2020 was an exceptionally bad year for most parts, but not all, of the commercial property market in the Thames Valley, writes Rob Marson, director at Campbell Gordon.

Despite 2020 being a challenging year for the property sector, Leaders Romans Group (LRG) has made a record number of branch acquisitions over the past 12 months.

Despite an uncertain economic backdrop the UK property market showed a remarkable level of resilience in 2020.

Earlier this year, a new rule requiring capital gains tax (CGT) on UK residential property to be reported and paid to HMRC within 30 days kicked in, writes Helen Spalding, personal tax manager, HWB.

Covid-19 has transformed the way we work, and this is likely to have a long-term impact even once the pandemic is over. As a result, we can expect to see a resurgence in converting office units into residential spaces, writes Alex Hurn, director of Sillence Hurn Building Consultancy.

Managing partner Peter Taylor shares his views on what lessons Hampshire-based law firm Paris Smith has learned from the coronavirus pandemic.

Clarke Willmott LLP has developed a free online health check to help businesses keep on top of their legal requirements and gives them a simple litmus test on how much they are at risk. Kelvin Balmont, partner and chairman at Clarke Willmott and head of the Southampton office’s corporate team said: “By definition, people with [...]

Hello again, and very best wishes to you all, especially given what we are all going through. There have been, and always will be ‘black swan’ events, as our CIO, Fahad Kamal covers in his latest Blog, ‘Tails of the Unexpected’. Yet, while 2021 may not have brought the fresh start that we were hoping […]

Spectrum IT Recruitment (South), a specialist software and technology recruitment company based at the University’s Science Park near Southampton, is well placed to comment on the recruitment activity of technology companies that it has seen during 2020 and what it expects to see during 2021.

Fundamentally, recruitment and talent attraction continue to be priorities for many organisations: the need for quality candidates remains high. More focus on ensuring recruitment methodology provides value for money per hire is key. I know from experience as an HR director that my finance director would regularly pay me a visit and ask if we […]

Tamsin Napier-Munn, founder and director of RAWtalks academy takes a look at some of the issues that women contend with in today’s business world.

The UK has left the EU with both sides managing to agree a last-minute post-Brexit trade deal. What now for the region’s businesses? The Business Magazine’s Tim Wickham asked an accountant, a lawyer, a banker, a recruiter and a manufacturer for their advice, and what they see as the biggest post-Brexit threats and opportunities.

One of the Government’s policy levers for re-igniting the economy, generating new jobs and prompting inward investment is freeports, writes David Mundy, partner and parliamentary agent with law firm BDB Pitmans.

Blockchain is here. And it’s here to stay. The evidence is overwhelming. So if you’re a business analyst or IT professional who’s been watching from the sidelines, hedging your bets, it’s time to step up to the start line, says Martin Maya of Amatis. But easier said than done.

A recently published ebook and risk survey by insurance broker and risk management specialist Marsh Commercial examines business risks the UK’s tech sector companies must address.

The challenges of 2020 saw many organisations embrace cloud-based IT systems, remote working and videoconferencing technologies for the first time, writes Tim Walker, MD, Aura Technology.

Life sciences is a key sector in the UK with over 5,000 companies operating in the country, writes Ian Oliver, head of life sciences, BDO.

2020 was a year that we will not forget. Many will want to try and confine it to memory and move on. However, before we do, there really are some things that all B2B firms should keep from 2020 in their marketing and business development plans of the future, writes Claire Rason of Client Talk.

The pandemic has created uncertainty in all aspects of our lives and more and more we are seeing clients wanting to ensure their business and personal affairs are in good order, writes Tara Mellett, director, Haines Watts…

Every day the cloud delivers greater choices about where we work, the ‘Internet of Things’ and associated apps provide flexible ways to interact with our colleagues and offices have morphed from square boxes into ‘smart’ buildings.

#BIS2021 sponsor Netshell offered to develop the app as part of its support for the event which is currently scheduled to take place on September 15, 2021 at the Hilton Hotel, West End, Southampton.

At a time of continued uncertainty, it’s perhaps understandable if IT strategy is not at the top of the list marked ‘priorities for 2021′, writes Tim Walker, MD, Aura Technology.

Poole-based marine electronics specialists, Actisense, was named Best Marine Tech Company at the annual South Coast Tech Awards 2020 on October 7. The accolade completes a successful year for the brand, despite the challenges presented by the pandemic.

In recent weeks we have seen a number of initiatives from cyber criminals to exploit the Covid-19 outbreak, many of which have been financially motivated. Bad actors have been using the coronavirus in a number of phishing campaigns.

In the face of great economic uncertainty, the technology sector in Britain continues to not only thrive, but to grow. Unfortunately, the success of these businesses is also connected to an increase in their risk exposure.

Portsmouth-based Skore Labs helps businesses to understand their processes better, so they can scale up fearlessly. Co-founder and CEO Craig Willis says the company has never been busier.

  Launched in 2009, Brain Tumour Research is the only national charity in the UK dedicated to funding continuous and sustainable scientific research into brain tumours, writes Michael Thelwall, head of giving at Brain Tumour Research.

While it has been commonplace to see contractual requirements around traditional risk exposures such as professional indemnity, public liability and property-related risks, the importance of cyber security in the modern business world has seen many contracts delayed as organisations try to assess where liability for such incidents should sit contractually.

Led by Dr. Mike Williams, (CEO), with Robin Bell (COO), Inflowmatix has been on a journey from start-up to mainstream market disruptor for burst/leakage analytics and network control as demonstrated by impressive financial growth and wider driven collaborations with global brands such as SUEZ, Cla-Val and Black & Veatch. This has enabled and accelerated brand […]

Blue Frontier is a rapidly-growing digital agency based in Salisbury, Southampton and Bristol, offering a comprehensive end-to-end service to clients across the UK and overseas, comprising of web design, digital marketing and all aspects of technical IT and development.

When the Covid-19 lockdown began, companies had to act quickly to enable remote working, maintain customer contact and minimise business interruption. In this unforeseen situation, Epoq IT is supporting its customers all the way.

Jisp’s mobile marketing, shopping and payment app earned the Alton-based technology company a finalist’s place for Innovative Tech Company of the Year at the 2019 and 2020 South Coast Tech Awards. The next year should be pivotal for the business, says founder Julian Fisher.

Working from home, or at least a mix of remote and workplace-based working, is likely to remain with us for the foreseeable future, writes Onecom.

As the year enters its final quarter, the commercial property world continues to live with the far-reaching impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. Following its enforced springtime evacuation, one segment under particular scrutiny is the commercial office market. Petra O'Shea, head of sales, Morgan Lovell takes a close look at the market. There is undoubtedly a [...]

Hello again, and very best wishes to you all. The world continues to amaze and surprise us all, and yet financially we all have to keep moving forward… but how and in what direction? Taking clear thinking from our new chief investment officer, Fahad Kamal, we offer the following house-views as things stand in October […]

The Covid-19 crisis has affected every area of our lives, from the immense and tragic human cost to the wide-ranging impact on the economy, writes James Flood, associate director at HWB Chartered Accountants.

Our view of the market is that it is currently extremely busy, but we are conscious from various conversations we have had that we have been fortunate in terms of the deal flow and we don’t, of course, know whether that will change as we go into 2021, writes Rachel Turner of HCRlaw.

Close Brothers Property Finance and HBF Report Earlier this year, Close Brothers Property Finance, the development finance specialists, and the Home Builders Federation (HBF), the national trade body for housebuilders, conducted one of the most comprehensive surveys of Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) housebuilders – Spotlight on the South East. The research examined how the [...]

John Cobbett was based at Biscoes’ North End office and served the community for over 60 years with his extensive knowledge and experience covering commercial, probate and trust matters and in the twilight of his career he acted solely as an executor and trustee and as a notary public.

Moorcrofts is offering demonstrations of an early version of its legal contract management software that uses artificial intelligence to simplify the contracting process and make it more efficient.

  Hampshire’s leading mental health charity Solent Mind has launched a completely free wellbeing app. This complimentary wellbeing tool is designed to support individuals on their mental health journey and to make it easier for people to look after their emotional wellbeing.

The second wave of Covid-19 may mean a return to homeworking for many, but that shouldn’t stop business leaders planning for a return to the office, as David Thomas, partner at property consultancy Vail Williams LLP, discusses.

– now ready for M27 industrial and logistics occupiers The construction of a new industrial park at Segensworth near Fareham has completed against all the odds during this year’s pandemic. Concorde Park, a new 10-unit scheme owned and developed by Kingsbridge Estates and built by Mildren Construction, completed providing a state of the art industrial [...]

Business owners understand that business success is dependent on not just having the right product/service offering, but also on the people working in the business, leadership, continued innovation, and a focus on business strategy writes Kapil Davda, director, Haines Watts. Disruption: Since the advent on the digital age, the coronavirus pandemic is probably one of [...]

Winter is coming. With the pandemic decimating the global economy since March 2020 and Brexit just around the corner, many business owners are feeling even more uneasy about what lies ahead in 2021, than they did in early 2020. Battening down the hatches and hoping for the best is one (arguably optimistic) option, but what [...]

This edition's question answered by Ami Bhatt, senior solicitor Q  I am a designated member of an LLP which is in financial difficulties, what do I need to be aware of? Until recently, it was commonly understood that the rights and obligations of a designated member are set out either in an LLP agreement or [...]

Paul Reilly, managing director of infrastructure and buildings at Stantec, UK, talked to The Business Magazine about how Thames Valley-based Peter Brett Associates became part of the Canadian global design and consulting giant.

The Covid-19 pandemic has immeasurably impacted the way that we work and live our lives. Malcolm Thixton, lead partner at BDO LLP in Southampton gives a perspective from the viewpoint of the Central South.

With millions of employees working from home across the UK during the Covid 19 lockdown, business owners are hard-pressed to respond to the variety of risks that even the most well-prepared organisations are facing, writes Vincent Kenneth, CEO, Cyber Covered.

Over the past year, you will have heard a lot of talk about 5G and what it means for the future of mobile communications. 5G – so-called because it is the fifth generation of mobile network technology – is much faster than previous 4G and 3G iterations with download speeds comparable to broadband, writes Tim […]

For many business owners, the disruption of the coronavirus crisis has been a period of reflection and consideration, writes Peter Wright, partner, Haines Watts, Farnborough.

Legendary Double Olympic Champion, multiple global medalist and award-winning athlete Dame Kelly Holmes hosted an inspiring virtual Solent 250 webinar on mental health. As well as talking candidly about her personal experience in elite sport and the British Army, she also discussed an employee-focused mental health app she helped create for businesses.

Founders of local recruitment firm Chilworth Partnership, Rod Hutchings, head of interim practice, and Richard Carter, head of CFO and leadership search practice, together with fellow director Ruth Snell are celebrating Chilworth’s 10th anniversary this September.

Southampton Science Park continues to be a beacon of success in the south. Home to around 100 successful science and technology businesses, from start-ups to industry-leading multinationals, the University of Southampton Science Park is a place where innovative ideas become successful commercial enterprises which positively impact societies around the world. Despite a challenging year for [...]

Businesses are operating in an unprecedented time of turbulence and disruption, writes Ultima.

In the past few years computer viruses have changed from being a serious irritant for businesses to a potentially existential threat. To understand why, just look at the news from the first week of August this year. 

5G is yet to take the world by storm, however lockdown is igniting a passion for remote working that makes it crucial for the future of work.

The pros and cons of the lockdown will continue to be argued for years to come. Sadly, one area where there is no argument concerns the educational attainment gap. All children have had their educational development stultified by the lockdown. However, the evidence is unambiguous that children from more disadvantaged backgrounds have been most adversely affected. 

Are you ready for the new normal? The second in our series of Solent 250 webinars explored some of the tax, HR and legal matters for managing in a post-lockdown world. The in-depth webinar focused on a range of topics from the indirect tax impacts on Covid-19 induced business model changes, workforce management and making […]

June 25 kick started the first in a series of webinars for the Solent 250 businesses. Sponsors CMA, HSBC UK, Irwin Mitchell and RSM have put together a programme of webinars covering a range of current topics to bring relevant updates to the business community. The first session covered the impacts of the current Covid-19 […]

An engaged, motivated workforce is vital to the success of any business, and a challenge to achieve at the best of times. For many organisations, that challenge has become more difficult to meet in recent months as teams that were previously office-based are now working remotely, writes Tim Walker, MD, Aura Technology.

While post-Covid life may look the same as before, for many of us, the new normal will be completely different. Jeremy Hill from Kleinwort Hambros’ Newbury office explores how responsibility, purpose and strategy in the context of wealth planning can help us create the society we would like to see.

Throughout the Covid-19 lockdown, one Greater London business has seen a huge surge in enthusiasm for DIY projects.

Reading is in a prime position to benefit from a Post-Covid shift in how and where we work, moving businesses from Central London out to the suburbs, in a trend called ‘Hub and Spoke’, writes Jonathan Ratcliffe from Reading office agency Offices.co.uk.

Covid-19 has turned our personal lives and working worlds upside down. After months of forced participation in the world’s biggest ‘Work-From-Home’ experiment, our attention now turns to how our working lives will be resumed and impacted in the post-pandemic workplace.

The property market is ever changing and at the time of writing some non-essential retailers have returned to the high street and there has just been an announcement that the Government has relaxed the two-metre social distancing rule for certain parts of the leisure sector.

While it’s hard to imagine a post Covid-19 world, it is easy to understand its effect on how organisations may view the requirement for commercial property in the future. Quite simply business models are changing, high streets are disappearing, and IT is and will continue to play a far greater role in how an organisation’s […]

Spectrum IT Recruitment was founded 12 years ago to carry out specialist software and technology recruitment mainly across the south, alongside other core technology recruitment, writes Ian Cruickshank, managing director. Based on the University’s Science Park near Southampton, Spectrum IT has supported numerous businesses in finding suitable software developers and software engineers, for permanent employee [...]

The Covid pandemic has driven remarkable change and influenced and reshaped client demands, writes Matthew Farrant, partner, Haines Watts, Farnborough.

Recent weeks have seen an unparalleled rise of people working remotely – made possible by the colossal efforts of IT teams around the country. Although necessary in these extraordinary times, this upsurge in remote workers has vastly extended operational and security perimeters introducing many new risk factors and numerous challenges for all organisations, writes Berni [...]

In this Paris Smith client profile, The Business Magazine finds out how Meachers Global Logistics has relied on the firm’s legal support throughout decades of transition and growth.

Today, advances in natural language processing and conversational AI (Artificial Intelligence) are driving a new generation of work tools that help professionals be more productive, reducing the time taken to capture front-line data and information.

In a world where most of our media is consumed online, from the comfort of our homes in our new makeshift offices, digital PR has never been more important for businesses to reach their audience, writes Simon Corbett, managing director and founder of Jargon PR. Traditional PR, primarily coverage in print publications, has made its [...]

Most business leaders know how important good business processes are to delivering exceptional quality to customers and maintaining agility.

The business prides itself on being one of the leading ‘full-service’ law firms in Hampshire, covering most ‘high-street’ legal services such as house purchases and sales, wills, business advice and family advice but also offering several more niche services like care and adoption, mental health, immigration, domestic abuse protection and fertility law.

The dynamic and vibrant coastal city of Portsmouth is situated in the most prosperous region of the UK – just 70 miles from London and 90 minutes from Gatwick and Heathrow airports.

This year saw the third year of the Shaping Portsmouth apprenticeship programme in association with our main sponsors – Portsmouth City Council, Stagecoach and Portsmouth University, writes Stef Nienaltowski, CEO of Shaping Portsmouth CIC.

A business mentoring firm has launched a new extension of its existing service to help small business owners who are on a budget.

Unsurprisingly the importance of having a strong digital presence has risen up the agenda of most organisations, big and small, in 2020. Pre Covid-19, organisations approached digital in many different ways. While most will have had a website, and possibly also a social media account, digital marketing strategies were perhaps the preserve of those with […]

The current Covid-19 situation has stalled the upward curve Portsmouth as a city has seen with the growth in GDP, employment, tourism, inward investment and the number of companies starting or moving to the City to base themselves from. And as we enter both the post Covid and Brexit period for the UK our city […]

We are in very unusual times, but one certainty is that disruption will be caused to all businesses, large or small, by COVID-19, writes Adam Dowdney, partner, IBB Law.

Last July Onecom received backing from mid-market private equity firm LDC, following a management buyout led by CEO Ben Dowd. This gave them access to funding which underpins their growth ambitions.

Greg Palfrey, national head of restructuring recovery services at Smith & Williamson, the financial and professional services group, anticipates government changes to insolvency laws intended to help businesses in financial trouble and explains why individual directors need to be careful.

In this latest Paris Smith client profile, The Business Magazine talks to Chandler’s Ford-based Churches Fire about the law firm’s support of its highly-acquisitive growth strategy.

Over recent weeks we have become all too familiar with particular words and phrases – “unprecedented times”, “unchartered territory” and “the science” to name three of them. Social distancing has been the order of the day for weeks and will be with us, to some degree, for the foreseeable future. Peter Taylor, managing partner, Paris […]

In the current crisis, many business owners will be checking their company’s cashflow position, writes Jane Wills, partner, Haines Watts Slough.

With businesses looking forward to a life beyond the COVID 19 lockdown, support for the Business Innovation South Expo 2020 continues to build.

Recent events have brought previously unimaginable disruption to all our lives. As we all pull together to play our part in trying to limit the devastating human cost of Coronavirus, we have seen rapid and fundamental changes to the way we live, socialise and work, writes Tim Walker, MD, Aura Technology.

As the Coronavirus pandemic accelerates, we face an ever-changing landscape and an uncertain future. Everywhere we turn we are confronted by phrases such as “unprecedented”, “the new normal” and “life as it was”, write Claire Rason, Client Talk and Steve Couch, leadership teams coach.

At the end of April, the Government announced further measures to limit the ability of landlords to take action against commercial tenants for non-payment of rent, writes Anna Larbi, legal director, Blake Morgan.

Understanding what will drive corporate real estate decisions after COVID-19 is vital to help businesses proactively plan for their future property needs. What parallels can be drawn from the past and learnt from as we prepare for the post-COVID-19 world? Property consultants at Reading-based Vail Williams LLP, are using their collective expertise to make sense [...]

The pace of change at Basing View has accelerated, with new amenities, pre-let office opportunities and a wide range of high-quality refurbished space now available, says Kate Dean, project director (Basing View and commercial) at Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council. A £500 million regeneration programme, spearheaded by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, is transforming Basing [...]

Haslams has released its annual ‘sci fi’ themed Industrial Market update for Reading, writes Neil Seager.

Over 50 property sector specialists were given an exclusive snapshot of Lambert Smith Hampton (LSH)’s latest South Coast Market Index Review during a networking event held at Southampton’s Solent University. With some exceptions, trends across the main property sectors are generally positive, says LSH.

Darcliffe Homes invited our writer John Burbedge to view its two latest residential developments west of Reading and he happily found himself in ‘Memory Lane’.

Award-winning contract research organisation Reading Scientific Services Ltd (RSSL) is out to make a positive difference to people’s lives. Tim Wickham finds out how.

A well balanced board of directors is a fundamental function of well-established businesses, responsible for ensuring the company is well-governed and adheres to its overall strategy, regularly assessing risk, staying on budget and being legally compliant. But many smaller businesses don’t have one, writes Cate Poulson, head of talent network at BGF.

Last August, renowned fish and chip brand Harry Ramsden was snapped up by its rival, Deep Blue Restaurants, for an undisclosed sum.

Apprenticeships are on the up. Quickly becoming recognised as a leading method to upskill, apprenticeships are ideal not just for young people at the start of their career, but also for existing employees as businesses look to build a proficient and loyal workforce.

Hiring a candidate who will fit in with your company culture is crucial for any organisation, but it is especially key at a start-up. In the early days of a business and as it scales, every single person who joins makes a huge impact, writes Sarah Stevenson, director at Hays Thames Valley.

There were an unprecedented number of transactions among Solent 250 companies in the past year. Over 10 businesses were sold ‘out of’ the Solent 250, including SHB Hire, Adams Morey, Lewmar, and BOFA International to name a few, and many more completing partial buyouts while remaining privately owned. This demonstrates not only the calibre of […]

Financial due diligence is key to ensuring that you are paying a fair price for a business, writes Yaroslav Magnus-Hamblett of Quantuma.

The world of work is evolving … In recent years, we have seen a surge in demand for flexible credit solutions.

As a leading financial and professional services group, Smith & Williamson has been looking after the financial affairs of individuals, families and businesess for more than a century.

Drawing on national and regional insights from over 1,000 businesses, the report reveals how the the sector has fared in the past year.

It’s widely accepted that technology is the key driver of economic growth in countries, regions and cities – and the same goes for businesses. For growing mid-sized organisations in particular, a strategic approach to IT can be the difference between a company that suffers growing pains and one that makes the transition smoothly.

Spectrum IT Recruitment is delighted to be supporting the 2020 South Coast Tech Awards, writes Ian Cruickshank.

The UK is at a moment of pivotal change. The fundamentals of international trade, technology and global politics are all transforming. At BDO, we are optimists and believe the UK has the talent, ideas and entrepreneurial spirit to not only weather these changes but also to thrive.

Winning, or becoming a finalist in an award, will establish a huge amount of credibility for your business. It recognises your achievements, whether this is successful work with a customer or impressive business growth, and boosts your company’s reputation, writes Simon Corbett, Jargon PR’s founder and managing director.

I have discussions with many business owners about how vital having the right talent in their business is the difference between meeting their objectives or not, writes Jane Wills, partner, Haines Watts Slough

With the new year comes new beginnings and opportunities, especially with the growth and changes in Slough. At Regal Court we are excited to see what the future holds.

Five councils, including Fareham, Portsmouth and Gosport have agreed to halt acceptance of planning permissions, following advice from Natural England. This decision comes after Natural England has determined that the nitrate level in the Solent is too high and the property developments are only accelerating this issue.

Ian Barton, a partner in Quantuma’s corporate finance team, provides a brief review of M&A deal activity in 2019 and looks ahead to 2020, providing his thoughts on what might happen.

Proposed reforms to the IR35 rules on off-payroll working due in April 2020 will impact an estimated 60,000 medium and large businesses in addition to public sector entities, say David Williams-Richardson, employer solutions partner, and James Tetley, corporate tax partner, RSM.

If you carry out contract work or engage contractors, you’ll likely be affected by IR35 rules that are about to change. Gavin Dent, regional director at recruitment company Roc Search, explains what you need to know.

Anglepoise was thrilled to be awarded first place at the Solent Business Awards, for the inaugral Workplace Mental Health and Wellbeing award. There was tough opposition and some big companies in the category, making it even more rewarding to receive recognition in this important area, writes James Wakley, director of finance and operations at Anglepoise.

        Though it often goes unsaid, family businesses form part of the country’s backbone. But how resilient are they, writes George Style, partner, Haines Watts?

The impact of the current economic uncertainties on businesses, particularly in the retail and real estate sectors is well-documented. However, deals are still happening, particularly in the small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) space, writes Jonathan Thornton of Quantuma.

For entrepreneurs and their advisers, 2020 promises to be an interesting year, one way or another, writes BGF investor James Austin.

Mike Hawkins, managing director of the Hawkins Group of Companies, talks about how he’s taking the Thames Valley Business Magazine Award’s Dynamic Business of the Year into new growth dimensions, writes Tim Wickham.

SEMINAR: Employment status – Steering the path through IR35 How can you prepare for the changes to off-payroll working rules?

Q  I had a meeting with an employee about performance. He has now gone off sick and may exhaust three months sick pay but I’ll still have to deal with the performance issues. What do I do?

At this time of the year, many organisations will be looking ahead to what 2020 has in store for them. Moorcrofts employment partner Matt Jenkin outlines a number of key employment law changes which are coming into effect on April 6, 2020 and helps us understand how these may impact on our businesses. Holiday pay [...]

Poole-based Charles Trent describes its innovative new vehicle recycling facility as an eco-friendly game changer. Tim Wickham finds out why from managing director Marc Trent.

Take one man with a passion for beer, money in the bank and time on his hands and you have the recipe for one very successful business.

Satnav is the car industry’s answer to a plan – getting you from A to B without distracting you with a traditional map or relying on the person next to you for directions to get to your destination. As technology has advanced, we’re seeing the adoption of heads-up-display, pre-planned journeys sent to vehicles, integration of […]

– at the top of every UK business agenda With the festivities behind us for another year, and January well and truly here, now’s the time to look ahead. Michael Frisby, managing director, Cobweb, asks: ‘Is your business ready for 2020?’. Is 2020 the year you move to the cloud? For more than 20 years, [...]

Each year leads to new, exciting, and innovative advancements in technology. Recently, we have seen the rise of Robotic Process Automation (RPA), Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the rapid onset of IoT (internet of things) – all aiming to make our lives easier through devices and automation, says Andy Stevens, business director, Nouveau Solutions.

For Jargon PR’s founder and managing director Simon Corbett, success is about supporting Thames Valley businesses as well as mixing it with the PR industry’s big players on the international stage, writes Tim Wickham.

Strategic IT providers Aura Technology and Amicus ITS have combined in a deal which creates a £10m+ turnover group operating in the private and public sectors. The two businesses, both with headquarters in Southampton, become sister companies under the Aura Technology Group. Aura and Amicus each retain their own identity and client bases, while sharing [...]

Technology companies often have very clear ideas on what they do – and don’t like – in their office space. But they don’t always ask all the right questions. Karl Carty, senior designer at office design, fit out and refurbishment specialist Morgan Lovell, has the answers to office design questions that businesses need to ask.

With the prospect of a fresh new government in-store and the possibility that the UK might finally move forward with leaving the EU, there’s plenty for businesses to look forward to in 2020, particularly given the enduring uncertainty that has lingered over the UK economy since the result of the Brexit referendum back in 2016.

writes Kapil Davda, director, Haines Watts. Tax benefits hidden within your work could give you an edge on your competitors. Uncovering innovation within a business is rarely a simple process. You’ll often find it buried within different aspects of an organisation, and in some cases it’s even outsourced. Sadly, only a fraction of eligible companies [...]

Providing young people with the environment and culture to develop their careers has been key to Roc Search’s success over the past decade.

Quantuma has announced the arrival of Jonathan Thornton as a partner to head up its new transaction services offering.

– the importance of succession planning and family governance.

Quantuma has announced the arrival of Jonathan Thornton as a partner to head up its new transaction services offering.

At a time of uncertainty, political events dominating the news agenda and businesses contending with an ever-growing burden of regulation, HSBC UK is committing resources to helping customers navigate through a challenging period.

Unprecedented economic uncertainty, global trade wars and potential Brexit threats are distractions that businesses looking to grow can overcome, writes Arbinder Chatwal, Southampton-based partner at accountants and business adviser BDO. Now is the time to seize the initiative, he urges, but not before doing your research.

Firstly, businesses often don’t have the working capital to invest in significant expansion plans, writes Richard Hall, director at KPMG on the South Coast.

While remaining resilient in a challenging current political climate, Reading industrial market for the first three quarters of 2019 was in limbo. It now needs to play catch up in the last quarter if it is going to perform equally to 2018, writes Neil Seager.

There are two areas where, as an office occupier taking on a new lease, you can ‘win’ or ‘lose’ – the immediate commercial terms, and the commercial terms that bite or benefit in the future, writes Hannah Rodgers, leasing and acquisition graduate surveyor at Campbell Gordon.

A former redundant Ministry of Defence site in Gosport has recently been purchased by a national marine and ship repair company, UK Docks, a sale which is set to transform the area and boost the local economy.

Since 1975, the team at Spectrum Workplace has been working in close partnership with ambitious businesses to really identify their needs and devise solutions to help increase productivity, retain top talent and aid business growth, writes Jim Fidler, partner and workplace consultant, Spectrum.

These days, it is important for all companies to consider how to diversify their income streams. While some do this by launching new products or by entering new markets, there are other ways of doing this successfully.

The Earley Buildings are set to introduce the sense of vibrant, urban business community to the Thames Valley as part of the vision that their new owner, Spear Street Capital, has for the properties it invests in and develops.

Its been another big year for Bracknell-based Curve Workplaces which has seen a further increase in turnover, this time by over 60%, taking the business from £5.8 million to just over £9.5m.

Across the Thames Valley, many office workers don’t have access to the basic facilities they need to perform their jobs, according to research by Morgan Lovell, leaders in office design and fit out. Colin Allan, managing director at the Bracknell-based firm, considers the potential impact of poor office environments on employee productivity and engagement – […]

In its 18th year of sponsoring the awards, NatWest is the proud sponsor of the Dynamic Business of the Year award.

Award-winning firm Blandy & Blandy LLP has again been named as a top Tier firm in the 2020 edition of Chambers UK Guide.

Q  I’m starting a new business and I’m not sure whether to open a bricks-and-mortar shop or exclusively sell online – which is best?

In this latest Paris Smith client profile, The Business Magazine dons its wellies to see how the Southampton law firm has nurtured an 18-year relationship with Barfoot Farms, one of the UK’s foremost fruit and vegetable growers.

Trade-only computer hardware and software distributor Spire Technology is at a pivotal point in its development. Managing director John Appleton gives Tim Wickham the low-down.

Don’t become a victim of complacency, it’s time to take your head out of the sand and start taking IT security seriously writes Matt Faulkner, IT technical director at Taylor Made Computer Solutions.

Chris Baker, investment director at LDC in the south, discusses the Thames Valley’s thriving tech sector and how private equity is supercharging the growth of tech firms across the region.

The south of England has experienced incredible growth over the past few years, especially Southampton. Having recently been named as a top 5 Super Cluster city, Hannah Waddington, Sanderson’s Southampton regional manager, explains why the city deserves its new accolade.

You’ve probably heard their names – ominous titles like CryptoLocker, Crysis, WannaCry and Cerber. You may know that viruses lurk in suspicious attachments and downloads, putting users a click away from disaster – but the true scale and the potentially devastating consequences of ransomware are dangerous to underestimate.

IT support company ESP Global Services, winner of the Thames Valley Tech Awards 2019 Company of the Year, is consolidating its hold in the aviation sector and expanding internationally. Success is down to an unrelenting focus on the customer.

In an increasingly digitally driven world, the need to adapt and change quickly is a pre-requisite. The adoption of cloud computing has helped to significantly boost employee efficiency and productivity, but now, as the transformation journey continues, many companies are moving to a hybrid approach to increase their agility.

Growing brand awareness and driving sales is clearer than ever, argues PR specialist Simon Corbett from Jargon PR.

Accountants Vale & West hosted this roundtable with the assistance of St Joseph’s College, Reading. The two organisations both celebrate their 125th anniversaries this year. The roundtable was organised in association with media partners, The Business Magazine. Tim Wickham reports the highlights.

The hosts for this Solent 250 roundtable were the advisory and accountancy firm RSM, law firm Irwin Mitchell, HSBC, and specialist recruitment company CMA Recruitment Group. It was held at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton and looked at the challenges digitalisation poses for middle-market businesses. Tim Wickham reports.

Never standing still and constantly adapting has helped the Thames Valley’s tech sector thrive, says Boyes Turner chief executive Andrew Chalkley – just like the specialist tech law firm itself.

National audit, tax, advisory and risk firm Crowe hosted this roundtable at the Thames Lido in Reading looking at the current state of the private equity (PE) market in the Thames Valley. Tim Wickham reports.

Q  GDPR fines have been in the news lately, what are the risks for me as a small business owner?

Shorefield Holidays operates eight holiday parks across Hampshire and Dorset. As it geared up for the busy summer season, reporter Tim Wickham dropped by to find out why the family-run enterprise is more popular than ever. Shorefield Holidays: No 141 It takes a family to know what makes a great family holiday. Shorefield Holidays was [...]

Rebecca Paterson, Ordnance Survey’s chief strategy and marketing officer, tells Tim Wickham how the venerable cartographer leads the world in geospatial data gathering and mapping. Ordnance Survey: No 21 You’d expect a mapmaker to find a handy location for its head office. The impressive Ordnance Survey (OS) building on the outskirts of Southampton is conveniently [...]

From April 6, 2020, the private sector will be brought in line with the public sector in relation to the IR35 tax regime, which will imply new requirements on to fee-payers in a consultancy arrangement, writes Alistair McArthur, partner, head of employment law, and Katie Harris, senior solicitor, employment law at Herrington Carmichael. What is [...]

Blandy & Blandy’s leading probate, tax and trusts team has been recognised in the top tier for ‘private wealth law’ in the recently published Chambers High Net Worth Guide. The firm is one of only two based in Reading to be ranked in the top tier in the new edition, and the only firm with [...]

writes Fardeen Nairman, director, corporate finance, Quantuma Background Global healthcare expenditure is increasing at an unprecedented rate and is projected to exceed $10 trillion by 2022. This growth is as a result of a combination of economic, financial and social factors. Ageing and growing populations, better diagnosis of chronic diseases, rising labour costs and advances [...]

As finance and operations director of IT recruitment specialist Catch Resource Management, Rose Clarke is passionate about the importance of building long-term relationships with clients and candidates alike. The consultancy specialises in ERP recruitment, specifically within the NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics 365 and JD Edwards marketplace. Following a successful management buyout a year ago, Catch’s most [...]

Maidenhead is changing. If you have visited recently you’ll have seen the town centre continues to experience significant regeneration –there are now unprecedented levels of new development underway. Residential-led schemes are at the forefront of this evolution, with sites now being cleared and prepared at three separate ends of the town centre; in each case [...]

writes Peter Wright, partner, Haines Watts For owners of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), the recruitment quest has never been tougher. A ‘perfect storm’ of factors – including record-low unemployment, Brexit and the shifting expectations of millennials (those aged roughly between 22 and 36) – means employers are having to work harder and smarter to […]

It may be the constituency of our previous prime minister Theresa May, but there’s little else about Maidenhead that you would consider past-it. Indeed, with the prospect of Maidenhead becoming a Western station on the London tube map, once Crossrail has arrived, the attractiveness of the town will grow. Trains from London to Maidenhead used [...]

The meteoric rise of demand from serviced office operators has attracted much attention over the past 18 months. While the trend reflects deep structural changes in how occupiers will increasingly use workspace, this is just the beginning. Rippling out Having taken hold in Central London, the emphatic growth in demand from serviced office providers has [...]

The South Coast market has remained buoyant in the first half of 2019, in spite of a slightly slow start to the year, writes James Brounger, regional managing director, CBRE. Industrial/warehouse The rise in e-commerce and, with that, the increase in technology use have been key drivers across the South Coast, with an encouraging resurgence [...]

Have you bought a derelict property since March 2016? Did you pay a Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) surcharge on the purchase of that property? If so, you could be due a refund, writes Claire Bunton, associate solicitor, Dutton Gregory. On April 1, 2016, the Government introduced the SDLT surcharge for purchases of additional residential [...]

As we move in to the second half of 2019 there remains a high level of uncertainty, writes Dave Hales, managing partner, EY. Despite this, there are still plenty of opportunities for growth, although challenges in the short to medium term are making it increasingly difficult for businesses to make future investment plans; particularly if [...]

Law firm Paris Smith and its client Williams Shipping are both stalwarts of Southampton’s business community. The Business Magazine found out how their relationship developed and how the Williams family has steered the company for 125 years. Colin Williams modestly suggests that the success of his family’s marine and shipping business has been due to [...]

Outside the capital, Southampton and the broader South East region of England remains the most active region for UK dealmaking, roughly accounting for 9% of all UK deal value and 14% of deal volumes in Q1 of 2019, writes Quantuma.

The prospects for Southampton are exciting – and now acknowledged at a national level by media, politicians and business people.

The continuing success story of Romsey-based property developer, Highwood Group, appears to be unstoppable thanks to its new title of Housebuilder of the Year that has been bestowed by judges at the 2019 South Coast Property Awards.

The key to a successful digital transformation programme. The evolving tech world we live in today is both a threat and an opportunity for business, writes Roland Emmans, HSBC UK head of technology.

Sir Clive Woodward, recently appointed to the board at strategic IT services provider Aura Technology, on why CEOs must understand the vital role technology plays in successful teams and businesses

The threat of cyber incidents continues to rise across all organisations with regular stories of reputable organisations suffering from cyber attacks. Yet, IT departments are expected to run systems 24/7 x 365 days a year to support business operations. The effect of system downtime can be felt across the organisation and often impacts revenue, profits […]

Wessex Heartbeat has joined forces with Southampton Sailing Week, which takes place on September 16-18, in a bid to get people ‘heart healthy’ and raise money.

Some of the top cyber security companies in the South Central region will be exhibiting at the inaugural Business Innovation South (BIS) expo at Chilworth Manor near Southampton on September 12. We spoke to them about the online challenges companies are facing

In the space of just one generation the borrowing landscape for businesses has shifted dramatically. Foreign banks, private debt funds, peer-to-peers and small specialist lenders have shaken up the market but left many SMEs understandably disorientated. Business owners sense they may be missing a trick by sticking with their high street bank but are failing […]

Despite Brexit uncertainty, the future of the Thames Valley – the UK’s ‘Silicon Corridor’ – looks bright as a powerhouse of the national economy. But, what is its future as a recognised global leader?

The Thames Valley office market has seen a rapid improvement in occupier fundamentals over the past 12 months, according to data and analysis from the CoStar Group, writes Henry Murray, market analyst.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a popular theme for movies and science fiction novels.  Robots taking over the world and posing a threat to human existence in a dystopian future – from Skynet in The Terminator to The Matrix – it can seem a scary concept.

Southampton-based law firm Paris Smith is a major supporter of local charities and delighted to count YMCA Fairthorne Group as both a client and a member of its Charity Forum information exchange. The Business Magazine looks at how the relationship has evolved.

As a recruitment, HR and payroll service provider, we launched with the vision and mission of providing 360-degree support to businesses. When we were deciding what to call ourselves, we focused on names that represented a circular shape or translated as ‘support’, writes Charlotte Bellfield of Oberon.

Earlier this year, Barclays was appointed by Southampton City Council to manage Network Eagle Lab, Southampton’s new unique co-working space at the Marlands Shopping Centre.

Not every business park can boast a historic manor house surrounded by legacy trees and an estate which can be traced back to the 15th century, but then Howbery Park is proud to be a business park with a difference.

This summer marks an exciting time for South Coast legal firm Glanvilles, which has just expanded into larger, new premises in Chichester and invested in the latest technology to further improve the service it provides to clients.

The Internet is an easy target to blame for the woes of retailers, but when 62.1% of 11,000 consumers surveyed stated that UK retailers were not working hard enough to create a shopping experience worth the time and cost of visiting their stores, there is good reason to look in the mirror.

writes Fardeen Nariman, director, corporate finance.

There is no doubt we are in a period of market and geopolitical volatility. This makes specialist navigation all the more important. We live in a continually unpredictable and complex world. Global trade has softened, manufacturing activity has slowed, and political uncertainty has elevated.

In February of this year BDO announced it had merged with Moore Stephens LLP, making it the UK’s largest accountancy and business advisory firm focused on mid-sized, entrepreneurially-spirited businesses.

You do not need to work in the property industry to know the importance a property’s foundations have on its structural stability. The foundations of leadership are in the relationships we build. Tall buildings need deep foundations, great leaders need to build strong relationships.

When owner and founder of Shanly Homes, Michael Shanly, built his first property in Pinner, Middlesex in 1969, it would have been difficult to imagine that 50 years later, this Beaconsfield-based company would have grown to more than 200-people strong and built over 12,000 new homes, many of which have been delivered in the Thames […]

At Amiri we are passionate about creating exceptional environments that people will enjoy, writes Mark Vincent.

From shifting regulations to new and surprising motions in court, property law is an ever-changing and often complicated landscape to conquer, writes Denise Bull, partner and head of commercial property, Dutton Gregory.

Sponsoring the Fast Rising Property Business of the Year award at the 2019 South Coast Property Awards was a natural choice for MSP Capital.

Technology is a vital element of almost every function of a business. For companies with growth ambitions, it is important that IT provision is capable of meeting not just their current needs, but also the demands that will come as they grow, writes Tim Walker, MD of Aura Technology.

At Onecom we put time and effort into winning awards – and we’re seeing some success too. But this is not a vanity exercise aimed at self-praise and nights out in black tie. Oh no.

There probably isn’t a business quite like Just Develop It, where youthful drive and hard-nosed business savvy combine to impressive effect, while multi-tasking Joe Jeffers’ diverse skillset really stood out for this year’s judges.

With many accountancy and finance professionals making the move from a permanent career path to an interim one, we asked Aran Purewal, associate director at CMA Recruitment Group – what is driving this trend?

Tim Watkins, corporate partner for Coffin Mew solicitors, looks at how to make the best start in your international expansion strategy.

Penningtons Manches’ new report into the UK’s thriving tech ecosystem has shown that the UK is set to hold onto its position as a pivotal player in the global tech economy. Golden Triangle: Golden Opportunities? maps international investment into the UK’s ambitious tech companies.

The next generation of connected technology will bring about huge changes to the way we work, live, communicate and travel, writes Robert Wood, partner and head of office, Osborne Clarke, Thames Valley.

Haslams and M1 Agency have announced a new-build, high-quality industrial/warehouse scheme in Theale, Reading.

Thames Valley businesses engaging in mergers and acquisition activities can now benefit from insurance protection previously felt to be solely available from big London firms.

Most mornings before heading in to the office, I wake up and follow my usual routine of getting ready for work; and before I even jump into my car I’ve already used a product supplied to me through a subscription-based solution (Harry’s Shave Club), writes Mike Rixon.

We’re working more hours and more flexibly – but productivity is declining. It’s time for employers to take a fresh look at how they get the best from their people right from the start, says Emma O’Connor.

The combination of skills offered by Mathys & Squire is one reason why leading legal directory, The Legal 500, praises the intellectual property firm’s ‘impeccable understanding of IP law’ and its ability to ‘really stand out from the crowd’.

Xtrac was founded in 1984 and is the world leader in the production of transmissions for top level motorsport, including F1, Le Mans, Indianapolis 500 and a host of rally and GT sports cars, writes Peter Digby, president, Xtrac.

Brendoncare Otterbourne Hill, a ground-breaking new development which marries dementia care with independent living, a care home and a community hub, was officially opened in January by HRH The Countess of Wessex GCVO.

The threat from fraudsters continues to grow as criminals find ever more inventive ways to try and con people out of their money.

After being nominated as a finalist in The Business Magazine’s Law Firm of the Year at the Thames Valley Property Awards for the second year running, we sat down to talk to the property partners at Herrington Carmichael, one of the fastest-growing law firms in the Thames Valley.

With the rapid and seismic changes to the retail sector, many of the region’s town centres have been caught off guard, resulting in a sharp increase in retail vacancy rates and a decline in footfall.

Leaders Romans Group is one of the UK’s largest property services groups formed by the merger of Leaders, Romans and Boyer in 2016. 

Highwood talks teamwork, diligence and what it takes to become one of the fastest growing property businesses in the UK.

MHA MacIntyre Hudson adopts Baker Tilly International brand identity to reflect global capabilities

Growth requires more than better access to funding – it needs a focus on developing management to ensure that all the stages are fully thought through.

Q1  I did all the work over a year ago to be compliant with GDPR, has anything changed?

Jeremy Cooper, office managing partner of Crowe UK’s Thames Valley office, is delighted to welcome Mark Allen to the firm as a new corporate finance partner. Allen will provide sell-side and buy-side advisory services (lead advisory) to both corporates and institutional investors in the region, and will work alongside Bob Alsop and the firm’s already [...]

Julian Carr and Brian Phillips set up Ethos Partners as an innovative private investment office to invest their own capital and to invite their growing network of high-net-worth investors to invest alongside them.

What do you do? What are your prospects? Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?

We’ve been in the Thames Valley now for coming up to 15 years. A lot has happened in this time both for us and the area, writes Tina Wisener, partner and head of Reading office.

Q1  I did all the work over a year ago to be compliant with GDPR, has anything changed?

In April, Blandy & Blandy LLP welcomed guests to a seminar focused on ‘The Anatomy of a Development Land Deal’, held at Reading Borough Council’s offices.

There is a thin line between planning and politics, and it has been suggested that underlying tensions between the two are largely responsible for bringing on the housing crisis of recent years, writes Tom Looker, director of the new design team in Pegasus Group’s Bracknell office.

It was in 1219 that the right to hold a market was granted in Wokingham, the very same year China took delivery of some new technology – the windmill.

It was an exciting 2018 for Wokingham with the £3.8 million joint Borough and town council market place refurbishment completing which along with the Peach Street development has given the town a real boost, writes Roger Reid of Haslams.

Commercial fit-out specialist Mobius adds immersive virtual reality technologies in its architectural modelling, so clients can ‘walk’ through design layouts – trying before buying.

Wokingham is an attractive market town in the Thames Valley with excellent road and rail links and its regeneration programme has attracted many high-tech firms including Nouveau Solutions.

Legal professionals are committed to providing their valued clients with the best advice and service possible.

While the latest delay to the UK’s departure from the EU has reined in the immediate risk of the UK crashing out of the bloc without a deal, there remains plenty of room for nervousness.

Recognition in three national awards in the space of three days shows that Shoosmiths’ corporate team is reaching new heights in the market, with its continued focus on M&A, venture capital (VC), private equity and tax work.

With the weather warming up, the days getting longer and the school holidays fast approaching, many business owners will be looking at employing their children over the summer months.

It’s said that new digital tech businesses grow faster than start-ups in other sectors, because the people in them are more used to acting in a collaborative and connected way.

No longer brand new, but certainly currently a popular method of communication, SIP trunks for business are becoming more popular year on year.

If you are struggling to edge your company ahead of its rivals in a crowded marketplace, the key to breaking the deadlock could be in improving your customer service.

Fardeen Nariman, director, corporate finance, Quantuma, takes a look at the business sector.

The world economy is going through seismic changes. In the UK, Brexit is perhaps the most visible and pressing challenge, but it would be wrong to categorise it as the only one.

More than just a major distributor of top IT brands across the EU, Westcoast is helping to invigorate and secure the next generation of STEM students with a refreshing community outreach programme.

‘We’ve been in Reading and the Thames Valley for more than 130 years. It’s good to know the Boyes Turner name and all it stands for continues to thrive.’ Andrew Chalkley is reflecting on a busy few months at the helm of one of the Thames Valley’s leading legal businesses.

Sean Callanan, director of technology and services at Close Brothers Technology Services discusses the end of support for Windows 7 next year and what companies using the system should be thinking about.

UK SMEs are undoubtedly operating in a time of unprecedented change and uncertainty. While Brexit remains top of mind, disruption lurks around many corners.

Conflicting priorities exist in all organisations and can be particularly frustrating for those involved in strategy development, implementation and execution, writes Jeff Callander, programme director of The Strategy Programme, Henley Business School.

2018 SME of the Year winners Diametric Technical discuss life after the 2018 Solent Business Awards.

You’ve put effort into making your business into the success it is so far, so on exit what are the things you need to do to maximise the value for you?

Fraud costs UK businesses billions of pounds a year and, while anti-virus software and cyber security measures undoubtedly have their place, one of Barclays’ top fraud experts says the simplest way to avoid becoming a victim of online crime is to implement the human touch.

No two days are the same, says Jeremy Hill, senior private banker at the Newbury office of Kleinwort Hambros, one of the leading wealth managers in the UK.

Recent research has shown that, when it comes to tax systems, the public has greater trust in the professionals – including accountants and tax advisers – than it does in politicians and non-government organisations.

HMT is delighted to announce that Daniel Kelly is joining its team as a financial modelling partner to broaden its transaction support offering by leading a specialist financial modelling team, writes Andrew Thomson, manager partner, HMT.

writes Ian Barton, partner, corporate finance.

Commercial property was the focus of the last of four Roundtables organised by BDB Pitmans as part of its ‘Reading Future’ campaign.

Leading Thames Valley law firm Blandy & Blandy was among the winners at the 2019 UK Probate Research Awards in London on February 7.

Q  I run a small but fast-growing business in the fashion retail sector. However, I am worried about committing to a long-term commercial lease. What are my options?

Q  I run a small but fast-growing business in the fashion retail sector. However, I am worried about committing to a long-term commercial lease. What are my options?

We are already two months into 2019 and what a year so far. With the new upcoming projects and development in Slough we have certainly seen a rise in the need for serviced offices and meeting rooms, writes Sian Warner of Regal Court Business Centre.

Lambert Smith Hampton has just published its statistics for the 2018 South Coast office market and the results show (for the fourth year running) a reduction in office take-up.

Whether you are an experienced property developer or not, you may unwittingly face legal complications in the planning and progression of a project. Bill Bidder – a property law specialist and head of IBB solicitors’ real-estate practice – provides some top tips to help developers avoid landing in legal hot water.

Innovation is critical for any business, in any sector. The facts are compelling. Rewind to the 1950s and no top 10 Fortune 500 company from that time still exists today. They’ve either been gobbled up, folded or sold on as a new incarnation.

Haslams has released its annual ‘sci fi’-themed Industrial Market update for Reading, writes Neil Seager.

Leading Portsmouth legal firm Verisona Law has announced its merger with renowned Gosport practice Donnelly & Elliott Solicitors.

With Q1 2019 almost complete, Tom Holloway and Stuart Mitchell give their views on commercial property activity across the South Coast. Portsmouth-based Holloway Iliffe & Mitchell specialises in office and industrial agency, valuation, management and professional advice, drawing on the team’s wide-ranging experience.

Manufacturing firms across the UK were, at the time of going to press, bracing themselves for a hard Brexit, so what does ‘no-deal’ mean for businesses who buy and sell goods intra-EU? Kate Arnott, partner and head of manufacturing for MHA MacIntyre Hudson in the Thames Valley takes a look at some of the issues. 

The leading association of independent accountancy firms, MHA has been providing an insight into the UK’s manufacturing and engineering landscape over the past seven years with its annual manufacturing and engineering survey, writes Kate Arnott, partner and head of manufacturing for MHA MacIntyre Hudson in the Thames Valley.

ON.TRAC, an interactive business improvement tool with a focus on strategy for growth, has been developed by Wilson Partners.

The way the legal profession uses technology has transformed in the past decade, with advances such as automated client relationship systems and case tracking software delivering huge benefits to practitioners and clients alike.

Mike Rixon, relationship director at Close Brothers Technology Services, looks at the ways companies can combat cyber criminals.

Commercial property was the focus of the last of four roundtables organised by BDB Pitmans as part of its ‘Reading Future’ campaign

In the face of uncertainty, our ambitious entrepreneurs hold the key to the economic success of the Thames Valley. Paul Etherington, EY Partner and Head of Mid-Market across the South, explains why. It’s an exciting time for the region, with the Thames Valley forecast to grow faster than all UK regions outside of London, and [...]

It’s encouraging to see that employers are optimistic this year, despite the continued uncertainty surrounding the economic and political climate, writes Sarah Stevenson, director at Hays in the Thames Valley.

But how well does the region promote itself globally? How well-known is the Thames Valley in, say, the US or Far East? Can the region do more to attract inward investment and build trade bridges between this area and global markets?

Savills new homes team in Reading enjoyed a record month for sales in January as buyers lined up to invest.

For the majority of business owners, their relationship with their business is a mixture of joy, a sense of purpose and inevitably a share of headaches. Sometimes, there are times when the pressures of work can accumulate. Three quarters of business owners admit in private that running a business affects their mental health. Nearly 15% of […]

Charting 32 years of the production management specialist.

Corporate finance activity in 2018 was extremely buoyant in the Thames Valley with high levels of both fundraising and M&A activity, writes HMT.

As we start a new year, the Brexit circus rumbles on – and whether an agreed solution or a no-deal exit is the final option was still unresolved as we went to press, writes Mark O’Halloran, partner and head of commercial services at Coffin Mew.

Yann Souillard, head of private equity specialists LDC in the south, explains how private equity can offer ambitious management teams new growth opportunities and how to ensure your business is ready for investment.

At Crowe, our approach to working with private equity (PE)-backed businesses is straightforward.

writes Ian Barton, partner, corporate finance.

Major report reveals growing number of SMEs seek strategic advice – but more could still be benefiting from opportunities.

Making Tax Digital (MTD) is the biggest shake up to the UK tax system in decades and is designed to make it easier and more efficient for businesses and individuals to keep on top of their tax obligations. But is the UK ready for its implementation asks Clare Hawthorn, associate director, BDO Reading?

It wasn’t all coming up roses when Warren Haskins took over running the family garden centre. His great grandfather had set up the market garden business in Poole in 1882. In 1969, the 20 year-old Haskins was studying nursery practice when his father passed away and the £17,000 annual turnover company was handed on to […]

Are you a business or HR decision maker? Leading Thames Valley law firm Blandy & Blandy’s employment law team is hosting two free events at Reading’s Green Park Conference Centre in 2019, focusing on minimising risk within your business …

On the November day that Reading and Oxford topped the Demos-PwC Good Growth for Cities 2018 Index* for the third year running, followed by Southampton – highlighting a compelling growth story for the South East – the underlying question at the Reading UK Economic Forum was ‘How can Reading ensure it remains successful, particularly with [...]

Clients, staff and associates of leading Portsmouth law firm Verisona Law, gathered in the business lounge of Lakeside North Harbour for a champagne reception to celebrate the firm’s 10-year anniversary.

The third roundtable discussion in BDB Pitmans’ pioneering campaign to shape Reading’s future saw the complex subject of infrastructure in the town tackled.

At Irwin Mitchell, we advise across a broad range of sectors and on every legal aspect of business. We will always try to predict and keep our clients appraised of both risks and opportunities in the market, so that they stay one step ahead of the game.

Law firm IBB faces similar challenges to its business clients. Managing partner Joanna DeBiase says this helps the firm understand what corporate clients need, so it can provide legal advice that delivers the desired outcomes.

The Thames Valley Business Magazine Awards (TVBMA) are an annual highlight for many companies in one of the most dynamic regions for innovation and growth in the UK. The Awards, now in its 24th year is a chance to showcase excellence across a range of sectors, and GovGrant’s CFO Steve Phillips said that sponsoring the Awards […]

Make-A-Wish is the Thames Valley Business Magazine Awards 2018 Charity of Year. Jason Suckley, CEO of the Reading-based charity, tells Tim Wickham how the national brand has a strong and growing local presence.

EY won the Workplace Mental Health Award (sponsored by Cardinal Clinic) at the 2018 Thames Valley Business Magazine Awards (TVBMA). Tim Wickham finds out about the effort and enthusiasm behind the firm’s approach to promoting positive mental health.

At The Business Magazine’s recent Women in Business Awards, Newenham was Highly Commended in the category for Enlightened Employer – supporting women in the workplace; and also achieved a coveted finalist spot for Woman Business Owner of the Year. 

In this article Close Brothers Technology Services explains how it is working with companies to realise their intellectual property potential.

James Tetley, partner, RSM looks at how can you kickstart practical digital change in your organisation?

Tim Walker is managing director of Aura Technology, which provides proactive strategic IT consultancy, managed services and support to mid-market companies across the south. He shares his expert opinion on how companies should consider navigating a strategic IT review…

Q1 I am in the process of setting up a new business. What are the important business and or legal issues I need to consider?

Q1 I am in the process of setting up a new business. What are the important business and or legal issues I need to consider?

In our 17th year of sponsoring the awards, NatWest is the proud sponsor of the Dynamic Business of the Year award.

2018 will definitely go down in the annals of history as the year of a ‘seismic shift’ in the retail landscape, writes Fiona Brownfoot, director – retail and leisure, Hicks Baker. A structural change within the industry had been spoken about since the depressed times following 2008, but 2018 has witnessed perfect storm conditions that [...]

Andrew Farmery joined solicitors Blake Morgan in August to lead its Thames Valley real estate team. Here, he explains why he’s excited about the region’s vibrant commercial property market and the opportunities this presents for his firm.

Leading law firm Penningtons Manches is committed to supporting Surrey businesses, institutions and charitable initiatives through the multi-disciplinary teams based in its Guildford office. A key player in the firm’s record performance over the past two years, the Guildford office provides a market-leading, full-service offering covering the firm’s three key sectors: private wealth, real estate […]

No matter how experienced the members of your construction team are, developing a commercial building can take a lot of planning and not all plans are fail-safe.

In the early years of founding the business all the energies of the entrepreneur are rightly focused on getting the business up and running and making it successful. Thoughts of future succession or exits through sale are not high on the agenda. Through Charles Russell Speechlys’ experience of working with successful and often ‘serial’ entrepreneurs, […]

Fables tell us to look before we leap… but also that fortune favours the brave. So how is the wise business leader meant to judge the balance during the prediction confounding Brexit countdown? Strike out beyond Europe or sit tight in the UK, head down, until the dust settles? After four years of BDO’s South […]

The United Kingdom is recognised as one of the most important technology hubs in the world. The UK technology sector is reportedly growing more than twice as fast as the overall economy, and London has been recognised as the second most connected place for technology across the globe, behind Silicon Valley in the US.

2019 marks 10 years since Darren Fell founded Crunch, the UK’s first online accountancy firm.

National audit, tax, advisory and risk firm Crowe is expanding its Thames Valley corporate team and using its industry-leading approach to offer clients outstanding service.

Journalist John Burbedge meets Ron Gourlay who in July 2017 became chief executive at Reading Football Club, one of the Thames Valley’s most high-profile businesses.

A cyber-attack on a small to medium-sized enterprise is unlikely to receive anywhere near the level of publicity as a cyber-attack on a large household name like the Ransomware attack on the NHS or the cyber breach suffered by British Airways through SQL injection to its website, but this doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen, it […]

Cerub PR is an award-winning PR agency delivering influential, results-orientated PR and communications campaigns specialising in B2B, life sciences, healthcare and thought leadership.

Pitmans’ innovative campaign to shape Reading’s future kicked off with two lively roundtable discussions in October.

Blandy & Blandy corporate and commercial team, led by partner David Few and supported by Stuart Rose, has advised Reading Buses (Reading Transport) on its acquisition of Newbury and District Limited.

The successful launch of a new law firm is an immense challenge at the best of times, but when it coincides with a dramatic economic crash, it would seem nigh impossible. Ten years on, and Verisona Law is testament to what a combination of focus, diligence and nerve can achieve.

Two well-known Central South figures have left the world of banking after more than 20 years, to launch FiftySeven, an independent commercial finance and banking consultancy, tailored to the needs of the region’s businesses.

As a result of a substantial increase in demand for its corporate finance services, HMT has appointed Odhran Dodd and James Thomas as corporate finance partners.

Journalist John Burbedge meets MHA MacIntyre Hudson specialists Tallat Mahmood and Chris Denning who are advising Thames Valley companies.

Whitley Stimpson has been officially ranked as one of the country’s top accountancy firms for the fifth year running by the prestigious Accountancy Age 50+50 survey.

There has been no let-up in the volume of M&A transactions in the Solent region, writes Rob Holmes, director at WK Corporate Finance, Winchester.

by Robert Wood, partner and head of office, Osborne Clarke, Thames Valley.

Massive new investment in offices and industrial space, housing and infrastructure is renewing the town and changing perceptions. 

LSH teams up with 4D Monitoring to provide a cost-effective solution to improving building environment and plant performance. Traditionally, large multi-occupied office buildings had an onsite caretaker or building manager to monitor and deal, often reactively, with any issues surrounding the buildings mechanical plant. Then came the integration of BMS (building management systems) but its [...]

CBRE has released Our Cities, Knowledge for the Future, a thought-provoking project on how British cities might look and feel by 2040. The research examines what will make a successful city through a collection of insights on diversity, culture and sport, the economy, sustainability, governance, health, transport and placemaking. In doing so it identifies innovation, [...]

Despite Brexit, the hotel industry in the UK is booming. The forecast for growth in this sector looks positive for 2018/2019 and for the foreseeable future. Historically, development loans for hotel builds have been hard to come by, however, lending is now on the increase. Jaspreet Patter of the corporate team at IBB Solicitors, has just […]

As Paris Smith’s 200th anniversary celebrations come to a close, The Business Magazine completes its profiles of some of the law firm’s clients by treading the boards at Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre.

For any business, significant change – such as rapid growth or a merger – can present huge challenges. It can also bring the opportunity to step back, take stock and make key decisions that set the organisation on a path to continued growth and success.

Roundtable chairman David Murray, publisher of The Business Magazine, set the scene with some statistics: China is the UK’s fifth largest trading partner and its second largest outside the EU. Murray opened the discussion by asking participants to share their advice for doing business in this huge and diverse market.

Corporate & commercial Thames Valley-based Clifton Ingram LLP Solicitors‘ practice is headed by Barry Niven, ‘who is developing a team of knowledgeable and responsive lawyers who seek to understand client needs and tailor their approach and advice to those requirements’.

Entrepreneurs, business owner managers, and families all look to Kleinwort Hambros’ banking experts for timely advice on managing and passing on their wealth. Several centuries spent discretely looking after people’s money gives Kleinwort Hambros unique experience on the management of wealth. Relationships with its clients are strong and long lasting. “Clients must feel well looked [...]

Peach Technologies acquired Taylor Made, creating a new super-power in the region for IT and communications. Here, Peach’s CEO Darren Scott-Healey and Taylor Made’s former FD and now Group chief financial officer Joe Jeffers, talk about their plans for the future. Peach Technologies and Taylor Made were very much market leaders in their own rights […]

In this article Martin Cadby and Mike Rixon, relationship directors at Close Brothers Technology Services explore what it means to lease your IT and why it could be the best option for your business. According to the Global Leasing Report, the UK is Europe’s biggest leasing market – worth a staggering £62 billion a year [...]

TPC Leadership has been preparing leaders for the adventure of leadership since 2002, with a belief that effective leadership involves the congruent expression of values and behaviours across the dimensions of knowing, doing and being. The nature of leadership has changed significantly; when it was founded, leadership was a straightforward endeavour – analyse the situation […]

A survey by The Business Magazine of corporate finance specialists in the south has led to some key changes to the Deals Awards nomination and judging process from 2019. With nominations already being canvassed for the Thames Valley Deals Awards, the changes will ensure that a broader range of opinions help guide the process of […]

Corporate and commercial Herrington Carmichael  meets ‘international legal business standards in the field of mergers and acquisitions’ and is recommended for ‘distilling down complicated contractual advice into clear, concise and insightful feedback with clear recommendations and options’.

Corporate and commercial Blake Morgan has ‘an excellent range and depth of team knowledge and good commercial understanding‘ according to clients. One of the largest teams in the South East, it is equipped to handle the full range of corporate and commercial work and private equity investments. It can also draw on its specialist expertise […]

Corporate and commercial The ‘excellent‘ Gateley team in Reading is led by ‘experienced and knowledgeable’ corporate practice head Andrew Peddie and head of commerce, technology and media Paul De Vince. De Vince joined from Shoosmiths LLP, where he headed the commercial team; his expertise includes outsourcing, designing trade models, supply chain management and procurement matters. […]

Corporate & commercial The members of the ‘open and approachable‘ team at Shoosmiths ‘provides a great service, knows the industry well and knows what is important to their clients’. Sanjeev Sharma and Simon Edwards head the Thames Valley corporate and commercial teams, respectively.

Commercial litigation Charles Russell Speechlys’ team is considered ‘strong at partner, senior associate and associate level’. It handles a broad range of corporate and commercial litigation including product, supply, trusts and IP disputes and serves an impressive client base including Fiat Chrysler, ITV, and Wagamama.

Corporate & commercial Sean Davies heads a team at Paris Smith that provides ‘an overall level of service that is excellent‘. Davies stands out for ‘his impartiality, along with his breath of experience in the owner-managed sector and no-nonsense approach‘. In addition to the full range of M&A and commercial work, the group can also […]

Corporate & commercial Stevens & Bolton‘s team is ‘excellent’ for corporate M&A and commercial services work. It serves clients ranging from local start-ups, especially in the technology sectors, to international corporate clients including US investors. It advised the shareholders of e-Travel, which is based in Athens and has an office in Ireland, on its merger with […]

Corporate & commercial Boyes Turner‘s practice has a ‘broad range of commercial law experience and business acumen‘, providing a ‘solution-orientated approach with speedy resolutions‘, with ‘great value for money‘.

Corporate & commercial Osborne Clarke‘s team is known for its strength in digital business, small and mid-cap private equity and growth capital, while also possessing experience in energy, media, retail, and real estate and infrastructure, among other areas.

Corporate & commercial Sean Kelly heads the team at Pitmans, which handles a range of transactions, principally in the private company M&A arena but with an increasing weight of expertise in private equity and cross-border transactions.

Family The family law practice at Hedges Law is led by Nicola Poole, who ‘has great experience in children disputes’, and also has expertise in complex high-net-worth financial remedy cases, disputes over inherited wealth, variation of maintenance cases and prenuptial agreements. Other figures of note in the practice include Carrie Rudge, who is ‘strong for […]

Corporate & commercial B P Collins fields a team that ‘understands clients’ needs and compares well with City firms both on price and service‘. The group has an extensive track record in the waste management, recycling, renewable energy, technology, food, logistics and pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors, and has longstanding relationships with national and international clients […]

Corporate & commercial Blandy & Blandy gives ‘excellent advice at a fair cost’ to owner-managed businesses, investors and financiers on deals with values up to £25 million. Corporate practitioner David Few heads the practice and advised Lloyds Bank in connection with the financing of the acquisition of Witney Lakes Resort, Spa and Golf Club by […]

Corporate & commercial The ‘excellent and commercial’ team at Penningtons Manches is recommended as being ‘unfailingly prompt and thorough in their responses, giving clear and actionable advice’ and ‘good at understanding business context’. The team has a track record of advising growth companies, with strong relationships with Touchstone Innovations and Oxford University Innovation.

Insolvency Verisona Law ‘has built one of the strongest insolvency teams on the South Coast, particularly in litigation where it is one of the go-to firms in the area‘, ‘punching above its weight with high-profile insolvency liquidation‘. The five-partner team’s main focus areas include personal insolvency, director disqualification, property, construction and fraud claims. Particular specialism […]

Corporate & commercial IBB (Iliffes Booth Bennett) is well positioned to capture the lion’s share of work for SME and owner-managed businesses located in West London and the wider Thames Valley region, and is continuing to attract mandates from larger corporates and multinationals such as Hertz and Cegedim.

Paul Etherington, Head of mid-market, south at EY, explains how mid-market companies are leading the way in embracing new technology and how the Thames Valley is thriving at the forefront of innovation.

Blandy & Blandy has experienced a rise in demand from clients with legal requirements overseas, according to partner Nick Burrows. “Throughout the past 12 months we have continued to see increased demand for work to be undertaken internationally. As members of the Law Firm Network we are well placed to refer our clients, whether businesses […]

Are you looking for an environmentally friendly fleet solution for your business? Have you ever considered a green fleet audit? At HG Leasing, our team of fleet specialists have a wealth of experience in evaluating the environmental credentials of a fleet, in order to make recommendations about its sustainability, based on whole-life cost analysis and […]

While the industrial and logistics market continues to suffer from an acute lack of supply there is no getting away from it, occupier demand in the past quarter has slowed, writes Neil Seager.

RSM’s Jo Gibbons, corporate tax partner and Briony Courtiour, personal tax manager explore why the answer to this frequently asked question is not as straight forward as it first appears. For many business owners the sale of your company is likely to be a once in a lifetime event.

Laura Adkins, director of Whitley Stimpson, talks about her role in charge of the Witney office. I work for Whitley Stimpson, one of the country’s leading independent accountancy firms. We have offices in Banbury, Bicester, High Wycombe and Witney that provide financial advice to businesses and individuals, something we’ve been doing for over 87 years. [...]

Entrepreneurial businesses can capitalise on their innovations by taking advantage of government incentives. R&D tax relief adviser GovGrant’s chief executive officer Luke Hamm tells Tim Wickham why more UK companies should consider claiming the relief and protecting their intellectual property.

When Madar Corporation’s financial year ended in July, founder and managing director Pat Gilbert’s expectation was that turnover would be around the £11 million mark. By the time The Business Magazine went to print, final numbers were still being processed, but it is pretty impressive for a business which was only launched in 2012, and […]

As a successful business owner, you have risked your personal capital, committed to years of hard work making numerous personal sacrifices and been on an emotional rollercoaster, enjoying the ups and suffering the downs, of owning your own business. You have now decided to sell and reap your just rewards.