-made video. Blue Lavender Media, tel: 01795 424252, informs us that web traffic can increase by as much as ten times if the right video is on your site. Give Claire or Neal Ashford a call to discuss your individual requirements. Although experienced at making films to broadcasting standards for the major networks, Claire and Neal can also work to a budget, as a long list of satisfied clients will testify.

14. Give Us This Day Our Jelly Bread

The days are long gone when cinema goers were expected to stand in front of their seats for the National Anthem before leaving the cinema. Similarly, the Lord’s Prayer is no longer recited as often or with such unanimity as was the case for previous generations of school children in the UK. Perhaps it is just as well, as the words familiar to older readers were not always recited correctly. Readers of the Thanet & East Kent Insider who are familiar with the Prime Ministers of the 1960s will recognise the understandable error by children accompanying their vicar in the morning in collective worship with the words ‘Our father who art in heaven, Harold be thy name’.  Harold Wilson PM could hardly be described as a deity, unless Gannex raincoats have replaced halos. The Chamber has learned of a modern misinterpretation of the nation’s number one prayer. Many Chamber members will have some sympathy with the son of one local businessman who, in all earnest piety narrated the Lord’s Prayer to his father with perfect precision until he reached the words ‘Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from email’.

15. 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.