EuSPRINGr 2014 eka The Business Magazine for the Kingston area Communities matter… Ten Years of Kingstonfirst... Page 5 • Networking News... Page 11 Dates for yourDiary April 2 Kingston Chamber Curry Club 13 Kingston Chamber Retail Therapy Evening Joy Indian Restaurant, Surbiton Bentalls 3 Kingston Business Excellence Awards Launch 16 1914: Remembering Kingston at War Warren House Kingston Museum 10 Kingston Chamber Networking Breakfast 21 Kingston Chamber AGM and Lunch BoConcept, Kingston Holiday Inn Kingston South 16 Kingston Chamber New Business Start-up Workshop June May 11 Kingston Business Expo 1 Riverboat Shuffle in aid of Love Kingston and Networking Breakfast New Southern Belle, Turk Launches Kingston University Business School (See back cover for details) 24 Kingston Futures Conference 5 May Merrie Royal Borough of Kingston Kingston Town Centre www.kingstonfutures.org.uk 8 Kingston Chamber Networking Breakfast Gordon Bennett, Surbiton July 8 Kingstonfirst Launch of BID3 10 Kingston Chamber Networking Breakfast www.kingstonfirst.co.uk The Kingston Gate, Norbiton 9 The Mayor’s Charity Ball 20 Kingston Rotary Dragon Boat Challenge Holiday Inn Kingston South To book a Chamber event visit www.kingstonchamber.co.uk/events To keep up-to-date with all Kingston Chamber events ‘Like’ our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter. KINGSTON BUSINESS Joinus EXPO2014 Marketing and much, much more Thursday 11th June 2014 Kingston University Business School, 9.30am – 3pm. Easy access and free parking. · Over 40 exhibitors · Over 700 attendees expected · Free seminars by · Networking breakfast expert speakers Stand, breakfast and visitor bookings now being taken @ 2 FromtheCEO+++ Welcome to the first edition of Eureka for 2014 and, thankfully, as I am writing this, our weather forecasts are Contents now beginning to mirror the positive economic forecasts From our President 4 we are hearing from both the government and the Bank of England. Spring is well on its way and growth forecasts for Ten Years of Kingstonfirst 5 this year have now been raised a good deal higher than Record Breaking Charity Quiz Night 6 previously set. Chamber Members Working Together 6 I believe business confidence in Kingston has been New VoIP System for Chamber 7 increasing for some time now and, as businesses look to expand and maximise their business development Young Enterprise 7 opportunities, it is crucial that they get their marketing strategies New Opportunities with Get on Track 8 right. And so this year’s Kingston Business Expo, in June, is themed ‘Marketing and Much, Much More’ aimed at providing all the ideas New Digital Training Short Courses 9 and solutions you need. Stands are already selling fast, so whether at Kingston University you are looking to exhibit, or attend as a visitor, book early to ensure Meet the MD 10 your place. Networking News 11 I am delighted with the positive impact our new website is having Love Kingston Day 12 on a number of facets of Chamber business since it was launched in November last year. In particular, we are now receiving a higher volume of membership enquiries and our business support resource Front Cover centre ‘Donut’ is becoming an invaluable solution for answering Left - Right: Kingston Chamber Breakfast at YMCA many of your ‘what do I do?’ business enquiries. With all this © Paul Milsom; The Canbury Arms; The Mayor of Kingston increased traffic, the advertising opportunities we offer within the supporting Love Kingston Day at BHS, Kingston; Mayor site should be a must for those looking to reinforce their business Boris Johnson in The Surbiton Flyer © Karen Powell; brand locally. Networking Lunch at Warren House © Paul Milsom; Tiffin Girls Young Enterprise presentation during March Chamber Breakfast at The Canbury Arms; Visual of the Finally, you will see that our diary is packed with a variety of events regeneration of Kingston’s Ancient Market Place © RBK. and, recognising that business is not all about hard work, our President is sending an open invitation to an evening of fun, entertainment and music on the river. The event will be our finale of support for Love Kingston, Sarah’s chosen charity for the year, and our ‘Riverboat Shuffle’ promises to be THE social event in Kingston’s spring calendar. So do come and bring your partners, family and friends with you. I hope you enjoy this edition of your magazine and I look forward to seeing many of you at some of our great spring events. Jerry Irving Chief Executive, Kingston Chamber of Commerce [email protected] New members+++ Company Contact Activity/Business A Little Holistic Oasis Erica Leslie Reflexology, Workplace Massage Assist With Solutions Christina Haemmerli Schlegel Business and Management Consultancy Coombe Hill Manor Christine Bunce Care Providers Darren Salanson Photography Darren Salanson Photography Maple Works David Randall Business Services Office Angels Gemma Tree Recruitment Consultants Redlands Electrical Ltd Alex Woolman Electrical Contractors TaxAssist UK Maria Kitt Financial Advice and Services YB12Coach Jacqueline Ghose Corporate and Personal Coaching Service Membership: Jerry Irving • Finance, Events and Administration: Wanda McFarlane • Membership and Events: Amanda Mellett Editorial, Advertising, Design and Production: The Creative People www.thecreativepeople.co.uk Event Photographs: Paul Milsom www.paulmilsom.co.uk and Karen Powell www.thecreativepeople.co.uk The Royal Borough of Kingston Chamber of Commerce, Suite Eight, First Floor Offices, Kingstons House, 15 Coombe Road, Kingston upon Thames, KT2 7AB T 020 8541 4441 E [email protected] W kingstonchamber.co.uk Eureka is compiled with the utmost care, however, the publisher accepts no responsibility for any errors or omissions. 3 From our President The Kingston business community has good reason to be optimistic As the business community feels more confident tremendous support shown for that economic growth is not transitory, we can Love Kingston and the local reflect on the changes that have occurred in recent charities supported under its umbrella. years in the business landscape and the way that we do business. The business community is integral to the quality of life in an area. Kingston upon Thames Borough There is a greater sense of collaboration amongst Police, for example, recognising increasingly that businesses, and business as part of the community. engagement with the business community, as well Flourishing enterprises have been established by as the residential community, is a strong driver of individuals who, before the recession, worked public confidence is second only to Richmond in the within corporations; have been made redundant or Metropolitan Police area, for the strongest rating of chosen new, more local, flexible, and often more community confidence in the job that the local family friendly ways of working. police are doing in their area. At the Chamber networking lunch at The French Kingston, and its business community, has good Table we heard about Maple Works, an innovative reason for optimism and much to celebrate. I do business hub offering space and shared facilities for hope that you, your business, contacts, friends and businesses. A great example of where more partners will join us on the Chamber Riverboat businesses are finding synergy with others to Shuffle on 1st May to usher in a sizzling summer. provide complimentary services and networks of referrals. That corporate responsibility has become a collective Sarah Cornes, Partner TWM Solicitors LLP responsibility is evidenced not least by the Email: [email protected] Pre-nups for same sex couples getting married advised by law firm From 29 March 2014, same sex couples will be able to marry in civil ceremonies and in religious ceremonies, where a religious organisation has opted in to marrying same sex couples. Couples who have entered into a civil partnership will be able to convert that civil partnership to a marriage if they wish. Individuals who want to change their legal gender will be able to do so without having to end their marriage. Whenever you need legal advice, whatever the reason, TWM Solicitors can help. Whether a If you are considering marriage, it is always a good idea to find out the financial implications of doing so. For some business or private legal matter, ours is an couples, a pre-nuptial agreement may be a good idea. attentive and personal service. We are one of They are particularly relevant where one person is in a much Surrey’s leading law firms and our expertise and better financial position than the other prior to the marriage, or where one or both of the couples have children from local knowledge is combined for the benefit of previous relationships whom they would want to provide for our clients. if the marriage broke down. For a no obligation discussion, visit our web site, As Stonewall have acknowledged, it is a historic moment for lesbian, gay and bisexual people, their families and friends. email [email protected] The Act means that for the first time, children growing up to or call 020 8946 6454 be gay in England and Wales, will have full equality in law. TWM Solicitors is included among Stonewall’s list of approved legal advisers in the south east of England. www.twmsolicitors.com For further information, contact Sarah Cornes on 020 8946 6454 or email [email protected] 4 Ten Years of Kingstonfirst Kingstonfirst is a greater future for Kingston’s To achieve this, Kingstonfirst local environment. Often, commercially led, town centre through close coordinates a number of this means that the Rangers independent, not for collaboration with its events in the town Centre, deal with all the things that profit and experienced partners. including the Kingston Food no one else wants to deal company that was Festival and the Christmas with, including graffiti established in 2004 by Kingstonfirst’s role is more Lights Switch On. In addition, removal, chewing gum Kingston upon Thames’ important than ever before Kingstonfirst manages the removal, clearing of fly-tips town centre businesses as the Local Government quality markets programme, and street washing.