PREMIER PROFILESECOND EDITION

2E

MERTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE’S ONLINE MAGAZINE FEATURING BUSINESS SUCCESS STORIES AND OPPORTUNITIES

FOR DOING MORE BUSINESS IN SOUTH LONDON

Sponsored by

for business and life.

Sponsor or adverts?

When you’re running a business, however large, you need legal advice from a firm that understands what you are trying to achieve and is committed to helping you succeed.

Redhill | Wimbledon | Teddington | Woking | Camberley

www.morrlaw.com

020 8971 1055

for business and life.

WELCOME

PREMIER MEMBER PROFILES

“A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A PREMIER MEMBER - AFCWIMBLEDON” - 1

IN THIS EDITION:

HOW CAN YOU BENEFIT FROMPREMIER MEMBERSHIP? - 5

Welcome to the second edition of our Premier Profile –

bringing you news and information on local businesses

that have chosen to take up premier membership with

London’s largest area based Chamber of Commerce.

With 650 members we outstrip by far other local

Chambers of Commerce and our Premier members are

a great illustration of the fantastic, talented businesses

we have as members. I hope you enjoy the read and my

thanks go to Morrisons Solicitors, for sponsoring this

edition. Our premier membership offers a highly

personalised service, providing you with a

knowledgeable relationship manager and exclusive links

to business connections and sponsorship opportunities

as well as the chance to attend premier member events

and receive special discounts on a variety of activities.

Please contact me to discuss the benefits of Premier

membership for your business.

MORRISONS SOLICITORS - 2FLEXICOM SOLUTIONS - 4

PREMIER MEMBER PROFILES

HARTLEY FOWLER - 6KOJJI - 7GEM & CO - 8

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF...A PREMIER MEMBER: AFC WIMBLEDONBY CAROLINE COOK

Along with the ConDons, I was given a tour of the ground, viewed the trophy cabinet which included a FA Cup winners medal donated to the Club by Vinnie Jones. Ivor and I then went on to meet the team in the Club shop. What struck me as we toured the ground was the sense of family and community. Ivor welcomed everyone, from stewards, volunteers, families, staff and of course team players. He knew their stories, and made each and every one feel valued.

Kingsmeadow Stadium. The home of the Dons. As part of our 25th anniversary celebrations I chose the one and only AFC Wimbledon to spend my experience “day in a member business”. I couldn’t have been made more welcome! Greeted by Pietro Palladino, the Commercial Executive for the Club who gave me a quick guided tour of the hospitality facilities. We then met the irrepressible Ivor Heller, one of the the Club’s founders and Commercial Directors.

He introduced me to a group of fans over for the match from Bilbao, the Continental Dons. They were a fabulous group of 13 who had flown to London to watch the match. Ivor had engaged with them via social media, they had designed their own ‘ConDon’ team shirts and scarfs, and presented Ivor with a fetching Basque beret and Athletico Bilbao pennant. We made our way to the stands, bathed in sunshine, and heard from Ivor the history of the Club. From the early days in the Southern League via FA Cup glory at Wembley, to the reformation of the Club in 2002 on Wimbledon Common. Their history with Merton is key and strongly felt.

I was then introduced to the Club manager, Neal Ardley. As a former Wimbledon player himself, he appreciates the history of the club and its importance as part of the local community. He generously gave me his time to talk about pre-match build up, and the opportunities that young people can be given at the club. It turned out that the ‘Man of the Match’, Will Nightingale, began his football career as a youth player, and has been at the Club since the age of 9.

Match day hospitality was a busy affair with around 100 guests enjoying a three course lunch. The ConDons were introduced to the guests. On my table there were more international guests who were over from the States. They were the parents of best selling author, and avid Wimbledon fan, John Green. The underdog story of the Dons is truly international, and the script of their rise from the ashes has been made into a script by John Green himself. We enjoyed speculating who would play Erik Samuelson and Ivor in the movie!

Then to the match. There was nervous anticipation around the ground, as a win was needed by the team, which made its way onto the pitch, and whilst the Dons gave a solid performance, the final shot was frustratingly off target. As Will Nightingale said in the after match presentation, it’s those fine margins that make the difference.

At the presentation the match day mascots – two local school boys – were given their moment on stage; the ConDons were back again to be welcomed by the home supporters. Despite the goalless draw, the day had been fantastic. The hospitality shown to me by Ivor, Pietro and the Club couldn’t have been more welcoming.

It is a family friendly club, which is keen to be part of the local community, and one that is looking forward to returning home to Plough Lane. We look forward to welcoming them back. Talking to Erik Samuelson after the game he was explaining how difficult it is to get money for the trust, and they’re looking forward to being back in Merton. The Dons Trust is committed to strengthening the voice of supporters in the decision-making processes at the football club, and strengthening the links between the club and the community of Wimbledon and the surrounding areas.

To find out how you can get involved in the Dons Trust please visit their website afcwimbledon.co.uk and show your support! Will I be back? Definitely. #COYD

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MORRISONS SOLICITORSABOUT OUR SPONSOR

Being a Premier member of the Merton Chamber enables us to take full advantage of their services. The Chamber supports our business internally, but also facilitates us to connect with local businesses externally, allowing us to extend our reach and form new relationships throughout Merton. Raising our profile is always important, and the Chamber provides us with a platform to promote our services to their members through a number of varied sponsorship opportunities.

Morrisons is a modern, forward-thinking law firm offering a comprehensive range of legal services to businesses and private clients in South West London, Surrey and across the UK.

With a team of around 150, they combine the depth of knowledge, capabilities and resources of a large firm with the approachability of a local practice.Whatever the challenge – from a corporate acquisition or merger to a party wall dispute, clinical negligence claim or family crisis – they will pursue their client’s interests with energy, integrity and professional rigour.

Their success as a firm is a direct result of their ability to deliver success for their clients. Their aim is always to understand their concerns and their objectives, and then to use their legal expertise to find the best way to achieve them. That’s how they have grown to become one of the leading firms in the South East.

Being located in the borough of Merton provides Morrisons with numerous advantages, specifically for their Wimbledon office. It is beneficial not only for clients within the immediate area, but also easily accessible for clients branching into the Surrey, Middlesex and London boroughs.

Merton has a vibrant and thriving business community with a diverse range of companies of varying sizes, many of which have similar aspira-tions to Morrisons. The Borough’s ambition for continued growth provides excellent opportunities for local businesses and encourages them to build stronger relationships with one another.

Morrisons have their sayon Premier membership and having a relationship manager...

“Having a relationship manager and a direct point of contact at the Chamber ensures that we never miss an opportunity to take advantage of the numerous services that are on offer. Whether we have any specific queries, are looking to make new connections, or need support in promoting our services to the businesses of Merton, we have someone on hand at all times to help us achieve our membership goals.

”At Morrisons Solicitors, client experience is everything. Their goals revolve around understanding their client’s goals and helping them to achieve them. They always endeavour to find ways to add value to everything they do and are extremely passionate about being part of the Merton Borough and its thriving business community.

Merton Chamber plays an important part in helping connect Morrisons with, and contribute to, the wider business community, as well as supporting the strengthening of their exisiting relationships.

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Find out more about Morrisons on their website morrlaw.com or email wimbledon@morrlaw.com

for business and life.

WHAT CHANGES DO MORRISONS FORESEE FOR BUSINESS IN 2018?2018 will bring some important developments for the operation and regulation of businesses. Below we set out some of the changes coming up over the next six months.

On 13 January 2018, the Revised Payment Services Directive was implemented, banning payment surcharges on retail transactions with consumers paying by card or online. Businesses previously applying surcharges should already have updated their payment policies or risk an investigation by Trading Standards.

A number of changes are also anticipated for employers. From 6 April 2018 developments to auto-enrolment pension rules will increase minimum employer contributions from 1% to 2% and minimum total contributions from 2% to 5%. Also likely to be on the agenda are increased numbers of employee claims, which have been rising since the removal of tribunal fees last July. April also brings changes to the taxation of employment termination payments, resulting in all payments in lieu of notice being subject to tax and NICs. Additionally, larger businesses should be aware that, from 4 April, those with at least 250 employees will be required to publish their first gender pay gap report.

2018 should bring more on the issue of employment status; a hot topic for employers who utilise the flexibility of self-employed staff. The Uber appeal, scheduled to be heard in early 2018, seeks to address key questions on this issue and, if the higher courts find against Uber, the impact will be felt across the “gig economy”. This is even more pertinent considering that, last November, two House of Commons’ committees published a draft bill including provisions for fines for employers wrongly classifying workers as self-employed.

Property businesses will also feel some disruption from 1 April 2018 when the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards comes into force, meaning that (subject to certain qualifications) landlords cannot let residential or commercial premises with an EPC rating lower than an “E”. Furthermore, the manner in which Business Rates are indexed is set to change from 1 April 2018, linking rates to the consumer price index. According to the Chancellor, this is predicted to be worth £2.3bn to UK businesses over the next five years.

One of the biggest changes effecting all businesses in 2018 will be the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) which will apply from 25 May 2018. Since the 1990’s, the amount of information captured by businesses has increased massively and GDPR represents the biggest change in data protection rules for two decades. The new rules increase accountability, meaning that businesses must take a more proactive approach to compliance. Failure to comply, could result in large fines which (at present) cannot be insured against. In or around May 2018, we also expect to see new e-privacy regulation and, by Summer 2018, new Trade Secrets rules are expected to be implemented in the UK so as to establish common EU-wide minimum standards for protecting know-how and business information.

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FLEXICOM SOLUTIONS

Being a Premier member is an excellent opportunity for business owners to raise their profile and promote their business to people or organisations who may not otherwise be accessible There are many opportunities and introductions facilitated by the Chamber to make new connections with the business community in Merton and beyond. The opportunity to be part of think tanks and events that have the potential to multiply opportunities to engage with potential clients is priceless.

Without a relationship manager, there is always the chance of getting lost in the crowd and having to shout to be heard. Raymond is always available, not only to provide sound advice about the business but also someone that you can reflect with and that is important on the journey of running a business.

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Flexicom believe that we all want to engage with a company that holds strong values, that will be there from the start of your journey and then when ever you need support - whether it’s to explore your options or resolve an ongoing problem or to transform your business, through technology and communications. Their approach ensures your business continues to run smoothly whilst they implement the communications and IT upgrades, changes or transformation required to take your business to the next step. They have excellent relationships with their partners, who are the best in their field and are ‘vendor agnostic’, meaning their recommendations are based purely on your business needs. Everything they talk about will be focused on your customer journey and how your communications and IT infrastructure will drive excellent customer engagement and underpin customer excellence for your business

Why Flexicom chose Merton?Merton is a vibrant and multi-cultural community where there is a lot of focus on promoting small business and of course a heritage of successful businesses/organisations in the area that have achieved incredible success at national and international level. The business community is a supportive one and there are many opportunities to share learnings and success stories that make a difference for new start ups.

Flexicom’s immediate goals are to grow to a scale where they can employ more people to take on the business developing in the pipeline. Merton Chamber has the ability to assist through facilitating the right contacts in the borough’s schools/colleges to prime new talent and create opportunities for young people to learn new skills as part of this process.

Find out more about Flexicom on theirwebsite flexicomsolutions.com or emailinfo@flexicomsolutions.com

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AFC WimbledonArmadillo Electrics LtdBizSpace plcConstruction Helpline LimitedDelrose Earle TrainingFirst Base London Flexicom Solutions LtdGem & Co Financial Services LLPHartley Fowler Chartered Accountants LLPIndigo Projects London LimitedKojji London Borough of Merton

MEMBERS CURRENTLY BENEFITINGFROM PREMIER MEMBERSHIP

What have they received?EXCLUSIVE EVENTS WITH NEW WIMBLEDON THEATRE INCLUDING:Invitation to the press night of CabaretNetworking drinksDinner on stage!

SPECIAL INVITATIONS TO:The House of Lords, City Hall and Mayor of Merton’s reception.

Exclusive Premier Member only drinks reception with our Board of Directorsat Cannizaro House for our AGM.

Morrisons Solicitors LLPNew Wimbledon TheatreOomph! Wellness Training LtdParkside Hospital & Cancer Centre London (Aspen Healthcare)Sales Expand LtdSouth Thames College The All England Lawn Tennis (Championships) LtdUniversity of RoehamptonWSM Partners LLP

Sponsorship OpportunitiesPremier Members have many sponsorship opportunities, such as Exclusive networking events, business growth workshops, Merton Best Business Awards. Plus, the Wimbledon Young Professionals Group, with an average of 70 young professionals attending each event from Merton and the surrounds. It is a fantastic opportunity for them to raise their profile and make connectionswith business leaders of the future. Find out more by emailinginfo@mertonchamber.co.uk

Find out more about Premier membership online mertonchamber.co.uk/join-merton-chamber

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HARTLEY FOWLER

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Hartley Fowler LLP are chartered accountants, registered auditors and tax advisers based in Wimbledon, Horsham and Brighton. Working with both businesses and individuals they help people find clarity and perspective and vision when it comes to their accounts.

The Wimbledon office is headed up by Julien Upson and Jonathan Askew who are both very well known in the town.

The firm have a personal approach to working with clients and get to know both the individuals and the businesses that they work with, providing more than just accountancy!

With the offices strategically spread alongside the A23/M23 they are able to look after clients all over the country.

Having witnessed the growth of the cloud market when it comes to accountancy the firm are very excited to be launching a new sub brand HFCloud this year – more info to follow….

Merton and the surrounding area is a vibrant and exciting place. Whilst being well placed for the City it still retains a village feel with business people taking the time to get to know and support one and other.

Why Merton?

For us being a Premier member required little thought. We are huge supporters of the Chamber and what they do. By being a Premier member it has helped with raising our profile even further, but aside from that we genuinely value our relationship with the Chamber.

Whilst we know we have a relationship manager, often the day to day running of the business gets in the way of being as proactive as we would like. The big bonus of the relationship manager is that they understand that and are able to support us in our goals by chasing and nudging us when appropriate!

Plans for the future – growth! Hartley Fowler have a great team and office right in the town centre which they are planning to grow. With the launch of their sub brand HFCloud this year they hope to increase their market share and work with lots more lovely clients!

Future plans...

To find out more about Hartley Fowler visit hartleyfowler.comor email info.ldn@hartleyfowler.com

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KOJJI

”“Kojji is an online marketplace web/app business

connecting local businesses, with local consumers, in real-time. With Kojji businesses can react in an instant, to any free inventory they may have and make an offer that reaches the locality, immediately.

Additionally, consumers can request for bids for their business through a reverse of the app, known as Talk-to-Kojji. This is another avenue through which businesses can gain additional revenue.

What does Kojji have planned for the future?

Find out more about Kojji online www.kojji.com or download the app on Apple Store and Google Play

“Raymond puts himself out to get those introductions to as many people as he can manage to introduce Kojji to. He knows the lie of the land and is connected very well in the community, and as such, that is a very useful connection for Kojji to have.”

Using Merton as a base, Kojji intends to expand intoLondon. “Merton Chamber would be a cornerstone relationship for us, and moving forward, helping us with relationships with Chamber of Commerce in other areas too.”

What are the benefits of a Relationship Manager to Kojji?

“I grew up in Merton and have lived here, since I was a boy. I have travelled far and wide, with my previous work as a marketing specialist, but remained connected to Merton, always.For a business, such as Kojji, Merton is a wonderful area, full of independent retailers, in all the verticals Kojji is relevant to - food and drink, personal services such as spas, hairdressers, beauticians etc.” - YoganYoganandan, Kojji Director

Benefits to Kojji of Premier membership have included raising our profile, making connections, understanding the Merton landscape better and building business relationships.

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GEM & CO

GEM & Co is a firm of Chartered Financial Planners who provide a comprehensive financial planning service to help clients live the life they have always dreamed of.

They work with clients to find out what is important to them and then they create smart financial strategies that deliver positive results. Their goal is for all clients to live their ‘happy ever after’!

They are the only Corporate Chartered Financial Planning and Accredited Financial Planning firm in Wimbledon. These accreditations are awarded to members of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI) and The Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) who have met, and continue to meet, the professional bodies’ code of ethics.

Their core values of putting clients at the heart of their business and always doing the right thing for them is what sets them apart. This is reflected not only through their business growth but most importantly, in their clients’ feedback and testimonials.

Why did GEM & Co base themselves in Merton?

“We have been longstanding members of Merton Chamber who have been supportive of our business development. Becoming a Premier member is a natural step for us as we continue to grow our business.

We will continue to utilise the Chamber’s extensive resources in particular, getting to know other local businesses in the area especially law and accountancy firms as our goal is to become the go-to financial planning firm for the local business community.”

What do GEM & Co get from their Premier Membership?

Although new to the Premier package, we have known our relationship manager Caroline Cook for many years now and we are excited to have her formally looking after us as a Premier member. Caroline knows our business extremely well and is perfectly placed to provide advice and support on any areas that we might need, for example recommending suitable training courses, helping us to make appropriate business connections or just generally being available to chat to.

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”“Although we’re a small local business we have a robust business plan that has seen our business grow exponentially over the years. We will be looking to attract more local clients who are executives, professionals and retirees and to forge more relationships with other professional firms in Wimbledon.

As we continue to grow our business we do so with the confidence that Merton Chamber will be on hand to support us with any business needs that we may have.”

How do GEM & Co see their futureprogessing and how can we help?

Find out more about GEM & Co online at gemfs.co.uk

Having gone to school and grown up in Merton, when it came to choosing their business location it was a natural choice for the partners to stay local.

Having their office right in the middle of Wimbledon’s business hub is a key advantage for GEM. They are right in the centre of a thriving business community which offers many opportunities for them to make connections and work with other professionals and obviously with potential new clients.

As an employer recruiting and retaining staff, Wimbledon offers a great lifestyle choice for those not wanting to commute into London. Wimbledon has many attractive benefits such as easy transport links and access to many shops, restaurants and cafes.

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