CLIMATE ACTION a New Way of Thinking Towards a Better Future

www.business365iom.co.uk | SEPTEMBER 2020 ISSUE

CLIMATE ACTION A new way of thinking towards a better future

SMP GROUP’S NEW FERRY TO BE TOWERING HONG KONG BUILT IN SOUTH ACHIEVEMENT ACQUISITION KOREA As part of its continued commitment to investing in the Isle of Man’s telecoms Following a deal announcement in April, SMP A new purpose-built vessel for the Isle of Man and internet infrastructure, Blue Wave Group has secured regulatory approval from Steam Packet Company will be constructed Communications has successfully completed the HK Companies Registry and completed the in South Korea, by one of the world’s major its 40-metre communications tower located at acquisition of RBC Corporate Services Hong shipbuilders, Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (HMD), the top of Carnane, Douglas. Kong Limited. based in Ulsan.

THE ISLE OF MAN’S ONLY DEDICATED BUSINESS MAGAZINE NEWS | COMMENT | INSIGHT | PEOPLE | MOVEMENTS | FEATURES | TECHNOLOGY | HEALTH Protect your your your Protect Protect ProtectProtect youryour business business business businessbusiness Secure offshore email, archiving archiving email, offshore Secure Secure offshore email, archiving & security awareness awareness security & & security awareness services training training services

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CELTON LEEDS THE WAY WITH 5 PREMIER LEAGUE SPONSORSHIP DEAL A comprehensive round-up of the latest business news ProtectProtect youryour covering all sectors within the Isle of Man’s diverse and ANOTHER ACQUISITION FOR EQUIOM dynamic business environment. 6 MANX GOVERNMENT STRENGTHENS 6 BORDERS TEAM Expert comment from leading figures within the businessbusiness business community, on a variety of topical issues KPMG POLL SHOWS SPEED OF across a range of sectors. 8 ISLAND’S POST COVID RECOVERY Secure offshore email, archiving PROM SCHEME - LIGHT AT THE END Looking at the people who keep the wheels of 10 OF THE TUNNEL commerce turning on the Island; features, profiles, & security awareness achievements and stories with a human dimension. NEW PACKET BOAT TO BE BUILT IN 12 SOUTH KOREA training services HOPE FOR YACHTING SECTOR AFTER Who, what, where – a comprehensive appointments section keeping you abreast of all the movements within 18 COVID 19 STORM the business community. Inside your organisation CLIMATE ACTION – A NEW WAY –

‘As Chef de Mission, Erica will be responsible for overall leadership of the Chef de Mission Erica Bellhouse Isle of Man Team and for our sta and competitors during the Games in Birmingham in 2022. She will also work with Graeme to ensure e ective resolution of any issues arising, with either the Team, the Commonwealth Games Federation or the Organising Committee, at the Games. ‘Graeme’s role as General Team Manager means he is directly AN OPEN LETTER FROM IOM 2035 responsible for athlete management, coaching sta and the Sport Team Managers.’ HELPING YOU MAKE THE MOST OF WORK AND PLAY Dionne wins national award! 26 Educate employees to recognise Congratulations to Financial Options Dionne Wall who recently won the National Chartered Insurance Institute Emerging Young Professional of the Lifestyle Year award. This is such a fantastic achievement, to be recognised nationally out of Lifestyle 125,000 members! Managing Director, Paul Chase, said: “The reason I felt very strongly about wanting to submit the nomination for Dionne, was to acknowledge and celebrate what she has achieved over the last year in terms of her incredible exam success and also her career progression through the company. I felt she deserved recognition of the incredible dedication she has shown to her studies, personal development and qualifi cations. She is very dedicated to becoming a qualifi ed Financial Living a full and productive life is all about finding the right Adviser and having just turned 21 earlier this year, we feel we really want to encourage her and other colleagues of a similar age in their pursuit of a threats and use best practice career in fi nancial services.” Dionne was also awarded the Mike Henthorn CII Young Achievers Award (Isle of Man) in February 2020. On Tuesday 11th August, Laurence Skelly MHK presented her with the certifi cate and award in front of her proud mum and colleagues. Appointments of Chef de Mission and General Team Laurence Skelly presents Manager Dionne Wall with her award. ISLAND’S GROWING APPEAL TO The Commonwealth Games Association of the Isle of Man has balance between work and play. Here at B365 we know announced two key appointments ahead of the 2022 Games in Birmingham. Graeme Hatcher has been appointed General Team Manager, and Erica Bellhouse has been appointed Chef de Mission. Both Graeme and Erica take up their roles with immediate e ect, with the process of setting standards, qualifi cation periods and general planning security policies with effective now well underway. New Chef de Mission Erica Bellhouse has been involved in sports administration in the Isle of Man for 15 years. Within cycling, she has played a key role in organising the Isle of Man Youth Tour for over ten years. She has also been involved with Manx Gymnastics and the Isle of the importance of both. Our new lifestyle section will Man Swimming Club. Since 2019 Erica has been Secretary-General for the Commonwealth GAMING SECTOR Games Association of the Isle of Man, a role she will also continue with up until the 2022 Games. General Team Manager Graeme Hatcher (pictured) as over 25 years’ experience 39 as a competitor and administrator. As a cyclist he represented the Isle of Man at online security training three Commonwealth Games between 2002 and 2010. Graeme was Sport Team Manager for include regular topics covering travel, motoring, property, the Isle of Man’s cycling teams which competed at the 2014 and 2018 Games. Basil Bielich, President of the Living a full and productive life is all about fi nding the right balance between work and play. Commonwealth Games Association of the Isle of Man said: ‘I am delighted Here at B365 we know the importance of both. Our new lifestyle section covers topics with the appointments of Erica and Graeme. They both bring many years including travel, motoring, property, health, sport and leisure. of experience to their respective roles and they are also well respected within the local sporting community, health and leisure. programs. B365 – bringing a bit of balance into your life! MY BIOSPHERE - THIS MONTH WITH 40 JAN McCARTNEY

IOM BUSINESSES WARNED ABOUT Exactly what it says on the tin – news snippets, forthcoming events and information from the business world. 49 INADEQUATE PPE

At your perimeter BUSINESS365 IS PRINTED & PUBLISHED BY MANNIN GROUP BRINGING YOU THE BUSINESS Protection from inbound This publication is printed on a Heidelberg SpeedMaster SX74 5 colour lithographic printing press on carbon balanced paper which is produced at one of the world’s Business365 evolved from Mannin Group’s highly successful, market leading publication, Money phishing, malware and spam most environmentally advanced paper mills ensuring it’s ultra clean and friendly to the Media. The new title embraces and builds on the ethos of its predecessor offering an all-embracing attacks whether in the office, environment. look at all sectors of the Isle of Man’s vibrant business community. Business365’s incisive editorial at home or mobile. reflects the Isle of Man’s standing as an international business centre of repute, and its modern, stylish presentation makes the magazine the first choice for industry leaders and professionals. In keeping with its position as the Isle of Man’s premier business publication Business365 enjoys an extensive distribution network. The magazine is delivered by post to all Isle of Man business addresses and is widely available in dispensers at the airport and the sea terminal in Douglas. tel: 01624 696565 | mail: [email protected] Should you require further copies of the magazine, please call (01624) 696565.

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Airport gaffe is unacceptable The recent, embarrassing incident at Ronaldsway Airport, in which an Aurigny aircraft carrying rugby teams from Guernsey, was turned away because the Isle of Man airport wasn’t open, is the latest unacceptable gaffe at the facility in recent times.

he issue required the Manx authorities to Even before the pandemic the airport had hit the make a public apology, after the aircraft headlines for the wrong reasons on numerous Twas diverted to Manchester, before finally occasions; EasyJet flights refused permission getting clearance to proceed to the Isle of Man. to land because they were running behind schedule, leaving hundreds of Islanders stranded The statement said: “A rugby charter from in London; problems with aircraft steps leading Guernsey to the Isle of Man made an to long delays for passengers disembarking, unscheduled stop in Manchester, briefly, due to and lengthy waits for luggage were among the Air Traffic Control in the Isle of Man not being problems encountered. open, initially. Both the IOM Government and Aurigny would like to apologise for the delay Ronaldsway Airport has a hugely important role incurred, which was due to a communication to play in ensuring the Island’s prosperity, and breakdown. The flight continued on to the Isle its efficient operation is key to attracting new of Man with no further issues and the return airlines to operate routes to and from the Island. flight was delayed an hour and a half to ensure It is also a major consideration for business that the rugby match was completed in good leaders contemplating whether to move their time. Aurigny and the IOM Government continue operations to the Isle of Man. to work together and are proud of the airbridge It’s hoped that air services to and from the between the islands, which has enabled many Island can resume as normal as soon as it is locals to take holidays and also competitive deemed safe to do so. We must also hope that sporting events to be held with no restrictions.” government takes a long, hard look at how Such a ‘breakdown in communications’ is the airport is run and if the problems relate to completely unacceptable, particularly given funding, management - or both - that proper the massively reduced traffic in and out of the measures to secure its future operation are put Island’s airport, as a result of Covid 19 restrictions. in place.

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The Business365 team is mainly working from home now because of the Coronavirus epidemic, but we will be keeping readers updated on news and information via our website at www.business365.co.uk A comprehensive round-up of the latest business news covering all sectors within the Isle of Man’s diverse and dynamic business environment.

Celton Manx/ SBOTOP executive director Bill Mummery

into this next phase of their history, back in the top fl ight. ‘This agreement comes at a pivotal point in the development of our business in the Isle of Man. We are in the process of creating some 26 new local jobs to serve our expanding global online gaming product and are also signifi cantly growing our risk trading capability at our Braddan headquarters. ‘Additionally, we are strengthening our green credentials by installing around 130 solar panels here at Celton House. Celton Manx in massive ‘These projects not only underpin our long-term business strategy but also serve to project a Leeds United partnership deal positive image for the Isle of Man worldwide.’ Returning to the sponsorship agreement with Celton Manx has signalled a major business development after signing Leeds United Mr Mummery said: ‘These are a multi-year partnership with Leeds United Football Club exciting times for all concerned and we can’t wait to get started. s part of a major development of its Celton Manx/SBOTOP executive director Bill ‘The SBOTOP logo will feature on the front of business Celton Manx has signed a Mummery said ‘We are thrilled to enter into a Leeds United’s new Adidas kit, due to launch Amulti-year partnership with the club, relationship with Leeds United, a club with a later this month, as well as appearing as a which will see its global sports betting brand rich heritage and an enormous fan base. sponsor on the club’s offi cial training wear. SBOTOP become the club’s principal sponsor. ‘We have experience of working in the Premier We will also have a strong presence on the The sponsorship, the largest commercial deal League and this strategic partnership allows digital perimeter “info panels” and in media in the club’s history, will see the SBOTOP logo us to work closely with the club as they enter interviews.’ feature on the front of Leeds United’s famous white shirt from the start of the 2020/21 season. Acknowledging SBOTOP to be held in high regard across the global online betting industry, 7,000 JOBS TO GO AT M&S Leeds United executive director Paul Bell told MARKS & SPENCER has become the latest High Street giant to announce deep job cuts. The B365: ‘Today’s announcement with SBOTOP company is to shed 7,000 jobs over the next three months in response to what it has called ‘a represents a landmark day for Leeds United’s material shift in trade’ as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic. commercial strategy as we attract new global It’s not known at this stage to what extent the cuts might aff ect the Isle of Man store in Douglas. brands to our offi cial partners programme. Clothing sales have been hit particularly badly, with a huge shift towards online ordering rather ‘We have been in discussions with Bill than buying in store. Mummery and his team at SBOTOP/Celton Professor John Colley, Associate Dean of Warwick Business School, told B365: “The news last Manx for some time, looking at various ways to month that 950 jobs were at risk at M&S was always like to be the tip of the iceberg. In reality, the work together and I’ve been very impressed by company will be making much deeper cuts in the coming months as customer numbers and sales their experience and the proactive way in which remain largely unpredictable. More stores will close and staffi ng levels with continue to be reviewed. they have looked to engage with the club. “Businesses are reducing employment to levels consistent with low levels of demand as the ‘Now that we have returned to the Premier furlough is tapered out. The rationale is that if demand picks up, they can take on more staff . League, we are in a position to work with “COVID-19 has also provided a major opportunity for businesses facing long term diffi culties to SBOTOP on a truly global platform as we both make decisions that would have been unpalatable to many some months ago.” look to achieve our goals.’

| 5 HF FUND SERVICES JOINS FORCES WITH EQUIOM TO EXPAND ITS GLOBAL SERVICE CAPABILITY Equiom has announced the acquisition of HF Fund Services Ltd. Founded in 2007 by Sean Flynn and Patrick Harrigan, HF Fund Services provides non-executive independent directors to alternative investment funds and investment management companies. The business operates from the Cayman Islands and Ireland, providing a premium service to a blue-chip institutional client base.

has always focused on quality of service I am delighted to welcome Sean, Patrick and the team to HF and restricts the number of clients each Equiom and value the expertise and industry knowledge director services to ensure service quality and client they bring to the Group’. responsiveness is maintained. Its seasoned director Sean Flynn, Managing Director of HF Fund Services, said: team comes from a variety of backgrounds including ‘Since we established HF Fund Services in 2007, our fund administration, investment management and law, clients have grown in size and number and our priority bringing this experience to bear on its clients’ behalf. has always been to provide them with the best possible Equiom’s Chief Executive Offi cer, Mark Porter, told service. Going forward, our clients can still expect the B365: same high service standards they are used to, but with the added benefi t of gaining access to the international ‘HF represents a strategic investment into our funds reach and expertise of a global group which is committed Mark Porter, governance capability. Our focus is on providing to providing a comprehensive off ering to investors CEO, Equiom services from tier 1 fund jurisdictions to high and asset managers. Equiom is a forward thinking and quality asset managers in key global ambitious business with clear values – all of which are a fi nancial centres. This capability sound fi t for our business model. We look forward to fully is highly complementary to our integrating with Equiom over the coming months and existing fi duciary service model working closely with our colleagues across the group to and allows us to extend our continue to provide exceptional service.’ service off ering for clients looking for fund servicing The addition of the Cayman Islands and Ireland offi ces capabilities, particularly in add to Equiom’s already established presence in the alternative asset classes. Americas and Europe respectively.

Increased capacity for Borders team strengthens monitoring Well over 600 residents have returned to the Island each week since the Government eased its Borders policy to allow non-essential travel off Island.

total of 2559 residents arrived in the Island in the period 20 July that resources have been strengthened, everyone can expect to get a - the date the Borders policy moved to Level 4 - and 12 August. call and the number of home visits will increase. Returning residents must self-isolate for 14 days on arrival. A The Chief Minister added: ‘I cannot over emphasise the importance to our Offi cers from the newly-formed Travel Notifi cation Service are Manx community that everyone who travels off Island must self-isolate when responsible for contacting residents by phone and in person once they they return. This is our main defence against another outbreak of Covid-19 are home, to monitor compliance with the requirement. in the community. Spot checks are an important deterrent but they don’t provide a guarantee that people will comply for the full two-week period. More than one in every three people self-isolating during the period We rely on people’s honesty and willingness to do the right thing. The rules received a phone call and 145 were visited. A recent increase in the of engagement are clear and I urge anyone considering a trip off Island to number of offi cers authorised to make spot checks means all individuals understand the commitment required to stay home when they return.’ currently in self-isolation will receive a call during their 14 day period. Each person returning to the Island receives a Direction Notice setting Chief Minister Howard Quayle told B365: ‘We have great confi dence out the requirement for them to self-isolate. In addition to phone calls, that the vast majority of residents who return to the Island follow self- unscheduled visits are made to the addresses of a randomly generated isolation rules to the letter, for the sake of the wider community. Our list of people required to self-isolate. If a person is not at their address and prolonged Covid-free status is the result of superb levels of compliance cannot be contacted - or is found to be in breach of the rules - offi cers will by the public during the pandemic and I am grateful for everyone’s contact the police. eff orts. Members of the public who have concerns about an individual’s ‘The new service requires signifi cant resources and it has taken time to compliance with self-isolation can contact the Community Support and build capacity. We must ensure that the team is properly trained for the Information line on 686262. very specifi c job we want them to do. The Travel Notifi cation Service swung into operation once we made the decision to move to level 4, but The maximum penalty for breaching the requirements is on summary didn’t expect to be able to contact each individual from day one. Now conviction, three months’ imprisonment and/or a fi ne not exceeding £10,000.

6 | HF FUND SERVICES JOINS FORCES WITH EQUIOM TO EXPAND ITS GLOBAL SERVICE CAPABILITY Equiom has announced the acquisition of HF Fund Services Ltd. Founded in 2007 by Sean Flynn and Patrick Harrigan, HF Fund Services provides non-executive independent directors to alternative investment funds and WHY INVESTORS AND ADVISERS investment management companies. The business operates from the Cayman Islands and Ireland, providing a premium service to a blue-chip institutional client base. SHOULD CARE ABOUT ESG has always focused on quality of service I am delighted to welcome Sean, Patrick and the team to HF and restricts the number of clients each Equiom and value the expertise and industry knowledge hen it comes to investments, responsible investing is fast is creating new asset management opportunities that are crucial to director services to ensure service quality and client they bring to the Group’. becoming a mainstream concern. Conscientious investors are combatting climate change and which also offer the potential for stronger responsiveness is maintained. Its seasoned director Wmindful of the wider impact of how they invest their money, and financial performance in the long-term. Sean Flynn, Managing Director of HF Fund Services, said: team comes from a variety of backgrounds including this has put the spotlight on organisations to do more than simply turn a profit. ‘Since we established HF Fund Services in 2007, our Regulatory pressure is accelerating ESG fund administration, investment management and law, Instead, organisations are also being asked to minimise the harm caused clients have grown in size and number and our priority by operations, contribute positively to environmental and social issues, and Nations globally have signed up to key initiatives for sustainable bringing this experience to bear on its clients’ behalf. has always been to provide them with the best possible conduct themselves responsibly. It’s no surprise then that the new buzzword development - for example, the United Nations Sustainable Development Equiom’s Chief Executive Offi cer, Mark Porter, told service. Going forward, our clients can still expect the in business is Environmental Social Governance (ESG), referring to the 3 Goals or the UN Paris Agreement. To help honour these commitments, B365: same high service standards they are used to, but with principal factors that measure the sustainability of an investment. Today ESG governments will need to introduce regulatory reform that provides the added benefi t of gaining access to the international incentive for sustainability, low emission infrastructure, technologies ‘HF represents a strategic investment into our funds investing is worth around $20 trillion AUM (Assets Under Management) – reach and expertise of a global group which is committed that’s over a quarter of all professionally managed assets worldwide. To keep and services. Regulators will therefore play a critical role in shaping the Mark Porter, governance capability. Our focus is on providing landscape and driving ESG adoption in the years to come. For investors CEO, Equiom to providing a comprehensive off ering to investors pace with this change, and because they believe in responsible investing, services from tier 1 fund jurisdictions to high and advisers, the advice is the same: stay alert to changes in order to and asset managers. Equiom is a forward thinking and RL360 has recently integrated ESG into its investment management portfolio. quality asset managers in key global make them work to your advantage. ambitious business with clear values – all of which are a RL360 believes the rise of ESG is something you cannot afford to ignore fi nancial centres. This capability sound fi t for our business model. We look forward to fully and with this in mind, they’ve complied the key reasons why investors and is highly complementary to our Time is of the essence integrating with Equiom over the coming months and advisers should start caring about ESG.* existing fi duciary service model According to the UN Paris Agreement, countries have until 2031 to meet working closely with our colleagues across the group to and allows us to extend our It pays to do good their obligations and begin a synchronised effort to fight climate change. continue to provide exceptional service.’ It is likely that regulations will become much harsher in the run-up to this service off ering for clients Despite the growing popularity of ESG funds, many financial advisers still deadline in order to create pressure for countries to do more. Significant looking for fund servicing The addition of the Cayman Islands and Ireland offi ces hesitate to invest their clients’ money in sustainable assets. Among the market opportunities will be created by the regulatory change and it is capabilities, particularly in add to Equiom’s already established presence in the main reasons cited for this are concerns about fund performance. However, the companies who are set up to operate sustainably that will naturally alternative asset classes. Americas and Europe respectively. increasing amounts of data have shown that companies with high ESG ratings tend to match, or even outperform, their non-ESG counterparts. This outperform those who are unable or unwilling to take advantage. This means points to a positive link between sustainability and share price performance that, prior to investing, potential investors would be well advised to consider – proving that investing responsibly can and does pay-off. Likewise, the if an organisation is preparing sufficiently for ESG regulatory change. Increased capacity for Borders team strengthens monitoring idea that investing in ESG funds leads to a narrow subset of investments is outdated. Today ESG covers a broad range of investment types and this is Regulators will play a critical role in Well over 600 residents have returned to the Island each week since the Government eased its set to increase rapidly from 2020 onwards. Borders policy to allow non-essential travel off Island. Mitigate portfolio risk shaping the landscape and driving ESG should be regarded as an additional risk factor – one to be considered ESG adoption in the years to come. total of 2559 residents arrived in the Island in the period 20 July that resources have been strengthened, everyone can expect to get a alongside the more traditional metrics employed in risk management. - the date the Borders policy moved to Level 4 - and 12 August. call and the number of home visits will increase. Corporate governance, brand reputation and regulatory compliance can Returning residents must self-isolate for 14 days on arrival. Millennial investors and the growth of the ‘green bond’ A The Chief Minister added: ‘I cannot over emphasise the importance to our adversely affect fund performance. Likewise, share price can be affected Demand for sustainable investments is being driven, in part, by by higher level risks, such as regulation, technological change, climate Offi cers from the newly-formed Travel Notifi cation Service are Manx community that everyone who travels off Island must self-isolate when Millennials. Millennials are more concerned by sustainability than the change and geopolitical tensions. This means ESG trends are highly relevant responsible for contacting residents by phone and in person once they they return. This is our main defence against another outbreak of Covid-19 generations that came before and they prefer to invest in alignment and can have a big impact on long-term sustainable growth and even the are home, to monitor compliance with the requirement. in the community. Spot checks are an important deterrent but they don’t with personal values. ESG then is the means by which this generation creditworthiness of a company. However, it’s not all bad news - asset owners provide a guarantee that people will comply for the full two-week period. can integrate investment portfolios with their world view. Their growing More than one in every three people self-isolating during the period can mitigate these risks by incorporating ESG analysis into the construction of We rely on people’s honesty and willingness to do the right thing. The rules influence is hard to deny - particularly as they enter peak saving years received a phone call and 145 were visited. A recent increase in the an investment portfolio. of engagement are clear and I urge anyone considering a trip off Island to and accumulate the biggest transfer of assets in history from baby number of offi cers authorised to make spot checks means all individuals understand the commitment required to stay home when they return.’ boomer parents. Advisers should prepare to accommodate the desires currently in self-isolation will receive a call during their 14 day period. Climate change is happening of these socially responsible investors – and those of the similarly Each person returning to the Island receives a Direction Notice setting Climate change is one of the biggest risks for investors because of the threat Chief Minister Howard Quayle told B365: ‘We have great confi dence it poses to financial stability. The risks of climate change are already impacting sustainability conscious Generation-Z close behind. out the requirement for them to self-isolate. In addition to phone calls, that the vast majority of residents who return to the Island follow self- investors - with climate disasters like droughts, floods and wildfires threatening unscheduled visits are made to the addresses of a randomly generated COVID-19: a wake-up call isolation rules to the letter, for the sake of the wider community. Our business operations globally. Investments will be exposed to many of these list of people required to self-isolate. If a person is not at their address and The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered what is shaping up to be the prolonged Covid-free status is the result of superb levels of compliance risks in the future and they will also have significant physical and economic cannot be contacted - or is found to be in breach of the rules - offi cers will biggest worldwide recession since World War II. The unfortunate timing by the public during the pandemic and I am grateful for everyone’s impact on human activity. However, ESG conscious investors can protect their contact the police. of the pandemic coincided with what has been dubbed the 21st century’s eff orts. portfolios by selecting assets that mitigate climate-related risks. ‘sustainability crisis.’ Parallels have been drawn between the unforeseen Members of the public who have concerns about an individual’s ‘The new service requires signifi cant resources and it has taken time to Energy sources are changing risks of the pandemic and concerns surrounding the climate emergency, compliance with self-isolation can contact the Community Support and build capacity. We must ensure that the team is properly trained for the In response to the threat of climate change, nations across the world and as a result the pandemic has been regarded by many as a wake-up Information line on 686262. very specifi c job we want them to do. The Travel Notifi cation Service are restructuring towards lower-carbon economies. As a result, the call that accelerates the need for sustainable investing. swung into operation once we made the decision to move to level 4, but The maximum penalty for breaching the requirements is on summary future of fossil fuel assets is uncertain at best and renewable energies didn’t expect to be able to contact each individual from day one. Now conviction, three months’ imprisonment and/or a fi ne not exceeding £10,000. have emerged as increasingly competitive challengers. The transition Find out more at www.rl360.com

*This article is intended for general information purposes only. You should consult your financial adviser before making any financial decisions. | 7 Local KPMG poll highlights speed and strength of IOM recovery from COVID During July and August local accountancy ﬁ rm KPMG held weekly webinars exploring the ‘New Reality’ and o ering free information and guidance to all businesses regardless of size, employees or turnover. During the webinars, a number of polls were held and o ered some interesting results, forming a picture of the local business community post-COVID.

key ﬁ nding is the big shift in businesses Simon Nicholas KPMG believing they are now operati ng in a ‘New AReality’ state, with 57% of respondents stati ng this in the fourth webinar, compared to just 23% in the ﬁ rst webinar. This illustrates the perceived speed and strength of the island’s recovery from COVID-19. All respondents (100%) expect changes in customer behaviours and expectati ons, whether that be pre, during or aft er COVID, the change appears to be inevitable and it could be argued that COVID has only accelerated what was coming anyway, with increases in digiti sati on and automati on. When it comes to the digital journey, fewer businesses are concerned about cyber-att acks and data breaches, with more concerned about the digital transformati on process (50%) and being left behind (33%). Simon Nicholas, Partner at KPMG Isle of Man, told B365: ‘This is our second series of webinars held during the COVID-19 period and we’ve been overwhelmed by their conti nued success. Including polls in the webinars has been a great way to get real-ti me feedback from the att endees and, in some cases, has helped guide the topics covered in the weekly sessions’. He conti nued: ‘These webinars have been our way of giving something back to the local business community and we’ve been supported by some great co-hosts, who were keen to assist by parti cipati ng in the webinars. They care just as much as we do about getti ng through this pandemic and sti ll having a thriving Manx economy on the other side’. During the series, guest speakers were invited to co-host the webinar each week, to parti cipate in the various topics covered. Treasury Minister Alf Cannan MHK started the series detailing his thoughts on transiti oning into the new economy. Deborah Watt from Neo Capital joined week two to give an overview of the internati onal real estate market, along with Mark Grace from Black Grace Cowley and Ciaran Doherty from Tevir Group, who explored what the new reality will mean for the commercial property market. The third webinar considered ‘Volati lity - opportuniti es or run for cover?’ and Rebecca Cretney from Nedbank Private Wealth joined the debate. The fourth webinar included Andrew Buchanan from Peel Hunt, who provided an update on the UK equity market and Ash Dougal from Fundamentum Property Group who discussed the REIT process. Danny Scott and Sam Tipper from CoinCorner and Chris Gledhill from PDMS joined the All of the webinars, from both series, are available on ‘new consumer’ panel session in week 5 and the series ended in a guest slot with Chris Corlett from demand at kpmg.co.im/webinars MBS, looking at digiti sing operati ons and business automati on.

8 | THE ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS INVESTORS ARE ASKING RIGHT NOW In this article, we answer the most pressing questions we’re currently being asked by clients:

How could the US elections further disrupt markets? A few scenarios could impact markets: • The likelihood of declaring a winner the day after the election is low - so a limbo situation could go on for weeks, weighing on markets • If Biden is elected and manages to flip the Senate to Democratic control - corporate, income and capital gains taxes could go up which would be the highest tax hike since 1968, when markets reacted very badly • The markets see some positives to a possible Biden victory though, as he is less likely to slap trade tariffs on China and the EU. The ideal outcome for markets is a Biden victory but a Republican Senate, creating gridlock for legislation so What are markets doing? that taxes or tariffs don’t go up. The risk of Trump refusing The countries that handled the pandemic well are to concede defeat does exist however, and it could seeing a better market recovery, as the public is create a constitutional issue. willing to go out again, such as Germany. In contrast, the areas that reopened too soon without proper What is the outlook for dividends? precautions, like many southern US states, are seeing a There have been many dividend cuts in recent months, dip in their growth and so markets have been trending but as we look forward, companies can be divided into sideways in recent weeks. Until something happens different categories: to reassure us (like a vaccine), consumer spending will be subdued and the sectors that have been destroyed • In the sectors most affected by the pandemic, by the lockdown (travel and leisure, hospitality, live some companies won’t be re-introducing dividends entertainment) will not recover. because their balance sheets are so severely strained • Others may have cut dividends over-cautiously and Investment involves risk. The value What happens if a year from now the virus is still we can expect them to be re-introduced, albeit in a of investments and the income here, there is no vaccine and we’re still in a form phased and gradual way from them can go down as well of lockdown? as up and you may not get back • The other 40% of companies are still paying dividends the amount originally invested. If the worst-case scenario happens, governments will as before. Past performance is not a reliable spend even more and borrow to the hilt to make sure indicator of future performance. The positive news is that we are likely to see growth in they can fund the economy. Ultimately, there is a price dividend income in 2021 but rebased to a lower level. This is not a recommendation to to pay for this spending and borrowing (permanently invest or disinvest in any of the slower economic growth, higher interest rates, higher themes or sectors mentioned. On balance, are we positive on markets? They are included for illustrative inflation, higher taxes) but right now the government’s purposes only. focus is on saving the economy, so the sky is the limit. The virus is far from over and many sectors will remain the victims of this pandemic for a long time. In the meantime, however, the central banks of the world are flooding our economies with liquidity and the governments are supporting the weakened sectors To find out more please get in touch: with massive fiscal spending. Markets will wobble but DERMOT HAMILL eventually the way is up. Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management There are many changes coming to society following Tel: 01624 690 100 this pandemic which investors can take advantage of, Email: [email protected] even with the risk of second waves and weakened canaccordgenuity.com economic conditions. From investing in themes such as technology, healthcare and ESG (environmental, social and governance), to countries like Europe and Japan, the opportunities are excellent. Choosing the right investments is vital though. If you would like to speak to us about your investments or have any questions about what’s happening in markets, please get in touch with us: +44 1624 690 100.

| 9 Prom scheme - there is light at the end of the tunnel

“We have a clear focus and determination to get the job done” The promenade scheme is on schedule and Infrastructure Minister, proceeding at full steam - that’s the clear message from Tim Baker Infrastructure Minister, Tim Baker.

r Baker said his department and the contractors, Auldyn, had a The statistics of the scheme are mind-boggling: The MUA has laid clear focus and were determined to meet the new deadline of almost two and a half kilometres of new mains, Manx Gas is installing Mnext Easter, for completion of the scheme: “I believe in being 10kms of ducting, and 3 kilometres of new 11kv electrical cabling is now direct with people and the truth is there is no easy way to do a project in place, along with vast quantities of fi bre optic cable: “We have to have of this size and complexity. I am always happy to talk to people but we a modern infrastructure for our Island which also involves all the services have to be bold and push past short-term interests and not be blown by including drainage and sewage. We must build confi dence going the wind.” forward,” added Mr Baker. The Minister is fi rm in his belief that bringing the deadline for completion To date the scheme has had its problems though, something to be forward and intensifying eff orts to get the job fi nished was the right expected on a project of such scale. Delays have been encountered one: “I think most people accept that although it may be more painful after unmapped pipelines were discovered, and there have been issues there is a real light at the end of the tunnel. Government has now taken with the pink concrete plinths on which the tramlines are mounted. control of the large car parks in the town and it’s intended to bring in The Minister though, is confi dent the problems can be dealt with, and fl exible parking arrangements where they can be introduced without believes the cracking of the concrete, whilst frustrating, has been blown compromising the project.” out of all proportion: “The cracks are much less serious than has been made out. A repair to the aff ected areas will be carried out to determine Mr Baker acknowledged that the ongoing problems connected to the the fi nal treatment, and testing will take place in September. It’s not coronavirus pandemic, which have prevented UK and world tourists from possible to do so at the moment as cars are driving on the aff ected visiting the Island this summer, opened a window of opportunity to get section of the roadway. It’s really not something that keeps me awake at the work done: “We have taken the situation onboard and are intent on night,” explained Mr Baker. driving the project forward, in the hope that when tourists return to our shores the promenade will be a fantastic gateway to Douglas and the Isle Although the main contractor is local fi rm, Auldyn, Mr Baker conceded of Man.” that UK specialists had been sub-contracted by the company to carry out tasks requiring specifi c expertise, such as block laying and rail track The Minister said it was important to get the message across that the installation: “All the experts that have been allowed into the Island must scheme is about much more than repairing the road surface: “This is a strictly adhere to the key worker exemption protocols in relation to massive infrastructure and regeneration project. When completed it will Covid19,” stressed the Minister. He also admitted that had it not been have a life of around forty years. The true value is underground where for the pandemic there might have been a greater number of off -Island all the services have been renewed.” workers involved in the project. In all there are around 60 people working on the site at any one time: “Sometimes it might not look like it, but they are there. And some people We have taken the situation are working up to 60 hours a week to get the job done on time,” he added. With the cost of the scheme likely to top £26 million it represents onboard and are intent on driving the a massive capital project, but Mr Baker is in no doubt that the project forward, in the hope that when considerable pain and inconvenience the regeneration of the promenade has brought will all be worth it: “Everybody wants to see it tourists return to our shores fi nished, and I’m confi dent that it will provide a fantastic gateway to the Island. It must also be remembered that it has generated considerable the promenade will be a fantastic economic activity during an extremely diffi cult time for the economy.” gateway to Douglas and the Isle of Man DOI Minister Tim Baker was talking to B365 editor, Simon Richardson. 10 | Prom scheme - there is light at the end of the tunnel

celebrate first year

31 July 2020 marked the one year anniversary for law firm FIN|LAW IOM.

“We have The firm was established by two local Manx residents who have each spent several a clear years practising law in the UK and the Caribbean. focus and determination to get the job done” The promenade scheme is on schedule and Infrastructure Minister, proceeding at full steam - that’s the clear message from Tim Baker Infrastructure Minister, Tim Baker. r Baker said his department and the contractors, Auldyn, had a The statistics of the scheme are mind-boggling: The MUA has laid clear focus and were determined to meet the new deadline of almost two and a half kilometres of new mains, Manx Gas is installing Mnext Easter, for completion of the scheme: “I believe in being 10kms of ducting, and 3 kilometres of new 11kv electrical cabling is now direct with people and the truth is there is no easy way to do a project in place, along with vast quantities of fi bre optic cable: “We have to have of this size and complexity. I am always happy to talk to people but we a modern infrastructure for our Island which also involves all the services have to be bold and push past short-term interests and not be blown by including drainage and sewage. We must build confi dence going the wind.” forward,” added Mr Baker. Stephen Dougherty Lawrie Kearns The Minister is fi rm in his belief that bringing the deadline for completion To date the scheme has had its problems though, something to be forward and intensifying eff orts to get the job fi nished was the right expected on a project of such scale. Delays have been encountered Stephen advises local and international Lawrie is an international trust expert who one: “I think most people accept that although it may be more painful after unmapped pipelines were discovered, and there have been issues clients, banks, multi-internationals and HNWIs specialises in advising private individuals, trust there is a real light at the end of the tunnel. Government has now taken with the pink concrete plinths on which the tramlines are mounted. on all aspects of corporate and commercial, companies and other financial institutions on the control of the large car parks in the town and it’s intended to bring in The Minister though, is confi dent the problems can be dealt with, and restructuring & insolvency and aviation from both establishment, administration, restructuring and fl exible parking arrangements where they can be introduced without believes the cracking of the concrete, whilst frustrating, has been blown the Isle of Man and BVI perspective. termination of trusts. compromising the project.” out of all proportion: “The cracks are much less serious than has been made out. A repair to the aff ected areas will be carried out to determine Mr Baker acknowledged that the ongoing problems connected to the D +44 01624 855321 D +44 01624 855322 the fi nal treatment, and testing will take place in September. It’s not coronavirus pandemic, which have prevented UK and world tourists from possible to do so at the moment as cars are driving on the aff ected M +44 07624 334654 M +44 07624 356635 visiting the Island this summer, opened a window of opportunity to get section of the roadway. It’s really not something that keeps me awake at E [email protected] E [email protected] the work done: “We have taken the situation onboard and are intent on night,” explained Mr Baker. driving the project forward, in the hope that when tourists return to our shores the promenade will be a fantastic gateway to Douglas and the Isle Although the main contractor is local fi rm, Auldyn, Mr Baker conceded of Man.” that UK specialists had been sub-contracted by the company to carry FIN|LAW IOM specialises in financial services law Having trained in London, Lawrie was formerly out tasks requiring specifi c expertise, such as block laying and rail track The Minister said it was important to get the message across that the with particular expertise in aviation, company and head of private client for one of the largest installation: “All the experts that have been allowed into the Island must scheme is about much more than repairing the road surface: “This is a commercial, insolvency, private client and trusts. offshore law firms in the BVI. strictly adhere to the key worker exemption protocols in relation to massive infrastructure and regeneration project. When completed it will The Douglas based firm are part of a wider FIN|LAW Covid19,” stressed the Minister. He also admitted that had it not been Stephen commented “We are very excited to have a life of around forty years. The true value is underground where group with offices in Jersey, Luxembourg and the for the pandemic there might have been a greater number of off -Island have completed our first 12 months. It has been all the services have been renewed.” British Virgin Islands. They provide Isle of Man and workers involved in the project. a successful year with a number of varied and BVI legal services. In all there are around 60 people working on the site at any one time: high quality instructions. We are very grateful to “Sometimes it might not look like it, but they are there. And some people Stephen and Lawrie have worked at some of the our clients, both local and international, for their We have taken the situation are working up to 60 hours a week to get the job done on time,” he added. largest offshore law firms and have over 30 years support and look forward to working with them for combined legal experience having each worked in many years to come.” With the cost of the scheme likely to top £26 million it represents London, Cayman Islands and BVI. This knowledge onboard and are intent on driving the a massive capital project, but Mr Baker is in no doubt that the The firm is located at Cameo House on Duke Street of different jurisdictions and working practices project forward, in the hope that when considerable pain and inconvenience the regeneration of the having moved to the new offices earlier this year. promenade has brought will all be worth it: “Everybody wants to see it brings a fresh proactive approach to the Manx Lawrie added “I’m delighted to have made the tourists return to our shores fi nished, and I’m confi dent that it will provide a fantastic gateway to the legal market. Stephen was formerly a director at Island. It must also be remembered that it has generated considerable DQ where he headed the corporate commercial move back home. We look forward to growing the the promenade will be a fantastic economic activity during an extremely diffi cult time for the economy.” team and has been on the IOM since he relocated business and continuing to deliver a high quality, responsive service to our clients.” gateway to Douglas and the Isle of Man DOI Minister Tim Baker was talking to B365 editor, Simon Richardson. from the BVI in 2010.

www.finlaw.im ISLE OF MAN STEAM PACKET COMPANY SIGNS CONTRACT FOR NEW VESSEL

A new purpose-built vessel for the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company will be constructed in South Korea.

he company's directo rs signed a the new vessel will take the Isle of Man Mr Woodward continued: ‘The fi nal specifi cation contract on behalf of the Company with Steam Packet Company forward to our 200th and build programme is still in development T one of the world’s major shipbuilders, anniversary and beyond.’ but it is expected the new vessel will be slightly Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (HMD), based in Ulsan. larger than the Ben-my-Chree in most respects The new vessel, expected to commence but with considerably more passenger space. It follows a week-long visit to Korea by service in Spring 2023, will be an important It is also intended to be more environmentally senior personnel from the Isle of Man Steam part of the Company’s future plans, bringing effi cient and manoeuvrable in poor conditions. Packet Company, during which they visited high levels of on-board facilities and enhanced the shipyard where the vessel will be built, freight capability. ‘Factoring in various technical and logistical viewed a recently completed ship to assess considerations for a new vessel, and taking into The Company is also committed to maintaining the standard of work and discussed technical account the recent public consultation exercise a third back-up vessel, intended to be the and commercial considerations with HMD where possible, our aim for when we introduce Ben-my-Chree when the new vessel arrives, to executives. the new addition is to ensure we provide enhance security of both passenger and freight an even higher level of service to the Island Work on physically constructing a replacement links and also help increase capacity during the community and our customers.’ for the conventional ferry, Ben-my-Chree, is TT and Classic TT. now due to start in mid-2021 after detailed plans are fi nalised and agreed between builder and buyer. The process began last autumn when the Company commissioned a tender exercise, during which a large number of shipyards around the world expressed an interest in building the bespoke vessel. Isle of Man Steam Packet Company Chief Executive Mark Woodward said: ‘For some time we have been conducting detailed analysis as we develop plans for major investment in our fl eet. ‘I am delighted to confi rm that, following lengthy discussions with a leading shipyard in South Korea, we have confi rmed specifi cations for the vessel and today signed a contract with Hyundai Mipo Dockyard. ‘This truly is an exciting time in our history and, in the year we marked our 190th anniversary,

12 | MIMECAST ADDS EXTRA LAYER OF SECURITY TO OFFICE 365 Microsoft’s Office 365 (O365) service is used by more than 200 million people worldwide and numbers continue to grow. Its status as the world’s most successful business cloud service makes it a major target for cybercriminals who anticipate rich pickings from its high net worth customers. Sure’s Sam Field, Enterprise Solutions Product Manager, looks at the best means of protecting your business’ use of O365.

ecent reports by Forbes point to an increasing ISLE OF MAN number of attacks on O365 with a worryingly Rhigh degree of success, with 29% of In the event organisations’ O365 accounts compromised in a single STEAM PACKET COMPANY month. Once an account has been compromised, of an 0365 hackers tend not to launch an immediate attack; they security breach, bide their time, monitoring emails and company activity SIGNS CONTRACT FOR NEW VESSEL to maximise the impact of their attack. there’s an We in the Isle of Man aren’t immune to this. A new purpose-built vessel for the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company will be additional layer Early this year it was reported that cybercriminals had of security developed an app to target O365. In one instance constructed in South Korea. scammers sent a phishing message to users, asking from Mimecast them to click on a link that took them to a real he company's directo rs signed a the new vessel will take the Isle of Man Mr Woodward continued: ‘The fi nal specifi cation Microsoft login page. After login they were asked to contract on behalf of the Company with Steam Packet Company forward to our 200th and build programme is still in development that keeps grant permission to an app called ‘0365 Access’ giving T one of the world’s major shipbuilders, anniversary and beyond.’ but it is expected the new vessel will be slightly businesses the cybercriminals complete access to their O365 files, Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (HMD), based in Ulsan. larger than the Ben-my-Chree in most respects The new vessel, expected to commence contacts, and inbox. but with considerably more passenger space. safe. It follows a week-long visit to Korea by service in Spring 2023, will be an important Any single-vendor solution can be a single point of It is also intended to be more environmentally senior personnel from the Isle of Man Steam part of the Company’s future plans, bringing failure and lack the layered levels of resilience and effi cient and manoeuvrable in poor conditions. Packet Company, during which they visited high levels of on-board facilities and enhanced business continuity that we are used to. In the UK, the shipyard where the vessel will be built, freight capability. ‘Factoring in various technical and logistical the average cost of a cyberattack to a company is viewed a recently completed ship to assess considerations for a new vessel, and taking into The Company is also committed to maintaining estimated at £3million, and interestingly around half of the standard of work and discussed technical account the recent public consultation exercise a third back-up vessel, intended to be the all cyberattacks here involve email phishing, a figure and commercial considerations with HMD where possible, our aim for when we introduce Ben-my-Chree when the new vessel arrives, to 20% higher than the global average. executives. the new addition is to ensure we provide enhance security of both passenger and freight meets stringent legal, regulatory and compliance an even higher level of service to the Island Work on physically constructing a replacement links and also help increase capacity during the requirements, enabling anytime-anywhere access to community and our customers.’ ANOTHER LAYER OF PROTECTION for the conventional ferry, Ben-my-Chree, is TT and Classic TT. archived data. Information is always available, always So, in the face of such targeting, what can be done now due to start in mid-2021 after detailed replicated and always safe. to give businesses the additional protection and plans are fi nalised and agreed between builder In the event of an O365 security breach, there’s resilience they need? and buyer. an additional layer of security from Mimecast that At Sure we work with Mimecast, a leading ‘Gartner keeps businesses safe. All too often we see clients The process began last autumn when the Magic Quadrant’ cybersecurity provider, and retrospectively layering Mimecast services onto Company commissioned a tender exercise, together we’ve built a unique range of offshore their security and business continuity after an attack during which a large number of shipyards services to give organisations the business continuity has happened. We often wonder about the cost of around the world expressed an interest in ‘belt and braces’ and added levels of security that recovery, and the fact that it’s much more effective to building the bespoke vessel. they require. secure the stable door before the horse has bolted. Isle of Man Steam Packet Company Chief These provide additional protection across three Mimecast are cybersecurity experts, that’s all they do - Executive Mark Woodward said: ‘For some time zones - the email perimeter, inside the networked they live and breathe IT security, and their services are we have been conducting detailed analysis as organisation and beyond the perimeter. modular, so you can decide which of the elements to we develop plans for major investment in our Mimecast dynamically identifies and protects against use to bolster your existing security. Mimecast can cost fl eet. malware, phishing, ransomware, malicious URLs, less than a cup of coffee per person per month, so is ‘I am delighted to confi rm that, following lengthy attachments, impersonation, and data leaks using extremely cost-effective. discussions with a leading shipyard in South multiple detection engines, innovative applications and O365 is understandably popular in the business Korea, we have confi rmed specifi cations for intelligence feeds. community, but this makes it a prime target for the vessel and today signed a contract with Archiving of corporate information, emails, files, and criminals. Speak to a member of the Sure Business Hyundai Mipo Dockyard. other relevant content ensures sensitive data and team today to find out how to protect yourself with ‘This truly is an exciting time in our history and, knowledge is protected and immediately available Mimecast’s solutions. Email [email protected] or in the year we marked our 190th anniversary, through a secure digital corporate memory that visit www.business.sure.com for more information. For me personally, a lack of consistency in the user experience and website. There are lots of free tools available that will scan your whole branding elements demonstrates a poor attention to detail and can website for ‘404’ pages. even lead to mistrust. If a website lacks consistency and has a poor Ease to implement rating: 10/10 – if this is done little and often, it user journey I will often leave the website as I wouldn’t feel confident isn’t too time intensive. to purchase something from the site (which could be a good thing or a bad thing!) Also, it is inevitable that some of your website users will find a 404 error page (for example by mis-typing the address manually) but feel Ease to implement rating: 10/10 – spend some time working out free to have some fun with the design of it: what looks good on your website and then recreate this across IS YOUR WEBSITE THRIVING your whole website. No outside help should be required but it could take some time. OR JUST SURVIVING? 6. Security and privacy A website that uses https protocol is considered more secure is universally indicated by a padlock symbol which will be visible, Senior Marketing Executive Hannah Scarffe reveals 10 agency tricks to improve usually in the address bar of the browser. Websites with https also the quality, visibility and profitability of your digital communications post-Covid. tend to rank higher with Google.

ost businesses today have a website, but how many fully understand If in your CMS you don’t have access to these things, talk to your Mthe value and potential it has when it’s run well? web developer about arranging for you to have access. By marking Hubspot’s 404 error page is on brand, helpful and will hopefully In our experience, most underestimate the time, skills and investment up images correctly, you’re also meeting accessibility regulation encourage users to remain on the website necessary to operate a site professionally. which means users with disabilities will have a better experience Source: google support too. 9. Reducing page load speed Read on for ten simple but often overlooked tips and why they are so If you’re not sure, ask your developer what’s involved in using https. important to your website. Ease to implement rating: 8/10 – depending on your CMS, this is There is nothing more frustrating than a website taking a while to something that you might be able to do yourself. Companies who host websites will ideally hold relevant qualifications load, this frustration is doubled when you’re using your mobile and it 1. Standout page titles and descriptions (don’t be scared to ask) such as Cyber Essentials Plus – these can is eating into your precious mobile data package. add extra layers of security and this may reduce any concerns you On average more than 60,000 Google searches take place every 3. Understand your users Using Goole Page Speed Insights, work out what the problem pages have about hacking and other malicious attempts. It’s also important single second. It’s an astonishing figure, and post-pandemic this figure are. From this, try re-uploading the images to your page aiming for There are many tools to help you understand how users interact with to make sure your supplier has a strong track record in website is likely to increase as populations become ever more reliant on digital. the smallest file size you can, without impacting on the quality of the your website: Google Analytics and HotJar are two resources that are uptime - which in most cases should exceed 99.5%. With 46bn internet users around the world 1, search results need to free and very effective: Google Analytics and HotJar are two that are image. As well as improving the website experience for your visitors, All websites need to display a Company Registration number (if you appeal to individual users and the wording used in a page ‘meta free and very effective. it also is good for SEO and should help you rank higher in Google. have one), a Privacy Policy explaining how you process users’ data, and description’ on your website is often collected by Google to display If this doesn’t work, speak to your website developer to get some While Google Analytics provides a view of the big numbers – a ‘Cookies’ control, which lets users choose which cookies they agree visually in search results. Preparing concise and enticing wording advice from them. visitors, countries, page views, devices. HotJar excels at the detail of to be used on their device. All of these are legal requirements - if you’re about your products or services can help increase the number of There are lots of free tools available for helping you to compress your interactions at the page level and can provide, amongst other things, unsure what to include I’d recommend getting some professional advice. clickthrough’s you attract. video clips of users conducting transactions on areas of the website image sizes and to save them as JPEG – including Canva, Picture Ease to implement rating: 5/10 – this is very important to get right, that you specify. (which is included for free as part of your Office download) and even if you’re unsure, get some professional advice. Paint. Use of analytics in this way can help you understand your customers Ease to implement rating: 9/10 – use some of the free tools needs and wants, their likes and dislikes and can help you continuously 7. Does your website work on mobile? improve your service, leading to increased engagement and loyalty. available to you and see what improvement it has on your website Mobile browsing continues to grow, accounting for 48% of webpage load time! Ease to implement rating: 7/10 – depending on your CMS, this is views globally and the global mobile population is 4bn unique users. 2 something that you might be able to do yourself. There are lots These numbers are big and when your website is not easy to use 10. Have I got a favicon? of free online tutorials showing you how to use Google Analytics either on a device or desktop, it can affect the conversion rate of and HotJar. What is a favicon, I hear you ask? A favicon is a small but key part of a sales, enquiries or other transactions. website – it is a small icon, usually a logo that is used in the address Good example of meta description. By the end of the 2020, Google will have completed mobile indexing bar and is also stored when user bookmarks or downloads a page. Source: moz.com 4. Creating good, trustworthy content, products and services across all global websites, prioritising and rewarding those that are Some search engines even display the favicon alongside the search Ease to implement rating: 8/10 – this is something you or your It may have been as long ago as 1996, but a quote from Bill Gates’ mobile-friendly. There are still a few months to rectify this. result. presentation stated that ‘content is king’ 24+ years later, it still holds web developer can do quite quickly and easily. Ease to implement rating: 3/10 – if you’re having to start from true today. In a world where we buy goods and services locally and scratch, this is something that could be time intensive for your virtually from around the world, trust is vital and hard to earn. Content 2. Image search web provider to complete but is worth the effort. that supports your values and ecosystem can help to build trust from Source: Woorank We are visual creatures. People often use Google image search for both Google and your customers. 8. Regularly check for 404 error pages products and by adding the right information to your images, you can In addition to authentic content, use short and concise paragraphs, Although there are no direct SEO benefits for implementing a favicon, A 404 page, or error page, is shown when someone attempts to visit increase the probability of your images being indexed and displayed section breaks, headers, bullet points, internal site links and finally a it helps to reinforce your brand identity, maintains a professional, a page that does not exist. As a website user, it can be frustrating in results. call to action at the bottom of the page. trustworthy appearance and helps your website stand out from your and often means that you will leave the site and potentially visit and If you have a Content Management System (CMS) for your website, competitors. Ease to implement rating: 10/10 – play around and work out what purchase from a competitor instead. 404 pages often occur when check your images have the following: Ease to implement rating: 6/10 – this is something your agency content your clients engage with. pages are removed or renamed, or when making major changes to a will have to do for you but it should be a relatively quick task for 3 Description website such as a redesign. them. 3 File names 5. Consistency Your web developer should be able to assist with redirects and I’d 1 Internet World Stats 2 Statista 3 ‘Alt’ attribute, which should be an accurate description of the Consistency is one of the golden rules of branding and this approach highly recommend regular use of a broken link checker on your image should also be applied to your website. If you’d like to speak to a friendly member of the team about any of the topics raised 3 Image preparation and sizing – check that your images are A consistent website, with the same ‘look and feel’ across all pages LEARN MORE in this article, please email [email protected] sized and optimised for the web will help your visitors feel comfortable and at ease while browsing.

14 | For me personally, a lack of consistency in the user experience and website. There are lots of free tools available that will scan your whole branding elements demonstrates a poor attention to detail and can website for ‘404’ pages. even lead to mistrust. If a website lacks consistency and has a poor Ease to implement rating: 10/10 – if this is done little and often, it user journey I will often leave the website as I wouldn’t feel confident isn’t too time intensive. to purchase something from the site (which could be a good thing or a bad thing!) Also, it is inevitable that some of your website users will find a 404 error page (for example by mis-typing the address manually) but feel Ease to implement rating: 10/10 – spend some time working out free to have some fun with the design of it: what looks good on your website and then recreate this across IS YOUR WEBSITE THRIVING your whole website. No outside help should be required but it could take some time. OR JUST SURVIVING? 6. Security and privacy A website that uses https protocol is considered more secure is universally indicated by a padlock symbol which will be visible, Senior Marketing Executive Hannah Scarffe reveals 10 agency tricks to improve usually in the address bar of the browser. Websites with https also the quality, visibility and profitability of your digital communications post-Covid. tend to rank higher with Google. ost businesses today have a website, but how many fully understand If in your CMS you don’t have access to these things, talk to your Mthe value and potential it has when it’s run well? web developer about arranging for you to have access. By marking Hubspot’s 404 error page is on brand, helpful and will hopefully In our experience, most underestimate the time, skills and investment up images correctly, you’re also meeting accessibility regulation encourage users to remain on the website necessary to operate a site professionally. which means users with disabilities will have a better experience Source: google support too. 9. Reducing page load speed Read on for ten simple but often overlooked tips and why they are so If you’re not sure, ask your developer what’s involved in using https. important to your website. Ease to implement rating: 8/10 – depending on your CMS, this is There is nothing more frustrating than a website taking a while to something that you might be able to do yourself. Companies who host websites will ideally hold relevant qualifications load, this frustration is doubled when you’re using your mobile and it 1. Standout page titles and descriptions (don’t be scared to ask) such as Cyber Essentials Plus – these can is eating into your precious mobile data package. add extra layers of security and this may reduce any concerns you On average more than 60,000 Google searches take place every 3. Understand your users Using Goole Page Speed Insights, work out what the problem pages have about hacking and other malicious attempts. It’s also important single second. It’s an astonishing figure, and post-pandemic this figure are. From this, try re-uploading the images to your page aiming for There are many tools to help you understand how users interact with to make sure your supplier has a strong track record in website is likely to increase as populations become ever more reliant on digital. the smallest file size you can, without impacting on the quality of the your website: Google Analytics and HotJar are two resources that are uptime - which in most cases should exceed 99.5%. With 46bn internet users around the world 1, search results need to free and very effective: Google Analytics and HotJar are two that are image. As well as improving the website experience for your visitors, All websites need to display a Company Registration number (if you appeal to individual users and the wording used in a page ‘meta free and very effective. it also is good for SEO and should help you rank higher in Google. have one), a Privacy Policy explaining how you process users’ data, and description’ on your website is often collected by Google to display If this doesn’t work, speak to your website developer to get some While Google Analytics provides a view of the big numbers – a ‘Cookies’ control, which lets users choose which cookies they agree visually in search results. Preparing concise and enticing wording advice from them. visitors, countries, page views, devices. HotJar excels at the detail of to be used on their device. All of these are legal requirements - if you’re about your products or services can help increase the number of There are lots of free tools available for helping you to compress your interactions at the page level and can provide, amongst other things, unsure what to include I’d recommend getting some professional advice. clickthrough’s you attract. video clips of users conducting transactions on areas of the website image sizes and to save them as JPEG – including Canva, Picture Ease to implement rating: 5/10 – this is very important to get right, that you specify. (which is included for free as part of your Office download) and even if you’re unsure, get some professional advice. Paint. Use of analytics in this way can help you understand your customers Ease to implement rating: 9/10 – use some of the free tools needs and wants, their likes and dislikes and can help you continuously 7. Does your website work on mobile? improve your service, leading to increased engagement and loyalty. available to you and see what improvement it has on your website Mobile browsing continues to grow, accounting for 48% of webpage load time! Ease to implement rating: 7/10 – depending on your CMS, this is views globally and the global mobile population is 4bn unique users. 2 something that you might be able to do yourself. There are lots These numbers are big and when your website is not easy to use 10. Have I got a favicon? of free online tutorials showing you how to use Google Analytics either on a device or desktop, it can affect the conversion rate of and HotJar. What is a favicon, I hear you ask? A favicon is a small but key part of a sales, enquiries or other transactions. website – it is a small icon, usually a logo that is used in the address Good example of meta description. By the end of the 2020, Google will have completed mobile indexing bar and is also stored when user bookmarks or downloads a page. Source: moz.com 4. Creating good, trustworthy content, products and services across all global websites, prioritising and rewarding those that are Some search engines even display the favicon alongside the search Ease to implement rating: 8/10 – this is something you or your It may have been as long ago as 1996, but a quote from Bill Gates’ mobile-friendly. There are still a few months to rectify this. result. presentation stated that ‘content is king’ 24+ years later, it still holds web developer can do quite quickly and easily. Ease to implement rating: 3/10 – if you’re having to start from true today. In a world where we buy goods and services locally and scratch, this is something that could be time intensive for your virtually from around the world, trust is vital and hard to earn. Content 2. Image search web provider to complete but is worth the effort. that supports your values and ecosystem can help to build trust from Source: Woorank We are visual creatures. People often use Google image search for both Google and your customers. 8. Regularly check for 404 error pages products and by adding the right information to your images, you can In addition to authentic content, use short and concise paragraphs, Although there are no direct SEO benefits for implementing a favicon, A 404 page, or error page, is shown when someone attempts to visit increase the probability of your images being indexed and displayed section breaks, headers, bullet points, internal site links and finally a it helps to reinforce your brand identity, maintains a professional, a page that does not exist. As a website user, it can be frustrating in results. call to action at the bottom of the page. trustworthy appearance and helps your website stand out from your and often means that you will leave the site and potentially visit and If you have a Content Management System (CMS) for your website, competitors. Ease to implement rating: 10/10 – play around and work out what purchase from a competitor instead. 404 pages often occur when check your images have the following: Ease to implement rating: 6/10 – this is something your agency content your clients engage with. pages are removed or renamed, or when making major changes to a will have to do for you but it should be a relatively quick task for 3 Description website such as a redesign. them. 3 File names 5. Consistency Your web developer should be able to assist with redirects and I’d 1 Internet World Stats 2 Statista 3 ‘Alt’ attribute, which should be an accurate description of the Consistency is one of the golden rules of branding and this approach highly recommend regular use of a broken link checker on your image should also be applied to your website. If you’d like to speak to a friendly member of the team about any of the topics raised 3 Image preparation and sizing – check that your images are A consistent website, with the same ‘look and feel’ across all pages LEARN MORE in this article, please email [email protected] sized and optimised for the web will help your visitors feel comfortable and at ease while browsing.

| 15 FOR ONLINE SERVICES AND SAVE TIME SAYS GOVERNMENT More and more people are using Online Services for a range of reasons, including searching for jobs, paying rates and utility bills and applying for licences.

hile border restrictions remain in place, even more ■ Making secure online payments new users have accessed the site recently following ■ Having income tax refunds paid directly into a bank account Wthe launch of the Manx Entry Permit, and to complete a Landing Form within 48 hours of travelling back to the Island. The Income Tax Division continues to provide a professional service for those who do not have internet access or prefer to send in paper One of the most popular ways to use Online Services is to submit a copies of their return forms. personal tax return - the number has been rising steadily and was over 48 per cent in 2018-19 tax year. Further help and guidance is available on the Government website, by calling 685400 or by emailing [email protected] Once you register, online tax forms are already populated with salary and state benefi t details, removing the need to look up and provide the information manually. Due to the eff ects of the coronavirus pandemic, this year’s deadline has been put back a month to 6 November. Those who have not yet made the switch to online services are being encouraged to sign up for the convenient, secure and environmentally-friendly service. Visit gov.im/onlineservices to fi nd out how to get registered for the wide range of benefi ts it can bring. These include: ■ Submitting and viewing a tax return online ■ Receiving instant conﬁ rmation of a tax return submission ■ Reviewing assessments and balance details easily and securely

INFLATION MOVES INTO POSITIVE TERRITORY IN JULY • Isle of Man infl ation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index stands at 0.1% for July 2020, up from -0.3% in June 2020. • Recreation and culture is the biggest contributor towards this increase in infl ation causing a 0.7% increase in the overall rate compared to same time last year. All products within this category experienced an increase in prices compared to July 2019, with subscription to internet increasing by 13.7% and pet care by 8.8%. • Alcoholic beverages and tobacco and Furniture, household equipment and maintenance are the second biggest contributors, both leading to a 0.2% increase to the overall rate. Within Alcoholic beverages and tobacco, price of all products bar beer ‘off ’ sales increased and price of domestic help within Furniture, household equipment and maintenance increased by 18.2%. • Both air and sea fares had previously been set to 0% in April 2020 due to the travel restrictions imposed in response to COVID-19, rendering these prices invalid. These prices, like the previous months (May, June 2020), have been imputed by the annual change in prices based on the annual all-items movement of all available, non-imputed items (excluding both air and sea fares), to account for the unavailability of air and sea fares.

CPI May-19 Jun-19 Jul-19 Aug-19 Sep-19 Oct-19 Nov-19

Revised 0.8% 3.1%

Published 0.9% 3.2%

RPI May-19 Jun-19 Jul-19 Aug-19 Sep-19 Oct-19 Nov-19

Revised 0.8% 1.2% 1.1% 1.6% 0.7% 2.5%

Published 0.9% 1.3% 1.2% 1.7% 0.8% 2.6%

The fi gures are published monthly by the Economic Aff airs Division of the Isle of Man Cabinet Offi ce. Full details with further breakdowns are available in the downloadable document, which is updated monthly.

16 | The Isle of Man is the ﬁ rst in the world to reach a signiﬁ cant environmental milestone wo Manx registered vessels, BW Leo and BW Gemini, will be the fi rst ships of their type to be retrofi tted to run a Liquefi ed TPetroleum Gas (LPG) dual fuel propulsion system. Are your savings LPG emits signifi cantly less air pollution compared to traditional ship fuels, both in terms of local pollution and greenhouse gases. Geoff rey Boot MHK, Minister for the Environment, Food and getting the Agriculture said: ‘This is a signifi cant environmental milestone. Greenhouse gas emissions from these vessels will be cut by around 17% when running on LPG, making them much cleaner than the current international requirement. highest return? ‘A world fi rst in any arena is a remarkable achievement, it shows the Isle of Man are out ahead in terms of our thinking and practises. Hopefully, this will become a new standard for shipping and lead to emission reductions across the board.’ He added: ‘As our plans progress to fulfi l our climate commitments and have net zero carbon emissions by 2050, this clearly shows just what can be achieved and that our small Island is more than capable of leading the way on a world stage. ‘As an island, much of our territory is the sea. Reducing the impact we have on the marine environment is vital so that we can maximise the benefi ts such as carbon storage and healthy marine life.’ The conversion of BW Leo and BW Gemini are expected to be completed by the end of the summer, a further ten vessels will follow suit with fuel conversions taking place at each vessel’s next scheduled dry docking. The use of LPG compared to traditional fuels will virtually eliminate sulphur emissions (by around 90-97%) and further reduces the emission of nitrogen oxides and black carbon particulate matter. The Isle of Man Ship Registry approved the safety equivalence applications for the fuel conversation earlier this year and are currently working with industry on a number of other cutting edge environmental projects such as; biofuel usage and wind power. The Ship Registry already issues fully digital certifi cation and off ers discounted fees for environmentally friendly ships that meet the criteria.

RBS International half- year results What is your bank paying you? International has reported an operating profi t of £87 million At Skipton we offer a range of competitive RBS in the fi rst half of this year. Key points include: savings accounts giving you solid returns from • In the fi rst half of 2020 RBS International generated income of £259m and an operating profi t of £87m. an award winning bank. • The balance sheet remains strong with a Capital ratio of 20.9% and a loan to deposit ratio of 43%. • RBSI has extended forbearance to customers and additional Contact 01481 730730 lending facilities to governments in its jurisdictions as part of the wider eff ort to deal with COVID-19. Almost 1300 personal customers have opted for a capital repayment holiday and just over 400 business customers have opted for a capital repayment holiday or one of the government guaranteed loan schemes. Andrew McLaughlin, CEO, RBS International told B365: “The fi rst six months has been a huge test of our service culture, fi nancial strength and operational resilience. Lower interest rates and debt relief lower our profi tability but it is the right thing to do as we support our customers Skipton International Limited (Skipton) is licensed by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission and is registered in Guernsey: and the community through diffi cult times.” 30112. Skipton is a wholly owned subsidiary of Skipton Building Society. Skipton is licensed under the Banking Supervision (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 1994, as amended. Skipton is a participant in the Guernsey Banking Deposit Compensation Scheme. The Scheme offers protection for ‘qualifying deposits’ up to £50,000, subject to certain limitations. The maximum total amount of compensation is capped at £100,000,000 in any 5 year period. Full details are available on the Scheme’s website www.dcs. gg or on request. Skipton is not licensed by the Isle of Man (IOM) Financial Services Authority and deposits made with Skipton are not covered by the IOM Depositors Compensation Scheme. To help maintain service and quality, telephone calls may be recorded and monitored. HOPE ON HORIZON FOR YACHTING INDUSTRY AFTER COVID-19 STORM The global yachting sector is already showing promising signs of post-Lockdown recovery, according to one industry expert.

ike most leisure industries, the yachting industry than we would typically expect during the height of has been hit hard by the eff ects of the Coronavirus summer. outbreak, with 81% of manufacturers reporting a L “Indeed, only this week we completed the acquisition of decline in business through Q1 of 2020. a 37-metre yacht for a client who intends to enjoy what However, with lockdown restrictions easing in many remains of the summer charter season.” nations and travel options increasing, there is hope on the While the easing of some lockdown restrictions has horizon. paused amid concerns over a second wave of the Andrew Morgan, CEO of Affi nity Group, a corporate Covid-19 outbreak, it seems many are determined to services provider for the yachting industry, told B365: enjoy what remains of the summer. “Like most industries, the yachting sector was badly Mr Morgan said: “Obviously, we are not out of the woods aff ected by the Coronavirus pandemic and, with this yet, with many countries still bearing the brunt of the being an important part of our business, we were naturally pandemic but there are reasons to be optimistic for the worried about the potential long-term eff ect it might have. yachting industry. “Luckily, we’ve been able to get through what we hope is Aﬃ nity Group CEO “After months of lockdown, the demand for memorable the worst of it, our clients have weathered the storm and Andrew Morgan. real-life experiences will soar and this is likely to continue we’re looking forward to brighter times ahead. as more regions ease restrictions. Indeed, having initially “Many potential acquisitions lined up earlier in the seen a number of 2020 charters postponed to 2021 our year were unable to complete during the height of the clients are now seeing an uplift in last-minute charter lockdown for various reasons, including clients’ reticence bookings and enquiries from potential clients regarding to commit and due to the complicated logistics of actually support and corporate services while purchasing their fi rst completing acquisitions. or next yacht. “However, we have seen that many of the deals which “The price of materials for building and fuel is likely to be we had initially feared to have fallen through are now lower throughout the next 12 months and investors who starting to conclude. While the number of new enquiries have medium to long-term views; there are some great undoubtedly dropped earlier in the year, we are now opportunities out there. seeing signifi cantly more new acquisitions completing “Clients are also likely to be less inclined to travel by commercial planes, over concerns around social After months of lockdown, the demand for distancing and the impact on the environment - again areas where a super yacht is now an even more attractive memorable real-life experiences will soar. option.”

SMP Group completes acquisition of RBC Corporate Services Hong Kong Ltd Following a deal announcement in April, SMP Group has secured regulatory approval from the HK Companies Registry and completed the acquisition of RBC Corporate Services Hong Kong Limited.

he deal has been undertaken with is just the fi rst stage in the process of at SMP, commented: “We’re immensely the support of Palatine Private Equity thoughtfully integrating two successful grateful for the diligent work of our staff , the TLLP, the UK mid-market private equity teams of people. There is a lot more work team at SMP, and the regulators in seeing house that partnered with SMP in its 2019 to be done, but we are undertaking it in the the deal through to this stage. With our management buy-out, with additional debt knowledge that our ambitions and culture eyes fi rmly fi xed on a very positive future for funding from Apera Asset Management. are aligned and together we can build on everyone involved, we’ll now begin to work the existing operation and service off ering.” in earnest alongside our new colleagues David Hudson, Group CEO of SMP Group, around the world to bring an ever more told B365: “While we will be celebrating Sam Lee, formerly of RBC Corporate international, ever more attractive off ering to completion of this strategically important Services Hong Kong Limited, who will be our client base.” deal together today, regulatory approval continuing as Client Services Manager

18 | Expert comment from leading fi gures within the business community, on a variety of topical issues across a range of sectors. EQUITY RELEASE THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY

Under the terms of the deal the investor commits to providing you with a lifetime lease to remain in the property, and gives you a lump sum. Sounds great eh? Remember there’s no such thing as a free lunch, and in this case the lump you receive will be considerably smaller than the prevailing market value of the lump sold. But, if you are comfortable with that, then happy days. The other type of equity release scheme, which is more commonly off ered, is where mature homeowners are provided with a lifetime mortgage on their home. Under the terms of the arrangement interest payments are rolled up monthly and added to the outstanding balance. The rising debt is eventually settled when the property is sold after you die or move into long-term care. The amount you can borrow is usually between 18 per cent and 50 per cent of the property’s total value. The older you are, the more you can release, based on your reduced life expectancy. Most providers, though not all, now off er a ‘no-negative-equity guarantee’, ...and why isn't it which means the debt will never exceed the sale value of the property. Be aware though that this could still mean that all the property’s value is used available to Isle of Man up in paying off the mortgage. Before you grab the phone to see what you could gain from such a homeowners? scheme, hold on. It’s our understanding at Business365 that there are currently no businesses off ering equity release to Isle of Man homeowners. The last company to do so closed its local operation a couple of years ago. A SPECIAL BUSINESS365 REPORT So why aren’t companies off ering equity release schemes on the Island? For many people the prospect of life after retirement is both exciting Well, it boils down to diff erences between the Isle of Man and the UK in and frightening. They may look forward to having the freedom to terms of our tax regimes and our property ownership regulations. live their lives as they choose, away from the daily grind of work, but there may also be serious concerns over how little money they will So, in a nutshell, if your home has increased in value over the years, equity have to live on. release enables you to access some of that money to supplement your retirement income – instead of leaving it all to your children, or to cover For homeowners there are ways of releasing cash; some might consider your long-term care. downsizing, though the costs of estate agents fees and legal costs including conveyancing, can signifi cantly reduce the size of the cash pot at The main pitfall is that it doesn’t off er you the full market value of your the end of the process. property. You would invariably achieve a much bigger sum from selling the property on the open market – but the catch 22 is that you would then Others (particularly those without children) may be attracted to Equity need to fi nd somewhere else to live. Release schemes - though if they live on the Isle of Man, they may well be disappointed to learn that such an option isn’t readily available here. If you are keen to leave an inheritance to your children and your home is your main asset then they may be disappointed. In recent times companies off ering equity release have stepped up their advertising campaigns on TV and in magazines and newspapers. Images For all their potential pitfalls Equity Release schemes do have their benefi ts of a friendly salesman rocking up on somebody’s doorstep and sealing the in some circumstances, and can be a useful way of releasing cash for older deal over a nice cup of tea, before departing with a friendly wave, abound; homeowners to off er them a secure standard of living for the rest of their you would be forgiven for thinking that signing on the dotted line was a lives. complete ‘no brainer’. In the current economic climate it’s unfortunate that Isle of Man residents There are two types of scheme available in the UK, though neither off er no are denied the option. Maybe this is something for our politicians need to strings access to the proverbial money tree, as the marketing campaigns look into? might imply.

So how do the schemes actually work? One involves the equity release Our advice is to always seek professional advice before deciding on a particular company arranging for your property to be bought by a private investor. course of action. | 19 WORKPLACE SAFETY & WHISTLEBLOWING The importance of employers having a whistleblowing policy has been placed into sharp focus by the current pandemic and its eff ect on health and safety in the workplace. Savvy employers who transparently work with concerned staff to provide clear lines of communication and reporting will fare much better than employers who pay lip service to the health and safety concerns of staff .

lthough the Isle of Man has taken extra protection in view of the pandemic. This stringent steps to resist COVID-19, the accentuates the need for employers considering Adaily diet of fear and risk combined with such redundancies to make sure their procedure is the Island’s international reach mean that Manx transparent, objective and capable of resisting any based workers understandably remain wary. such whistleblower related claim. Lockdown has left its legacy. There will be far The Isle of Man has already seen instances of reaching changes to the way we work, facilitated employees being unwilling to return to work by huge advances in remote technology and until a better safety regime was put in place. An the Island’s extension of the fl exible working employer taking action against such a person runs regulations. a signifi cant risk of a detriment or unfair dismissal For those fortunate enough to be in work, perhaps claim on the part of the whistleblowing employee. Advocate John Aycock of M&P after a period of furlough, maintaining health In England there are some cases which shed and safety when back at work is a paramount Legal explains how workers who light on how health and safety concerns might consideration. If workers in those circumstances be interpreted in the COVID-19 environment. For raise concerns about insuﬃ cient have concerns they must have readily available instance, the following scenarios might attract precautionary measures in the channels through which to raise them. This is whistleblowing protection: workplace are protected in law. where a workable whistleblowing policy can assist. Workers worried about safety should raise this • If a contractor is not following recommended through the proper channels and have the option health and safety practices, a worker could of taking matters further through a whistleblowing raise that and achieve protection; mechanism. The key legal aspect of doing so is • A worker raising unhygienic offi ce working that by raising such concerns the workers gain conditions could disclose that as a health and legal protection against adverse employer action safety issue and gain protection. because they have likely made a protected disclosure. The key therefore is to ensure open communications are in place in accordance with The key ingredients in law of a protected the employer’s whistleblowing policy so as to disclosure are that: Workers head off these matters. Listening to workers and • It must be a qualifying disclosure and this employees who have concerns is the starting point. worried certainly includes raising a health and safety Adherence to a stricter health and safety regime issue. It will also include highlighting a breach is undoubtedly here to stay for Island employers. about safety of a legal obligation or environmental damage; Inadequate risk assessment and failing properly to should raise • The information must be revealed to the address concerns raised could lead to much more right person and in the right way, again a expensive consequences for an employer should whistleblowing policy can provide for this; an aggrieved worker consider they have suff ered this through detriment or worse because they raised legitimate • The employee must have a reasonable belief concerns. the proper as to the truth of the concern even though the concern may not actually be true. The Isle of Man Courts and Tribunals have already shown they will not hesitate to award substantial channels. Both employees and workers (that is, certain self compensation to genuine whistleblowing claimants employed contractors) can gain whistleblowing who have suff ered detriment or dismissal. In the protection and no minimum length of service is private sector, a corporate service provider has required. Having blown the whistle, the worker already been ordered to pay some £600,000 becomes protected in law so that they should not to a whistleblowing former staff member and in suff er any detriment or be dismissed by reason the public sector, utilities and the emergency of making the disclosure. In the current climate, services have also lost Tribunal cases brought by for instance, it is easy to see how an employer whistleblowing claimants. Advocate John Aycock is head of the considering a redundancy programme to cope Employment Unit at M&P Legal and has with the economic downturn might be perceived Time invested in ensuring proper policies are in 30 years’ experience of labour law in as targeting those who had raised concerns place and monitoring adherence to such policies three jurisdictions about safety in the workplace and the need for will therefore reap rewards.

20 | WORKPLACE SAFETY INVESTOR’S

& WHISTLEBLOWING DIARYBY PETER SHARKEY The importance of employers having a whistleblowing policy has been placed into sharp focus by the current pandemic and its eff ect on health and safety in the workplace. Savvy employers who transparently work with concerned staff Many people have become more to provide clear lines of communication and reporting will fare much better than employers who pay lip service to the health and safety concerns of staff . lthough the Isle of Man has taken extra protection in view of the pandemic. This refl ective over the past six months stringent steps to resist COVID-19, the accentuates the need for employers considering Adaily diet of fear and risk combined with such redundancies to make sure their procedure is Since listening to the very fi rst broadcast we’ve been big fans of Craig Charles’s Funk & Soul the Island’s international reach mean that Manx transparent, objective and capable of resisting any Show, available on BBC 6 Music every Saturday night. Not only is the show’s music great, it’s how based workers understandably remain wary. such whistleblower related claim. Lockdown has left its legacy. There will be far we came to hear of the Vintage music festival staged at Goodwood almost exactly a decade ago. The Isle of Man has already seen instances of reaching changes to the way we work, facilitated employees being unwilling to return to work by huge advances in remote technology and he eff ervescent Mr Charles, who completed his own set at the festival, until a better safety regime was put in place. An the Island’s extension of the fl exible working plugged it at every opportunity by reminding listeners of the all-star employer taking action against such a person runs regulations. Tline-up, including The Faces (without Rod, of course), Earth Wind & a signifi cant risk of a detriment or unfair dismissal Fire, Martha and the Vandellas, Kid Creole & the Coconuts, Roy Wood, The For those fortunate enough to be in work, perhaps claim on the part of the whistleblowing employee. Noisettes and dozens more. Who wouldn’t want to go? Advocate John Aycock of M&P after a period of furlough, maintaining health In England there are some cases which shed Our enthusiasm for the music was tempered by my wife’s reluctance to camp and safety when back at work is a paramount Legal explains how workers who light on how health and safety concerns might in an open fi eld and face a trek to the showers and WC facilities. In truth, I What do we invest for consideration. If workers in those circumstances be interpreted in the COVID-19 environment. For wasn’t over-keen myself so instead we hired a motorhome for four days. raise concerns about insuffi cient have concerns they must have readily available if not to enjoy what we instance, the following scenarios might attract precautionary measures in the channels through which to raise them. This is We were living in Bristol at the time, from where we were scheduled to whistleblowing protection: hope will be the fruits of workplace are protected in law. where a workable whistleblowing policy can assist. collect the motorhome, but at the last minute, the suppliers called and Workers worried about safety should raise this • If a contractor is not following recommended asked if we could collect it from Bournemouth instead. They covered the our investment success? through the proper channels and have the option health and safety practices, a worker could cost of our fuel for the journey to the south coast and then surprised us by of taking matters further through a whistleblowing raise that and achieve protection; supplying a brand-new, four-berth motorhome in place of the two-berth for mechanism. The key legal aspect of doing so is which we had paid. • A worker raising unhygienic offi ce working that by raising such concerns the workers gain conditions could disclose that as a health and It didn’t take too long to get the hang of driving this beast of a vehicle; the legal protection against adverse employer action safety issue and gain protection. windscreen was enormous, which made it feel like a bus, but it was very well- because they have likely made a protected appointed, comfortable and, most importantly, had its own shower and loo. disclosure. The key therefore is to ensure open communications are in place in accordance with Arriving at Goodwood, we were directed to the motorhome parking area; it The key ingredients in law of a protected the employer’s whistleblowing policy so as to was a tad on the tight side, but I managed to manoeuvre the beast into its disclosure are that: Workers head off these matters. Listening to workers and allotted space, connected it to water and electricity and rewarded myself by • It must be a qualifying disclosure and this employees who have concerns is the starting point. opening my fi rst beer of the festival. worried certainly includes raising a health and safety Adherence to a stricter health and safety regime And what a festival it was. With Mick Hucknall fronting the band, The Faces leverage. Should an investment opportunity… present itself, a ‘cash buyer’ can issue. It will also include highlighting a breach is undoubtedly here to stay for Island employers. were simply outstanding. Earth, Wind and Fire played for almost two hours; give themselves a signifi cant advantage because he or she can purchase it about safety of a legal obligation or environmental damage; Inadequate risk assessment and failing properly to Kid Creole, The Buzzcocks and the Wailers were brilliant; Craig Charles gave almost immediately. should raise • The information must be revealed to the address concerns raised could lead to much more us a shout-out. Added to this, our neighbours were friendly and the whole right person and in the right way, again a expensive consequences for an employer should festival was very well organised. “Advocating the broad appeal of cash has not been fashionable for many whistleblowing policy can provide for this; an aggrieved worker consider they have suff ered years, but today few commentators would question its attraction...” Staying in the comparitive luxury of a motorhome instead of a tent this through detriment or worse because they raised legitimate • The employee must have a reasonable belief supplemented our enjoyment, prompting me to idly suggest to my better half Since penning the article, stock markets have performed moderately well. concerns. the proper as to the truth of the concern even though the that “We should get one of these when we retire…” In late March, the FTSE100 index fell below 5,000; as I write, it’s managing to stay above 6,000, though it was 400 points higher in July. Investors who concern may not actually be true. The Isle of Man Courts and Tribunals have already I recall this episode because, like many people who have become more shown they will not hesitate to award substantial have remained invested have not crystallised losses, but is it time to invest channels. Both employees and workers (that is, certain self refl ective over the past six months, I believe the pandemic has underscored compensation to genuine whistleblowing claimants that cash in order to refocus on fulfi lling ambitions? employed contractors) can gain whistleblowing the need for us to fulfi l our ambitions. who have suff ered detriment or dismissal. In the For cautious investors, short-term government bonds off er comparative protection and no minimum length of service is private sector, a corporate service provider has What does this have to do with investment? Everything: what do we invest for safety. Their yield has risen as markets remain unsure about the short-term required. Having blown the whistle, the worker already been ordered to pay some £600,000 if not to enjoy what we hope will be the fruits of our investment success? And economic outlook, movement, which adds to their appeal. becomes protected in law so that they should not to a whistleblowing former staff member and in remember the old line about not being able to take it with you… suff er any detriment or be dismissed by reason Gold, of course, has enjoyed a phenomenal run, but as it peppers the $2,000 the public sector, utilities and the emergency of making the disclosure. In the current climate, At the start of the pandemic, I noted in this column that, “while investing an ounce mark, it’s probably far too frothy for some. I’m more inclined to add services have also lost Tribunal cases brought by for instance, it is easy to see how an employer should underpin any long-term fi nancial plan, it would be folly to ignore the a broad-based world equity ETF, ie one with perhaps 2-3,000 individual whistleblowing claimants. value of cash. Advocate John Aycock is head of the considering a redundancy programme to cope holdings. The HSBC MSCI World ETF, for instance, has risen from 1,614p Employment Unit at M&P Legal and has with the economic downturn might be perceived Time invested in ensuring proper policies are in “Holding a cash reserve off ers a form of investment security because it can in mid-May to 1,829p as we go to press, a healthy 13% increase over three 30 years’ experience of labour law in as targeting those who had raised concerns place and monitoring adherence to such policies ensure that there is no need to sell investments during periods of extended months. More of this would be perfectly acceptable for those of us with one three jurisdictions about safety in the workplace and the need for will therefore reap rewards. volatility, but perhaps more signifi cantly, cash provides its owner with eye on fulfi lling a long list of outstanding ambitions.

| 21 Decorate small back bedroom How’s your ‘Things To Do’ during lockdown list coming along? Amongst the remaining tasks chez Sharkey, Complete several ‘overlookedʻ DIY jobs decluttering features high on our list. Decluttering can be a liberating exercise, not least because it makes you consider why you Fit new fence to side of house believed keeping hold of items such as your Sharp colour-co-ordinated cassette recorder (in sunshine yellow) was such a brilliant idea. When, I wonder, will we declutter those items we saw Create sensible gardening schedule fi t to retain in 2020… IBM well positioned

mention this because research published recently by Currys PC World revealed that while for post-pandemic life Iwe have all embraced decluttering to some degree over the past few months, we’re not an unexpectedly positive consequence of the System (MS-DOS) to other computing companies. prepared to ditch everything. Indeed, it would pandemic. As decisions go, it’s akin to that of Dick Rowe, the appear that as we sort through old photographs, Decca executive who turned down the Beatles in papers, toys and other paraphernalia, we’re much Could there be more? Could technology stocks favour of Brian Poole & the Tremeloes. more inclined to become nostalgic for the ‘good help investors emerge from these horrifi c times old days’. with their portfolios (and sanity) reasonably intact? Almost three decades later, IBM is now the biggest player in the artifi cial intelligence (AI) market and The research concluded that residents of Norwich The so-called FAANG stocks (Facebook, Apple, last year launched the world’s largest quantum are the UK’s most nostalgic (Newcastle’s citizens Amazon, Netfl ix and Google) have enjoyed an computing system in commercial use. Quantum are apparently the least likely to hold onto the past) incredible run and now account for almost one computers are capable of processing considerably and that when we play those long-forgotten vinyl fi fth of the value of America’s main stock market. more data that conventional ones. albums or tapes discovered at the back of the It seems inevitable that each will continue to attic, the resultant music triggers strong feelings of produce ‘workable technology’ and snazzy online In short, IBM has sold, closed or extricated itself nostalgia in more than half (55%) of adults. platforms designed to make our lives easier for the from areas of technology that appear over- foreseeable future. crowded in favour of positioning itself in hybrid No surprises there, but as your decluttering project cloud technology (where second quarter revenue gathers pace, it might be worth keeping an eye Yet there’s another well-known technology grew by 30%) and cementing its relationships with open for potentially valuable items. corporation likely to play an equally important, if less prominent role. the world’s largest banks and telecoms groups. For example, many of the original mobile phones IBM’s mainframes already process 87% of all are now considered ‘classics’. The Motorola IBM, 109 years young, once made a catastrophically credit card transactions and, as more of us work DynaTac, for instance, has appreciated in value poor business call when it had the mainframe from home, buy online by card, IBM appears well by 147% since 1983; the original iPhone has also computer world at its feet and chose to hand the positioned for post-pandemic life. soared in worth; a 2003 version is now worth design of an operating system for its range of PCs There’s another attractive element to the IBM story: almost three times its original value. According to to a bright young man named Bill Gates. Incredibly, its shares currently yield more than 5% per annum, Currys PC World, a number of folks are prepared IBM failed to secure the source code within its a return that could prove a clincher for income- to spend good money on ‘vintage technology’ – intellectual property portfolio, allowing young Gates seeking investors. quite a discovery after you’ve fi nally familiarised to licence the use of his Microsoft Disk Operating yourself with various forms of video conferencing, including the ubiquitous Zoom. Ramsey Crookall oﬀ er investors access to a range of international investment Once the preserve of people desperate to and share dealing opportunities. For more details, contact Ramsey Crookall on distribute images of what they ate for breakfast, 01624 623884 or visit www.ramseycrookall.com video-based technology including Zoom and WhatsApp have come into their own over the past six months. We’ve adapted easily to working from home, interacting with colleagues via Facetime. We’ve embraced telemedicine as though we’ve used it for years (“the Zoom doctor will see you now”), while receiving legal advice through video links established via Skype has become second nature. In many instances, technology has provided a new level of comfort and reassurance to people who For details of Ramsey Crookall’s investment management services, contact their Douglas may have been unsure about a product or service, o ce on 01624 623884 or visit their website: www.ramseycrookall.com

22 | Decorate small back bedroom How’s your ‘Things To Do’ during lockdown list coming along? Looking at the people who keep the wheels of commerce turning on the Island; Amongst the remaining tasks chez Sharkey, Complete several ‘overlookedʻ DIY jobs features, profi les, achievements and stories with a human dimension. decluttering features high on our list. Decluttering can be a liberating exercise, not least because it makes you consider why you Fit new fence to side of house believed keeping hold of items such as your Sharp colour-co-ordinated cassette recorder (in sunshine yellow) was such a brilliant idea. When, Former Manx Telecom Director launches I wonder, will we declutter those items we saw Create sensible gardening schedule fi t to retain in 2020… consultancy business Former Manx Telecom director David Smith has launched his own IBM well positioned consultancy business, David L Smith Consulting. pending nearly a decade as a member of Manx Telecom’s Soperating board he was Marketing Director and, most mention this because research published recently, Strategic Development Director. recently by Currys PC World revealed that while for post-pandemic life Iwe have all embraced decluttering to some His career at the company spanned a period of major degree over the past few months, we’re not transitions, transformations, and achievements for the business an unexpectedly positive consequence of the System (MS-DOS) to other computing companies. prepared to ditch everything. Indeed, it would – including fl otation on the London Stock Exchange (Alternative pandemic. As decisions go, it’s akin to that of Dick Rowe, the appear that as we sort through old photographs, Investment Market); the launch of new products such as 4G and Decca executive who turned down the Beatles in papers, toys and other paraphernalia, we’re much Could there be more? Could technology stocks superfast broadband; the opening of the company’s fl agship favour of Brian Poole & the Tremeloes. more inclined to become nostalgic for the ‘good help investors emerge from these horrifi c times store; and most recently acquisitions and strategy. David also old days’. with their portfolios (and sanity) reasonably intact? Almost three decades later, IBM is now the biggest led the project to create the current Manx Telecom brand – the player in the artifi cial intelligence (AI) market and brand and identity refresh won a Design Business Association The research concluded that residents of Norwich The so-called FAANG stocks (Facebook, Apple, last year launched the world’s largest quantum award. He left Manx Telecom at the end of last year to set are the UK’s most nostalgic (Newcastle’s citizens Amazon, Netfl ix and Google) have enjoyed an computing system in commercial use. Quantum up his own business, which specialises in business strategy, are apparently the least likely to hold onto the past) incredible run and now account for almost one computers are capable of processing considerably mergers and acquisitions, and strategic marketing. and that when we play those long-forgotten vinyl fi fth of the value of America’s main stock market. more data that conventional ones. albums or tapes discovered at the back of the It seems inevitable that each will continue to He said: “I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Manx Telecom and attic, the resultant music triggers strong feelings of produce ‘workable technology’ and snazzy online In short, IBM has sold, closed or extricated itself choosing to leave was a diffi cult decision. It’s a great company nostalgia in more than half (55%) of adults. platforms designed to make our lives easier for the from areas of technology that appear over- and my time there fl ew past – but I wanted to set up my own foreseeable future. crowded in favour of positioning itself in hybrid business based on the wealth of experience I have gained No surprises there, but as your decluttering project cloud technology (where second quarter revenue here in the Isle of Man, other Island jurisdictions, and in a range gathers pace, it might be worth keeping an eye Yet there’s another well-known technology grew by 30%) and cementing its relationships with of diverse industries. It is my aim to help businesses large open for potentially valuable items. corporation likely to play an equally important, if less prominent role. the world’s largest banks and telecoms groups. and small, challenger or established, to achieve their goals. For example, many of the original mobile phones IBM’s mainframes already process 87% of all Researching current or new markets, reviewing strategy and IBM, 109 years young, once made a catastrophically are now considered ‘classics’. The Motorola credit card transactions and, as more of us work budgets, and responding quickly are always important for poor business call when it had the mainframe DynaTac, for instance, has appreciated in value from home, buy online by card, IBM appears well any business in any sector, but even more so right now when computer world at its feet and chose to hand the by 147% since 1983; the original iPhone has also positioned for post-pandemic life. the future is so uncertain. I know from experience that having soared in worth; a 2003 version is now worth design of an operating system for its range of PCs There’s another attractive element to the IBM story: the benefi t of a truly independent view from outside any almost three times its original value. According to to a bright young man named Bill Gates. Incredibly, its shares currently yield more than 5% per annum, organisation provides a unique perspective which results in the Currys PC World, a number of folks are prepared IBM failed to secure the source code within its a return that could prove a clincher for income- business gaining a competitive advantage by identifying ways to spend good money on ‘vintage technology’ – intellectual property portfolio, allowing young Gates seeking investors. to become more effi cient, agile and innovative.” quite a discovery after you’ve fi nally familiarised to licence the use of his Microsoft Disk Operating Having worked on several islands – including Jersey, Barbados yourself with various forms of video conferencing, and Grand Cayman – the Isle of Man is defi nitely his favourite. including the ubiquitous Zoom. Ramsey Crookall oﬀ er investors access to a range of international investment “It’s a uniquely entrepreneurial, accessible, and supportive Once the preserve of people desperate to and share dealing opportunities. For more details, contact Ramsey Crookall on environment for any business,” he says, “with a great work-life distribute images of what they ate for breakfast, 01624 623884 or visit www.ramseycrookall.com balance which as a fell-runner, cricketer and golfer I particularly video-based technology including Zoom and appreciate.” WhatsApp have come into their own over the past six months. David, who has an MBA from Cranfi eld University’s School of Management, has gained a wealth of experience during We’ve adapted easily to working from home, a career spanning nearly 30 years. He has expertise in interacting with colleagues via Facetime. We’ve marketing, sales, corporate communications and business embraced telemedicine as though we’ve used operations in many sectors, especially telecoms. Prior to it for years (“the Zoom doctor will see you now”), joining Manx Telecom he worked for Cable & Wireless in while receiving legal advice through video links the Caribbean. He was part of the team that developed the established via Skype has become second nature. ‘Orange’ brand in the UK and launched ‘Sure’ in the Channel In many instances, technology has provided a new Islands. Earlier in his career he spent several years with Mercury level of comfort and reassurance to people who For details of Ramsey Crookall’s investment management services, contact their Douglas One2One, and worked with Fuji Film, Eagle Star Insurance, and Contact David L Smith Consulting by emailing [email protected] may have been unsure about a product or service, o ce on 01624 623884 or visit their website: www.ramseycrookall.com Dixons/Currys.

| 23 Cruse Bereavement Care partners with Zurich International

Support enables charity to help more bereaved children, young people and adults

Cruse Bereavement Care Isle of Man – the charity that for more than 30 years has helped hundreds of children, young people, and adults cope with grief following the loss of loved ones – is beneﬁ tting from a new partnership with Zurich International.

s part of the leading multi-line insurer, Zurich Insurance organisations that contribute so much to Island life. We will Group, Zurich International is well-known for providing be using our online and social media channels to promote Afi nancial support to insurance customers that have Cruse’s services to our life and savings customers. We’re suff ered a bereavement – but the company is now also also looking to create volunteering opportunities for our helping them to access expert help to support their emotional/ employees. It’s a great partnership which will enable Cruse mental health and wellbeing. That’s why the business – which to help even more bereaved individuals and families when employs 300 staff at its Isle of Man Business Park HQ – has they need it most.” decided to partner with the Manx registered charity which Cruse Bereavement Care Isle of Man relies heavily off ers a range of free services to help on volunteers and fundraisers. Right now they need Amanda Cafearo, CEO, Cruse Bereavement Care Isle of volunteers for admin and offi ce support roles, plus people Left to right are Man, said: “We’re extremely grateful that a such a trusted who can organise events to raise funds and awareness. Stephanie Hatton, and respected global business has decided to help us to Bereavement support volunteers are also needed – there’s Corporate Distribution get the message out about the services we off er. It’s a great an annual intake with the next one being in spring 2021. Full Manager, Zurich boost which will allow us to raise awareness of our one-to- training is provided. Find out more at www.cruseisleofman. International; Oliver one bereavement support, specialist services for children org or on their Facebook page. Last, Risk Proposition and young people, support groups, plus freely available Manager, Zurich Cruse Bereavement Care Isle of Man is partly funded by a advice and information about all aspects of bereavement International; Amanda grant from the Department of Health and Social Care, but and end of life matters.” Cafearo, CEO, Cruse also relies heavily on other donations to run its free services Bereavement Care; Nigel Simpson, Head of International Markets, Zurich – so Zurich International has also agreed to donate £5,000 and Justine Quayle, International, commented: “Recent events have placed per annum to the charity. For information about Zurich Strategic Assistant, additional pressures on charities, which is why we have International go to www.zurichinternational.com or fi nd Zurich International. stepped up our ongoing support programme for third sector them on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

24 | PAUL SPELLER takes a left-fi eld look at the issues of the moment DON’T LIVE OFF THE HYPE I have banned anyone I know in my generation from telling me that children these days have it easy and better than we did. suspect the vast majority of people in my compared with the Johnson-led government generation – children of the seventies and in England, which seemed to focus more on Ieighties – did not have to contend with eye-catching gestures that would keep the bad facing something that could kill them or their news off the front page, only for promises to be loved ones and the sense that there was unfulfi lled and targets to be missed – coupled nothing they could do about it. with strenuous eff orts to create scenarios in which it could absolve itself from responsibility. Children these days have done that. Some of my contemporaries argued the threat of But, especially with a general election a little nuclear war was scary. I do recall my parents over a year away here, we need to know that not letting me watch The Day After on my the actions – and motivations behind them – of own, while a year later watching the BBC fi lm the Manx Government and Tynwald during the Threads with a morbid fascination. worst weeks of the crisis are not forgotten. But it was a distant threat. The truth is they set the bar higher than we dared to hope. You do not have to agree with a There was not the stark reality that I might lose politician’s every policy to respect them for the friends or loved ones to something unseen. way they approached it and on the whole, our That one cough could kill. respect for politicians increased. Nor do I remember children barely old enough The exam grades ﬁ asco Few would argue that they all put the needs of for school bursting into tears at the merest sadly aff ected pupils in the the Island’s people fi rst. And the politicians were site of one of those wretched coronavirus rightly praised. graphics, those of slightly older age Isle of Man. But it is important they don’t remember the processing mortality fi gures on a daily basis praise yet forget what brought that about. and those due to take exams which, at that The UK Government has been shameless in point, mean everything suddenly having their its attempts to try to turn teachers into bad In stark terms, don’t live off the hype. guys – a trend that had one or two worrying world thrown into fl ux. If any of them need an example of how that can echoes in the Island from some quarters – but be harmful, then they need look no further than I do acknowledge that in other parts of the teachers could not be blamed for a lack of at Jeremy Corbyn in the UK. world there would have been people from my ICT infrastructure to support remote learning, generation who had to grow up in fear, on a nor could they be held accountable for the After not winning a general election but getting mass level, in areas of confl ict, or individuals cluster bomb of the exams mess that hit in a few cheers at a music festival, he seemed who may have even lived down the road from August and saw the now regular feature of to forget that while it was all very well hearing me for whom life was unbearable for a variety Conservative ministers wriggling on the hook nice noises while tucked up in his echo of horrible reasons. while they denied their own incompetence and chamber it wasn’t much use without being desperately sought to pass the buck. elected. Consequently he gave a free ride and But thankfully that was not a universal situation fi ve-year pass into Downing Street for what will for children across the world. The exam grades fi asco sadly aff ected pupils go down in history as one of the worst British in the Isle of Man, who had the misfortune to There may have been many complaints about governments ever. be caught up with the same situation. It was, teenagers and young adults not following at least, pleasing to see the Manx Education There are plenty of non-Covid issues that need the guidelines for their own safety during this Minister, Dr Alex Allinson, express his anger at to be addressed in the Isle of Man between now Covid crisis – not to mention government the mess in which the Island’s students. and next September, from the aforementioned puppet masters – teenagers have had to ICT infrastructure, to the physical infrastructure So, again, I do not wish to hear anyone of my deal with the prospect or reality of losing on our roads, to revitalising the economy and generation mutter about children having it easy. family members, have tried to protect younger the fundamental point of whether the island’s siblings from the very fear they felt themselves, We must also fi ght against the temptation politicians listen enough to the island’s people. and had to deal with the frustration of to quietly fi le away things that we decided After a fairly inauspicious fi rst half of their lockdown and the disruption to education. really mattered during the crisis – people and fi ve-year term, the current membership of the community, for instance. For what it is worth on the latter point, school House of Keys did well in facing up to the worst staff went well above the call of duty to tend to The Manx Government did a good job during of times, but it is how those MHKs deal with the the needs of their pupils. the fi rst half of this year, especially when rest of times that will matter by September 2021.

| 25 CLIMATE ACTION

Average weekly commute times are reduced due to the There are more green – A NEW WAY… increase in homeworking. People have more free time “ that they are using to spend time with family and friends, spaces to explore, as a supporting their local communities and increasing local result people are spending An open letter from Isle of Man residents of the spend. There are more green spaces to explore, as a result people more time outdoors future and a look at what the Isle of Man could be are spending more time outdoors, increasing the amount of Due to community/school allotments, gardening” advice, regular light exercise. More people are choosing to holiday education on the benefits of eating local food, more of on-Island, which is increasing local spend and driving a local like in 2035 due to climate action. the food we eat each day is purchased locally, boosting sustainable economy. the Island’s economy. It also reduces the supply chain for Dear Isle of Man 2020, A new way of traveling schools, hospitals and care homes, which reduces waste. There are more training, work experience and recruitment You are on the verge something special. You have a unique motivated, productive workforce due to a better work/life Dedicated cycle and walk ways, town centre bike racks and opportunities in energy efficiency, low carbon heating, opportunity to use your recent pause in normal life to balance. investment into shower facilities in both private and public renewable energy, horticulture, forestry and land management regroup. To bring communities together for a common goal Improvements to broadband and mobile services have helped office buildings have made active travel a more convenient and environmental education. and create a resilient society and an island that is more self- make flexible working easier. Many employees across the option. People are more active and, for some, commuting sufficient with greener spaces where we live and work closer Island are choosing to work from home, or nearby tech hub, has become a more social activity as people walk and chat. Investment into our countryside and sea, such as through with nature. All the while building a stronger economy. tree planting and blue carbon management, have not only at least once or twice a week. This has minimised commuting There are more low emission options when purchasing made the Island more beautiful but also increased the By acting now, you leapfrog years of difficult and reduced the demand on office and parking space. a private vehicle and investment in low emission public behaviour change not simply to reduce amount of carbon the Island can store. Virtual meetings have replaced many physical transport has increased the number of low emission public carbon emissions but because it’s a better meetings, increasing efficiency and decreasing the vehicles. More people take advantage of parking out of town way. A new way that puts your wellbeing A new way need for some international business travel, and catch the bus or actively travel into town centres, saving at the centre of society’s goals. benefitting businesses while dramatically money on parking, reducing emissions and reducing traffic in You achieve this by coming together as a community and Over the coming years you achieve reducing our carbon emissions. town centres. embracing a new way of working, living, traveling and thinking. Things did not happen overnight but little by little we get there. so much. The year is 2035 and We are more aware of the scent of the countryside blowing the Isle of Man is now midway to A new way of living through town centres due to fewer fossil fuelled vehicles Yours sincerely, reaching net zero carbon emissions Expanded home efficiency grants and birdsong is more prominent due to the reduced noise Isle of Man 2035 and life is a little different. are enabling more people to invest pollution. in low carbon emission heating There are many options and paths the Isle of Man A new way of working and many new properties are built A new way of thinking could take on its route to becoming net carbon zero Work patterns have shifted slightly to passive house standards. Energy The move to electrification of home heating in new build emissions by 2050. The above is a look at some of to fit better around individual lifestyles efficient homes have reduced heating properties from 2025 and the increased use of electric the things that could happen and just some of the and circumstances. Some businesses are costs and the vulnerable in society worry less vehicles have increased electricity consumption, which is benefits that could come from climate action. We benefiting from increased business hours and a about being able to heat their homes during cold periods. now from 75% renewable sources. could make this a reality. CLIMATE ACTION

It’s a real boon for the local maintenance engineering sector and ensures unbroken technical support for the Island’s operating airlines An Island company, ‘M&A Technical Services’, is on the up after receiving the endorsement of a Scottish airline.

OMinvest Ltd took the decision to form three sheer tenacity have driven our close-knit team of engineers and mechanics all have extensive new trading companies amid the ongoing to this point and we have big dreams and, God aircraft type experience and can trace their Ipandemic crisis and Island lockdown. M&A willing, a bright future. Despite a very nervous careers back to Manx Airlines, Military Service, Technical Services was no sooner up and aviation industry right now, we remain focused British Aerospace, BA and some fallen heroes running than it entered into a Technical Support and, above all, positive in the knowledge we like DanAir, British Midland and Flybe to name Agreement with Loganair. In addition, the are good at what we do. Since our fi rst job for a few. second business, M&A MRO services, also Chorus and Nordic Aviation Capital, we have ‘Air travel, like our ferry services, is vital for the found a foothold providing valuable aircraft been called away from the Island to recover Isle of Man as it provides important links which technical recovery support to the owners of aircraft in Manchester, Coventry and Aberdeen. allow our businesses to trade, for families to aircraft, previously leased to former Airline ‘Most recently, we assisted with the delivery of remain connected and for tourists to visit our Flybe and Stobart Air. Loganair’s fourth ATR 42 and, as a result, M&A special Island. Despite the current government IOMinvest Ltd immediately recruited eight full- MRO Services appointed its fi rst employee, advice and closed borders, which we all follow for time sta to ensure aircraft operating passenger Steve Woodman, to the role of base manager. obvious reasons, there will come a time when we transfer services to Liverpool, Manchester and The future of the second company is pending want regular scheduled airline services back up in London had the essential technical support the outcome of a competitive tendering the sky and the role of my team is to ensure they necessary to fl y safely. process for Hangar 5 at Ronaldsway. If are safely maintained to a high standard. successful, further recruitment is planned with Since late May, the team has continued ‘For now, it is stay safe and pray for wisdom development of the facility into an ATR Base to provide 24/7 technical support, line and an end to the current environment we fi nd maintenance facility being our ultimate goal. maintenance and engineering services to ourselves in. Covid-19 has regrettably brought Loganair’s growing passenger services on both Loganair, Scotland’s premier airline, last week about many negatives, especially in the aviation ATR and Embraer aircraft based at Ronaldsway. launched its IoM-Manchester route and will sector, with many more to come, however, for shortly bring back services to Birmingham, in us it’s about maintaining a positive ‘can do’ Despite a limited number of fl ights to and from addition to its twice-daily scheduled route to attitude. I believe we have a unique opportunity the Isle of Man due to Covid-19, M&A MRO Liverpool formerly operated by Flybe. It is also to grow this Island-owned business and the Services has successfully secured other new operating the IOM-London City fl ights. control to design its future.’ customers in Chorus Ltd, Nordic Aviation Capital Ltd and Scandinavian Aircraft Management AB, Chris added: ‘Safety is always our primary and recently submitted a full business plan to concern and throughout the whole pandemic, IMAGES support Astral Aviation’s BAe ATP aircraft based we have been called upon to carry out aircraft LEFT: 1st job delivery of one of the lockdown in Nairobi, Kenya. inspections to the highest standards. I am sure IOM aircraft for owner Chorus Stobart. it is reassuring for passengers travelling to and It’s a real boon for the local maintenance from the Island to know that our technical team BELOW: Team work. engineering sector and ensures unbroken technical support for the Island’s operating airlines – a service that was necessary due to EAM Ltd’s untimely decision to restructure its Isle of Man operations. Part of the restructuring saw essential aircraft technical support withdrawn from the Island’s operators and a reduction of its 43-strong workforce based at Ronaldsway, reduced down to just 12 full-time engineers and two part-time admin sta . M&A Technical Services was duly formed and stepped in to ensure continuity and provide technical support. It has a wide range of experienced engineers who are headed up by its newly appointed Line Maintenance Manager, Ian Nelson. He continues to develop his team in readiness for additional fl ights and a return of airlines such as Easyjet. A number of the engineering team have recently qualifi ed on Airbus 320, the aircraft type operated by Easyjet on the Island routes pre-Covid. Company director and owner Chris Astley explained: ‘It has been a real rough ride for us all, however, commitment, determination and

| 29 Isle of Man students invited to enter the Conrad Challenge and develop the products of tomor row

sle of Man students are being invited to form teams and enter the 2020-21 Conrad Challenge, which could land them a trip to the IKennedy Space Center in Houston. Founded by late Apollo astronaut Pete Conrad and his wife, Nancy, the competition is open to students aged 13-18 around the globe, who can enter one of seven categories – the four traditional categories of Aerospace & Aviation, Cyber-Technology & Security, Energy & Environment, and Health & Nutrition, plus three special categories for this year, which are Oceans: The Plastic Problem, Smoke-Free World: Eliminating & Reducing E-Cigarette Waste, and Smoke-Free World: Re-purposed Farmlands & Tobacco Crops. Each year the ManSat Group sponsors Isle of Man teams by covering Left to right: Edward Houghton, Robert Rotherham and Kristan King. their entry fees to the Conrad Challenge, along with travel costs should a team reach the fi nal, which takes place at the Kennedy Space Center. KPMG ISLE OF MAN The Challenge launches on Friday, 21 August 2020, with the fi rst step for the student teams (which comprise between two and fi ve people) ANNOUNCES THREE NEW being to register online and start inputting their submissions for Round 1, which is the ‘Investor Pitch’. PARTNER PROMOTIONS Jennifer Stone, Chief Technical O cer at the ManSat Group, said: KPMG in the Isle of Man is delighted to announce three new Partner “The Conrad Challenge is an inspiring competition which brings promotions. Edward Houghton is promoted to Audit Partner, Kristan King young people together with the aim of creating innovative products to Advisory Partner and Robert Rotherham is promoted to Tax Partner, and solutions. It provides budding entrepreneurs with the opportunity with all titles taking eff ect from 1 October 2020. to apply their science, technology, engineering and mathematics Edward Houghton has been with the Isle of Man practice since 2003 (STEM) skills to develop the products of tomorrow. and has held the position of Director for the fi rm’s audit and advisory “Isle of Man teams have done extremely well to reach the latter departments for the last 5 years, managing a varied audit portfolio and stages of previous Challenges so we’re hopeful of continued Manx continuing to demonstrate expertise in capital market transactions and success and representation in the fi nal.” related governance matters. Ed is also responsible for leading the fi rm’s Given the global Covid-19 pandemic, regular updates will be given to Real Estate sector on-island. the teams, should any aspects of the challenge be altered. After spending time off -island on secondments, since originally joining For more information about the Conrad Challenge, visit: https://www. KPMG in 1999, Kristan King re-joined the Manx fi rm in 2014 assuming conradchallenge.org/conrad-challenge the role of Advisory Director. He strengthened the Deal Advisory team and has subsequently assisted many local and overseas clients through The Conrad Challenge is just one of the opportunities the ManSat transformational private equity and corporate transactions. Going forwards Group o ers to Isle of Man students each year. The company also as Partner, he will continue to lead the Deal Advisory team and oversee the o ers scholarships to the NASA United Space School, held in wider Advisory function comprising Restructuring, Risk Consulting, Data & Houston in July, and has sponsored Island high schools to participate Analytics and Digital Services. in the UK Rocketry Challenge. In addition, the company awards an annual ‘ManSat Fellowship’ grant for Manx students seeking to further Robert Rotherham’s former role of Tax Director gave him responsibility for their studies in space, and scholarships to programmes run by the a varied portfolio of both corporate and private clients and experience International Space University in Strasbourg. in a wide range of advisory matters, particularly relating to UK property, international tax planning and the Isle of Man’s Economic Substance rules. As Tax Partner he will assume responsibility for the local tax practice consisting of 13 tax professionals possessing deep expertise in many areas of both UK and Isle of Man corporate, private client and indirect taxes. K PMG’s Senior Partner on the Isle of Man, Russell Kelly, commented, ‘It is always a pleasure to announce promotions within our team and to recognise the hard work and diligence of colleagues who are committed to providing an excellent service to our clients. Given the challenges we have all faced in recent months, it is great to be able to demonstrate our commitment to, and investment in, our local team here on the island. I congratulate all of them on their achievements and together we look forward to continue supporting clients across all the markets in which we operate.’

30 | Isle of Man students invited to enter the Conrad Challenge and develop the Who, what, where – a comprehensive appointments section keeping you abreast of all the movements within the business community. products of tomor row sle of Man students are being invited to form teams and enter the 2020-21 Conrad Challenge, which could land them a trip to the IKennedy Space Center in Houston. Founded by late Apollo astronaut Pete Conrad and his wife, Nancy, the competition is open to students aged 13-18 around the globe, who THE LATEST JOBS NEWS FROM THE can enter one of seven categories – the four traditional categories of Aerospace & Aviation, Cyber-Technology & Security, Energy & Environment, and Health & Nutrition, plus three special categories for ISLE OF MAN BUSINESS COMMUNITY this year, which are Oceans: The Plastic Problem, Smoke-Free World: Eliminating & Reducing E-Cigarette Waste, and Smoke-Free World: Equiom (Isle of Man) Limited (DIFC Branch) continues to Hugh O’Donnell, Head of Equiom Fiduciary - Middle East commented: Re-purposed Farmlands & Tobacco Crops. ‘I’m excited to have joined Equiom at this key stage in its growth and I am grow in the UAE with new hires looking forward to introducing private clients to Equiom’s entire global Each year the ManSat Group sponsors Isle of Man teams by covering Equiom has announced two new appointments to its Equiom (Isle of Man) suite of products and solutions, as well as introducing them locally to the Left to right: Edward Houghton, Robert Rotherham and Kristan King. their entry fees to the Conrad Challenge, along with travel costs Limited (DIFC Branch) offi ce. Chris Cain joins as Client Services Director increasing opportunities that the DIFC off ers. I look forward to harnessing should a team reach the fi nal, which takes place at the Kennedy (Middle East), and Hugh O’Donnell joins as Senior Executive Offi cer and the international professional network of bankers, lawyers, accountants Space Center. Head of Equiom Fiduciary – Middle East. These key hires mark the next and private client experts to provide value to our growing client base in the KPMG ISLE OF MAN The Challenge launches on Friday, 21 August 2020, with the fi rst step step in the company’s continued expansion and investment in the region. region.’ for the student teams (which comprise between two and fi ve people) Chris joins Equiom from Zurich International where he spent 22 years Chris Cain, Client Services Director (Middle East) said: ‘I’m looking forward ANNOUNCES THREE NEW being to register online and start inputting their submissions for Round predominantly focussing on relationship management and Middle East to developing Equiom’s End of Service Gratuity service off ering in the 1, which is the ‘Investor Pitch’. distribution for its award winning workplace pension/savings plan product. region to ensure companies in the UAE set aside specifi c funds on behalf Over that time he had close and regular interaction with some of the of their employees. This will provide added security for employees, the PARTNER PROMOTIONS Jennifer Stone, Chief Technical O cer at the ManSat Group, said: biggest companies in the world helping them design and administer their requirement for which has been proven by companies not having suffi cient KPMG in the Isle of Man is delighted to announce three new Partner “The Conrad Challenge is an inspiring competition which brings own workplace pension/savings and/or end of service benefi ts. Chris has cash fl ow to fund EOSG during the current COVID-19 pandemic. There promotions. Edward Houghton is promoted to Audit Partner, Kristan King young people together with the aim of creating innovative products taken responsibility for ensuring the highest levels of service delivery and is still a gap in the market where companies neglect their liabilities to to Advisory Partner and Robert Rotherham is promoted to Tax Partner, and solutions. It provides budding entrepreneurs with the opportunity client relationship management for Equiom’s diverse Middle East client employees, and this is one I hope to be able to address with the provision with all titles taking eff ect from 1 October 2020. to apply their science, technology, engineering and mathematics base. He sits on the Equiom (Isle of Man) board and his main focus will be of the right solutions.’ Edward Houghton has been with the Isle of Man practice since 2003 (STEM) skills to develop the products of tomorrow. the oversight and growth of Equiom’s employee savings/pensions and end Nina Johnston, Managing Director of Equiom (Isle of Man) added: ‘I’m of service business line. and has held the position of Director for the fi rm’s audit and advisory “Isle of Man teams have done extremely well to reach the latter thrilled to welcome Chris and Hugh to Equiom. Chris brings substantial departments for the last 5 years, managing a varied audit portfolio and stages of previous Challenges so we’re hopeful of continued Manx Hugh has 20 years of experience in international and Middle Eastern experience in end of service benefi t arrangements for employees and continuing to demonstrate expertise in capital market transactions and success and representation in the fi nal.” wealth planning and fi duciary management. He trained as a barrister in employers in the Middle East and is a welcome addition to the Isle of related governance matters. Ed is also responsible for leading the fi rm’s Given the global Covid-19 pandemic, regular updates will be given to the UK, is a TEP qualifi ed member of STEP and is Vice Chairman of STEP Man board whilst Hugh’s private client experience provides us with the Real Estate sector on-island. the teams, should any aspects of the challenge be altered. Arabia. Hugh has taken responsibility for running Equiom Isle of Man’s DIFC bandwidth to service our Middle Eastern client base on the ground and After spending time off -island on secondments, since originally joining branch and developing new private client business across the Middle East. promote the services of the wider Equiom Group in the region.’ For more information about the Conrad Challenge, visit: https://www. KPMG in 1999, Kristan King re-joined the Manx fi rm in 2014 assuming Based in the region for over eight years, with a 15 year career in conradchallenge.org/conrad-challenge the role of Advisory Director. He strengthened the Deal Advisory team top-tier private banks, Hugh’s focus is on assisting High & Ultra High Net Worth families with structuring solutions to protect and has subsequently assisted many local and overseas clients through The Conrad Challenge is just one of the opportunities the ManSat their private and business assets. transformational private equity and corporate transactions. Going forwards Group o ers to Isle of Man students each year. The company also as Partner, he will continue to lead the Deal Advisory team and oversee the o ers scholarships to the NASA United Space School, held in Equiom (Isle of Man) Limited is licensed by the Isle of Man wider Advisory function comprising Restructuring, Risk Consulting, Data & Houston in July, and has sponsored Island high schools to participate Financial Services Authority while Equiom (Isle of Man) Analytics and Digital Services. in the UK Rocketry Challenge. In addition, the company awards an Limited (DIFC Branch) offi ce is regulated by the Dubai annual ‘ManSat Fellowship’ grant for Manx students seeking to further Financial Services Authority (DFSA) and is responsible Robert Rotherham’s former role of Tax Director gave him responsibility for their studies in space, and scholarships to programmes run by the for the promotion of a full range of trust and fi duciary a varied portfolio of both corporate and private clients and experience International Space University in Strasbourg. services. The company’s off ering aims to meet the in a wide range of advisory matters, particularly relating to UK property, individual requirements of clients including high net worth international tax planning and the Isle of Man’s Economic Substance individuals, family offi ces and corporations. Equiom off ers rules. As Tax Partner he will assume responsibility for the local tax practice a trustee solution for organisations who wish to enhance consisting of 13 tax professionals possessing deep expertise in many areas their existing End of Service Gratuity obligations to of both UK and Isle of Man corporate, private client and indirect taxes. their employees in line with UAE Labour Law and was appointed as the Master Trustee on the K PMG’s Senior Partner on the Isle of Man, Russell Kelly, commented, landmark DIFC Employee Workplace Savings ‘It is always a pleasure to announce promotions within our team and (DEWS) plan that launched in February 2020. to recognise the hard work and diligence of colleagues who are committed to providing an excellent service to our clients. Given the challenges we have all faced in recent months, it is great to be able LEFT: Chris Cain - Client Services Director to demonstrate our commitment to, and investment in, our local team (Middle East) here on the island. I congratulate all of them on their achievements and RIGHT: Hugh O’Donnell - Senior together we look forward to continue supporting clients across all the Executive Offi cer and Head of Equiom markets in which we operate.’ Fiduciary – Middle East

| 31 ‘As Chef de Mission, Erica will be responsible for overall leadership of the Chef de Mission Erica Bellhouse Isle of Man Team and for our staff and competitors during the Games in Birmingham in 2022. She will also work with Graeme to ensure eff ective resolution of any issues arising, with either the Team, the Commonwealth Games Federation or the Organising Committee, at the Games. ‘Graeme’s role as General Team Manager means he is directly responsible for athlete management, coaching staff and the Sport Team Managers.’

Dionne wins national award! Congratulations to Financial Options Dionne Wall who recently won the National Chartered Insurance Institute Emerging Young Professional of the Year award. This is such a fantastic achievement, to be recognised nationally out of 125,000 members! Managing Director, Paul Chase, said: “The reason I felt very strongly about wanting to submit the nomination for Dionne, was to acknowledge and celebrate what she has achieved over the last year in terms of her incredible exam success and also her career progression through the company. I felt she deserved recognition of the incredible dedication she has shown to her studies, personal development and qualifi cations. She is very dedicated to becoming a qualifi ed Financial Adviser and having just turned 21 earlier this year, we feel we really want to encourage her and other colleagues of a similar age in their pursuit of a career in fi nancial services.” Dionne was also awarded the Mike Henthorn CII Young Achievers Award (Isle of Man) in February 2020. On Tuesday 11th August, Laurence Skelly MHK presented her with the certifi cate and award in front of her proud mum and colleagues. Appointments of Chef de Mission and General Team Laurence Skelly presents Manager Dionne Wall with her award. The Commonwealth Games Association of the Isle of Man has announced two key appointments ahead of the 2022 Games in Birmingham. Graeme Hatcher has been appointed General Team Manager, and Erica Bellhouse has been appointed Chef de Mission. Both Graeme and Erica take up their roles with immediate eff ect, with the process of setting standards, qualifi cation periods and general planning now well underway. New Chef de Mission Erica Bellhouse has been involved in sports administration in the Isle of Man for 15 years. Within cycling, she has played a key role in organising the Isle of Man Youth Tour for over ten years. She has also been involved with Manx Gymnastics and the Isle of Man Swimming Club. Since 2019 Erica has been Secretary-General for the Commonwealth Games Association of the Isle of Man, a role she will also continue with up until the 2022 Games. General Team Manager Graeme Hatcher (pictured) as over 25 years’ experience as a competitor and administrator. As a cyclist he represented the Isle of Man at three Commonwealth Games between 2002 and 2010. Graeme was Sport Team Manager for the Isle of Man’s cycling teams which competed at the 2014 and 2018 Games. Basil Bielich, President of the Commonwealth Games Association of the Isle of Man said: ‘I am delighted with the appointments of Erica and Graeme. They both bring many years of experience to their respective roles and they are also well respected within the local sporting community,

32 | ‘As Chef de Mission, Erica will be responsible for overall leadership of the Chef de Mission Erica Bellhouse Isle of Man Team and for our staff and competitors during the Games in Birmingham in 2022. She will also work with Graeme to ensure eff ective resolution of any issues arising, with either the Team, the Commonwealth Games Federation or the Organising Committee, at the Games. ‘Graeme’s role as General Team Manager means he is directly responsible for athlete management, coaching staff and the Sport Team Managers.’ HELPING YOU MAKE THE MOST OF WORK AND PLAY Dionne wins national award! Congratulations to Financial Options Dionne Wall who recently won the National Chartered Insurance Institute Emerging Young Professional of the Lifestyle Year award. This is such a fantastic achievement, to be recognised nationally out of 125,000 members! Managing Director, Paul Chase, said: “The reason I felt very strongly about wanting to submit the nomination for Dionne, was to acknowledge and celebrate what she has achieved over the last year in terms of her incredible exam success and also her career progression through the company. I felt she deserved recognition of the incredible dedication she has shown to her studies, personal development and qualifi cations. She is very dedicated to becoming a qualifi ed Financial Adviser and having just turned 21 earlier this year, we feel we really want to encourage her and other colleagues of a similar age in their pursuit of a career in fi nancial services.” Dionne was also awarded the Mike Henthorn CII Young Achievers Award (Isle of Man) in February 2020. On Tuesday 11th August, Laurence Skelly MHK presented her with the certifi cate and award in front of her proud mum and colleagues. Appointments of Chef de Mission and General Team Laurence Skelly presents Manager Dionne Wall with her award. The Commonwealth Games Association of the Isle of Man has announced two key appointments ahead of the 2022 Games in Birmingham. Graeme Hatcher has been appointed General Team Manager, and Erica Bellhouse has been appointed Chef de Mission. Both Graeme and Erica take up their roles with immediate eff ect, with the process of setting standards, qualifi cation periods and general planning now well underway. New Chef de Mission Erica Bellhouse has been involved in sports administration in the Isle of Man for 15 years. Within cycling, she has played a key role in organising the Isle of Man Youth Tour for over ten years. She has also been involved with Manx Gymnastics and the Isle of Man Swimming Club. Since 2019 Erica has been Secretary-General for the Commonwealth Games Association of the Isle of Man, a role she will also continue with up until the 2022 Games. General Team Manager Graeme Hatcher (pictured) as over 25 years’ experience as a competitor and administrator. As a cyclist he represented the Isle of Man at three Commonwealth Games between 2002 and 2010. Graeme was Sport Team Manager for the Isle of Man’s cycling teams which competed at the 2014 and 2018 Games. Basil Bielich, President of the Living a full and productive life is all about ﬁ nding the right balance between work and play. Commonwealth Games Association of the Isle of Man said: ‘I am delighted Here at B365 we know the importance of both. Our new lifestyle section covers topics with the appointments of Erica and Graeme. They both bring many years including travel, motoring, property, health, sport and leisure. of experience to their respective roles and they are also well respected within the local sporting community,

B365 – bringing a bit of balance into your life! COMMUNITY 34 S ethos and values of the active travel strategy ethos andvaluesof theactivetravelstrategy ‘The Bike 4Lifeschemealignsperfectlywiththe Minister forInfrastructureTimBaker MHKadded: exercise aroundabusy workandhomelife.’ of gettingfromAtoBisagreatway to worklight their dailyroutine. Usingnon-motorisedmeans making iteasyforpeopletobeactivewithin ‘The bestwaytoincreasephysicalactivityisby manner thatisinclusiveofallabilitylevels.’ skill levelandconfi denceinacontrolledandsafe put togetheraschemethatcanhelpbuildthe Isle ofManConstabularyRoad SafetyTeam have Department, ManxSportandRecreation andthe to usebikes onpublicroads. Together, the up cyclingforcommutingcanbetheconfi dence Allinson MHKsaid:‘Forsome, abarriertotake Minister forEducation,SportandCultureDrAlex helmets canbeprovidedonrequest. might berecoveringfromanillness.Bicyclesand also designedforanyonewithadisabilityorwho open roadsordedicatedcyclepaths.Theyare activity levelsandgainconfi dencetocycleon scheme isidealforthoselookingtoimprovetheir ENCOURAGE CYCLING AS AMODEOFTRANSPORT conﬁ dence inpeopleofallcyclingabilitiesandencouragethemtochooseasaviable providing guidance and expertise. The providing guidanceandexpertise. The free environmentwithqualifi edinstructors essions willteachbike skillsinasafe, traffi c The IsleofManGovernment’s Bike 4Lifeschemehasrestartedandlookstoimprovethe | TO AND IMPROVE CONFIDENCETO option forcommutingtowork,schoolorotherjourneys. SESSIONS TO IMPROVE

BIKE SKILLS emissions.’ to reducingcongestionandloweringcarbon benefi tsandcostsavingsbutyoualsocontribute ‘By activelytravellingyounotonlygainthehealth share ourhighwayswithothervehicles. paths andprovidethemwiththeconfi denceto will increasetheuseofournewdedicatedcycling choices. Givingpeoplethenecessarybike skills and walkingarenormalrealistictransport as weseektocreateanislandwherecycling

(children) 1:30-2:30pm session To bookaBike 4Life Cycling forconﬁdence Disability CyclingSession Open Session on 28August, atthefollowingtimes: to 4 September, excluding the bank holiday throughout thesummerperiodfrom31July The sessionswillruneachFriday 1:30 -2:30pm [email protected] forthechildren’s sessions. session andemailGarethLloydGareth. or [email protected] . fortheopen scheme contactZoeCroweon688575 For furtherinformationontheBike 4Life held attheNSCRaceway. Disability LivingAllowance(DLA),andare £3.60 , or£1.80ifyouareinreceiptof reception attheNSC.Eachsessioncosts nsc/online-booking/ visithttps://msr.gov.im/ (allages)10am-12noon or ask at the main or askatthemain (children) (children)

COMMUNITY S ethos and values of the active travel strategy ethos andvaluesof theactivetravelstrategy ‘The Bike 4Lifeschemealignsperfectlywiththe Minister forInfrastructureTimBaker MHKadded: exercise aroundabusy workandhomelife.’ of gettingfromAtoBisagreatway to worklight their dailyroutine. Usingnon-motorisedmeans making iteasyforpeopletobeactivewithin ‘The bestwaytoincreasephysicalactivityisby manner thatisinclusiveofallabilitylevels.’ skill levelandconfi denceinacontrolledandsafe put togetheraschemethatcanhelpbuildthe Isle ofManConstabularyRoad SafetyTeam have Department, ManxSportandRecreation andthe to usebikes onpublicroads. Together, the up cyclingforcommutingcanbetheconfi dence Allinson MHKsaid:‘Forsome, abarriertotake Minister forEducation,SportandCultureDrAlex helmets canbeprovidedonrequest. might berecoveringfromanillness.Bicyclesand also designedforanyonewithadisabilityorwho open roadsordedicatedcyclepaths.Theyare activity levelsandgainconfi dencetocycleon scheme isidealforthoselookingtoimprovetheir ENCOURAGE CYCLING AS AMODEOFTRANSPORT conﬁ dence inpeopleofallcyclingabilitiesandencouragethemtochooseasaviable providing guidance and expertise. The providing guidanceandexpertise. The free environmentwithqualifi edinstructors essions willteachbike skillsinasafe, traffi c The IsleofManGovernment’s Bike 4Lifeschemehasrestartedandlookstoimprovethe TO AND IMPROVE CONFIDENCETO option forcommutingtowork,schoolorotherjourneys. SESSIONS TO IMPROVE

(children) 1:30-2:30pm Disability CyclingSession Open Session on 28August, atthefollowingtimes: to 4 September, excluding the bank holiday throughout thesummerperiodfrom31July The sessionswillruneachFriday session To bookaBike 4Life Cycling forconﬁdence 1:30 -2:30pm [email protected] forthechildren’s sessions. session andemailGarethLloydGareth. or [email protected] . fortheopen scheme contactZoeCroweon688575 For furtherinformationontheBike 4Life held attheNSCRaceway. Disability LivingAllowance(DLA),andare £3.60 , or£1.80 ifyouareinreceiptof reception attheNSC.Eachsessioncosts nsc/online-booking/ visithttps://msr.gov.im/ (allages)10am-12noon or ask at the main or askatthemain (children) (children)

S travel sitestoseetheimprovementsthathavebeenmade. and offi cersfromtheDepartmentofInfrastructurerecently, tovisitsomeoftheactive Chief MinisterHowardQuayleMHKwasjoinedbyInfrastructureTimBaker MHK visit the carving of the Buggane that is already visit thecarvingof theBugganethatisalready will linetheroute. Iwaspleasedtobeable wood carvings,basedonManxfairy talesthat ‘Drawing manytothetrailwillbe beautiful lifestyles andforattractingpeopleto ourIsland. Isle ofManbothintermspromoting active Ramsey. Thisissuretobeagreatassetthe north toKirkMichael,andinthefutureinto route thatstretchescoasttoaswell and Douglaswillmeananactivetravelfriendly the investmentalreadymadebetweenPeel ‘The workalongtheoldsteamrailwaylineand addition ofthepedestriancrossing. safer itistocrossattheQuarterbridgewith I wasparticularlyimpressedwithhowmuch and theworkthathasbeencompletedtodate. me theopportunitytoappreciatescenery between someofthesepointsreallydidgive the HeritageTrail. Taking thetimetocycle great dealofworkhasbeenundertaken along Chief MinisterHowardQuayleMHKsaid:‘A reconnect theformersteamrailwayline. to visitthesitesfornewbridgesthatwill Elder theycontinuedtotravelontoGlenWyllin number ofwoodcarvingsbysculptorTony nests inCrosbyandtoadmirethefia rstof Trail toCrosby. After stoppingtoseethebike visit activetravelsites Chief Ministergetsonhisbike to travelled by e-bike along the Heritage travelled bye-bike alongtheHeritage of thenewpedestriancrossingteam tarting attheQuarterbridgeandsite wellbeing andreduceourcarbonemissions.’ bring improvementstopersonalhealthand a safeandsegregatedenvironment.Itwill opportunities foractivetravelbyproviding paths andwalkwayswillincreasethe He added:‘Creating dedicatedcycle ripped theroofoff thechurch.’ is famouslysaidtheBugganeofSt Trinian’s in positionnearSt Trinian’s Churchwhereit walkways will increase walkways willincrease the opportunities for the opportunitiesfor Creating dedicated Creating dedicated cycle paths and cycle pathsand active travel. | 35

COMMUNITY COMMUNITY F 36 unveiled aroundtheIsland. launched byCompassionateIsleofMan,whichwillseeanumber“SitandChat”benches In abidtogetourcommunitytalkingandsupportingoneanother, anewinitiativehasbeen shops andthefamilylibrary, amongothers. Probation Service:CommunityService, banks, Networks, PDMS,ManxUtilities,theIsleofMan Welfare, theIsleofManDeafSociety, Disability IOM Constabulary, AgeConcern,ManxBlind businesses. Organisationsrepresentedinclude Government, thethirdsectorandlocal from agroupofrepresentativesacross Compassionate IsleofManismadeup responsibility. health andsocialservices,butiseveryone’s times ofcrisisisnotsimplyatasksolelyfor demonstrate thatcaringforoneanotherat of life. ThehopeisthattheIsleofMancan being kindtopeopleandenhancingquality connecting withpeopleandcommunities, on buildingresilience, promotingwell-being, residents oftheIsland.Theteamisfocused alongside statutoryservicestosupport friends, neighboursandcommunitiesworking which recognisestheimportanceoffamilies, within the auspices of Hospice IOM, within theauspicesofHospiceIOM, Isle ofManisacommunityinitiative ormed twoyearsago, Compassionate | Ramsey, Castletown,Peel, Onchan andPort St councillors andcommissionersfromDouglas, She continued:“We haveworked with growing acompassionateIslandcommunity.” Isle ofManhasakey roleindevelopingand provide companionship. Compassionate support peopletobecompassionateand resilience attimesofcrisisandpersonalloss, communities toimprovewell-being,build of Man,whonotes:“Our aimistonurture by Wendy Smith,fromCompassionateIsle The background totheprojectwasexplained be livingaloneandneedinghumancontact. could make adiff erencetopeoplewhomight and willpromotesimpleactsofkindnessthat benches canbeusedbyanyone, ofanyage, to adecreaseinlonelinessandisolation;the and strengtheningsupportsystems,willlead is hopedthatcreatingcommunityconnections, where peoplecandojustthat–sitandchat.It decorated andeasilyidentifi ableasplaces Island, anumberofbencheswillbedistinctively organisation’s mostvisibleprojects:acrossthe The “SitandChat”bencheswillbeoneofthe TALKING GET THECOMMUNITY CHAT” BENCHES TO LAUNCH OF“SITAND On Thursday13 will bewarmlyembracedacrosstheIsland”. with itsattendanthealthandwelfareissues, overcome theepidemicofsocialloneliness, “We hopethatanythingwhichhelpsto help andsupportshouldyouneedthem. you canfi ndoutmoreaboutothersourcesof smartphone; thiswilltake youtoapagewhere code, whichcanbereadviaanapponyour Each benchhasaplaquefeaturingQR can meetanewfriendandhavenatter. of becomingsomewherewherepeople picnic-style tables,butallsharetheobjective Some willbetraditionalseats,some Mary toidentifysuitablesitesforthebenches. kindness. of initiatives,whichencouragecommunity of benches,aswellcelebratingarange project andseeanincreaseintheavailability event laterintheyear, whichwillexpandthe Newspapers willbehostinganevening the bandstandinNoblesPark. IsleofMan David AshfordMHK,ataneventheld benches werelaunchedbyHealthMinister, th August, the“SitandChat”

PICS: BILL DALE The Importance of Life Assurance

Do you love your children? The immediate answer you would give without a moment’s hesitation of course is “YES”. The next question is: Do you have life cover?

ver 69%* of people reading this article do not have any life assurance Oin place at all! Even those of you that do, usually it just covers the mortgage or is provided by the employer and as such is nowhere near adequate if protecting your family is important to you.

It is very simple. Make sure you have adequate life assurance, critical illness cover and income protection in place. So that if you should die or if you suffer from a critical illness and you were unable to work, they can continue to live their lives unaffected financially.

This could be the very best thing you could ever do as a parent to protect them. “But they never pay out!” sometimes it can appear cost prohibitive You need to make some time! One of the biggest arguments against taking but that should not stop you getting any Chase Wealth advisors can meet you out of out life assurance or critical illness cover is cover! You can take a life policy with either office hours if necessary or we can arrange that the insurance companies do not pay full, half or any level of critical illness cover cover over the phone! out or they only settle a small percentage of you select to go alongside it to suit your claims. budget now, but get some cover in place The very, very best thing you can do for your family is to make sure you (and they) have a Fact: Statistics show that insurance straight away and review at a later stage great life assurance package in place. It does companies in 2019 actually paid out 97.3% of when your income allows, you will be not have to break the bank, it will give you claims*. protecting your family! And besides if you can afford a posh coffee a few times a week absolute piece of mind and you would feel a lot more secure knowing that you have a Too expensive? you can afford to insure your family! lump sum of money that could be utilised to The other big worry is the cost of the cover, “I don’t have time” support your family! people fear it is too expensive. The worst excuse we hear for not taking out Talk to us today about getting your families Fact: Life assurance starts from £5.00 per any cover is that you do not have the time! cover in place straight away or review what you month. You work all day and do not have a moment have currently got to make sure it still suits you! Of course if you add critical illness cover to arrange adequate life assurance or (something that is much more likely to critical illness cover that would literally look Telephone 640350 or email happen to you) then the price increases and after your loved ones if they were to die. [email protected]

Chase Financial Services trading as Chase Wealth Solutions, is licensed by the Isle of Man Financial Services Authority *Efinder website – Aug 2020 - Life insurance statistics **FT Adviser Website – May 2019 SPORT 38 development pathwaytoplayathighestlevel.” challenge itisallaboutcreatingthatconnectionaspartofour creating ayearlycontestedcupisexciting, andthoughadaunting Carl added:“Guernsey arenowaNational2semi-professionaloutfi t, player development. about creatingplayeropportunitieswhichallfeedintoindividual focus ondevelopment. Partnerships throughaircorridorsareall Covid-19 restrictionsasabigopportunitytotrialnewthingsand proactive approachinstrategicplanningforthefutureandsaw the 2020/21seasonwilllooklike. Therugbyclub’s boardtooka Covid-19 isolationrestrictions,thereisalotofuncertaintywhat The clubisexcited tooff eranoff islandplayingopportunity, withthe ability.” exciting opportunitiesforallManxrugbyplayersnomatterwhattheir pathways neverseenbeforeontheisland.Ourgoalistocreate weeks, beannouncingnewpartnershipsanddevelopment players. To enablefurtherdevelopmentwe will,overthecoming is thestartofstrategicplanandamajoropportunityforManx Carl continued:“ThistripwithtwodevelopmentsquadstoGuernsey placing theDouglasclubonetierbelowSemiProfessionalranks. promotion toNorth1West andcementtheclub’s positionthere, now Douglas setabouttodelivera5yearsstrategicplangain the clubtobuildonambitionsofplayingNationalLeague Rugby.” opportunity forourplayerstoplayateamatthenextlevel,and respective islandshasallowedustoorganisethisfi xture. Itopensan “The ‘aircorridor’recentlyintroducedbytheauthoritiesof Carl Murray, DouglasRugbyClub’s DirectorofRugbytoldB365: with 2sides,aDevelopmentXVandDouglas1stXV. played inGuernseyonthe15thAugust. Douglaswillbetravelling are Crowndependencies. Thefi rstofwhichwillbeayearly fi xture, The twoteamswillplayforthe‹CrownCup›createdasbothislands with GuernseyRaiders National2side. Douglas RugbyClubhasannouncedatourandnewpartnership Partnership withGuernseyRaiders Douglas RUFCformStrategic | Junior OrderofMeritandChampionshipssince2016. rugby andothers,hasbeenthetitlesponsorofIsleManGolf’s It hasbeenactivelyinvolvedinfootball,cycling,volleyball,bowling, Dandara isakeen supporterofsportsatalllevelsontheIsleMan. Island andwe’re reallylookingforwardtoit.’ few daysattractinghundredsoftalentedgolfersfromalloverthe support tothismajormilestonetournament.Itissetbeafantastic strong connectionwiththeseasidetownsowerehappytoo er our a closea liation withPeel GolfClubforanumberofyearsandvery Seamus Nugent,ManagingDirectoratDandara,added:‘We havehad celebrations.’ an absolutepleasuretohavethemonboardforour125thanniversary development ofgolfasasportontheIslandoveryears,anditis The companyhasbeenamajorsupporterofPeel GolfClubandthe our clubonceagainandsponsoringtheindividualchampionships. ‘We mustsayahugethankyoutoDandaraforo ering itssupportto to welcomingplayersfromacrosstheIsland. moments acrossallthreecompetitions–we’re reallylookingforward action-packed fewdayswhichI’msurewillproducesomenail-biting celebrating our125thanniversaryyear. Thegolfweekissettobean Club hascomealongwaysince1895andweareexcited tobe Peel GolfClubCaptain,SallyMorgan-Moodie, toldB365:‘Peel Golf with almost600membersofallagesandabilities. strength-to-strength, boastingthelargestmembershiponIsland Peel GolfClubwasfoundedin1895andhassincegrownfrom second andthirdnetgross,togetherwithsomecourseprizes. from Dandara.Honourswillbeawardedtoallthreecategoriesforﬁ rst, prizewinners ontheThursdayevening,presentedbyrepresentatives The tournamentwillconcludewithaformalpresentationtoall Thursday 10thSeptember. and concludewiththeLadies OpenStableford Competitionon followed bytheJuniorOpenCompetitiononTuesday 8thSeptember, on Saturday5thSeptemberwiththeMen’s OpenMedalCompetition, The Peel GolfClub125thAnniversaryOpenCompetitionwillteeo support oflocalhomebuilderDandara. series ofcompetitivetournamentsthisSeptember, withthe Peel GolfClubwillcelebrateits125thanniversarywitha ANNIVERSARY YEAR CELEBRATE 125TH PEEL GOLFCLUB TO more informationandtoregister, pleaseemail:[email protected] across theIsland,withalllevelsofexperience andabilitywelcome. For and Friday11thSeptember. Thetournamentisopentogolfers from comprise ateamtournament,sponsoredbySure, onWednesday 9th The Peel GolfClub125thAnniversaryOpenCompetitionwillalso ISLAND’S GROWING APPEALTO THE GAMING SECTOR F have enjoyed a commercial renaissance. have enjoyedacommercialrenaissance. damage, there’s nodoubtthat,instarkcontrast,asmallerpercentageofﬁ rms Though manybusinesseshavesuff eredpossibleterminalpandemic-related attributes peopleconsidering relocatingwillfi ndparticularlyattractive. Covid-19 casesformonths,whilecrime ratesremainreassuringlylow, two And let’s not forget:theIslandisessentiallysafe. Therehavebeennonew relocating andoperatingfromhereto satisfyburgeoningplayerdemand. companies arejustsomeoftheattractions forcompaniesconsidering regulatory frameworkandzeropercent CorporationTax ongaming The Island’s advancedtelecommunicationsinfrastructure, business-friendly is true. companies involvedinthesectordiminished;indeed,quiteopposite not goneunnoticedinthegamingindustry, norhastheIsland’s appealto Seemingly insatiabledemandforonlinebettingandvideogaminghas the volumeofonlinebettingcontinuestoreachnewheights. sports bettingcompanies.Thoughhighstreetbookmakers havestruggled, football’s PremierLeague provedanearlyChristmaspresentforonline If spreadbettingandpoker haveenjoyedaresurgence, thereturnof annual nettradingrevenueshadmorethandoubled,to£259million. company’s mostrecentquarterlyfi gures, totheendofMay, revealedthat to thedelightoffi rmssuchasIG,theCity’s oldestspread-betting fi rm.The and spreadbettingisinvariablytheirpreferredmeansofdoingthis,much several months,temptingtraderstoseekprofi tsfrommarket fl uctuations Stock market reactiontothepandemichasprovedunusuallyvolatilefor employees. sports bettingandpoker revealingplanstorecruitthousandsofnew since lockdown, withanumberofcompaniesinvolvedinspreadbetting, Meanwhile, notsurprisingly, onlinebettinghasmovedup severalgears material tomeetincreaseddemand. after restrictionsease, videogamedeveloperswillneedtocreatefresh Industry expertsbelievethatasconsumersarelikely tocontinueplaying year. Playstation consoles.Salesareestimatedtohaverisenby35%year-on headsets andothervideogamingparaphernaliaincludingXbox and impressively, atrendmirroredinrecordsales ofnewgames,controllers, Games thatenableplayerstointeractwithfriendsonlineareperforming Crossing tohardercorecontentsuchasFortniteandLeague ofLegends. millions ofpeopleencounteringeverythingfromthefamily-friendlyAnimal Since thestartoflockdown, videogames’ popularityhasrocketed with more haveturnedtheirattentiontoanewbreedofvideogame. War andPeace ormasteringtheproductionofsourdoughbread,many As asizeablenumberoffolkshaveoccupiedtheirmindseitherbytackling the Island’s propertyinvestors. News ofburgeoningprosperityintwoothersectorswillbeinterestto April. A record11,000 newbullioncustomeraccountswerecreatedinMarchand bars inAprilandMayhadincreasedby487%comparedwithayearearlier. June, theRoyal Mintreportedthatsalesofitsphysicalbullioncoinsand Gold traderstoohavedonewellassalesofgoldbullionsoared.In mental andphysical. cycling withfamiliesregardingtheactivityasbenefi cialtotheirhealth, both Elsewhere, bicycleretailershaveboomedthankstoaresurgenceinleisure strongest growthsincethecompanywasformedin1999. sales ofthecompany’s DettolandLysol disinfectantswitnessedtheir increased sanitiserproduction20-foldsinceJune, whilelastquarter’s products havedonewell.FSE100-listedReckitt Benckiserhas or example, manufacturersofsanitiserandotherconsumerhealth small army of property investors. small armyofpropertyinvestors. consequence, itcouldproveterrifi cnewsfortheIsland’s economyandits are understoodtobeconsideringrelocation.Ifthisisonepost-pandemic sectors havefl ourishedandseveralcompaniesinvolvedinthesesectors fortunately, notallhavesuff ered.Theonlinebettingandvideogaming The impactofCovid-19onmanybusinesseshasbeendevastating; for a3%dutypayment:thereisnosuchtaxpayableintheIsleofMan. properties valuedatupto£500,000, propertyinvestorsthereremainliable temporary suspensionofStamp DutyintheUK(to31March2021)on are novoidrentalperiods.Moreover, whilemuchhasbeenmadeofthe alike, notleastbecausetenantsarealreadyinsitu,thusensuringthere They’re likely toappealexperiencedandnovicebuy-to-letinvestor £367,999 respectively. rent yieldsofaround5%;thehousesareonmarket at£348,999and on theup-market Royal Park developmentinRamsey, eachboastinggross Douglas-based HartfordHomes,forinstance, currentlyhavetwoproperties homes whicharepre-let. have alreadynotedthatit’s possibletobuyimpressive, newly-constructed buy orrentpromisestoremainsteady. Property investors,mindfulofthis, from newlyarrivingfamiliesandindividualsforgood-qualityhousingto people conversantwiththegamingindustryinitsvariousforms,demand While theIslandboastsasteadysupplyofexperienced,well-qualifi ed as newgaming-relatedbusinessesrelocatehere. directly –aspeoplecometoenhancetheirqualityoflifeandstructurally time. TheIsleofManiswellplacedtobenefi tfromthisrecalibration,both home, spendingmoretimewiththefamilyandagreaterdegreeofleisure over thepastsixmonths,amodifi cationencompassingworkingfrom The wayinwhichmillionsofpeoplelivetheirliveshasshiftedmarkedly Hartford Homes currently have a range of modern, Hartford Homescurrentlyhavearangeofmodern, new build investment properties available for sale, new buildinvestmentproperties availableforsale, yielding around 5%. For details of residential and yielding around5%.Fordetails ofresidentialand [email protected] or telephone 01624631000. commercial investmentproperty, email Royal Park development,Ramsey By Peter Sharkey | 39

PROPERTY MYBIOSPHERE # M 40 in aworldthatisbecomingincreasinglyvolatileandunstable. The senseofcommunityandfeelingsafecannotbeunderestimated from home;thingsInevertake forgranted. air tobreatheandbothcivilisationsolitudeashortwalkaway Years later, Istilldelightinhavingtheseaonmydoorstep, freshclean history. the postofBoroughLibrarianDouglasandrest,astheysay, is How propheticthatacoupleofyearslater, Ispottedanadvertfor abroad. anywhere beforeduringourmanylovelyholidays,bothhomeand to meandsaid‘Icouldlivehere’ –somethinghehadneversaid on ourfi nalday, walkingthroughMooragh Park, myhusbandturned We exploredtheIslandfromtoptobottomandeastwestand, landscapes, withonlythegullsforcompany. the endofroadtofi ndspectacularbeaches,setinbreathtaking But, boywerethosescaryfewminutesworthitwhenwereached abundance. we weresuretobecompletelystuckaspassingplacesnotin had mepanickingthatwemetsomeonecomingtheotherway, My husbanddelightedintakingusdownroadswhich,quitefrankly, week ofexploringalltheIslandhastooff er. We wereluckyenoughtostayinSulbyGlen,afantasticbasefor by 13mileswide. sporting eventsandwildlife… notbadforanIslandonly33mileslong delicious Manxproduce, quirkytransportsystemsandunique peaceful plantations,cosycafes,fascinatinghistory, totaltranquillity, off eringwonderfulwalks,beautifulunspoiltbeaches,gloriousglens, nevertheless, blownawaybythediversityofsuchasmallisland countryside, beautifulcoastlineandawarmwelcomebutwewere, I werebroughtupwithrollinghills,vaststretchesofunspoiled Originating fromGod’s OwnCountry(Yorkshire), myhusbandand too! known wewereonlyhereforafewdays.Anditwasourhoneymoon, managed itbuttheweatherheldallweeksoManannanmusthave on deckwatchingtheislandcomeintoview. Idon’t knowhowwe The weatherwasbeautifulandtheexcitement builtaswestood We hadn’t evensetfootonlandandIwasalreadyhooked! This month,JanMacartneywrites: To ﬁnd outmoreaboutUNESCOBiosphereIsle of Man,ortoapplybeapartner, visitwww.biosphere.im, into DouglasontheBen-my-Chree. y lovefortheIsleofManbeganon29thJune2003aswesailed | MyBiosphere email regular feature, authorsfromdiff erentwalksofManxlifeoff erapersonal [email protected] orring01624686080. The Isle of Man is the only entire nation to boast UNESCO Biosphere The IsleofManistheonlyentirenationtoboastUNESCOBiosphere status, refl ectingitisaspecialplaceforpeopleandnature. Inour Jan MacartneyisDouglasBoroughLibrarian. for ourfamilyandit’s aprivilegetocallithome. permanent movetotheislandin2005wasbestdecisionwemade We neverenvisagedlivinganywhereotherthanYorkshire butmakinga Island, tolive, work,orholiday, that they areinforanabsolutetreat. Biosphere status.Thisbasicallytellsanyonethinkingofcomingtothe recent accoladeofbecomingtheonlyentirenationtohaveUNESCO so proud,andrightlyso, ofnotonlyitsenthrallinghistorybut We savourthedelightsofrichcultureandheritageanIsland the gullswhenwewerehungry. making mountainswithshells,paddlingintheseaanddoingbattle beach where, asafamily, wespentendlesshoursplayingonthesand, When friendsandfamilycometovisit,Iproudlytake them toFenella fresh clean air to breathe fresh cleanairtobreathe and both civilisation and and bothcivilisation the sea on my doorstep, the seaonmydoorstep, I still delight in having I stilldelightinhaving solitude a short walk solitude ashortwalk perspective on #MyBiosphere. perspective on#MyBiosphere. away fromhome MYBIOSPHERE # M in aworldthatisbecomingincreasinglyvolatileandunstable. The senseofcommunityandfeelingsafecannotbeunderestimated from home;thingsInevertake forgranted. air tobreatheandbothcivilisationsolitudeashortwalkaway Years later, Istilldelightinhavingtheseaonmydoorstep, freshclean history. the postofBoroughLibrarianDouglasandrest,astheysay, is How propheticthatacoupleofyearslater, Ispottedanadvertfor abroad. anywhere beforeduringourmanylovelyholidays,bothhomeand to meandsaid‘Icouldlivehere’ –somethinghehadneversaid on ourfi nalday, walkingthroughMooragh Park, myhusbandturned We exploredtheIslandfromtoptobottomandeastwestand, landscapes, withonlythegullsforcompany. the endofroadtofi ndspectacularbeaches,setinbreathtaking But, boywerethosescaryfewminutesworthitwhenwereached abundance. we weresuretobecompletelystuckaspassingplacesnotin had mepanickingthatwemetsomeonecomingtheotherway, My husbanddelightedintakingusdownroadswhich,quitefrankly, week ofexploringalltheIslandhastooff er. We wereluckyenoughtostayinSulbyGlen,afantasticbasefor by 13mileswide. sporting eventsandwildlife… notbadforanIslandonly33mileslong delicious Manxproduce, quirkytransportsystemsandunique peaceful plantations,cosycafes,fascinatinghistory, totaltranquillity, off eringwonderfulwalks,beautifulunspoiltbeaches,gloriousglens, nevertheless, blownawaybythediversityofsuchasmallisland countryside, beautifulcoastlineandawarmwelcomebutwewere, I werebroughtupwithrollinghills,vaststretchesofunspoiled Originating fromGod’s OwnCountry(Yorkshire), myhusbandand too! known wewereonlyhereforafewdays.Anditwasourhoneymoon, managed itbuttheweatherheldallweeksoManannanmusthave on deckwatchingtheislandcomeintoview. Idon’t knowhowwe The weatherwasbeautifulandtheexcitement builtaswestood We hadn’t evensetfootonlandandIwasalreadyhooked! This month,JanMacartneywrites: To ﬁnd outmoreaboutUNESCOBiosphereIsle of Man,ortoapplybeapartner, visitwww.biosphere.im, into DouglasontheBen-my-Chree. y lovefortheIsleofManbeganon29thJune2003aswesailed MyBiosphere email regular feature, authorsfromdiff erentwalksofManxlifeoff erapersonal [email protected] orring01624686080. The Isle of Man is the only entire nation to boast UNESCO Biosphere The IsleofManistheonlyentirenationtoboastUNESCOBiosphere status, refl ectingitisaspecialplaceforpeopleandnature. Inour Jan MacartneyisDouglasBoroughLibrarian. for ourfamilyandit’s aprivilegetocallithome. permanent movetotheislandin2005wasbestdecisionwemade We neverenvisagedlivinganywhereotherthanYorkshire butmakinga Island, tolive, work,orholiday, that they areinforanabsolutetreat. Biosphere status.Thisbasicallytellsanyonethinkingofcomingtothe recent accoladeofbecomingtheonlyentirenationtohaveUNESCO so proud,andrightlyso, ofnotonlyitsenthrallinghistorybut We savourthedelightsofrichcultureandheritageanIsland the gullswhenwewerehungry. making mountainswithshells,paddlingintheseaanddoingbattle beach where, asafamily, wespentendlesshoursplayingonthesand, When friendsandfamilycometovisit,Iproudlytake them toFenella fresh clean air to breathe fresh cleanairtobreathe and both civilisation and and bothcivilisation the sea on my doorstep, the seaonmydoorstep, I still delight in having I stilldelightinhaving solitude a short walk solitude ashortwalk perspective on #MyBiosphere. perspective on#MyBiosphere. away fromhome Manx

F maintained IsleofManGovernmentschoolfortheﬁrst timeinits19yearhistory. value oftheBunscoillGhaelgagh(Manxlanguageprimaryschool)bymakingitafully At theJulysittingofTynwald anhistoricOrderwaspassed whichrecognisedthesigniﬁ cant SIGNIFICANT MOMENTFORTHEMANXLANGUAGE ailt ort very proud of this very proudofthis We shouldallbe Cair vie world leading world leading school.

ie vie GOES MAINSTREAM T groups. schools aswelladultcoursesand speaking revival, whichnowseeslessonstaught inallour has beenanintrinsicpartoftheManx language Sport andCulture, said:‘BunscoillGhaelgagh Dr AlexAllinsonMHK,MinisterforEducation, history andastrongculturalidentity. reinforces anawarenessofManxcultureand attachment totheManxlanguage, onethat Pupils andstaff develop astrongemotional a trulyuniqueschoolenvironmenthasgrown. number ofchildrenbenefi tingfromattending The curriculumhasbeenexpandedandthe has managedtodeveloptheschoolsincethen. The ManxlanguagecharityMooinjerVeggey John’s schoolinJanuary2003. classes grewandmovedtothesiteofoldSt Ballacottier School.Withincreasedinterestthe started anewtermsharingpremisesat In September2001,thefi rstclassofpupils nurseries. establishment ofspecialistplaygroupsand promote anddevelopManxlanguagethe taught inschools,offito cersbeingappointed which ledtotheintroductionofManxbeing the valueofManxlanguagein1990s, There wasalsoarenewedrecognitionof a dozenchildrenregularlyattending. primary schoolchildrenandthissoonhadover trial half-dayaweekManxlanguagesessionfor Isle ofManGovernmentagreedtoestablisha Following anapproachfromtheparents, Manx languageschool. language playgroupdecidedtoestablisha recently establishedMooinjerVeggey Manx parents whosechildrenwereattendingthe This initiativebeganin1999, whenagroupof delivered thecurriculumthroughManx. time awhollyGovernmentrunschoolhas ever mainstream educationsystem–thefi rst 2020, theschoolwillbecomepartof his meansthatfromthe1September unique building. and theculturalimportanceofwhathappens inthis governing bodywillrefl ect thehistoryofschool by allotherteachersontheIsleofMan. The and conditionspensionprovisions enjoyed Government andbeabletobenefi t fromtheterms Staff willbedirectlyemployed bytheIsleofMan management. welcomed byparents,staff andtheschool This movehasbeenconsultedonfullyand and maintainedbytheIsleofManGovernment. Veggey underacontract; itwillnowbeprovided the schoolhadbeenoperatedbyMooinjer changing itsstatustoaprovidedschool.Previously The Ordercementsthefutureofschoolby world leadingschool.’ fi rstthough,andweshouldallbeveryproudofthis languages recognisedbyUNESCO. Manxwasthe and therearenowoveradozen‘revitalised’ create anewcategoryof‘revitalisedlanguage’ Bunscoill’s lobbying,UNESCOwascompelledto languages acrosstheglobe. Thankstothe has alsohadasignifi cantinfl uenceonminority transformed thefortunesofManxGaelicbut ‘The BunscoillGhaelgaghhasnotonlyradically nineteenth century. in Manxgoingasfarbacktheendof was nevermorethanahandfulofchildrenfl uent fl uentManxspeakers. Prior totheBunscoillthere Bunscoill hashelpedaround170pupilstobecome He said:‘Sinceitwasestablished19yearsagothe the Manxlanguage. welcomed themoveasasignifi cantmomentfor Phil Gawne, DirectorofMooinjerVeggey, preserve andexpandournativetongue.’ new generationsofManxspeakers andboth Ghaelgagh fortheirworkovertheyearstoinspire ‘I wouldlike tothankallthestaff atBunscoill and ithasmadeManxalivinglanguageagain. us betterappreciatetheimportanceofourculture Mooinjer Veggey hasplayedakey roleinhelping ‘Work withkey partnerssuchasCultureVannin and | 41

COMMUNITY SCHOOLS 42 BOARDERS MEASURES TO WELCOME BACK INTERNATIONAL KWC APPLIESSTRICT QUARANTINE ANDSELF-ISOLATION | F Man PublicHealth andCastletownMedicalCentre, closely withanumberofagencies, includingIsleof Throughout thepandemicCollege hasworked period of14daysuponarrivalinthe Island.’ our returningboarderswillneedto self-isolatefora in placestringentquarantinearrangements asallof working alongsideIsleofManPublicHealth,haveput at verydiff erentpointsoftheCovid-19pandemic,and ‘We arealsoawarecountriesaround theworld remain reduce anypossibleriskofinfection. Covid-19 andmeetingeveryhygienerequirementto government advisedprotectivemeasuresagainst paramount concernandwe areimplementingall ‘The safetyofthechildrenandstaff remainsour together oncampus. life andhavetheentireCollegecommunityback position wherewecanfullyreturntonormalschool weeks oflastterm,wearedelightedtonowbeina welcomed backanumberofpupilsforthefi naltwo Principal JossBuchanantoldB365:‘Although we was recordedintheIsleofMan. It’s beenmorethan85dayssinceacaseofCovid-19 its internationalboarders,nextmonth. now confi rmeditwillopenfully, includingthereturnof King William’s CollegeandTheBuchan Schoolhas community. was nolongerarequirementwithintheManx Government’s announcementthat social distancing its doorson22ndJunefollowingtheIsleofMan a numberofplatforms.Theschoolthenre-opened to UpperSixth(Year 13),continuetheir studiesthrough start ofthenewacademicyearonThursday10thSeptember. College willre-openitsboardinghousesintimefortheschool’s returnatthe international students,approvedbyIsleofManPublicHealth,KingWilliam’s Following strictarrangementsforquarantineandself-isolationofits off ering,whichsawitsstudents,from Reception classes weredeliveredviaadetailedonline rom mid-March,alloftheschool’s scheduled happy theCollegeisfulfi llingallitsrequirements.’ pupils andstaff astheirabsolutepriorityandweare ‘Everybody isapproachingthistaskwiththesafetyof followed upwithonsiteinspections. its boardinghousesandfacilities,whichwehave The schoolhascarriedoutriskassessmentsofall in schoolfromotherjurisdictionscanself-isolate. arrangements areinplacesothatchildrenarriving closely withKingWilliam’s Collegetoensurerobust ‘Over thelastfewmonthswehavebeenworking Director ofPublicHealthHenriettaEwartsaid: boarders. boarding houseswillremainopenforinternational half-term (23rdOctober-2ndNovember),theschool’s If quarantineregulationsarestillinplacebyOctober place foranysuspectedcasesofCovid-19. during thequarantineperiod.Aprotocolisalsoin areas withsingle-useroomsandcommunalfacilities of Collegelife. Thishasincludedintroducingisolation learning experiencesforitsyoungpeopleinallareas to ensureitprovidesthesafestandbestpossible Everybody is approaching Everybody isapproaching College isfulﬁ lling allits this task with the safety this taskwiththesafety and we are happy the and wearehappythe their absolute priority their absolutepriority of pupilsandstaff as requirements.

Exactly what it says on the tin – news snippets, forthcoming events and information from the business world. eacs survey shows business conﬁ dence is improving, but concerns about the UK’s short-term economic future remain 60% of businesses reported that they were busier than usual in June, a 17% increase from March

ith the Isle of Man’s rate of economic recovery signifi cantly aff ected “However, with lockdown now starting to ease, it’s clear that business by the performance of our largest neighbour, it’s encouraging to sentiment is starting to shift to the next problem – the economy. In Wsee that business confi dence in the UK is starting to bounce back June, 65% of businesses reported that they were concerned about the following the easing of lockdown. negative impact the pandemic will have on the short-term health of their This is the key fi nding of research conducted by managed services business, which was up 12% from March. Although the true scale of the provider eacs, which compared business sentiment in March with today. economic impact of Covid-19 will only become clearer in the coming months, business optimism about the economy is evidently in decline.” The research into the views of companies across the tech and fi nance Despite the gloomy outlook for the short-term future of the sectors, as well as those in the property and leisure industries, found that the economy, the large majority (70%) hold the view that the pandemic will majority (60%) of businesses reported that they were busier than usual have a positive and transformative impact for business in the long-term. in June. This represents a 17% increase on the fi gures reported in March. Whether it is the rise in remote working or having to move operations Furthermore, only a third of respondents reported issues with cash collection online, the pandemic has ushered in a dramatically transformational and invoice chasing down from just under 50% in the weeks that followed period for businesses of all sizes. As a result, many are now seeing the lockdown, a clear sign that confi dence was returning with cash now fl owing long-term, positive changes that the pandemic can bring to human and throughout the supply chain. business behaviour. However, while 54% of businesses are now reporting that their business is Kevin concluded: “Our survey also revealed an expectation amongst either growing or operating as usual, there has been a 44% increase in the businesses that short-term economic pain will be followed by a cathartic, number of companies (59%) reporting a negative outlook for the future of the positive change in human and business behaviour in the long-term. For economy between March and June. example, an unintended consequence of the lockdown period has been Kevin Timms, Chairman & Chief Executive at eacs, told B365 : “Covid-19 clearly a renewed emphasis on sustainability, with clear skies over normally represents a signifi cant threat on many fronts. Throughout this pandemic, polluted cities a key highlight. Further, the increase in remote working we have wanted to get a measure of how our customers are doing and has also shone a light on the enormous potential to help businesses how their outlook has changed over time. What we discovered was that, better balance their reliance on consumable resources with the use of while the nationwide lockdown endured, businesses were most concerned digital technologies. Business leaders are clearly starting to recognise staying afl oat, saving cash, protecting jobs through the government’s furlough this and view the pandemic as potentially having a long-term, positive scheme and, in general, simply working to keep the lights on. impact on the behaviour of both businesses and wider society.” | 43 Charities conﬁ rmed for 2020-21 Mayoress’s charity appeal

The Mayor and Mayoress of Douglas, Jon and Angela Joughin, with representatives from Heroes on the Water Isle of Man and Housing Matters, together with members of the mayoress’s fundraising committee Heroes on the Water Isle of Man and Housing Matters will continue as charities nominated by the Mayoress of Douglas Angela Joughin for the 2020-21 municipal year.

he two charities were fi rst chosen by the mayoress for Addressing representatives of the charities and her her 2019-20 appeal, which raised £15,700, with both fundraising committee she said the success of the campaign Tcharities receiving £7000 each. In addition, the Friends had been down to ‘a real team eff ort’. She continued: ‘The of Noble’s Hospital received £500 and donations of £200 committee’s tireless enthusiasm, wealth of ideas and unfailing were awarded to Dot’s Dream Foundation, Ellan Vannin Home, support at so many events have not only helped to put the Huntington’s Disease IOM, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Isle of “fun” into “fundraising” but also meant that we were able to Man, Isle of Man Foodbank and Relay For Life Isle of Man. contribute to the sterling work being achieved by these very deserving local causes. Owing to the COVID-19 health emergency a formal cheque presentation to Heroes on the Water and Housing Matters ‘It was sad that the coronavirus brought our charity appeal had had to be delayed until August. At a short presentation at activities to an abrupt halt but now we’re going to keep Douglas town hall Mrs Joughin took the opportunity to confi rm on going and fundraise for these two charities helping to the two charities would continue to be supported until her term transform people’s lives.’ of offi ce ended in May 2021.

Heavy ﬁ ne for insurance company The Isle of Man Financial Services Authority has handed down a civil penalty of £87,108 on Douglas based Isle of Man Assurance Limited. In a report the company was accused of failing to undertake adequate customer risk assessments, technological risk assessments or properly monitor customer and business relationships. In a statement the FSA said the failings were of a serious nature and expressed the hope that the penalty handed down would encourage others to comply with the legal and regulatory requirements, which governed the Island’s insurance sector. The FSA went on to clarify that the company had been fully cooperative throughout the investigation. The initial penalty had been much higher, but was reduced from £125,000 as a result

44 | L TO R: Laura Peirce - Director of Hopes & Dreams Hon Geoﬀ rey Boot MHK - Minister for Environment, Food and Agriculture Gary Peirce - Director of Hopes & Dreams

ISLAND NURSERY ANNOUNCED AS PROJECT PARTNER FOR UNESCO BIOSPHERE Hopes & Dreams Nurseries' – a long-established, local pre-school childcare provider – has announced its partnership with the Biosphere Isle of Man pledge.

eoff rey Boot MHK, Minister for ‘Our ethos, ‘Happy Children, Positive Futures’ The organisation is making excellent progress Environment, Food and Agriculture is a fundamental aim to nurture children to embracing sustainability in its settings and Gpresented the pledge certifi cate to respect the Isle of Man’s unique environment, services and in encouraging our youngest Hopes & Dreams Nurseries’ owners, Gary and shaping the decision-makers and leaders of citizens to take an interest in and get out into Laura Peirce at their early years’ nursery based our future. the natural world.’ in Mooragh Park, Ramsey. ‘We have been actively reducing the natural Speaking of their UNESCO Biosphere The UNESCO Biosphere pledge signifi es resources we consume, and we’re proud to affi liations, Gary added: ‘‘Biosphere Isle of Man that Hopes & Dreams will help to protect be involved with the Government’s ‘Green does fantastic work promoting our cultural the Island’s natural resources, as well as to Loan’ initiative. The initiative has replaced the heritage by engaging with the community, and develop the economy sustainably, and to make lighting in our nurseries with energy-effi cient we hope to support them with promoting our a positive environmental impact wherever LED lighting, which has reduced our operating outstanding land and seascapes through our possible. costs and the need for replacement and active involvement with UNESCO Biosphere disposal of bulbs.’ Isle of Man. Hopes & Dreams Nurseries has been recognised for its Curiosity Approach initiative, As part of the Curiosity Approach, Hopes ‘We hope that our UNESCO affi liation will a project dedicated to raising the standards of & Dreams Nurseries is moving to replacing form part of our early years’ curriculum going Early Years provisions by motivating educators all plastic toys and equipment with natural forward.’ to be passionate and curious professionals, resources. Children are now using bamboo who in turn provide incredible opportunities that drinking cups, and lunch menus contain bring awe and wonder into children’s play. more local produce to support local suppliers and limit food miles. There are also plans to Gary Peirce, owner of Hopes & Dreams replace all existing vehicles with electric ones. We have been actively Nurseries, told B365: ‘Hopes & Dreams Nurseries has always played an essential role in Minister Boot commented: ‘I am pleased to reducing the natural supporting the Island’s economy and growth of welcome Hopes & Dreams Nurseries as a the economically active population. Partner of UNESCO Biosphere Isle of Man. resources we consume. | 45 prompted them to make signifi cant changes to their lifestyle, from everyday money management to reassessing their carbon footprint. A third of people (37%) said they intended to spend more time at home, while a quarter (23%) planned to cook more than they had done previously. Overall, 25% said they now had a greater appreciation of the environment and a stronger desire to protect the planet, while 18% of respondents intended to take more staycations. The study also found home isolation had helped many people appreciate the simple things in life. More than a third (37%) said lockdown had brought their family together, prompting plans to spend more time with their loved ones in the months ahead. Also, 30% of adults said they now had a greater appreciation of the simple pleasures in life; a quarter (25%) were planning to maintain a Lockdown prompts three slower pace of life, and one in seven (14%) vowed to spend less time on social media. James Fairclough, Director of AA Financial quarters of the nation to make Services told B365: “The last couple of months have been very challenging and, for many, a period of anxiety and loss. But, as we new fi nancial resolutions emerge from lockdown, there are signs some Three quarters of Brits (77%) say lockdown has prompted them to make new positive habits from lockdown will remain. Many people have used the period at home ﬁ nancial resolutions for the next three to six months, rising to a 9 in 10 people to refl ect on their lifestyles and make positive aged under 35 (91%) according to AA Financial Services. The new study changes for the future. suggests months of home isolation and an uncertain economy has created a “For some, the next few months will be a fundamental shift in people’s attitudes to money, spending and saving. time for a money makeover. The two clear ith the nation cautiously coming out of Those under-35 were twice as likely than the priorities relate to saving more money, to months of lockdown, the AA Financial over-55s to say they would put more away in build up a rainy day fund for the future, and to WServices poll of 2,000 adults reveals savings than they had done before lockdown consolidate debts. At AA Financial Services that a third of people (35%) plan to increase the (46% vs 22%). The under-35s were also those we have a strong track record for value amount of money they put away each month. A most likely to say they would cut back on luxuries and service with both loans and savings. quarter (23%) vowed to hold back from dipping (30%), put more into their pension (13%) and For ideas on how to save, and the diff erent into savings for luxuries, whilst 16% said they consolidate their debts into a single loan (10%). options that are available, visit our website.” would get rid of their credit cards and one in More broadly, the research found that seven 10% would put more money into their pension. in eight people (87%) said lockdown had

Financial resolutions people have made for the next 3-6 months Total 18-34 35-54 55+

To put a lot more money away in savings 35% 46% 39% 22%

To avoid dipping into the savings I have to avoid spending on luxuries 23% 30% 21% 20%

To get rid of my credit cards 16% 18% 22% 9%

To add to my pension 10% 13% 13% 6%

To invest in home improvements/ Increase value of my property 10% 14% 11% 6%

To clear my mortgage early 9% 12% 11% 4%

To consolidate my credit cards and debts into a personal loan with a simple monthly repayment 7% 10% 10% 3%

None of the above 9% 5% 8% 12%

I do not have any ﬁ nancial resolutions 23% 9% 18% 40%

46 | The ways people intend to live their lives di erently after lockdown restrictions have been lifted Total 18-34 35-54 55+ Male Female

I will spend more time at home 37% 38% 40% 32% 34% 39%

I will spend more time with family and loved ones 37% 32% 37% 41% 31% 43%

I will enjoy the simple pleasures in life more 30% 29% 28% 32% 25% 34%

Be more respectful of the environment and the need to protect the planet 25% 24% 22% 27% 21% 28%

I will have a slower pace of life 25% 23% 24% 27% 20% 29%

I will cook more 23% 28% 25% 18% 18% 28%

I will have a summer holiday in the UK more often 18% 13% 17% 22% 19% 16%

I will spend less time on social media 14% 20% 13% 11% 11% 17%

Give more to charity 8% 9% 7% 9% 9% 8%

I will work from home more 8% 8% 11% 4% 8% 7%

Other 1% 0% 1% 1% 1% 1%

Not applicable - nothing will change for me 13% 7% 14% 18% 17% 10%

UPDATED DAILY UPDATED DAILY UPDATED DAILY UPDATED DAILY UPDATED DAILY UPDATED DAILY

| 47 PANDEMIC RESPONSIBLE FOR INCREASED ANXIETY AMONG BUSINESS OWNERS The Covid-19 pandemic is causing UK SME business owners to feel they need to always be ‘on’, according to the latest independent research from Close Brothers Asset Finance.

In spite of this, business owners have employed a variety of coping mechanisms to help them reduce their stress and anxiety, including (in order of ‘most used’): ■ Maintaining a routine ■ Staying organised ■ Taking regular breaks ■ More ﬂ exibility towards the working day ■ Sharing concerns with colleagues or friends and family

s many as three out of fi ve respondents answered ‹yes› to the question ‘in the current circumstances, do you feel that your Abusiness requires you to be ‘always on’?’, with the fi gure rising to 66% in the Transport & Haulage sector. Keystone Law IoM advises The pandemic is also having a far-reaching impact on mental health, with two-thirds of participants in the research admitting to being ARA Venn on fi nancing to negatively aff ected by one or more of the following symptoms (in order of most selected): purchase three build to rent ■ Feeling more anxious developments for £400M+ ■ Sleepless nights Keystone Law IoM has advised investment manager ARA Venn ■ Can’t switch off on the Isle of Man law aspects of the long-term fi nancing for ■ Increased low moods the £400m+ acquisition of three build to rent developments by ■ Increased loneliness German real estate investor ECE. The loan was provided under ARA Venn’s UK Government-backed £3.5bn Private Rented “This is a sobering set of results,” said Neil Davies, CEO, Close Brothers Sector Housing Guarantee Scheme. Macfarlanes LLP led the Asset Finance and Leasing. “Business owners are struggling to switch transaction on behalf of ARA Venn. off from the demands of the job, with concerns about staff wellbeing, cashfl ow, profi tability and the economy uppermost in their minds. ECE has acquired the portfolio of 2,063 units of build to rent residential accommodation located in the centres of key regional “People in every sector, regardless of size of fi rm, have been impacted cities Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester. The properties have by the pandemic, which again demonstrates just how indiscriminate it’s been acquired from Dandara, the build to rent developer and been, with a recent study noting one in four UK adults’ mental health has property manager. This marks ECE’s fi rst investment into the build been negatively impacted by Covid-19, and one in three have reported to rent market. ECE will be responsible for management of the feelings of loneliness, which closely mirrors our own fi ndings.” developments in partnership with Dandara.

Coping mechanisms This is a landmark transaction in UK PRS, and one of the largest fi nancings to date under ARA Venn’s Private Rented Sector Housing “Much of the early offi cial advice focused on how to protect individuals Guarantee Scheme. and others from spreading the physical virus, information about other factors, including keeping mental health in check and how to battle The Keystone IoM team included directors Sally Cranshaw and feelings of loneliness along with suitable self-care measures, have been Geoff Kermeen from the commercial real estate fi nance team. less well communicated,” said Neil.

48 | PANDEMIC RESPONSIBLE FOR BUSINESSES WARNED AGAINST INCREASED ANXIETY INADEQUATE PPE Isle of Man businesses looking to buy personal protective equipment (PPE) are being urged to AMONG BUSINESS OWNERS check it complies with European standards, after concerns were raised in the UK. The Covid-19 pandemic is causing UK SME business owners to feel they need to always be ‘on’, he UK’s Health & Safety at Work according to the latest independent research from Close Brothers Asset Finance. Inspectorate claim a substantial Tnumber of face masks claiming to be of KN95 standard, provide an inadequate level In spite of this, business owners have employed a variety of coping of protection. It also warned they are likely to mechanisms to help them reduce their stress and anxiety, including (in be poor quality products, accompanied by order of ‘most used’): fake or fraudulent paperwork. ■ Maintaining a routine Following their concerns, the Isle of Man ■ Staying organised Offi ce of Fair Trading are making local ■ Taking regular breaks businesses, which are looking to purchase ■ More fl exibility towards the working day face masks for use as PPE aware of the safety alert. Suppliers on the Island should ■ Sharing concerns with colleagues or friends and family also check stocks of masks designated KN95, a performance rating under a Chinese standard. Martyn Perkins MHK, Chair of the IoMOFT, told B365: ‘We will not hesitate to take appropriate and proportionate enforcement action where anyone is found to be selling counterfeit or unsafe face masks as PPE in We will not hesitate to take appropriate and the Island.’ Businesses are advised to contact the Health proportionate enforcement action where anyone is & Safety Inspectorate for further advice on found to be selling counterfeit or unsafe masks as (01624) 685881. Suppliers based in the Island s many as three out of fi ve respondents answered ‹yes› to the are advised to contact the OFT (Trading question ‘in the current circumstances, do you feel that your PPE in the Island. Standards) on (01624) 686500. Abusiness requires you to be ‘always on’?’, with the fi gure rising to 66% in the Transport & Haulage sector. Keystone Law IoM advises The pandemic is also having a far-reaching impact on mental health, with two-thirds of participants in the research admitting to being ARA Venn on fi nancing to negatively aff ected by one or more of the following symptoms (in order Local authorities provided with of most selected): purchase three build to rent ■ Feeling more anxious developments for £400M+ information on fi lling vacancies ■ Sleepless nights Keystone Law IoM has advised investment manager ARA Venn ■ Can’t switch off on the Isle of Man law aspects of the long-term fi nancing for following postponement of elections ■ Increased low moods the £400m+ acquisition of three build to rent developments by ■ Increased loneliness German real estate investor ECE. The loan was provided under ARA Venn’s UK Government-backed £3.5bn Private Rented “This is a sobering set of results,” said Neil Davies, CEO, Close Brothers All 21 local authorities have been provided with information to enable vacancies Sector Housing Guarantee Scheme. Macfarlanes LLP led the Asset Finance and Leasing. “Business owners are struggling to switch transaction on behalf of ARA Venn. to be fi lled following the postponement of the local authority elections to off from the demands of the job, with concerns about staff wellbeing, cashfl ow, profi tability and the economy uppermost in their minds. ECE has acquired the portfolio of 2,063 units of build to rent 22 April 2021. residential accommodation located in the centres of key regional “People in every sector, regardless of size of fi rm, have been impacted cities Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester. The properties have acancies can arise at any time Emergency Powers legislation from 1 May vacancies should be fi lled under the current by the pandemic, which again demonstrates just how indiscriminate it’s been acquired from Dandara, the build to rent developer and and, under normal circumstances, 2020 to 1 May 2021. circumstances, as well as the relevant been, with a recent study noting one in four UK adults’ mental health has property manager. This marks ECE’s fi rst investment into the build do not need to be fi lled within 6 legislation. been negatively impacted by Covid-19, and one in three have reported V ‘My Department has been looking at the to rent market. ECE will be responsible for management of the months prior to a local authority election feelings of loneliness, which closely mirrors our own fi ndings.” consequences of this. The democratic right It also recognises that local authorities must developments in partnership with Dandara. taking place. to representation is an important principle conduct their own aff airs, and that they Coping mechanisms This is a landmark transaction in UK PRS, and one of the largest In a letter to clerks and chief executives, that the Department endorses and has should consider legal advice while fi nding a fi nancings to date under ARA Venn’s Private Rented Sector Housing been a key consideration when seeking to pragmatic way forward. “Much of the early offi cial advice focused on how to protect individuals Infrastructure Minister Tim Baker MHK said: Guarantee Scheme. fi nd a solution to these issues.’ and others from spreading the physical virus, information about other ‘[A] consequence of this [postponement] All enquiries relating to possible vacancies factors, including keeping mental health in check and how to battle The Keystone IoM team included directors Sally Cranshaw and was that the tenure of Local Authority The correspondence includes detailed and election dates should be directed to feelings of loneliness along with suitable self-care measures, have been Geoff Kermeen from the commercial real estate fi nance team. Members was extended through information relating to how casual the relevant local authority. less well communicated,” said Neil.

| 49 6% of people have not had their work desktop computer upgraded for at least ﬁ ve years

13% have had no upgrade for between three and ﬁ ve years

RESEARCH REVEALS LACK OF TECHNOLOGY UPGRADES FROM EMPLOYERS COULD BE INCREASING THE CHANCES OF DATA BREACHES Financial strain facing employers from Coronavirus could lead to fewer technology upgrades - increasing the chances of cyber-attacks and data breaches

ew research from DSA Connect, an IT asset disposal company that WORK HARDWARE LAST UPGRADED THREE LAST UPGRADED OVER Nspecialises in the permanent deletion TECHNOLOGY TO FIVE YEARS AGO FIVE YEARS AGO and destruction of electronic data, reveals that 30% of people say it has started to take Desktop computer 13% 6% longer for their employers to upgrade their hardware technology at work over the past Laptop 7% 3% fi ve years, with one in fi ve saying they are having to wait a ‘lot longer’ for upgrades. Just Mobile phone 6% 2% 13% of people in work say upgrades to their hardware technology have been happening Tablet 7% 3% more frequently. DSA Connect warns that older computers, Harry Benham, Chairman of DSA Connect media and equipment is removed from a servers, and software are easy targets for said: “The use of older technology can client’s premises and transported to its secure hackers because they are less well protected dramatically increase the chances of facility in tracked vehicles. and data is at greater risk of being stolen or becoming a victim of a cyber-attack and The company was established in 2011 to breached. It is concerned many employers incurring data breaches. partner the Ministry of Defence in developing will reduce their IT budgets and planned “I understand why employers don’t the MoD’s asset disposal service. technology upgrades because of the necessarily want to spend money on fi nancial diffi culties they are facing from the upgrading their technology and many will be Coronavirus crisis. under pressure to cut their budgets due to In terms of when people saw diff erent the fi nancial strain caused by Coronavirus. elements of their work hardware technology However, they should not only assess the last upgraded, 6% say this happened to impact on employee productivity from not their desktop computer between fi ve and upgrading, but also the greater risk they face 10 years ago. A further 13% say their last of suff ering a cyber-attack and a serious upgrade was between three and fi ve years data breach.” ago. DSA Connect is an IT asset disposal One in ten say their work laptop has not specialist. It specialises in the erasure been upgraded for at least three years, and destruction of electronic data using and the corresponding fi gures for work tools certifi ed by CESG and approved mobile phones and tablets is 8% and 10% by the UK National Cyber Security respectively. Centre (NCSC). It ensures that all data storage

50 | INVEST WITH YOUR HEAD AND YOUR HEART

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