Bournemouth Chamber of Trade & Commerce

Bournemouth Chamber of Trade and Commerce

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Author: Bournemouth Chamber of Trade & Commerce

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85-year old Molly Rides to London in aid of Lewis-Manning Hospice Care!

An incredible 85-year old lady, name Molly Tarrant from Poole in Dorset has taken on a cycling challenge, named #MollyRidesTolondon, to raise funds for Lewis-Manning Hospice Care in Poole.

Molly is a resident at the Bourne View Nursing and Residential Care Home in Poole which is part of the Colten Care Group.

Molly’s challenge is even more incredible as she suffered a severe stroke in 2018 which resulted in the loss of use of both her legs, her right arm and she also sustained major memory loss.

Since moving to Bourne View Care Home in 2019 Molly has been carrying out prescribed exercises every day to rebuild the strength in her legs, regain muscle mass and generally help with her rehabilitation. Molly is still unable to walk, however, she’s been using the cycling machine nearly every day over the last couple of years.

Paul Wookey and Brian Ramsey from the Bourne View Care Home Companionship Team said, “When chatting to Molly we came up with the idea of setting a challenge, just as Captain Sir Tom Moore did, but with a difference, and on a bike!  Molly is aiming to cycle 100 miles, the same distance as Bournemouth to London, and raise money at the same time.

“Molly has started her challenge and we can’t tell you how much admiration we have for her. It’s helping her overcome her fears and the adversity of all that she has suffered, it’s incredible. Molly recently lost a couple of very close friends at the care home, not through COVID, but natural causes. Her mental state of mind has suffered because of this but the cycling challenge has really given her something to focus on. Molly has the most vibrant personality and this challenge is showing her enormous strength of character and we have immense respect for her.”

Molly said, “I’m really proud because I am raising money for other people and helping them. I’m hoping to raise £1,000 and I’ve raised £178 so far. I love the fact that I’m fundraising for such a brilliant charity, Lewis-Manning Hospice Care, which is based just down the road from where I’ve always lived.  I’ve heard about the brilliant work that they do for patients with life limiting illnesses and I wanted to do something myself and give something back.”

“So far I’ve cycled 9 miles and I’m cycling most days, with the occasional rest day. Mostly I cycle for about 10 minutes each day but last Saturday I cycled for 30 minutes. I felt good so just kept going, because I could!”

Lewis-Manning Hospice Care Chairman Jeremy Allin added, “What a wonderful lady Molly is, with so much grit and determination, very much to be admired. We are extremely grateful for Molly taking on this challenge and raising funds for her local hospice, it’s very much appreciated by everyone.”

To donate to #MollyRidesToLondon, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/mollyridestolondon and you will help Molly reach her £1,000 goal, as well as making a real different to local lives who desperately need hospice care.

Born in Poole in 1936, Molly married Frank in her early 20’s at Oakdale Church, Poole. Frank died in 2000. Molly has lived in Oakdale, Poole all her life and in the same house for 40 years. In her working life Molly worked as a delivery driver.

About Lewis-Manning Hospice Care

Lewis-Manning Hospice Care is a charity established 29 years ago, providing extraordinary care to patients and their families facing a life-limiting illness across Poole, Purbeck and East Dorset. We offer a range of free hospice care services aimed at helping people to live well through their illness, closer to home.

These include:
- Day hospices, virtual and in person
- Creative arts & wellbeing support
- Lymphoedema clinic for cancer patients
- Better breathing clinic
- Family bereavement & support

Every year we support nearly 500 local people and we 
develop new services, based on patient need and identified gaps in the area.

To do this we need to raise over £1.6m every year. Without these funds we could not exist.

Our important work increases people’s physical and social 
well-being, reduces isolation and loneliness, supports people to stay in their homes longer, and alleviates the huge 
pressures on family and carers.

Registered charity no. 1120193
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TC Group: Detailed guidance on VAT deferral scheme

HMRC has now provided further detailed guidance notes on your payment options for VAT that was deferred in 2020.

The original deferral scheme was introduced to assist VAT registered businesses so that they did not have to make a payment with their VAT return during the VAT period ending between 20th March and 30th June 2020.

The VAT deferral new payment scheme extends the original deferral and will be open from 23rd February up to and including 21st June 2021. You will need to use your Government Gateway access to join the scheme – we cannot do this for you through our agent account.

Anyone on the VAT Annual Accounting Scheme or the VAT Payment on Account Scheme will be invited to join the new payment scheme later in March 2021.

The new scheme lets your business pay its deferred VAT in equal instalments, interest-free; and choose the number of instalments, from two to eleven (depending on when you join).

It is important to note that in order to use the online service, businesses and sole traders registered for VAT must:

  • join the scheme yourself;
  • still have deferred VAT to pay;
  • be up to date with your VAT returns;
  • join by 21st June 2021;
  • pay the first instalment when you join; and
  • pay instalments by direct debit (if want to use the scheme but cannot pay by direct debit, there’s an alternative entry route for you).

If you join the scheme, you may still have a Time to Pay arrangement for other HMRC debts and outstanding tax (subject to acceptance).

Please call your usual TC Group contact if you require further assistance on 0330 088 7111.

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Love Seafood – Webinar ‘marketing masterclasses’ for seafood businesses

Seafish – as part of Love Seafood B2B activity – launches a series of three webinar ‘marketing masterclasses’ for seafood businesses.

Aimed at independent restaurants, fishmongers and fish and chip shops, the free-to-attend online marketing masterclasses are being delivered as part of Seafish/Love Seafood efforts to promote and support seafood consumption.

The webinars are designed to give independent business owners a chance to develop their marketing skills and knowledge – and will also provide attendees with an opportunity to learn how they can use the Love Seafood consumer brand as part of their own marketing and promotional activity.

The three webinars are:

  • Thursday 11 March – Maximising social media for business – Get insights on common social media queries and build knowledge on how to execute simple but effective social media strategies.

Event information https://www.seafish.org/about-us/events/marketing-masterclass-maximising-social-media-for-business

Event registration https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/marketing-masterclass-maximising-social-media-for-business-registration-141121737917

  • Thursday 18 March – An introduction to local search engine optimisation (SEO) – Learn how to find out what customers are searching for and how to make local SEO work for your business.

Event information https://www.seafish.org/about-us/events/marketing-masterclass-an-intro-to-local-search-engine-optimisation

Event registration https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/marketing-masterclass-an-intro-to-local-search-engine-optimisation-registration-141123222357

  • Monday 22 March – Restaurants responding to Covid-19 – Hear from two restaurant owners on how they successfully adapted to the challenges brought by Covid-19. Hosted by celebrity chef Mark Sargeant, and featuring Bob McCoubrey (Mourne Seafood Bar, Belfast) and Campbell Mickel (Eddie’s Seafood Market and Merienda Restaurant, Edinburgh).

Event information https://www.seafish.org/about-us/events/marketing-masterclass-restaurants-responding-to-covid-19

Event registration https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/marketing-masterclass-restaurants-responding-to-covid-19-registration-141162923103

For further Seafish news about the events – please visit https://www.seafish.org/about-us/news-blogs/webinar-marketing-masterclasses-for-seafood-businesses/

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A BCTC Breakfast Basket!

Wayne Batsford, using his own words, describes himself as a wedding specialist, business catering, party catering, and lockdown birthday celebration hero…

So, we were over the moon when we recently received this BCTC Breakfast Hamper from him as a new BCTC member with his Red Cherry Catering business. The contents of which were made from the finest Dorset ingredients and delivered right to our doorstep!

Catering for all celebrations and delivered straight to your home or workplace, we couldn’t have been made to feel any more special. Thank you Wayne and Team.

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Specialist Nurse Esmarié Jones joins Lewis-Manning Hospice Care

Esmarié Jones has joined Lewis-Manning Hospice Care as a Lymphoedema Nurse Specialist, based at the hospice at Longfleet Road in Poole.

She joins with a rich and varied nursing background, having trained and qualified in South Africa and has worked in a variety of roles in London and Dorset.  With a speciality in critical care, she was also a district nurse for many years.

Commenting on her new role, Esmarié said, “I thoroughly enjoy working within my local community and making a real difference to the lives of others, I love people!

“The Lymphoedema Clinic is often the one constant in a patient’s cancer journey. Our patients know that we can provide a safe environment, not only to treat their physical problems but also a listening ear to help with their mental wellbeing, in total confidence.  I am really looking forward to my role at Lewis-Manning Hospice Care and supporting our patients across East Dorset and Purbeck.”

Clare Gallie, CEO said, “During the current situation with COVID 19, we are even more aware of the support our Lymphoedema patients need and continue to offer telephone consultations and clinic appointments in a safe and controlled environment. Our patients know we are always there for them and they are at the centre of everything we do. I am very proud of all that we are achieving during these unprecedented times. We are delighted to welcome Esmarié on board, as she brings invaluable experience to her new role and is a great addition to our incredible team of staff.”

About Lewis-Manning Hospice Care

Lewis-Manning Hospice Care is a charity established 29 years ago, providing extraordinary care to patients and their families facing a life-limiting illness across Poole, Purbeck and East Dorset. We offer a range of free hospice care services aimed at helping people to live well through their illness, closer to home.
These include:
– Day hospices, virtual and in person
– Creative arts & wellbeing support
– Lymphoedema clinic for cancer patients
– Better breathing clinic
– Family bereavement & support
Every year we support nearly 500 local people and we develop new services, based on patient need and identified gaps in the area.
To do this we need to raise over £1.6m every year. Without these funds we could not exist.
Our important work increases people’s physical and social well-being, reduces isolation and loneliness, supports people to stay in their homes longer, and alleviates the huge pressures on family and carers.

Registered charity no. 1120193
For more information, check out https://lewis-manning.org.uk

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Taylorcocks: Construction Industry Domestic Reverse Charge to apply from 1st March 2021

Taylorcocks has reported that the Domestic Reverse Charge due to be introduced in October 2019 but was twice delayed due to Brexit and Coronavirus, but will now come in from 1st March.

The charge will apply to all VAT registered construction businesses in the UK and effectively moves the VAT liability from the supplier to the customer. It does not apply on supplies made to non-VAT registered customers or the end-user of the property, such as a business who uses the property in their business. It also does not apply to zero-rated supplies, activities not covered by CIS or supplies of staff or workers.

All VAT-registered subcontractors who are supplying building and construction services to a VAT registered contractor, who is CIS registered, will need to inform the contractor on their invoices that Reverse Charge applies and the need to account for the VAT under the reverse charge rules.

The subcontractor will not charge VAT on their invoice and therefore will only include the amount charged for their service in box 6 of their VAT return. This differs from the current position where the sub-contractor has to include the VAT on their invoice and account for this to HMRC in their VAT return.

The contractor receiving the construction service will have to account for VAT by including it in both box 1 & 4 of their VAT return, rather than simply processing the sub-contractors VAT invoice.
If you require any assistance with this, please contact your local partner at Taylorcocks or on 0330 088 7111.

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Dorset Rapid Community Testing

Public Health Dorset, on behalf of BCP Council and Dorset Council, is setting up a Dorset Community Rapid Testing Service. This will aim to offer weekly asymptomatic testing to employees of businesses, charities and voluntary organisations (<250 people) and the self-employed across Dorset who cannot work from home due to the nature of their role.

One in three people who have Covid-19 show no symptoms and can therefore spread it without knowing.

To qualify for testing, your business must either provide an essential service or support the vulnerable.

This service is for people who don’t already have access to asymptomatic testing. If your organisation wants access to the rapid testing service you must register its interest online

Find out more here.

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Apply for a Kickstart Scheme grant

If you are an employer looking to create job placements for young people, you can apply for funding as part of the Kickstart Scheme. You no longer need a minimum of 30 job placements to apply and  can spread the start date of the placements up until end December 2021.

Apply online or get help from a Kickstart Gateway such as Dorset Chamber of Commerce.

If you need help with the Kickstart Scheme process, contact your local Kickstart Scheme contacts. For promotional materials, check out theKickstart Scheme employer guide.

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Cabs 4 Jabs from PRC Streamline Taxis

PRC Streamline Taxis  are currently working  with the local community to raise funds to provide over 1000 free cab rides for those in the  Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch, Wimborne, and Ferndown areas who cannot afford to pay to travel for their Covid – 19 vaccinations.

Some people are concerned about using public transport, exposing themselves to more people than they would in a taxi so we want to make it safer for those who are more vulnerable and the elderly to travel alone or with one other person from their household or bubble. Public Health Dorset would rather they didn’t ask neighbours, not in their bubble, for lifts as this might also spread the virus. We already provide discounted fares for vaccination trips but having seen Cabs4Jabs on the TV, thought that we should go the extra mile and get involved.

PRC Streamline are not in a position to offer this service for free as drivers are already working on a much lower income due to the pandemic and the reduction in work. We are working closely with many of the vaccination centres in the BCP area and beyond so  please get in touch  as soon as you receive your Covid appointment.

We’d like to thank those who have donated and would be grateful if you can all share the link and spread the word to others who can donate and support this initiative.

We are working closely with many of the vaccination centres in the BCP area and beyond so  please get in touch  as soon as you receive your Covid appointment.

If you want to book a free cab to get to your Covid Appointment please call  01202 37 37 37. You’ll need to confirm your appointment time and location please.

PRC Streamline Cabs for Jabs fundraising team will only use your donation to pay for taxi fares for local older and vulnerable residents who require assistance getting to and from their Covid vaccination appointment only.

Donate here: Go Fund Me Cab 4 Jabs

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New Investor P​olling system enables investors to interact and privately register interest

Dorset Business Angels (DBA) held their first online quarterly pitch event in 2021, attracting a record number of some 59 attendees registered and 30 DBA members present. It also saw the introduction of a new polling system.

5 entrepreneurs pitched to the savvy investors and partners. Pitches were followed by a Q & A session, whereby would- be investors could further interrogate the entrepreneurs on their business, ideas and potential opportunities and markets. Questions came from across the board.

A new polling system was then introduced in which attendees were asked to rate the presentation that they had just heard and also to register their interest to find out further information about the pitch and carry out due diligence on the investment opportunity.

DBA member Frank Guinn who chaired the event said, “The polling proved particularly impactful as it provided us with immediate levels of investor interest.  Coincidently, our investor interest was at an all- time high, for the 2nd consecutive pitch event, and we felt that the anonymous system allowed attendees the privacy to express their intentions to get involved.  21 expressions of interest were shown in total at our event.

“The investor feedback on the presentations also provided invaluable data to be fed back to the entrepreneurs presenting.”

Business pitching included:

·       A business in the Advanced composite materials sector, with aims to increase the capabilities of the world’s most demanding products through the application of advanced materials and manufacturing techniques. In revenue and with an expanding customer base, the Company is currently focussing on the delivery of key contracts in the automotive, electrification, electric machines, defence, and aerospace sectors.  Investors were particularly impressed by the list of businesses and sectors that were being supported – Airbus, Safran and Electric Motors & Generators were name dropped, to name a few. The ambition of ‘Sustainability with Enhanced Capability’ was shared and the impressive pitch resulted in an extremely positive 9 expressions of interest.

·       A provider of online education seized the moment and grabbed investor attention, with 4 expressions of interest shown. This currently ‘hot topic’ business stated that it focuses on life skills that promote social and emotional wellbeing and dynamic thinking with an aim is to help young people to thrive in life, both at home and in their future work-places. By complementing the traditional academic education with live, interactive online and offline courses for 5-13 year-olds, they help develop young people’s skills in leadership, confidence, resilience and creative problem solving.

They shared their vision to be a global leader in developing life skills, with the goal of transforming the lives of at least a million young people. They backed up their vision by advising that ‘now, more than ever, the world needs people with the empathy, resilience and confidence to thrive.’

Discussing the size of the opportunity, they explained that the UK private tuition market is worth £2bn and the global private tuition market £75bn, with a forecast that the global private tuition market would be worth £139bn by 2026.

·       A Customer Data Processing software business which offers its clients a platform that immediately creates a seamless customer experience easily and at scale. Formed 5 years ago with the founder’s own money, the Company is now employing AI techniques to further enhance the efficiency of their model, to the satisfaction of their growing client base.

It claims to view complete customer profiles, improve and enrich data, understand customers and develop strategies to help the business grow, activate the date across all customer touch points and to measure the success and effectiveness of strategies. Currently working with Crowdcube, they shared the impressive testimonial from Crowdcube co-founder and CMO Luke Lang who said, “Crowdcube literally wouldn’t be where it is today without Distil.”  5 expressions of investor interest were shown.

·       A company with a range of healthy drinks, containing all the nutrients necessary to produce many tasty options, without the sugar and artificial ingredients usually found in traditional soft drinks. Their ‘health pod’ modules offer users the facility to use their home coffee machines to provide a quick and easy way to get these nutrients into a cold press juice or smoothy for around 70p per unit. UK distribution is now ramping up with the product available in 5 supermarket chains and the Company is distributing their range door-to-door in over 50 countries. The product launches in the US in January.

The passionate founder of the business shared the experience of his team, which includes 4 investor directors with experience ranging from entry and exit for FMCG brands, to former directors of investment banks.  He also told investors that he is mentored by Stephen Hann, MD at Graze. Clients gained have included John Lewis, Morrisons, Holland & Barret, Costco and David Lloyd Clubs. 2 expressions of interest were shown.

·       A pre-launch Fintech Investor Analysis SaaS company that has developed a platform that tracks the data performance of private, early-stage companies and gathers operational metrics. The platform is now capable of profiling the investment readiness and business potential of start-ups and early revenue companies extremely well. In the present pre-launch phase, the Company has 12 customers paying monthly recurring revenues and has generated 1300 worldwide data profiles that help with the investment analysis and business decision making of its current users, namely, angel investors, accelerators, funds, support organisations and consultants.  1 expression of interest was received.

Roger Wareham, Partner at DBA Sponsors Saffery Champness advised, “It was great to see such a wide range of businesses pitching and pleasing that there is still positive growth and opportunities coming through. It was also really encouraging to see the level of interest and potential appetite from the investors attending.”

DBA was formed in 2013 with the aim to bring investors and entrepreneurs together to accelerate the growth of early stage businesses. DBA provides quality, private equity investment opportunities to local high net worth (HNW) and sophisticated investors (SI).

Four times a year companies are invited to attend an event at which they pitch their business to the savvy Angels in a Dragon’s Den type scenario. Angel investment might come from a single investor or it could be 2 or 3 Angels pooling funds together to support a company. Any investments are in the form of an equity investment and not a debtor’s loan. Investments are made across all sectors.

DBA is sponsored by Saffery Champness Accountants, Ellis Jones Solicitors and Investec Wealth and Investment. To find out more about Dorset Business Angels visit  www.dorsetbusinessangels.co.uk