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BUSINESS
BUSINESS NEWS
Bristol Post
Bristol Post
Wednesday, April 11, 2018
Wednesday, April 11, 2018
Leadership and support key BUSINESS SHOWCASE SOUTH WEST
Steady Eddie: Olympic legend Edwards talks on failure REPORT O LYMPIAN Eddie “The Eagle” Edwardswill be sharing lessons about overcoming failure and achieving success at a free busi - Hannah Baker Hannah.Baker@localworld.co.uk
TV LICENSING PLEA
AMY GOLDING The last year has been one of rapid growth and change and I am looking forward to sharing my journey, tips for success and what the future could hold
n TV Licensing is urging hotels and guest houses in the South West to check they are correctly licensed, as 2018 is predicted to be a record-breaking year for the UK tourism industry. Overseas visits to the South West have hit 2.09 million, a rise of over two per cent on last year, according to the latest tourism fig- ures. And visits to the UK from abroad are forecast to break through the 40 million mark for the first time this year, reaching 41.7 million. Budget hotels, B&Bs, luxury spa resorts and serviced apartments must all be covered by a valid TV licence if guests or staff are watch- ing TV as it’s broadcast. All view- ers who use iPlayer to watch any BBC programmes must also be covered by a TV licence. Hotels, hostels, mobile units and campsites also need to be covered by a valid television licence. For smaller hotels and guest- houses, the cost of a licence is £147 a year, which is the same amount as a private house. Hotels with more than 15 rooms are covered by one licence for the first 15 units, but will need an ex- tra licence for every five after that. Richard Chapman, spokesper- son for TV Licensing in the South West said: “2018 is likely to be an especially busy year for hotels and guesthouses. By making sure they are correctly licensed now, owners and managers will give themselves peace of mind for the year ahead.” Peter Ducker, chief executive of the Institute of Hospitality, added: “Hospitality operators are set for another busy and exciting year. Having access to high-quality live TV coverage is a vital part of the customer experience.” n Ahead of its multi-mil- lion-pound new brewery opening in May, Bath Ales has unveiled a new design for its bottles, which will still feature the brand’s fam- ous leaping hare. New Bath Ales Lansdown IPA will be the first in the portfolio to launch in the new bottle livery, followed by flagship beer Gem and other bottled beers in the range including Wild Hare and Golden Hare. In May, Bath Ales will open its new state-of-the-art brew house. Hare Brewery is opening on the site of the West Country brewer’s head office in Warmley, between Bath and Bristol. Darren James, senior brewer at Bath Ales, said: “The new-look bottles are inspired by the unique and wonderful city that gives our brewery its name. We hope our loyal beer drinkers will enjoy dis- covering the bottles in their new guise as they gradually start ap- pearing in supermarkets and pub fridges.” Bath Ales is also launching a new website this month, which will showcase the company’s beer range, the state-of-the-art new brewery and its pub collection. NEW BEER BOTTLES
themes on the agenda
ness event in Bristol on June 6. Michael Edwards, whose story spawned a feature film in 2016, was the first competitor since 1928 to represent Great Britain and North - ern Ireland in Olympic ski jumping at the 1988 Winter Olympic Games in Calgary, Canada. He will be speakingat the second SouthGlos Expo – a free business and networking event at UWE’s Business School. Born in Cheltenham, Eddie cap - tured hearts around the world when he competed in the Winter Olympics in late 1980s. The plasterer from Gloucester - shire had qualified as the sole British applicant for the games’ ski-jumping competition having previously rep - resented Great Britain at the 1987 World Championships. Eddie was the only applicant from the UK and he came last in both his events– the 70metre and 90metre ski jumping– but won legions of fans for his grit and determination. Shortly after the Olympics fin - ished, the entry requirements were toughened, making it next to im - possible for anyone to follow his ex - ample. Bristol businesswomen Louise El - liott, who runs her own sales con - sultancy and is co-organiser of the South Glos Expo, said: “Last year’s
L EADERSHIPand support are to be top of the agenda at a forth - coming Business Expo suppor - ted by The Bristol Post, Bath Chronicle, Western Daily Press, Stroud Life and The Gloucester Echo. The seventh Business Showcase South West takes place on Wednes - day May 16 at Ashton Gate Stadium in Bristol and will include a keynote speech by business leader Amy Gold - ing. Amy is chief executive of Opus Talent Solutions and is the youngest female UK-appointed CEO of a $100 million dollar company and has a strong connection to the South West. She said: “I am delighted to be a keynote speaker at the seventh Show - case, following in the footsteps of inspirational female business lead - ers like Baroness Brady, Bev Hurley CBE and Bev James. “The last year has been one of rapid growth and change and I am looking forward to sharing my jour - ney, tips for success and what the future could hold.” Amy’s track record is impressive: she graduated from Cambridge Uni - versity in 2008 and initially worked as a journalist. She later worked for Deloitte and learnt about strategy setting and how to help companies evolve. In 2013, Amy was headhunted for a specially created role as personal business advisor to ex-Dragons ’ Den
investor James Caan. Amy will be joining other speakers at the Showcase including Mark Wright, who won series 10 of The Apprentice, and Ben Collins, who was revealed as Top Gear’s Stig. The Showcase is free to travel to, park and attend and has over 250 stand spaces taken by companies from across the region. Over 5,500 attendees are expected to make their way to AshtonGate to take part in seminarsin the Trinity Mirror Seminar Zone, structured networking opportunities and a huge business breakfast (a paid ticket re - quired). Business support is also a theme for 2018 and is underpinned by long-term event sponsor The West of England Growth Hub. Sam Bell of the Growth Hub said: “The West of England Growth Hub is delighted to be sponsoring theBusi - ness Showcase SouthWest for a third time this May. “We are the fastest place to find solutions to your business challenges and discover ways to make the most of new opportunities. “The Hub provides the first port of call for all businesses looking to en - gage with any publicly funded busi - ness support programmes and private sector support. “The range of services we offer includes; finance assistance, support for high growth businesses, access to skills packages, manufacturing, in - novation and research advice and
n Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards who competed at the 1988 Winter Olympics
inaugural event was so successful with celebrity auctioneer Anita Manning, we were looking to find someone who would inspire and mo - tivate both exhibitors and guests at this year’s event. Anita is a hard act to follow. “We felt Eddie would be fun, in - teresting and would showcase one of the core principles of running your own business– there will be difficult days and there will be failures along the way – yet you have to keep going
to reach your goals. ” Visitors and exhibitors will get the chance to meet Eddie. Co-organiser Esther James, who heads up her own social media man - agement business, added: “If anyone understands the concept of determ - ination and passion it’s Eddie. “He followed his dreams in spite of the huge hurdles in his way and he embraced the fact he was seen as a failure – for him, being an Olympian was his goal.
designer Gtech, sandwich shop chain Pret A Manger and gym operator PureGym. Despite cost pressures caused in part by the fall in value of Sterling, all 100 companies increased sales and average profit margins rose from eight per cent to 15 per cent. The league table and awards pro- gramme is sponsored by BDO and UBS Wealth Management, and is compiled by Fast Track – the Ox- ford-based research and networking events firm. Andrea Bishop, partner and head of the South West at BDO, the title sponsor of the league table, said: “These high-growth, high-energy and highly entrepreneurial companies will be the difference between suc- cess and failure in our post-Brexit economic future. “These businesses are playing their part by recording strong levels of rev- enue and profit growth and by cre- ating jobs. We’d like to see the Gov- ernment do more to help them by focusing on skills, infrastructure in- vestment and tax simplification.” “Therewill not be another Eddie in Olympic ski jumping and we’re thrilled he’s agreed to spend the day with us all at the South Glos Expo. ” The South Glos Expo runs from 10am to 4pm and Eddie will be giving his keynote talk at 2pm. Tickets are free but there will be a charge for speed networking and there are a limited number of ex - hibition stands available, starting at £575. To book, visit http://southglo- sexpo.co.uk
n Speaker Amy Golding, chief executive of Opus Talent Solutions; Left, the Growth Hub at last year’s Business Showcase
export support. “We invite delegates to come and meet us at our sponsor stand on the May 16 and discover how we can help.” n To book free delegate tickets or for information on exhibiting at the May/Oct 2018 events, readers can visit businessshowcasesouthw - est.com.
SOUTH WEST COMPANIES MAKE THE GRADE AS NEWSPAPER LISTS PROFIT-MAKERS
n Eight companies in the South West of England have been listed on a league table of Britain’s fastest-grow- ing profit stars. The 19th annual Sunday Times BDO Profit Track 100 league table ranks Britain’s private companies with the fastest-growing profits over three years. The eight firms headquartered in the South West – up from seven
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companies in 2017 – are all new entrants to the league table. The businesses have made a strong contribu- tion to the local eco- nomy, together employ around 3,500 staff and have achieved com- bined profits of £47 mil- lion. The company with the
16 TH MAY 2018 ASHTON GATE STADIUM BOOK A FREE TICKET AT: BusinessShowcaseSouthWest.com
n Turtle Bay in Cheltenham Road, Bristol. Left, Ajith Jayawickrema
42 sites in the UK, and two in Germany. Profits grew by
safari park, which has benefited from an increase in visitor numbers, boos- ted by TV exposure on the BBC’s popular Animal Park series. Profits grew by an average of 55 per cent to £3.5 million in 2016. The companies in the South West appear with businesses from around the UK, including domestic appliance
an average of 70 per cent to
highest profits is Bristol-based Carib- bean restaurant and bar Turtle Bay. Chief executive Ajith Jayawickrema used his experience setting up Las Iguanas to establish the restaurant chain in 2010. It has since grown to
£12.0 million in 2017. Wiltshire business Longleat Enter- prises also joins the league table for the first time. The leisure group operates Ched- dar Gorge and Caves, and Longleat’s
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