portfolio nov/dec 2014

FREE

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2014

The Region’s largest property publication

CONTEMPORARY COOLThe best new homes around the City

WINTER SHOPPINGGift ideas for the home

STAR STRUCKInterviews with Alan Sugar and Davina McCall

WARM UP INSIDEWith seasonal decorations

CONTACT US FOR A NO OBLIGATION FINANCIAL COMPARISON REPORT ON: 01273 202244

INSIDENews

Calendar: What’s going on in November & December

Up My Street: Rupert Verrell from Key Link Assets

The Winter Collection: Cool & contemporary

Howlett Clarke: Keeping out of court

Talk Money: Orphan clients

New Homes: Special feature

Interiors: 10 fabulous pages of how to cosy up your home this winter and inspired shopping ideas

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For advertising and general enquiries contact

Lynne Edwards: 07931 537588

[email protected]

All rights reserved. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. The publisher cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions relating to advertising or editorial. The publisher reserves the right to change or amend any competitions or prizes offered. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior written consent from the publisher. No responsibility is taken for unsolicited materials or the return of these materials whilst in transit.

Cover: © Unique Home Stays www.uniquehomestays.com +44 (0) 1637 881183

Published by:

Helping you find your perfect Hove propertyMishon Welton, 94 Church Road, Hove, East Sussex BN3 2EB

LAWRENCE ROAD, HOVE - GUIDE PRICE £900,000 TO £925,000

A substantial and beautifully appointed, bay fronted Edwardian residence situated in a particularly pleasant and favoured location, close to the Richardson Road shops. The house itself, is a handsome property, with a substantial tiled bay and rendered elevations, giving a sense of the scale and proportions internally. The spacious reception hallway, gives way to a large sunny, south facing living room with a deep impressive bay and a fine feature fireplace. This is a lovely room, with high ceilings and decorative ceiling mouldings, which set the tone of the general character of the property. Indeed the original character of the period, is successfully combined, with the comforts of modern living, no more so, than in the expansive and beautifully fitted kitchen/breakfast room, which runs across the rear of the house and opens directly on to the attractively landscaped rear garden. This is a real feature and focal point of the house and is a lovely light space, where the family can gather for meals or entertaining. A separate reception room, increases the flexibility and comfort of the ground floor living space and is indeed currently configured as a fifth double bedroom. A banister staircase leads to a spacious split level landing from which 4 generously sized bedrooms can be found, together with a large modern bathroom and a separate shower room. Externally, there is a delightful, attractively landscaped rear garden to complete this superb family property.

01273 778877 • mishonwelton.com

DOWNSIDE, HOVE - £1,850,000

A simply stunning, detached contemporary style residence, of substantial proportions, providing light and beautifully presented living space, occupying an enviable location on the south side of Downside, with magnificent, panoramic views over the surrounding area towards the sea. The grey block paved driveway and wide plot on which the house sits, enhance the sense that you are viewing a stylish landmark property. Internally, the house is beautifully presented throughout, with the vast living space enjoying a lovely bright and airy feel, with most principal rooms taking in the magnificent views enjoyed from the rear. The living areas follow the open plan theme, however are very comfortable and have distinct areas or separate rooms, providing varied options for family living. The kitchen/breakfast room is extensively fitted with an expansive range of quality integrated appliances. The first floor features a galleried landing with glass bulastrading from which all of the bedrooms are accessed, together with the luxuriously appointed bathrooms. The master suite, encompasses some truly spectacular views and also opens onto a large sun balcony. Externally, the huge ground floor sun terrace, with glass and stainless steel surrounds, takes full advantage of the southerly aspect and views. Steps lead down pass a water feature, to the large lawned gardens. This is a remarkable house of significant size and quality and appointments to view are very strongly recommended to fully appreciate this fine home.

Helping you find your perfect Hove propertyMishon Welton, 94 Church Road, Hove, East Sussex BN3 2EB

DYKE ROAD, HOVE - £1,100,000

A substantial, semi detached period house of considerable character together with a separate one bedroom apartment, offering considerable scope for modernisation and improvement and standing in large mature gardens, in a prominent corner position. The ground floor reception rooms are all light, large and well proportioned and retain many original features characteristic of the period, including a wealth of wall and ceiling mouldings and panellings with exposed timber floors. A central staircase leads to the first floor where there a four generously sized bedrooms, with the rear facing rooms enjoying fine views over the garden and surrounding area. Externally, the house sits in lovely large mature gardens, with a sunny southerly aspect and also offer the scope for further enlargement or expansion of the living space, subject of course to the relevant consents. Another obvious advantage offered with the property, is the inclusion of a superb, modern one bedroom apartment, completely self contained, and with it’s own roof terrace, which enjoys stunning elevated views over the surrounding area. Alternatively, the flat offers a superb income producing opportunity perhaps to relieve those eye watering mortgage repayments! Location wise, Dyke Road is one of the best. Centrally located within good proximity of the City centre.

01273 778877 • mishonwelton.com

AMESBURY CRESCENT, HOVE - £1,000,000

A substantial, detached family home, providing spacious accommodation over three floors, in a very favoured New Church Road location, with a lovely open aspect at the rear over Davis Park. A solid, brick built detached bow fronted home of character which as you go inside, offers huge family living space. The spacious reception hallway, with it’s high ceilings, features a solid oak staircase leading to the first floor and offers a traditional layout, with three reception rooms. The large, living room is particularly impressive, with its bow windows, feature fireplace and lovely twin oriel windows with leaded light coloured glass detail. An expansive, separate dining room again with a fireplace, leads through into a conservatory and the additional family/tv room. A good sized kitchen breakfast room, with island unit and triple folding doors opening onto the rear garden, completes the exceptional ground floor living area. The first floor features a spacious split level landing with a large, coloured glass, leaded light window overlooking the front. On this floor alone there are four double bedrooms, with the main master suite, offering a huge bow fronted bedroom, and large en-suite shower/bathroom. This large property, has also been expanded into the roof space to include two further bedrooms and an additional bathroom.

Downs Valley Road, Woodingdean £465,000 FREEHOLD

An immaculately presented, extended detached property

Downs Valley Road is a popular residential road in the heart of Woodingdean. Bus routes offer easy access to Brighton City Centre and there are many

local shops nearby in Warren Road and Warren Avenue. This immaculately presented property offers excellent family accommodation with four bedrooms,

spacious kitchen/dining room, 21ft lounge and a beautiful 100ft easterly facing rear garden.

The property also benefits from ample parking and a double garage.

Viewing highly recommended. Energy Rating D55.

Maslen Estate Agents

62-64 Warren Road Woodingdean Brighton BN2 6BA t:01273 278866 e:[email protected]

m a s l e n . c o . u k

L E W E S R O A D . W O O D I N G D E A N . H O V E . F I V E W A Y S

Maslen_Downs Valley Road_Layout 1 28/10/2014 17:50 Page 1

PORTFOLIO 11

NEWS

NEWSIt is said that the Auction Room is the true measure of what is

happening in the property market so, the message from the recent

Austin Gray Auction is that there are plenty of buyers and prices are

stabilising. The results for certain lots were well above expectations

and the overall total of over £2.7m with an 87% success rate was

very impressive.

A diverse selection of residential and commercial properties from

all over Sussex was offered, including this unique brick-built former

crypt in a cemetery. Planning permission allowed use as an office

and /or artisan use, and the Arundel property sold for £28,000.

Nick Muston, head of Austin Gray Auctions, said: “We were amazed and extremely pleased with the turnout and the

final result. It also threw up a completely different crop of buyers from all walks of life. We are now working towards

the next auction, which will be on the 20th of November in Hove.”You can contact Nick Muston from Austin Gray Auction for a valuation. For more information on the auctions please call 01273 201980 or visit www.austingray.co.uk

There’s living on a cliff edge, and there’s actually living on a cliff edge. This five

storey modular home literally clings to the side of a cliff. The Cliff House concept

by Australian modular-building experts Modcsape is a response to the challenge

of designing for extreme parcels of coastal land in Australia. Inspired by the way

barnacles cling to the hull of a ship, a concept was developed for a modular home

to hang off the side of a cliff as opposed to sitting on top of it. The home is visualised

as a natural extension of the cliff face rather than an addition to the landscape,

creating an absolute connection with its surroundings. www.modscape.com.au

Illustrator Phil Dobson specialises in decorative maps and views and has produced a

limited edition print of his Brighton map, also available in W H Smith as a jigsaw.

We have a copy of the brilliant Brighton map to give away to one lucky reader!

Just email [email protected] with Brighton Map in the

subject line to have a chance to win one.

Large limited edition prints are available framed from the Laughing Dog Gallery at

Brighton Marina priced at £125. Smaller A2 prints (unframed) are also available

from The Open Studios, 168 King’s Road Arches, Brighton for £30 or directly from

Phil at www.magicpen.co.uk

CRYPT SELLS FOR £28,000!

HOUSE ON CLIFF?

COMPETITION TIME: WIN BRIGHTON!

Managing Director: Lynne Edwards07931 537 588 • [email protected]

Production Editor: Fiona [email protected]

Designer: Sally [email protected]

Interiors Editor: Tara de la [email protected]

Business Editor: Maarten Hoffmann07966 244 046 • [email protected]

Beyond your expectationswww.hamptons.co.uk

Hamptons International Estate Agents HoveSales. 01273 796 061 | Lettings. 01273 796 063

Roedean crescent, Roedean - £1,500,000 FreeholdSix bedroom, Four reception room detached house with beautiful views. EPC C

Somerhill Avenue, Hove OIEO £1,500,000Six/Seven bedroom detached house with south facing garden. EPC D

Kings Gardens, Hove - OIEO £999,999Four bedroom first floor apartment with stunning sea views. EPC N/A

Shirley Drive, Hove £825,000Four bedroom detached house in need of modernisation. EPC E

NEWS

NEWS

PORTFOLIOOUT 2ND JANUARY, 2015PICK UP YOUR FREE ISSUE

‘PORTFOLIO - Raising the bar for property and business’

A new portal attempting to speed up and improve the transparency of conveyancing may eventually allow agents to check on the progress of

individual sales and chains. The portal, called Veyo, is a joint venture between the Law Society and IT firm Mastek UK. The first release of the

system, at the end of March, will be restricted to conveyancers and their buyer and seller clients. If all the conveyancers in a chain join the

system, it means progress can be monitored on where delays are located. Automatic ‘case management’ systems will be set by the system,

meaning it will identify what the next legal steps are in a chain and who needs to take them. Information will be transparent for conveyancers

and their direct clients, but all conveyancers, sellers and buyers elsewhere in the chain will have some level of access to monitor progress

elsewhere in the chain whilst maintaining appropriate levels of confidentiality.

Read more about these stories and more at www.estateageenttoday.co.uk

Knight Frank is forecasting that even the uncertainty of the general election will not stop the mainstream housing market rising next year, with

prices forecast to increase on average by 3.5 per cent. Rents will rise across the UK too, by an average of 2.2 per cent next year. Over the long-

term, prices will appreciate 18.2 per cent over the five years to the end of 2019.

“This rising appetite for property comes against the continuing shortage of new housing stock in the UK, putting strong upward pressure on

prices in some areas” says the firm’s head of UK research, Grainne Gilmore.

Construction activity has picked up markedly over the last year, but the Knight Frank forecast states that the large shortfall in the delivery of new

homes in the coming years will maintain price levels.

When we were invited to the

recent James Taylor concert at

a packed Brighton Centre, we

had some early reservations.

Would our idol from the

‘70s/’80s really be as good as our memories and as his

prolific recordings. We should not have worried. The show

was amazing, and the man still ‘has it’ in abundance. All

the familiar tunes were there, like Sweet Baby James,

and You Got A Friend, but he also performed some great

material from his new, as yet untitled, album. The whole

performance was polished, from the on-stage light display

to the ‘interval’, during which James never left the stage,

preferring instead to sign autographs and chat to the front-

row fans. Now that’s CLASS. Lynne Edwards

Local showroom wins Bang & Olufsen’s impressive retailer award thanks to

going the extra mile in 2013

Bang & Olufsen of Brighton & Hove has been confirmed as the 2013-2014

winner for the prestigious ‘Dealer of the Year’ award for the UK & Ireland.

Michael Sparkes, Dealer Principal of Bang & Olufsen of Brighton & Hove: “We

are thrilled to have won this esteemed award, especially in the face of tough

competition across the UK. I am delighted that myself and the team at Bang

& Olufsen of Brighton & Hove have over the last two and a half years been

recognised for all of the dedication and hard work we have put into the business

to make sure all of our customers get the very best advice and customer service.

In order to win this award, we must maintain a high standard at all times and it

is a credit to the team that we triumphed in 2013.”

Andrew Macer, Head of Sales for UK & Ireland - Bang & Olufsen UK;

“We are incredibly proud of Brighton & Hove for winning this award that

recognises excellence and integrity to the brand ideals, Michael Sparkes and his

team are a credit to Bang & Olufsen, and have been instrumental in pushing the

company forward in the UK.”

www.bang-olufsen.com/brighton-hove

NEW PORTAL FOR CONVEYANCING INFORMATION

AGENT GIVES UPBEAT 2015 FORECAST

REVIEW: JAMES TAYLOR, BRIGHTON CENTRE, OCTOBER 6th

BANG & OLUFSEN OF BRIGHTON & HOVE WINS THE UK DEALER OF THE YEAR AWARD 2013 - 2014

18 PORTFOLIO

CALENDAR of events

November & DecemberOUR PICK OF WINTER EVENTS, CHRISTMAS SHOWS, FESTIVALS, ICE SKATING AND MORE

The John Wilson Orchestra plus special guests return with a brand new show celebrating the works of Cole Porter. ‘Cole Porter In Hollywood’ features songs, including I’ve Got You Under My Skin, Night & Day and Let’s Do It, in the lush arrangements originally written for Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland and Peggy Lee, as well as numbers from movies including Anything Goes, High Society and Can-Can. Dome Concert Hall, Brighton, 7.30pm. www.brightondome.org

Twice a year artists and makers open their houses and studios, providing art lovers the chance to browse and buy the original artwork directly from the artist. With a focus on quality and value for money, the Artists’ Open Houses festival aims to bring a dynamic mix of arts and crafts to the widest possible audience, providing visitors and viewers with engaging and inspiring experiences.Visitors can expect to see a wide range of art including jewellery, ceramics and textiles, paintings, sculpture, printmaking, photography and many other media whilst also having the opportunity to chat directly with the artists. The Artists’ Open Houses festival is free for visitors and open to everyone.The twice-yearly festival runs during the Brighton Festival in May and in the run-up to Christmas in December.For the full programme of houses and to download a brochure visit www.aoh.org.uk

Over 120 innovative and original makers and designers show and sell their work directly to the public. Beautiful and unique jewellery, textiles, glass, ceramics, furniture and much more across all prices brackets, means the fair provides something for everyone’s taste and budget. There is a café to take refreshment and relax. Brighton Corn Exchange. For full details visit www.brighton-made.co.uk

10 NovemberJohn Wilson & The John

Wilson Orchestra: Cole

Porter In Hollywood

10 NovemberArtists’ Open Houses Christmas Festival

21 - 23 November MADE Brighton: The Design and Craft Fair

The most beautiful rink in the South East, Brighton’s Royal Pavilion, is open to the public this season from Nov 8th, 2014 – Jan 18th, 2015. Stunning, twinkly, romantic, child-friendly... all topped off with beautiful food in the rinkside bar and restaurant.For full details, times and prices visit www.royalpavilionicerink.co.uk

Nov 8 - Jan 18Royal Pavilion

Ice Rink

PORTFOLIO 19

CALENDAR of events

Following the massive success of Cinderella, popular TV presenter Stephen Mulhern, who was such a hit in last year’s show, returns in the spectacular family pantomime Sleeping Beauty.Starring alongside Stephen will be hilarious impressionist Hilary O’Neil, children’s favourite Cat Sandion (CBeebies) and the return of the two Ugly Sisters from last year, Ian Smith (King Izznit) and Michael Batchelor (Nurse Nellie).

Expect all the ingredients of a festive family treat: lots of glamour, romance, comedy, song, audience participation and stunning special effects. There’s even a fire-breathing dragon!The Hawth, Crawley. For full details, times and prices visit www.parkwoodtheatres.co.uk

As heard recently on BBC Radio 4’s John Shuttleworth’s Lounge Music:Versatile singer/organist John Shuttleworth wants to share fond memories of his favourite past weekends. However, a typo on the poster means John is obliged to spend the evening paying homage to his next-door neighbour and sole agent, the diminutive Ken Worthington. He’ll probably end up doing both! In this brand-new show, Shuttleworth (“Sheffield’s funniest man”, The Times) will perform classic tunes, such as Two Margarines and I Can’t Go Back To Savoury Now, as well as new ditties like Bitter Sweet Memories and Relatives In Rotherham. Corn Exchange, Brighton, 7.30pm. www.brightondome.org

The Brighton Santa Dash raises money for Passing it On, a charity which helps to build schools in Africa. This is an unmissable opportunity to don a Santa suit, run five kilometers, raise some money, and in doing so, put a few more smiles on faces this Christmas The entry fee of £16.50 includes your very own Santa Suit – and medal! The Santa Run Start / Finish line is by the Peace statue opposite Adelaide Crescent. The course heads west along the Esplanade to Hove Lagoon and back.Brighton seafront,10.30am. www.santadashbrighton.co.uk

The seventh annual Snowman Spectacular Fundraising Ball is organised by, and in support of, Chestnut Tree House, the children’s hospice for Sussex.During the last six years, the Snowman Spectacular Ball has become one of the top charity fundraising events on the Sussex calendar. The event promises to be an exclusive, glittering, glamorous evening of music and dancing. Entertaining and uplifting, this will be an evening you will never forget.For full details and booking information visit www.thesnowmanspectacular.org.uk

12 Dec - 4 JanSleeping Beauty

30 NovemberJohn Shuttleworth in

A Wee Ken To Remember

13 DecemberSanta Dash

6 December Snowman

Spectacular

Fundraising Ball

16 Dec - 5 Jan: One Man Two Guvnors

The National Theatre’s award-winning comedy, directed by Nicholas Hytner, comes to Theatre Royal, Brighton for a three-week run this Christmas. This five-star production, set in Brighton in the 1960s, tells the story of Francis Henshall, who, fired from his skiffle band, becomes minder to Roscoe Crabbe. But Roscoe is really Rachel posing as her own dead brother, who has been killed by her boyfriend, Stanley Stubbers. Francis spots the chance of an extra meal ticket and takes a job with one Stanley Stubbers, but to prevent discovery he must keep his two guvnors apart. It has been described as a glorious celebration of British comedy, a unique, laugh-out-loud mix of satire, songs, slapstick and glittering one-liners. Now seen by over one million people worldwide, this internationally-acclaimed smash hit, has been hailed as ‘the funniest show on the planet’ by The Daily Mail.Theatre Royal, Brighton. For full details, times and prices visit www.atgtickets.com

PORTFOLIO 25

BEAUTIFUL homes

LIGHT & SPACIOUS

An attractive and individual detached family home of

considerable character, occupying an impressive, slightly

elevated, position, in a first class residential location with

truly stunning views over the surrounding area to the sea. The

property offers light and spacious living accommodation and stands

in lovely, well-established gardens. This is a most striking property,

enhanced further by the elevated setting it enjoys. The spacious

entrance hall, with exposed herringbone oak floors, has a lovely

staircase leading to the first floor, with a half landing enjoying

wonderful views across the surrounding area to the sea. There are

two main reception rooms, together with a study, and it is considered

that the dining room and kitchen could be combined to create a

superb open space leading to the sunny, mature rear garden. An

early internal viewing is very highly recommended to fully appreciate

this individual home, which occupies one of the finest residential

roads in the city.

Tongdean Avenue Hove BN3 6TLPrice: OIEO £950,000 Bedrooms: 4Bathrooms: 2Extras: Sought-after location; Kitchen/breakfast room; StudyBest Bits: Elevated position; Sea views; Sunny, mature rear garden

Fine & Country52 Church Road, Hove, BN3 2FNTel: 01273 739911www.brightonandhove.fineandcountry.co.uk

26 PORTFOLIO

52 Church Road Hove, BN3 2FN • Tel 01273 778844113 St. Georges Road, Brighton BN2 1EA • Tel 01273 685111 10 Station Road, Portslade BN41 1GA • Tel 01273 383830

Cambridge Road, Hove - £525,000Sawyer & Co are delighted to offer this quite superb maisonette occupying the top two floors of this attractive bay fronted period building. The property has undergone extensive modernisation throughout including the addition of a loft conversion creating a unique spacious property in this sought after central location. Positioned towards the top of this tree lined road, offering immediate access to the popular Western Road shops and restaurants along with Brighton & Hove seafront close by. The property itself has beautiful modern fittings whilst retaining it’s period charm.There is ample natural light throughout plus far reaching root top views across Brighton & Hove towards the sea. EPC: C

The Drive, Hove - £415,000A beautiful raised ground floor flat is ideally situated in this highly sought after central location close to the seafront, various shopping facilities, restaurants, cafes , bars etc in Church Road and Hove mainline railway station. There is a real sense of grandeur and period charm with the large windows, high ceilings and original coving. There is the added benefit of a share in the freehold and a communal garden at the rear. The apartment has a large sitting room, two double bedrooms, spacious bathroom and separate kitchen. Viewing highly recommended.

www.sawyerandco.co.uk

Hove Office 01273 778844

Hove Office 01273 778844

Shelldale Road, Portslade - O.I.R.O £230,000Spacious and well proportioned 2-bedroom maisonette in South Portslade. On the raised ground and first floor of a Victorian mid terrace, this light filled maisonette has been completely modernised and updated over the last few years. Mainly neutral with a hint of colour in its decor there are occasional bold splashes too. Offering the same size floor space of a two-bedroom house this contemporary home also comes with a share of the freehold. EPC: D

Stepney Court, Brighton - £390,000Stepney Court is a superb duplex apartment with superb sun terrace situated within walking distance of Brighton mainline railway station and also offering easy access to all areas of the vibrant city centre. Stepney Court is situated within the sought after New England Quarter development with almost immediate access to shopping facilities. The apartment has a spacious 21’ x 18’1” open plan living room/kitchen which has access to the dining room/bedroom three which in turn opens on to the sun terrace. There is also a family bathroom on this level. Upstairs there are two double bedrooms, en-suite to master and an additional balcony. Viewing recommended. EPC: E

www.sawyerandco.co.uk

Brighton office now

open

Brighton Office 01273 685111

Portslade Office 01273 383830

Fine & Country 52 Church Road, Hove BN3 2FN Tel: +44 (0)1273 739911

Tongdean Avenue, Brighton EPC: E

Hove Park Road, Hove EPC: D

Tel: 01273 739911

Tel: 01273 739911

O.I.E.O £950,000

£1,000,000

An attractive detached family home of considerable character, occupying a slightly elevated position, with truly stunning views. The property offers lovely light and spacious living accommodation and stands in well established gardens. The spacious entrance hall with exposed herringbone oak floors, has a lovely staircase leading to the first floor, with a half landing enjoying views across to the sea. There are two main reception rooms, together with a study. There is a dining room and kitchen that could be combined, to create a superb open space. An early viewing is highly recommended to fully appreciate this individual home.

This spacious family home exudes a sense of calm and assurance in its grandeur with a seemingly effortless combination of 1930s heritage and modern styling within its well-proportioned rooms. Located on a quiet road of individually designed homes in a leafy suburb between Hove Park and Dyke Road, there are distant sea views from one of the front bedrooms. Comprising of, four bedrooms, two reception rooms, and a bespoke wine cellar, in a sought after location. Viewing recommended.

in association with Sawyer & Co

PORTFOLIO 29

Key Link Assets Ltd, www.keylinkassets.co.uk

RUPERT VERRELL IS A PARTNER IN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT AND INVESTMENT COMPANY, KEY LINK ASSETS, SPECIALISTS IN SOURCING RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES AND PROJECTS IN LONDON AND THE SOUTH EAST

WHERE DO YOU LIVE?

I live in Cumberland Road, in Preston Village, close

to Preston Park. The area is central for access to

Brighton city centre, has easy access to a mainline

railway station and a direct route to London. I am

only a few minutes’ walk from Preston Park, where

I play tennis. Hove Park is only 5 minutes away. I am

also very close to Withdean Gym and stadium.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED AND WORKED IN

BRIGHTON?

Due to the nature of my work, I have lived in all

areas of Brighton & Hove over the years. I bought

my first flat near Preston Park 18 years ago, so it’s

nice to find myself back here all these years later.

I also grew up in this area and went to the local

schools.

DESCRIBE YOUR HOUSE

My property is a period four bedroom house. I

have recently refurbished the house throughout.

The house has a spacious open-plan ground floor

which allows my daughter plenty of space to enjoy.

One of its best features is the bi-fold doors leading

from the kitchen to the rear garden. This provides a

friendly sociable space for entertaining friends and

family. I have quite a simple garden, accessed via

full width bi-fold doors leading onto a decked area

with inset lighting, a lawn, and some architectural

trees.

WHERE DO YOU SHOP LOCALLY?

There is a fantastic local deli called Good Stock

Deli, they do amazing Raw juices: Carrot, Orange

and Ginger being my favorite. There is a boutique

furniture shop in Osborne Road called Design

Vintage which has an eclectic mix of vintage and

modern furniture. I remember that when we were

kids we used to buy our penny sweets there when it

was previously a sweet shop. For food I shop at the

new Waitrose in Hove.

BEING IN THE RENOVATION BUSINESS

PRESUMABLY YOU HAVE MADE MODIFICATIONS

AND IMPROVEMENTS TO YOUR PROPERTY

I recently renovated the house from top to bottom.

The property was previously arranged as two flats

and had not had any work done for at least 30 years

so I spent 3 months sympathetically restoring the

house back into a home. I wanted the ground floor

to be open plan so I removed the walls between

the living room, dining room, study and kitchen,

giving the house a great feeling of space. There

are certain companies that I always use for my

projects; whether it be a large development, new

build projects or renovations. They are Turner

Associates – John Turner for architectural work.

Dowsett Mayhew, Pierre Dowsett for planning

consultancy and Regal Construction for building and

renovations. And for the kitchens and bathrooms I

use Parker Bathrooms and Kitchens at Seven Dials.

WHICH OTHER AREAS OF THE CITY WOULD YOU

LIKE TO LIVE IN?

I am happy living in the Preston Park area, although

over the years I have had some interesting

properties. I enjoyed living in Sussex Square, Kemp

Town where I had a lovely first floor mansion flat.

And the other quite unique property was a very old

coach house on Dyke Road Avenue.

WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE IF YOU WERE IN

CHARGE OF THE COUNCIL?

I would sack all traffic wardens!!!

DO YOU ENTERTAIN AT HOME? AND WHERE DO

YOU EAT OUT LOCALLY?

I love to cook and entertain at home. My favorite

restaurants in Brighton are a Vietnamese street

food restaurant, Pho, and Brighton’s iconic

vegetarian restaurant, Terre a Terre. And a hidden

gem called Uni Thai, which is essentially a Thai

supermarket with a small café serving amazing

Noodle soups.

WE KNOW YOU LIKE TO PLAY GOLF. WHAT OTHER

SPORTS DO YOU PURSUE LOCALLY?

I’ve just taken up tennis after many years of not

playing.

IF YOU HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN, WHERE DO YOU

TAKE THEM?

I have a one-year-old daughter called Star, who

loves swimming. She also likes a day out at the

farm.

WHERE DO YOU ALWAYS TAKE VISITORS?

The beach. And good restaurants.

DO YOU EVER HANKER TO LIVE SOMEWHERE ELSE

IN THE WORLD?

My business partner Greg Martis and myself have

a lovely place in Spain and I try to get down there

once a month.

UP MY STREET......WE SPEAK TO RUPERT VERRELL ABOUT WHERE HE LIVES AND WHY HE LOVES IT

30 PORTFOLIO

THE collection

THEWINTERCOLLECTIONComing home in winter to a warm, cosy and comfortable home is a luxurious pleasure. Our choice of beautiful homes for sale this month features cool, contemporary homes we would love to come home to...

This modern four bedroom detached

house near Hove Park is finished

to a fine standard with a ‘feel

good’ character. The ground floor

combines a living room with an open

plan kitchen and dining room that

accesses the rear garden through

bi-folding doors. The first floor has

three bedrooms and two bathrooms

and the upper level has a bedroom

with en-suite. Outside there is a drive

and garage. To the rear there is a

tiered landscaped garden. A modern

home in every way that is minimalist

by design, with consistently stylish

set pieces throughout.

Park lifeBennet Drive, Hove

Price: £1,250,000Nash Watson01273 733500www.nashwatson.com

PORTFOLIO 31

THE collection

Recently constructed and finished to an exceptionally high

standard throughout, this superb detached three storey family

house offers all modern conveniences including underfloor

heating throughout, high spec contemporary-styled kitchen

and bathrooms. The basement floor has a spacious second

reception/games rooms overlooking the garden, plus bedroom

five, with a small kitchenette and en-suite facilities, making this

ideal for a guest annexe. All bedrooms are en-suite. Gardens to

three sides and private drive and parking complete this lovely

property.

Nestled on the northern fringe of Brighton & Hove, neighbouring the

South Downs, is this luxury development of nine individual houses,

of which only two remain. Within the stunning contemporary design

particular attention has been paid to lifestyle, light and space. This

detached property features a beautiful lounge with bi-fold doors

accessing the landscaped rear garden, a high gloss fully fitted luxury

kitchen, four good size bedrooms, the master benefiting from an en-suite

shower room, a family bathroom and a ground floor cloakroom. There is

a private driveway and garage.

The location of this stunning four bedroom house is

unbeatable, and everything about the property exudes

luxury, quality and space. The entrance hall, with its

honed marble flooring and almost entirely glass ceiling,

floods light in. The generous accommodation includes a

family room, interlinked kitchen and dining room, a vast

main reception room, four bedrooms with en-suites and

a fabulous mezzanine. The walls of glass doors continue

throughout, bringing light in and affording a perfect view

of the garden with its decking, patio, lawn and heated

swimming pool.

Modern familyElm Close, Hove

Luxury development Saxon Way

Perfect locationDyke Road Avenue, Brighton

Price: £1,495,000Hamptons International • 01273 230230

www.hamptons.co.uk

Price: OIEO £475,000Spencer & Leigh Estate Agents01273 565566 www.spencerandleigh.co.uk

Price: £2,350,000 Winkworth Brighton & Hove01273 320300www.winkworth.co.uk

SOCIAL event

Key Link Invitation Trophy 2014

A fun charity golf match recently took place

at Singing Hills Golf Club . The event was

held in aid of Rockinghorse Charity, with keen

golfers from local businesses involved in the

property industry, invited by Key Link Assets,

a property development and investment

company based in Brighton.

Key Link Assets Ltdwww.keylinkassets.co.uk

Photo credit: Bespoke Photography www.bespokephotography.net

32 PORTFOLIO

PORTFOLIO 33

LEGAL matters

Why go to court? Why expose

your business to the adversity

of cost and cutting conjecture.

There is another way…

In every commercial dispute which ends

up going to court, there is no certainty of the

outcome; the judge’s decision will always be

imposed upon both parties. This can often

lead to an unhappy (and often expensive)

outcome for everyone involved.

A judge will make a decision based upon

the past without being able to take into

account any of the real issues that may exist,

which could put you or your business at a

great disadvantage in court.

The alternative, which is immediately

available to you, is the appointment of

an independent and neutral commercial

mediator. It is well recognised and established

that mediation has a proven track record; on

average 85% of disputes taken to mediation

will be resolved on the day or fairly swiftly

afterwards.

Invariably, the process is more economical

and cost-effective. It works to resolve the

current differences and can consider so much

more than is often possible within the bear

pit atmosphere of a court. All parties involved

will have the opportunity of speaking and

expressing their views as opposed to being

cross-examined, which can be an emotionally

draining experience. The formality, time

constraints and stress of the court can all be

avoided.

If you are having difficulties reaching a

settlement during a mediation and come to no

agreement, litigation can still be carried out, if

you wish to do so.

Mediation is entirely confidential and

the format of the process leads to a more

satisfactory resolution. And the agreement,

that records the terms of settlement, is legally

binding and enforceable.

It is never too late to go to mediation;

however, the later you leave it and the closer

it gets to the trial, the greater amount of legal

costs you will incur, with correspondingly

fewer assets with which to settle!

If you would like to discuss your dispute

with Howlett Clarke’s accredited mediator,

Richard Schaverien, then please get in touch

using the contact details below. Find out

whether you can break the deadlock and find

a resolution today.

Richard Schaverien Consultant Solicitor8-9 Ship Street, Brighton BN1 1AZ.01273 327272www.qualitysolicitors.com/howlettclarke

AVOID COURTING A COSTLY MISTAKE Howlett Clarke on keeping it out of court

“85% of disputes taken to mediation will be resolved on

the day or fairly swiftly afterwards”

PORTFOLIO 35

BEAUTIFUL homes

FANTASTIC APARTMENT

Situated in this highly popular location close to Preston Park

and its mainline station is this fantastic two bedroom ground

floor apartment, which has use of a large south-facing

communal garden. Unusually, the property is entered through its

own private street entrance, which was the original main front door

to the house many years ago. The property boasts many fine period

features, including ornate decorative coving, ceiling roses, stained

glass leaded lights, high ceilings, large sash windows and picture

rails, to name but a few. Internally, the property has been decorated

in a neutral and contemporary theme, with a large open-plan living

room/kitchen having a large bay window overlooking the rear

garden, with ample space for sofas, dining table and chairs, along

with modern kitchen units and integrated appliances. The master

bedroom also has a large bay window overlooking the front, with

high ceilings and ornate coving. There is a modern bathroom/WC

with an electric shower and white suite.

Harrington RoadPreston ParkBrightonBN1 6RE

Price: £289,950 Bedrooms: 2Bathrooms: 1Extras: Own street entrance; South-facing communal garden Best Bits: Open plan living room/kitchen, decorative coving, high ceilings

Spencer & Leigh Sales & Lettings108 Old London Road Brighton BN1 8YATel: 01273 565566www.spencerandleigh.co.uk

CUMBERLAND ROAD, PRESTON

This beautifully restored four bedroom Edwardian terraced house provides a modern and versatile living space. Located

just a couple of roads away from Preston Park and Preston Park Station, this home has four bedrooms, a living/dining space lit up with the original bay window, a modern fitted kitchen with bi-fold doors to garden and fitted appliances and a modern fitted family bathroom. The home has feature fireplaces in many rooms and a superbly landscaped southerly garden with wooden decking.

EPC: D

Price: £745,000Robert Harding, Branch Manager: 01273 508761

KENTON ROAD

We are delighted to offer this stunning semi detached family home located just off New Church Road, Hove. This charming property has a warmth of character for a relaxing family home, benefiting

from two reception rooms with stripped wood flooring and working fireplaces, bright separate kitchen, four bedrooms, two bathrooms

and separate WC, off road parking for 2/3 cars and private tree lined rear garden. The house benefits from being a short walk

from Hove’s popular seafront & lawns, ideal for those wanting to live by the Sea and close by to an abundance of local schools.

Price: £650,000Drew Bailey, Hove: 01273 820280

WATERLOO STREET

Stunning Grade II listed Regency style townhouse of significant proportions with tall ceilings and first floor balcony in the Brunswick Town Conservation Area. This beautifully presented property represents a rare opportunity to acquire a large family residence; comprising a 6 bedroom house and self-contained basement flat with conservatory. This is an ideal base for those seeking a central position being located just off the main shopping and transport along Western Road and within a few hundred yards of Hove Lawns and seafront. EPC: D

Price: £1,250,000 Jonathan Lloyd, Western Road: 01273 777000

WINDLESHAM MANSIONS, DAVIGDOR ROAD

A fantastic & rarely available ground floor converted apartment. Benefits include 2 double bedrooms, spacious open plan kitchen living area, south facing balcony, en-suite to master bedroom, a share of the freehold, use of communal gardens and allocated off street parking with visitor spaces. Sought after location close to Seven Dials, Brighton mainline station, Brighton city centre and the seafront. Viewings come highly recommended to appreciate its well proportioned room sizes. EPC: C

Price OIRO £400,000Johnathan Lloyd, Western Road: 01273 777000

9 Offices Covering Brighton & Hove27 Offices in Sussex37 Offices in London

THE TILLING, STEYNING

Fox & Sons are delighted to offer for sale an exceptional detached Edwardian residence located on one of Steynings most highly sought after roads. Comprising of seven double bedrooms, with a number of reception rooms, over four floors the property is considered ideal for the modern family and entertaining.Over the years the property has been sympathetically renovated by its current owners yet retains a wealth of period features.Highlights include feature fireplaces, stripped wood floors, ornate coving, bay windows, high ceilings, a luxury bathroom, luxury en-suite both with freestanding baths, a large bespoke designed kitchen / breakfast room, large decked private terrace with contemporary glazed balcony surround ideal for Al Fresco dining & entertaining with views over the Sussex Downs. There is also a large private garden to the rear, side garden, garage and driveway to front.Steyning provides local shopping facilities and amenities including highly sought after primary and secondary schools, health and sports centre. The coastal town of Shoreham and within a seven mile radius and provides further comprehensive facilities including a train station with its various commuter links including London Victoria. EPC - E

Price: £1,245,000Dominic Ruzyllo, Branch Manager01273 461671

www.rightmove.co.ukwww.primelocation.co.ukwww.fox-and-sons.co.uk

38 PORTFOLIO

BEAUTIFUL homes

PORTFOLIO 39

BEAUTIFUL homes

EXCEPTIONAL CHARM

This exceptional four bedroom

detached family home is situated in

this private residential lane, adjacent

to Withdean Park. This well-presented

property comprises four bedrooms,

through-ounge dining room with oak floors,

contemporary fitted kitchen/breakfast room,

large conservatory, family bathroom,

en-suite shower room, garage approached

by imposing private driveway, a very

charming level southerly rear garden.

Situated within reach of good local schools

and travel links, this is a perfect modern

family home with generous accommodation.

Viewing is highly recommended.

Peacock LaneBrighton

BN1 6WAPrice: £779,000

Bedrooms: 4Bathrooms: 2

Extras: Situated in private lane; Conservatory; Garage

Best Bits: Generous accommodation; South-facing

garden

Fox & Sons205 Preston RoadBrighton BN1 6SA

01273 508761www.fox-and-sons.co.uk

40 PORTFOLIO

22 local branches, 150 associated branches in central London and the south east, 1300 branches countrywide

SALES

Western Terrace, Hove

King and Chasemore are delighted to market this three bedroom Georgian Grade II listed terrace house situated in a quiet residential square just yards away from Western Road. The house was designed by architect A.H.Wilds around 1827 - famous for the design of many of the beautiful buildings in the city – he surpassed himself and created probably one of the finest houses in Brighton – a luxurious interior and in the city centre – it is amazing!

Guide Price: £1,200,000Call: 01273 206107

Rottingdean

A rarely available three double bedroom detached character home, built in the 1930s, and therefore one of the oldest homes in Woodingdean, set back on the Falmer Road, located in Woodingdean, found on the East side of Brighton, within a short distance of the picturesque village of Rottingdean.Three double bedrooms, living room conservatory, kitchen/breakfast room, bathroom, downstairs separate wc, driveway for three cars, garage, good size front and rear gardens,wealth of character. RARELY AVAILABLE. VIEWING HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BY OWNERS SOLE AGENTS .

Guide Price: £500,000 to £540,000 Call: 01273 301066

PORTFOLIO 41

kingandchasemore.co.uk

Rottingdean

Four/five bedroom detached mock Tudor style house, situated in Dean Court Road, being one of the

most sought after road’s within the historic village of Rottingdean. The house comprises: two reception

rooms, sun room, kitchen/b.room, bathroom, separate wc, and downstairs shower room/wc. Twin Driveway, two

garages,(one used as a gym), rear garden, & large 100ft additional garden area.

Guide Price £850,000 to £900,000Call: 01273 301066

Surrenden Crescent, Brighton

King and Chasemore are delighted to offer this 1930s four bedroom detached house, situated in the highly

desirable Surrenden area boasting all its original features including stained glass doors and window, several

fireplaces, leaded light windows, solid oak front door and a generous south facing, secluded rear garden.

Pleasantly situated in this attractive tree-lined road, the property enjoys a convenient location with schools for

all ages in the area, including Varndean 6th Form College - all within walking distance.

Guide Price: £800,000 to £850,000Call: 01273 505141

SALES & LETTINGS 01273 323000 30C WESTERN ROAD, HOVE BN3 1AF

brices sales & lettings

DYKE ROAD - £1,100,000 Freehold

Brices are pleased to present a SUPERIOR SEMI-DETACHED family home in need of some modernisation, constructed in MID-EDWARDIAN era of elegant proportions in the highly DESIRABLE area of DYKE ROAD. This IMPRESSIVE property was one of the first houses to be built on Dyke road and was part of the ORIGNAL STANFORD ESTATE with authentic deeds dating back to 1907. The property benefits not only from its HISTORIC stamp to the local area but also an IMPRESSIVE SOUTH WEST FACING SPACIOUS GARDEN, authentic HAND CRAFTED wood panelling, stripped wood flooring, FEATURE FIRE PLACES and ADDITIONAL MODERN SELF-CONTAINED ONE BEDROOM FLAT with private SOUTH WEST FACING BALCONY. Viewing highly recommended to appreciate the size and calibre of this characteristic property.

PORTFOLIO 43

SOCIAL event

The Property Professionals

lunch at Pub du Vin, Brighton

The quarterly Property Professionals lunch

in October featured guest speaker, Eleanor

Harris from the i360. Eleanor told the guests

about the current progress of the building of

the world’s tallest observation tower which

will soar above the Brighton seafront. The

attraction, due to open in 2016, also features a

beachside restaurant/conference venue which

can cater for 800 people.

The Property Professionals events are

organised by Lynne Edwards (Portfolio

Magazine), Searches UK and Rockinghorse

children’s charity.

If you would like to join us at the next lunch

please email: [email protected]

Lynne Edwards, Eleanor Harris and Ruth Chapman

Becky Cheney, Lauren Varnfield, Chris Mansfield, Roger Kay and Jane Drew

Richard Evans, Carrie Collis and Robin Marten

Clive Bonny and Sharon Walker

Paula Lee and Jo White

Chris Lind and Gemma King

The guest speaker: Eleanor Harris from i360

Mike Rogers and Phoebe Oliver

Jane Bourn and Fiona McTernan

Philippa Atkinson and Steve Lowry-Smith

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

PPL_A4_Heaven Rent.pdf 4 20/06/2014 09:55

PORTFOLIO 45

TALK money

If you have investments or pensions, are you truly receiving the help and support you believe you need? Many people tell

me they have difficulty speaking to their adviser; perhaps they are being passed from person to person, or maybe after time they have lost track of the person who originally advised them.

If you have life policies, pensions or investments, normally the provider will have a note of the adviser who arranged it. Sometimes you may have arranged plans through various advisers throughout time and have several companies linked to your policies. If your adviser has stopped trading there is an actual term; you could be an orphan client. If this is you, who do you approach for help when you need it?

Things can become very disjointed, often it is only when something changes that people want to put the whole thing together and take stock. This could be at a time of a life change, such as retirement or moving house. Whatever the case, it is normally wise to try and get a coherent view of your finances. It is also important to have a

central place you can go to for advice from someone who can see your whole situation, something we can now do at the touch of a button.

At Talk Money our systems can keep all of your investments and plans listed in one place, keep track of your funds and calculate exactly what you have invested in different areas, what risk level you are taking, and whether you are exposed to one area in particular. For example, you may have several investments and don’t realise much is invested in, for example, equities, or property. When investing, we believe it is important to diversify your investments; this means that you would be invested in several different areas. The systems can now monitor this and give an overall view across all of the investments and pensions you have.

In essence, the systems now can give a very clear overall view of your finances. Your funds can be diversified, reviewed and managed more easily than in the past. Not only do we monitor the performance but also the risk profile to make sure it stays

at the right level for you. If you like to go online, you can check the values, keeping you in much better contact with your money.

Apart from all of this, I believe one of the most important things is good service. In today’s world of phone queues and automated messages, to be able to pick up the phone to someone who knows you, understands your situation and can deal with all your investments in one place is invaluable.

For a free initial consultation and independent advice on any financial matter please call me, Claire Cook, on 01273 224667. I would be very happy to assist.

Talk Money is a trading style of Aspect 8 Ltd, which is an appointed representative of Best Practice IFA Group Ltd, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The value of investments can fall as well as rise and you may not get back the amount invested.

INVESTMENTS AND PENSIONS ARE YOU AN ORPHAN CLIENT?Claire Cook from Independent Financial Advisors Talk Money, looks at how to make investments work for you

Huge selectionCompetitively pricedQ

uality Tiles

60 ST RICHARDS ROADPORTSLADE • BN41 1PA

01273 412000

[email protected]

TILE MAT

ES

Fine Ceramics, Porcelain, Glass, Mosaics and Natural Stone

@tilematestiles /Tilemates

SALENOW ON

EVER WISHED YOU COULD HAVE YOUR VERY OWN SMALL MAGAZINE FOR YOUR COMPANY?

Maybe we can help. For an informal chat or to arrange a meeting to discuss how, call Lynne today. 07931 537588www.portfoliopublications.co.uk

www.engleharts.co.uk

For more information please contact us at Engleharts Solicitors:

Vallance Hall, Hove Street, Hove, East Sussex BN3 2DE

[email protected] • 01273 204411

local & independent

solicitors

Incorporating Johnson McCabe

We are local, independent solicitors providing an expert legal service with a personal approach

Property• Buying and Selling

Property• Re-Mortgages• Freehold Enfranchisement• Lease Extensions• Buying and Selling

Investment Properties

Business• Landlord and Tenant and

Commercial Property• Buying and Selling

Businesses and Shares• Employment Law

• Licensing

Wills and Trusts• Wills• Probate and

Administration of Estates• Inheritance Tax Planning

and Trusts• Lasting Powers of

Attorney and Court of Protection• Elderly Client Care

Life and Family• Family and Matrimonial• Co Habitation

Agreements/Disputes• Civil Partnerships• Pre-nuptial Agreements• Divorce

Civil Litigation• Employment• Debt Recovery • Property• Contentious Probate• Insurance Claims• Fraud Claims to include

Defending SOCA Claims• Consumer Law• Neighbour disputes• Dispute Resolution/

Mediation of Claims

Commercial Litigation• Commercial contract/

Consumer Disputes• Director/Shareholders/

Partnership Disputes• Insurance Claims• Construction and

Engineering• Commercial Property

Disputes• Professional Negligence

Claims• Intellectual Property

Disputes

Personal Injury• Road Traffic Accidents• Medical Negligence• Accident at Work and on

Construction Site• Fatal Accidents• Structured Settlements

Computer generated image of The Waterfront. Price correct at time of print.

01903 240362kierhomes.co.uk

New Show ApartmentEirene Road, Worthing BN12 4DJ

01903 503906

Styled in the shape of a catamaran, these striking 1 & 2 bedroom apartments, just metres from Worthing seafront,allow you to enjoy all the benefits of a modern coastal resort and relaxed lifestyle by the sea.

Contact us today for further details on our second phase ofapartments or to arrange your appointment to view.

Open daily 10am - 5pm

Stunning 2 bedroom apartments available from £249,995

Now Open

NEW homes

COME HOME TO A NEW HOMENew build homes are more popular than ever, with stylish new developments really understanding that great design is as important as good value

There has never been a better time to buy

a new-build home. Developers know that

buyers want new homes that are not

only energy-efficient and have excellent build

quality, but that they also expect really good

contemporary design and layout as well as

features that reflect a modern lifestyle.

If you are looking to buy a new-build home,

there are plenty of advantages. They tend to be

more energy-efficient than older properties,

they may include the latest fixtures and fittings,

and, of course, they’re chain-free, allowing

for a quicker purchase. Many house builders

also offer generous financial incentives for

prospective buyers.

ENERGY-EFFICIENT

New homes have to be well-insulated and will

include double-glazing as standard, making

them cheaper to run than older homes. They

will even come with an energy rating certificate.

FINANCIAL INCENTIVES

The Government offers a range of incentives

for both first-time buyers and existing

homeowners. The schemes include the

Government’s recently-launched Help To Buy

schemes, which help those with a small deposit

access more affordable mortgages. Other

incentives might include all, or a proportion

of, the deposit paid for by the developers, or

your stamp duty paid on your behalf. Look out

for added-value incentives from developers

too, like flooring included or free garden

landscaping.

GETTING A MORTGAGE

It may be easier to get a mortgage with a

new build. There may be mortgage facilities

arranged for a whole development in advance

or a link between the property developer and a

particular building society, making it possible to

get a loan of a high percentage of the purchase

price.

FIXTURES AND FITTINGS

These are likely to be luxe and contemporary.

They might include a fully-fitted kitchen and

contemporary-styled bathrooms. En-suites

are becoming standard, certainly for master

bedrooms.

SECURITY AND SAFETY FEATURES

Building regulations now require adequate

security and safety features to be built into new

properties. These will probably include smoke

and burglar alarms.

CHAIN-FREE PURCHASE

Being brand new, there is no chain to worry

about. This means transactions can happen

more quickly and you aren’t delayed in making

your move. For those opting for part-exchange

deals there is even less to worry about.

BLANK CANVAS

A new-build home is essentially a blank canvas

on which to make your own mark. The basics

will be in place and some neutral decoration will

have been undertaken, but you will usually have

the option to fit out the property to your own

tastes, and you may even be able to get some

features changed to suit your requirements.

NHBC CERTIFICATE

If the property is registered with the National

House Building Council (NHBC), it will come with

a 10-year warranty and protection scheme.

Find out more on the NHBC website. There are

also other companies that provide warranties

and insurance for new homes, such as BLP’s

building defects insurance.

NO REPAIRS

Major repairs and redecoration should be

unnecessary for the first few years.

TAKE A LOOK

New developments really know how to sell.

From an early stage they will have CGI images

and full information available on their websites.

Once the Show Home is open, you can visit

to really get a feel for the development. To

find out more, visit any of the major property

websites who will have a New Homes or New

Build section, or look in the biggest property

magazine in the South East, Portfolio, for

developments which have homes currently

available!

With thanks to

Which: www.which.co.uk

Smart New Homes: www.smartnewhomes.com

Prime Location: www.primelocation.com

Government Incentives for New Homes

Help to Buy

Help to Buy is a a series of Government-

backed schemes aimed at helping

homebuyers without a large deposit

to get a mortgage. The scheme has

two phases and both are open to first

time buyers and existing homeowners.

Assistance is provided through either an

equity loan or a mortgage guarantee.

Shared Ownership

Shared ownership is a form of low cost

home ownership that combines renting

with buying and is available through

housing associations.

NewBuy

The NewBuy scheme helps first-time

buyers as well as existing homeowners

to borrow up to 95 per cent of the value

of a new build property. It is backed by

the Government and led by the Home

Builders Federation and Council of

Mortgage Lenders.

PORTFOLIO 49

NEW homes

Discerning property hunters in East

Sussex are being urged to discover the

fabulous range of newly refurbished

apartments now available at Royal Alexandra

Quarter, Brighton.

The old Children’s Hospital is a stunning

collection of exceptional apartments located off

Clifton Hill, each boasting a unique design and

interior layout to make the most of this historic

building’s original features.

Alternatively, there is a range of superb new-

build penthouse apartments also available

at the development: Royal Alexandra Quarter

really does have something to suit all tastes.

Prices are available on request for the newly

refurbished apartments, while three-bedroom

penthouses start at just £595,000.

Sarah Pasco, Regional Sales and Marketing

Director for Taylor Wimpey, says: “We have

experienced extremely high levels of interest in

our magnificent collection of unique refurbished

apartments at Royal Alexandra Quarter, with

each home having an individual style and

character that is guaranteed to impress.

“With a prestigious range of luxurious

penthouse apartments also available, we really

do have something for everyone – but we don’t

expect either to be around for long.

“Anyone harbouring hopes of finding their

dream home in a fantastic Brighton location is

advised to pay us a visit soon, or risk missing

out!”

Located just a few minutes’ walk from

Brighton’s main shopping district and less

than a mile from the sea front, Royal Alexandra

Quarter is perfectly positioned for those keen to

enjoy all the benefits of life in this vibrant city.

To book an appointment to find out more

about the stunning refurbished apartments,

property-seekers should call 01273 964268.

The development is located just off Dyke Road,

Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 3JN and is open

daily from 10am to 5pm. Further information

is available at www.taylorwimpey.co.uk

STUNNING AND CENTRAL

Enjoy luxurious living in a stylish apartment at Royal Alexandra Quarter

50 PORTFOLIO

www.green-plan.co.uk

TWO NEW STUNNING HOMES

SET IN A SEMI-RURAL LOCATION

Highdown House & Stackley House

• Contemporary spacious homes set in a secluded location unseen from the road• Each house has a triple garage with office/annexe space above• 7 minute walk to Hassocks Town Centre and mainline station• 41 minutes to London Victoria by rail• Close to both superb state and private educational facilities including the prestigious

Hurstpierpoint College and Burgess Hill School for Girls and a little further afield, Brighton College, all offering excellent bus links.

For more information please call Greenplan Designer Homes on 01403 214900 or email [email protected]

BRIGHTON ROAD | HASSOCKS Computer generated images are for illustrative purposes only.

GP_SH-HH_FP_Portfolio 1_Layout 1 23/10/2014 14:33 Page 1

Highdown House Stackley House

For more information please call Greenplan Designer Homes on 01403 214900 or email [email protected] generated images are for illustrative purposes only.

• Individual detached house with 3,689 sq ft of living space• Five bedrooms, three with en-suite bathrooms and a further generous family

bathroom all fitted with Villeroy & Boch sanitaryware• Master Bedroom suite with dressing room and thoughtfully designed en-suite • Bespoke made-to-order German Kitchen fitted with integrated Miele appliances• Open plan Kitchen/Family/Dining Room with folding doors onto generous garden

with secluded sunken Sun Terrace • Bespoke built-in outdoor Kitchen by Fire Magic for easy outdoor entertaining

• Double fronted house with 4,745 sq ft of living space• Five further bedrooms, four with en-suite bathrooms and an additional spacious

family bathroom• Comprehensive Master Bedroom suite with vaulted ceiling, dressing room and a

large en-suite bathroom with freestanding bath• Stunning designer Kitchen with stylish handleless units & integrated Miele appliances• Superb open plan Kitchen/Family/Breakfast Room designed to maximise everyday

family living with folding doors onto overly generous secluded garden • Bespoke built-in outdoor Kitchen by Fire Magic with decked Sun Terrace

F I N I S H B O T H I N S I D E & O U T

W I T H A N N E X E / O F F I C E S PA C E

I M M A C U L AT E C O N T E M P O R A RY

E A C H W I T H A T R I P L E G A R A G E

www.green-plan.co.uk www.green-plan.co.uk

GP_SH-HH_FP_Portfolio 2&3_Layout 1 23/10/2014 14:43 Page 1

PORTFOLIOOUT 2ND JANUARY, 2015PICK UP YOUR FREE ISSUE

‘PORTFOLIO - what makes your business different makes the difference’

Packed with * more fabulous homes * interiors * columnists * * editorial features * celebrity interviews * city news and opinions *

To advertise, contact Lynne Edwards 07931 537588 [email protected]

PORTFOLIO 57

LETTINGS

Winter is on its way and with it

comes a number of risks to rental

properties which can lead to costly

problems for landlords.

The good news is most of these are

preventable. If you carry out the basic checks

below and take any necessary action now -

before the cold weather hits - you and your

tenant are likely to enjoy a safe, cosy and

disaster-free winter.

A good letting agent should take care

of everything mentioned below if they are

managing your property for you.

Check the heating system

Now is the time to make sure the heating

system is working as it should so there are

no nasty surprises when it gets really cold.

Check the pipes and brickwork

Check all external pipes for any signs of leaks,

breaks or blockages. Serious problems can

occur when blocked or leaking pipes freeze

during the winter, then expand and burst.

When checking that the pipes are in good

order make sure they are secured to the walls

properly and at the same time check the

brickwork around your property for cracks

which could let water in.

Sweep the chimney

If there is an open fire make sure the

chimney has been swept, and provide a

suitable fireguard for your tenant’s safety.

Keep the draughts out

Make sure your property is adequately

insulated. Check the obvious draught points

and fit draught excluders to any doors and

windows that need it.

Tell your tenants

Ask your tenants to keep background

heating on at a level to avoid extremes of

temperature. If they go away during the

winter they should leave the heating on a

setting to maintain a constant temperature

of between eight and ten degrees Celsius to

ensure the pipes don’t freeze. They should

keep inner doors and loft hatches open to

allow the circulation of warm air and arrange

for someone to check the property regularly

while they are away.

An information pack for your tenants

which includes this information, plus details

of where stopcocks are located, basic boiler

operation and steps they can take to minimise

condensation, as below, is a good idea.

Avoid condensation

The simplest and most effective way of

preventing condensation is to make sure

there is adequate ventilation and heating.

Extractor fans in the kitchen and bathroom

will help, as will closing doors and opening

windows when cooking and washing and not

drying clothes on radiators.

Get those little jobs sorted now

Most property owners have a list of small

issues that need sorting that they simply

haven’t got round to. Now is the time to see

to those outstanding jobs, from clearing the

gutters to fixing that loose pipe or draughty

backdoor to prevent them becoming bigger

and potentially more expensive issues when

the weather turns bad.

Get the right insurance plus cover for

emergencies

Not all insurance products cover rented

properties so it is important to check that

you have appropriate landlords’ building and

contents insurance in place.

You never know exactly when an

emergency will happen but when it does, an

immediate response is vital. We offer our

landlords an Emergency Repairs Service

which covers them for all emergency call

outs which are not usually covered by typical

home insurance products. Tenants are given

an Emergency Helpline number, open 24

hours a day, 365 days per year, with access

fully vetted contractors who will attend to the

emergency promptly.

Keep void periods to a minimum

If your property is likely to be empty you

need to make plans for its upkeep and visit

regularly to open windows and check on the

heating. If you are unable to do this yourself

arrange for someone else to do so; this is

something we can do for our landlords as part

of our management service.

For advice on all aspects of renting or letting contact your local Leaders branch on:Brighton Central: 01273 720714; or email [email protected]: 01273 561534; or email [email protected]: 01273 321721; or email [email protected] Laine: 01273 675571; or email [email protected]

www.leaders.co.uk

GET YOUR RENTAL PROPERTY READY FOR WINTERDavid Thorne, Senior Branch Manager of Leaders Brighton has advice on preventing problems this winter

“Enjoy a safe, cosy

and disaster-free

winter”

PORTFOLIO 59

INTERIORS

LOOKING BEAUTIFUL

Sussex Blinds01273 684848

www.sussexblindsandshutters.com

Beautiful Shutters and Blinds from Sussex Blinds

Sussex Blinds is a family-run business with over 20 years’ experience in designing, producing and fitting blinds of all shapes and sizes.

With a vast array of blinds, shutters and curtains to choose from, they have the expertise to help you create the perfect look to enhance every room

in your home.

CHILD SAFETY As Plantation Shutters do not use operating cords or chains they are an ideal form of shading for children’s bedrooms.

MOTORISEDFor the ultimate luxury appeal, the remote controlled option operates each shutter panel at the press of a button, enabling you to adjust the louvers on all or one shutter panel at a time; ideal for controlling out of reach shutters.

CUSTOM

PAINTEDLet your imagination come alive with custom colour shutters. These are colour matched to any Farrow & Ball and Dulux.

CONSERVATORYCrafted to fit just about any conservatory no matter the size, shape or complexity, plantation shutters not only look highly stylish but they offer a highly practical window covering for your conservatory too.

WATERPROOF Impervious to water, resistant to heat and tougher than PVC, the Vienna Range is ideal for bathrooms and wet rooms.

60 PORTFOLIO

INTERIORS

GIFTS FOR THE HOME

For all products and to order online visit www.jomalone.co.uk or visit the boutique at 23 Dukes Lane, Brighton BN1 1BG

Entertaining is central to our home life, and especially during the winter months. Make your home welcoming and special with these gorgeous products and delicious new recipe books

SCENT WITH STYLEAny room, any occasion can be transformed when it’s styled with scent – and nothing says home quite like Jo Malone. We just love the entire range of fragrances from classic Lime Basil & Mandarin to playful new Wood Sage & Sea Salt. Basically we want everything but we will settle for one of each of these…

SCENT SURROUND DIFFUSER IN LIME BASIL & MANDARIN. £54 Understated and sleekly designed, these diffusers effortlessly and continuously add an enveloping scent to any space.

WOOD SAGE & SEA SALT HOME CANDLE. £40The fragrant glow of a candle immediately fills a room with an inviting atmosphere. Uplift, wind down, or simply add an air of luxury.

SCENT SURROUND™ ROOM SPRAY IN POMEGRANATE NOIR. £38 FOR 175MLMist the air with a burst of enticing scent, and instantly create an impression with this seductively sensual frangrance.

COOK UP A STORMshare winter suppers with friends and family with these great new recipe books.

JAMIE’S COMFORT FOOD This new cookbook brings together 100 ultimate comfort food recipes. featuring ultimate versions of all-time favourites, introducing cherished dishes from countries around the world, providing a delicious recipe for every occasion. Penguin, Michael Joseph £30

NIGELLA CHRISTMAS FOOD, FAMILY, FRIENDS, FESTIVITIES Christmas is a time for family and friends, for tradition and treats. Let Nigella help you cook up a treat, with her glorious celebration of the festive season, full of inspirational ideas, reassuring advice and easy-to-follow, reliable Christmas recipes. Chatto & Windus, £20

CURRY EASY VEGETARIAN Madhur Jaffrey is the queen of curries and the world authority on Indian Food. Following on from her bestselling cookbook, Curry Easy, Vegetarian Curry Easy combines over 200 brand new and delicious meat-free dishes and proves, yet again, how easy it is to cook authentic Indian food at home.Ebury Press £20

PLENTY MORE Yotam Ottolenghi’s Plenty focussed its emphasis on flavour, original spicing and freshness of ingredients. Plenty More picks up where Plenty left off, with 150 more dazzling vegetable-based dishes. The range of recipe ideas is stunning. Ebury Press £20

WIN THESE BEAUTIFUL ITEMS!

LOVE YOUR TABLET!If you have a Kindle, iPad, Android, or other tablet computer, it deserves to be protected in style. Lente Designs is a vibrant, young design house creating unique and exciting, on-trend covers to protect your tablet. Their striking

designs come in florals, stripes, polka dots, vivid colours and other unique patterns. All the cases cost under £20, making them the perfect gift. Each case comes wrapped in brightly coloured metallic bags with UK delivery.www.lentedesigns.comWe have THREE of these gorgeous tablet covers to give away to readers! Just email [email protected] with your preferred design to have a chance to win one.

BLUE ISLE STYLEBlue Isle is a new online family-run boutique store based in the New Forest, offering an eclectic mix of modern furniture and unusual table lamps, together with bedcovers and vintage finds. The collection takes inspiration from British and French classics with a contemporary twist. We love their striking collection of table lamps. Blue Isle also run exclusive offers to their newsletter subscribers. To sign up to their newsletter or view the full product list, visit www.blueisle.co.ukWe have a lamp to give away to one lucky reader. The Wooden Scroll Column Lamp and Shade is tall and elegant, carved from wood, with a whitewash effect and comes with a dark cream shade. Height 86 cm. Price £85.00.The Classic Grey Weathered urn lamp and shade, with metal lamp base, is hand-finished with a colour wash to give a muted, matt finish. The dark cream fabric shade is included. Height 57cm. Price £85.Simply email [email protected] with your preferred choice of lamp to have a chance to win one.

PORTFOLIO 61

BEAUTIFUL homes

During these cold, wet wintry days, as the

temperatures drop, there is nothing like

coming home to the welcoming warmth

of a flickering fire.

Real fires may not suit every home or be the

main source of heat in our modern homes, yet

an open fireplace still provides an inviting and

warming focal point in a room. A fireplace can

really anchor a room architecturally, whilst the

mantelpiece can become a wonderful display

area for all your treasures. Hanging a piece

of your favourite artwork or an ornate mirror

over the mantle magnifies its impact.

Style and design

Before buying a fire surround, ensure it

is in keeping with the period, style and

proportions of your room. There is a wide

range of fireplaces available from beautiful

reproductions to restored antique surrounds,

and these come in a range of materials such

as wood, stone and cast iron.

Consider the dimensions of your fireplace.

A large room with high ceilings will enable you

to have an imposing stone fireplace, while a

better option for a small room might be a slim

fire surround in stone or cast-iron.

For homes without chimneys

For those who do not have a chimney or prefer

a low-maintenance option, a gas or electric fire

can be a suitable alternative. Plug-in electric

fires are improving all the time, and you can

get a flame-effect warming glow from them,

although they do not have the heat output or

realism of gas.

BY THE FIRESIDECome home to a real fire… We look at the options in fires, fire surrounds and wood-burning stoves

INTERIORS

Charming wood-burning stoves

Wood-burning stoves make a charming

alternative to a traditional fire and have

become incredibly popular over the last few

years. Wood-burning stoves are not only eco-

friendly but also energy-efficient. Unlike open

fires, stoves operate a controlled burning of

fuel and heat output. These stoves are a great

option for those concerned about burning

limited reserves of coal, oil and natural gas,

as the wood used is replenishable fuel whilst

being carbon-neutral, which means that it

produces the same amount of carbon dioxide

when burnt as when left to decay naturally.

A traditional wood-burner stove can only

be used with timber, whilst a multi-fuel stove,

with adjustable grate can burn smokeless

fuels as well as coal and wood.

Wood-burners tend to be made from cast

iron or steel. For todays modern homes there

are softer alternatives to the standard black or

grey, stoves that are more colourful, ranging

from classic green or cream to statement

red and sky blue. These colourful burners are

popular as they blend effortlessly with various

styles and décor within the home.

For some of us who want heat at the flick

of a switch, both gas and electric versions of

the traditional wood burner have come a long

way, emulating the traditional burner both in

terms of design and heat output.

By Tara de la Motte, Editor of Sussex Homes & Gardens www.sussex-homes.co.uk

62 PORTFOLIO

“There is nothing like coming home to the welcoming warmth

of a flickering fire”

PORTFOLIO 63

SHOPPING

BANG & OLUFSEN

Also available to purchase online at www.bo-sussex.co.uk with free delivery

Bang & Olufsen56 Church Road, Hove BN3 2FP

01273 205448www.bang-olufsen.com

Everyone deserves the Bang & Olufsen experience. Visit the Brighton & Hove store for a welcoming, helpful and relaxed experience, and to browse their fine assortment of loudspeakers, TVs, sound systems and more.

BEOPLAY A9 The one-point music system that streams through both AirPlay and DLNA – Black/White. £1,699

BEOPLAY H6 Stylish over-ear headphones made from premium

materials delivering top of the line sound quality.

Beige/black/special edition. £329

BEOLAB 18Iconic wireless speakers. The emotion in music captured through perfect sound. Various finishes available. From £3,995

BEOPLAY H3 Powerful sound, sturdy exterior and comfortable fit. Red/Black/Silver/Gold. £169

BEOLAB 17 A versatile wireless speaker with Immaculate Wireless Sound. Various colour options available. From £2,590

BEOVISION 11Luxury Premium Television - a masterpiece of sound, picture and digital entertainment. Various colour options available. From £4,450

BEOVISION AVANT 85” Exquisite imagery and iconic sound, united through the beauty of movement. From £16,595 (Also available in 55” from £5,995)

PORTFOLIO 65

If we were to look through the windows of

every house at Christmas time, we would

be sure to see a familiar scene: our homes

adorned with wonderful decorations, proud

Christmas trees twinkling in our sitting rooms

and the dining table all ready for a Christmas

feast.

Christmas is a familiar ritual that each of

us personalizes to make the festive season

our own. We all have Christmas traditions that

we delight in, from picking that all-special

Christmas tree to the careful wrapping of

gifts and the stocking that we hang at the

end of children’s beds. All these meaningful

family traditions are at the heart of all our

Christmases.

One of the joys of Christmas is decorating

the home for the festivities. With so many

beautiful decorations available to buy, we

are truly spoilt for choice. Most of us have

decorations collected over years that have

great sentimental value, but it is nice to buy

a few new ones each year to bring just one

or two different elements to the decorating

scheme.

Decorating your home need not to be

co-ordinated with shop window precision;

instead, go for a personal mix. Take inspiration

from nature too. Decorating the home with

armfuls of greenery is an old tradition and is

still an essential part of Christmas. Holly, ivy

and eucalyptus from the garden can be used to

decorate the mantelpiece, and a string of fairy

lights may be woven through the greenery for

a magical effect. Use any evergreens from

your garden, tucking sprigs behind pictures

and mirrors to make the home look festive.

For a true quintessentially English

Christmas, try teaming fresh greenery with

pearlescent finishes, crystal baubles and

antique gold or silver decorations. These will

help create a glamorous, delicate mood with

which to welcome the festivities into your

home.

Bring prettiness to the hallway by hanging

a green garland on the banister, with glittering

baubles hung at varying heights. Cinnamon

sticks tied up in small bundles using pretty

ribbon or raffia can also be hung on the

garland. This will not only look good but will

smell nice too.

Decorate your home using vintage glass

bowls filled with baubles and place them

around the house alongside glass tea light

holders. Small gifts wrapped in brown paper

with pretty ribbons placed around the home

can become decorations too, and not just for

placing under the Christmas tree.

For seasonal scent, combine oranges with

cloves by simply pushing the cloves into the

orange skin to create a pattern. Place these in

a glass bowl in your hallway to set the mood

instantly for arriving guests.

Limiting your colour palette of decorations

is key to an elegantly dressed Christmas

tree. Beautiful vintage decorations alongside

a blend of old gold, icy white and silver will

give your tree a modern yet classic feel. A few

crystal chandelier drops will add a sparkling

twist to your festive tree. These are easily

found in antique markets or in vintage shops

and cost much less than some of the more

expensive shop-bought decorations.

ALL THAT GLITTERSWe are dreaming of a white Christmas… Shimmering decorations and festive tables

By Tara de la Motte, Editor of Sussex Homes & Gardens www.sussex-homes.co.uk

INTERIORS

66 PORTFOLIO

INTERIORS

Dressing for dinner – festive tables

Set the mood and be inspired for a beautiful

Christmas by decorating your festive table

in shades of this season – gold, white and

silver. A theme of gold, white and silver adds

sophistication and is a classic choice that can

be repeated year after year. Paying special

attention to the way your festive table is

addressed will impress guests and make the

occasion truly memorable.

For an elegant Christmas table setting keep

your linen white and add silvery touches with

mercury glass candlesticks, and gold baubles

in small glass bowls. Inject some subtle colour

with green foliage in the centre alongside

white lilies and white roses in a glass vase, for

a stunning centrepiece. Then add touches of

crystal in the form of glassware.

Beautiful white or gold edged tableware will

add sophistication to the Christmas table and

will sparkle in candlelight. Use simple white

ribbon to tie cutlery together and sparkly place

mats add a touch of glamour, and crackers to

say “It’s Christmas!”.

Add a stylish formal note with place names

at each setting for all your guests, even if you

are entertaining family. Write the names with a

fountain pen for an extra personal touch. A small

gift beautifully wrapped at each place setting

would also be a welcome treat for your guests.

Let your gifts reflect your Christmas décor and

continue the colour theme with the wrapping.

Add a small sprig of ivy from the garden to each

gift to complete and a little greenery tied to the

back of the chairs can look particularly festive.

Create a Christmas setting that will entice

your guests to the table. The secret is not to

overpower, but use colour softly. Choose a

palette of two key tones and use fresh foliage

to accessorise for a subtle look. Christmas calls

for care to be lavished upon the dining table.

To embellish your Christmas table and to add

sparkle, use crystal and silverware creating

the mood for an exquisite Christmas feast to

remember.

Now the scene is set keep your Christmas

traditional, family orientated and personal

and make this Christmas a joyful, memorable

occasion.

“One of the joys of Christmas is decorating

the home for the festivities. With so many

beautiful decorations available to buy, we are truly spoilt for choice”

THE CITY...AND

Alan Sugar: The Big interview

Business news from around our city

Top national news stories

Travel: A city break in Barcelona

Business Lunch: The famous English’s

Motoring: VW – the legend continues

Careers advice

Career Ladder: Andrew Stenning’s first rungs

Davina McCall: The unstoppable force

788084

96

86

68

90

74

93

Business editor Maarten Hoffmann

[email protected]

07966 244 046

68 PORTFOLIO

BEAUTIFUL homes

PORTFOLIO 69

CELEBRITY interview

SUGAR AND SPICEBARON SUGAR OF CLAPTON Interview by Maarten Hoffmann

No one ever imagined that Alan Sugar

made his millions by being a sweet

poppet, but is he now in danger of

becoming a caricature of himself with the

gruff no-nonsense approach to just about

everything? Sir Sugar’s style is purpose-

built for the Apprentice, the BBC television

programme that sees a crowd of dim-witted

morons attempt a range of daft stunts to prove

they are worthy of his benevolent employment.

In general, these people aren’t up to asking if

you would like fries with your burger, let alone

a high flying job with a Knight of the Realm.

Baron Sugar of Clapton in the London

Borough of Hackney was knighted for his

services to business in 2009, which is quite

a fairy story ending for the boy who grew up

in Hackney and who having left school at 16,

started selling car aerials and electronic goods

out of an old van he had picked up for £50. You

would be forgiven for making the inevitable

comparison to Del Boy from Only Fools and

Horses and the catch phrase that one day he

would be a millionaire. When you also consider

Lord Sugar’s status as a property mogul,

television star and Knight of the Realm, you

can see how greatly his story differs from

Derek’s illustrious dream.

Having started the eponymous Amstrad

in 1968-there can be few of us of a certain

age who didn’t own an Amstrad computer at

some stage and with a portfolio that includes

Amscreen, Amsprop and Viglen, Sugar’s worth

is estimated at £840 million. Not bad for a boy

with no education from the East End!

He divides his time between his three

main homes in Essex, Spain and Boca Raton

in Florida. Although his sprawling Florida

mansion has a large yacht mooring, there is no

vessel to be found as his latest craze is flying.

When asked why he took to flying, his standard

response is “to get away from people like you”.

Charm is not high on his list of attributes.

His Lordship smokes throughout his

interviews, but won’t let photographers shoot

him with a cigar because it would set a bad

example. He is very serious about being a

role model, which is why he agreed to do The

Apprentice, and offered to do it for free. The

BBC said contracts wouldn’t allow him to do

it for free, so he told them to pay the cheque

straight to Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Filming takes about 10 weeks but he had

the BBC build him a little office on the film set

so he could carry on ‘doing what I normally

do, which is sitting at my computer dictating

to the world’. Does he like seeing himself on

television? ‘I don’t mind it. Yeah. I mean I’ve

been on television a lot. That’s one of the

reasons the BBC chose me, because it’s all very

well finding a businessman, but someone like

Richard [Branson], who I know and admire very

much, is just useless in front of the camera. He

can’t talk. That doesn’t mean he’s not a great

businessman, but they needed someone who

can talk. I’ve had years of doing TV interviews,

both for Amstrad and in football, so I’m used

to cameras.’ So is this brutally short-tempered

chap really an old softie? ‘That’s down to the

editing really, isn’t it? Everybody knows that

the boardroom sessions last for far longer

than the 15 minutes shown on TV. So, what I

would call the soft or sensitive side of me ends

up on the cutting-room floor. It doesn’t put

bums on seats. That’s my style you see on TV.

I’m not an actor, that’s the way I do business.

And the point I would make is that if you look

into my companies you will find people who

have worked for me for years - there is one

bloke who has worked for me for 44 years’.

Chatting about The Apprentice seems to

cheer him up a bit; he is really proud of the

programme. Viewing figures have been around

the three million mark on Wednesdays and just

under a million for the repeat on Saturdays.

“I believe university is a waste of

time”

CELEBRITY interview

The current Sunday Times Rich List values

him at £840 million, which is a long way down

from his £l.2 billion peak in the ‘eighties

when seemingly every home had an Amstrad

computer. Today, most of his money is in

property: offices, shops, warehouses and a

residential development in Spain.

According to the Sunday Times, he also has

£150 million in cash. His reply when asked

what this meant: ‘Well... cash. You know what

cash is, don’t you?’ Yes, but I can’t picture £150

million. Does he keep it under the mattress?

But jokes are wasted on Lord Sugar, and he

just stares.

‘Well obviously it’s in the bank. Most

companies have cash balances.’ But couldn’t

he do something with it? At least give it to his

children or to charity? ‘I give a lot to charity, but

this is business. You’re not looking for a loan,

are you?’ ‘More of a gift,’ I joked, but again had

the feeling of diving head first into an empty

swimming pool.

He said in a recent interview that his father,

who worked in a Hackney garment factory,

would always go around turning lights off,

worrying about saving pennies. Is he like

that? Would he drive 10 minutes out of

his way to buy cheaper petrol? ‘No, no,

no, no. Definitely not. And nor would

I work out which is the cheapest

mobile phone operator and all that

nonsense. Those kind of people

wind me up terribly. If they applied

their ingenuity to their businesses,

they would be making far more money

than what they think they’re saving.

I couldn’t give a monkey’s. If I had to go

to a foreign exchange kiosk, I’d

just walk up and say I

want £200 in dollars - I

wouldn’t even look at

the rate of exchange.

But I’ve seen lots of

other people from my

sort of background

who have become

successful, but

there’s still a

s t i n g i n e s s

about them, a

s t i n g i n e s s

that was

n e e d e d

w h e n

they were

at their

grass roots,

but they can’t

get it out of their

system. I got it out of

my system as soon as I

could afford things.’

And he could afford

things at a very early

age; he was earning

more money than his

father while he was

still at school, boiling

beetroots for the local

greengrocer and selling

bits of this, bits of that.

By the time he married

at 21, he could afford a car and a house. But

it meant there was a big culture gap between

him and his parents and his three much older

siblings (he was a late child, born when his

mother was 41). ‘When I was 18, my parents

were nearly 60 and they didn’t know what

was going on in the real world. So there was

no conversation really about the new Ford

Cortina or something called VAT that had just

been introduced, because my father wasn’t in

business, so there was not much to talk about

really.’

He says there is no such gap with his

two sons and daughter because they are

much closer in age, born when he was in his

twenties, and also they work in his business.

He says very proudly ‘they are really down-

to-earth, nice people, don’t sling their weight

around; they’ve never been the Ferrari-driving,

cocaine-sniffing, party-going types. They’ve

got the right values’. He said he always taught

them that it was more important to be nice

than to be clever.

This is somewhat ironic given his perceived

persona as Mr Nasty, which he puts down to

his days as Chairman of Tottenham Hotspurs,

and to football journalists, who ‘‘are just about

able to do joined-up writing.” That was a nasty

era in my life and it’s taken me time to come

out of it again. I met some very horrible people

in that industry and it made me very guarded

and suspicious.’ He was the first person to

expose the bung culture and believes it’s still

going on, though in a different way: ‘It’s a bit

more professional now. In the old days, it was

cash in big envelopes; these days, they have

Swiss bank accounts and do it all via others.’

I wonder what influence he thinks

programmes such as Dragons’ Den and The

Apprentice have had on our entrepreneurial

culture?

‘Dragons’ Den is very inspiring and I think

the BBC does a great job in promoting an

entrepreneurial spirit in both programmes.

And making it entertaining at the same time’.

None of us is immune to business

nightmares, and it is interesting to pursue this

topic with a man who seems to have had his fair

share and has come out the other side with just

south of a billion, ‘I’ve made loads of mistakes,

trust me - it’s just that they have not been that

publicised. I’ve made products that bombed.

My big mistake was not recognising that the

early successes were not representative of the

way markets normally go.

‘When you make a word processor (Amstrad

introduced their first mass-market home

computer in 1984) and bring it into the market

place, and you look at the statistics and the

market says only 20,000 a year of these things

PORTFOLIO 71

CELEBRITY interview

are selling, and suddenly you start selling

25,000 a month, and you sell 300,000 pieces

in a year, you go on to believe that every single

product you sell is going to do the same.

‘When I brought out my equivalent of the

iPad [the Amstrad PenPad, launched in 1993],

we manufactured 200,000 of them straight

away - but the market was about 1,000. So

that was it, get rid of it. Are we going to develop

the next model? No. Ditch it. Out. That was a

mistake. And look what happened: Apple,

BlackBerry…’

What about the infamous Amstrad E-m@

iler (a digital home telephone with email

access)? ‘I think the mistake was that it was

slightly too late - we’re going back maybe ten

years or more. The explosion of the broadband

market meant the demise of that product. We

sold 450,000 but we subsidised them because

I wanted to get into a business where I was no

longer on the treadmill of expecting to make a

profit on hardware. There was a cost each time

a person sent an email and that was where our

revenues were coming from. But they are still

out there - I think there are 150,000 people

still using them and someone told me Amstrad

has finally broken even and we have actually

recovered all the costs’.

I wondered if the 2008 recession had hit

him; a glance at his portfolio might suggest a

total wipe out. ‘We got into that mess because

of greed started by our American cousins.

It was total, absolute madness. Greed and

madness. I’m annoyed that our stiff-collar,

traditional banks, which we saw as the Rock of

Gibraltar, forgot their basic principles. There’s

a lesson to learn - don’t detract from your

basic principles. They went out and played -

and they shouldn’t have bloody played’.

‘I went through some bad times back in

1989/90, when we had too much inventory, too

much stock and we owed the banks too much.

That was something like the recent financial

crisis. I was able to be mercenary and say,

“That’s it. Cuts.”

‘Regretfully, we had to close down places,

shut down things abroad, reduce inventory and

reduce overheads and I turned the whole thing

round. I’m realistic - cut, do it, get out of it’.

‘It is a bit difficult to apply that same thing as

far as the country is concerned. It’s blatantly

obvious that they employ God knows how

many million civil servants, and if you spent

the time that I spent in Whitehall, you do have

to ask yourself sometimes what half of them

are doing’.

‘When I compare it to my commercial

organisation, we have people who multi-

task, and if you applied that multi-tasking

philosophy within the civil service, you would

cut the labour force by half, but then…’

By half? ‘Oh yes. Easy. The problem with that

is that it’s out of the frying pan into the fire.

Making that cut and hypothetically disposing

of those people would mean large redundancy

payments – and on top of that, many of them

would go onto benefits. So I don’t know. It’s

difficult. I know what I would do in government’.

‘What I would say is, “Look. We’ve got to

cut some costs.” I would start first of all by

accepting that the government is the biggest

customer in this country. It spends God knows

“I don’t make enemies; it’s just I’m not

afraid to speak my mind, which can sometimes

mean people don’t like what

I am saying. Tough”

72 PORTFOLIO

CELEBRITY interview

how many billions every year on everything

from staples to nuclear missiles. They are the

big punter. When you look at those in charge of

procurement, with the greatest respect to them,

they are not very streetwise’.

‘I would have the balls to take [ex-Tesco CEO]

Terry Leahy or [former M&S boss] Stuart Rose and

say, “I’ll pay you £3 million a year of taxpayers’

money and you bring in another team beneath you

of another 100 people and pay them £150,000 a

year.” Nice headline for the Daily Mail: poor people

on the dole up in Newcastle and Terry Leahy

getting £3 million’.

‘But here’s the point, that little team could save

£1 billion a year. Now, that is common business

sense. Buying from the same people we are buying

them from now, just doing better deals. If you look

at Philip Green’s Efficiency Review, he uncovered

things like one department paying £73 for a box of

paper that you can go into a shop and pay £8 for’.

Lord Sugar recently became a non-executive

shareholder of YouView - a set-top box that

will essentially integrate the television and the

internet. Flash in the pan or the next big thing? ‘

You get everything you’ve got on Freeview, plus

you connect it to the internet and streaming

channels can come in. But the biggest thing is

that you’ve got a seven-day go-back, so you can

be sitting there with your remote control, watching

TV, then you go into iPlayer, go down the menu, find

The Apprentice that you missed two days ago and

play; very simple’.

I seem to remember that this was going to be in

the shops in 2010?

‘That’s not my problem. It’s another challenge

and it’s another great product that is going to go

down in the history of electronics. And the reason

I’m excited about it is that I’ve spent more than

40 years in this business. If I don’t know what

motivates and turns consumers on ,then I should

give up and go away’.

I can’t help wondering how much of his money

came from those old core businesses and how

much from property speculation.

‘Not speculation. What I do is I don’t trust

anybody else with my money. I don’t give my money

to some fund manager p***k who, if he knew what

he was doing, would have his own private jet and

his own yacht in the south of France, right?

‘And I learnt a very good lesson early in life.

When I first floated my company back in 1981 and

I had £2 million in my hand, I gave some feller from

Nomura bank £200,000 because he’s the genius

and he was going to play with it. He blew the lot.

Great lesson.

‘So, from that day on, I said, “My business is

about gambling. Gambling on products, ideas,

innovation. Make a load of money doing that, but

once I have made that money I need to stick it

“That’s one of the reasons the BBC chose me because it’s all

very well finding a businessman but someone like Branson is just useless in front of the camera. He

can’t talk”

PORTFOLIO 73

CELEBRITY interview

into something boring, like buying up half of

Bond Street because that is never going to go

wrong.”

And you reckon most of your money has

come out of real business? Because your

profits on Amstrad were a few million a year,

weren’t they?

‘About £160 million a year, I think. Back in

1986, that company was worth £1.2 billion.

That’s when I sold a load of shares, and then

we went on to make petty amounts like £20

million, £25 million in the last ten years, which

I know is just small fry for many business

owners. Then of course I sold the company,

which I owned, to BSkyB for another £135

million, and I also sold Dancall Telecom that I

bought for £6 million for another £90 million’.

‘Trouble in this country is we don’t

manufacture anything anymore!

‘I’ve been saying that in the House of Lords,

but it’s fallen on deaf ears. Why can’t we have

a “Buy British” culture here? Even Gordon

Brown never agreed with me on that - he had

this globalisation thing in his head. But what

annoys me tremendously are things like these

contracts that are dished out for, say, wind

farms. Britain gets about 11 per cent of the

business for making that stuff. The rest is

some Danish or German or Japanese firm - it’s

a joke.

‘And it’s nothing to do with being cheaper.

And even if it was cheaper, it’s nothing to do

with cheaper. The fact of the matter is, apart

from the turbine itself, the rest is metal-

bashing. We’ve got metal works and shipyards

up in the North East of England which are

being mothballed.

‘By all means, if Siemens or someone is

much more ahead on technology, what you say

to them is, “Yes, you’ve got the £500 million

deal to do that, but here’s the bad news: all

the material you are going to need to do that

is going to be made in England and you have

to set up a factory and build a dock here.” Not

ship the bloody thing over from Germany. Do it

here. We’ve got workers up in the North East

who could make all that metalwork with their

eyes closed. You walk around every single

office in Whitehall and the place is littered with

Siemens Nixdorf computers, right? Now, I’ve

got a small computer company in this country.

We pitched for that business. We employ 250

people.

‘I tell the minister, “Give me an order for

half a million computers and I’ve got to employ

1,000 people.” Why can’t they, say, give a British

computer company a bit of business? We’re

not the only one; there are a few of us around.

We need a bit of nationalism. The French have

got it built in them. It’s in their stomach. You

walk around France and they all drive Citroens,

Renaults and Peugeots.’

I have a little trouble with the vision of this

Labour-supporting, self-made man who enjoys

nothing more than pricking pomposity, sitting

in the stuffy Lords Chamber, but he’s having

none of it. ‘I think it’s a great honour to be a

member of the House of Lords. There are some

very knowledgeable people in there, be under

no illusion. I think of myself as the people’s

peer, because it needs a rough diamond like

me in there to ruffle a few feathers. When

you sit and listen to some of the debates, the

content of the speeches is very high-level

overview material. I tend to be more detailed.’

Finally, l get on to the subject that PBM has

been covering for a few issues now, that of

universities and any perceived skills gap. As

expected, Lord Sugar has quite a unique and

insular view on the subject. ‘I believe university

is a waste of time. I don’t think my life would

have turned out any differently had l spent

three years in college. The thing is, I’ve been to

the University of Life and you see these people

who come out with their 2.1’s, or whatever, and

that’s fine but they know nothing. They need to

be out in a practical environment where they

can begin to learn.’

The time is up and the door is opened, but

the arm is chanced with one last question

before departure. Has there ever been a time

when he’s allowed fear to prevent him taking

a course of action?

‘I take it you mean in business? There’s fear

and there’s fear – like going to see Spurs and

hoping they’d win the game. There is a fear in

business that you’re going to gamble and risk

and something’s going to go wrong. You’ve got

to weigh up in your mind whether you’ve got

the confidence to do what you’re going to do.

‘I can only talk about my experience. I’ve

never been a consultant. I’ve always designed,

innovated and made stuff. Fear is when you

design a product and you don’t have confidence

in it and you have lots of ‘yes’ men and women

saying it’s marvellous. You can’t make one or

two of them. You’ve got to make 100,000. You

have to have the guts to go and spend that

money. You have to have the confidence you

might lose it. So, yeah, there’s fear there.

‘I don’t make enemies; it’s just I’m not afraid

to speak my mind, which can sometimes mean

people don’t like what I am saying. Tough.’

The new series of The Apprentice started

on October 14th and continues at 9pm on

Wednesday evenings on BBC 1.

“Trouble in this country is we

don’t manufacture anything anymore!”

74 PORTFOLIO

CITY news

CITY NEWSPlease note these are the personal views of our City Editor, Maarten Hoffmann

NEW BUSINESS CLUB

ANOTHER PUB BITES THE DUST

A Boutique Hotel in Brighton has launched

its own business club, the Blanch House

Business Supper Club. At their recent

meeting, Nik Askaroff, CEO of EMC Corporate

Finance, spoke about his new book, The

Mobile Boardroom, co-authored by Julian

Clay. Nik spoke about his journey from

working in the family textile company and

offered fascinating insights into how to grow

a sustainable business, and in this issue of

PBM we have an in-depth interview with Nik.

The monthly Supper Club events are for

members of the Blanch House Business

Club to enjoy an evening of fine dining and

interesting presentations from a selection

of high-profile speakers from the Sussex

business community on topical business

subjects.

The suppers are held at Blanch House

Hotel, in their Belle Époque room, which

is also used as a conference venue and

meeting room. There is more information

on the hotel’s Business Club and meeting

facilities at www.blanchhouse.co.uk

A Co-op supermarket has just gained permission to take over

the old Atlas Pub in Hove. The site is situated directly opposite

the Amherst Crescent Post Office, and owner Ujai Sethi said: “It

will affect us drastically, and will basically shut us down as we

cannot compete with their prices”. Another small shop gone, and

another supermarket opens. If this Council are serious about their

comments on helping the High Street to survive, they need to do

more to stop major retailers putting small shops out of business.

PORTFOLIO 75

CITY news

KING ALFRED SAGA CONTINUESDevelopers are being asked to put forward plans for the re-development of the King Alfred Centre in Hove. B&H Council placed ads in Estates

Gazette, the property trade publication, asking for any interested developers to come forward with plans for 400 homes and a leisure centre

on the historic site. Last year the Council’s Policy and Resources Committee agreed that the mix of facilities should include a swimming pool,

teaching pool and children’s pool, a badminton hall with six courts, a bowls rink, a 70-piece gym, a workout studio and 180 parking spaces.

The council said: “Up to five firms will then be invited for more talks and will need to demonstrate their experience of handling such projects.

A shortlist of companies invited to tender will be issued in April 2015. They will be required to show designs for a leisure centre and enabling

development, prove its financial viability and demonstrate how the scheme would secure planning permission and be delivered. It is hoped

a preferred developer will be selected in Summer, 2015.”

Members of the cross-party King Alfred Project Board are Councillor Geoffrey Bowden, Councillor Andrew Wealls, Councillor Warren

Morgan and the Executive Director of the Brighton and Hove Economic Partnership, Tony Mernagh.

If it’s anything like Black Rock, Saltdean Lido or the Peter Pan Playground site, we can look forward to a decision in 2050!

And l still think there’s a chance that King Alfred is buried under the car park!

The University of Sussex has risen 10 places in an annual ranking of world universities and is recognised as one of the best 125 higher

education institutions globally for the fifth year running.

Sussex is 14th in the UK, 43rd in Europe and 111th in the world, according to the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings

2014-15, published on October 1st.

Sussex is also ranked among the world’s top 100 universities for studying physical sciences (89th) and social sciences (79th). The Vice-

Chancellor, Professor Michael Farthing, said: “It is good to see Sussex recognised once again as one of the very top institutions in the UK and

the world.

“We’ve shown remarkable adaptability in an increasingly competitive global environment – we’ve grown, innovated, and invested in our

future. These rankings show that it’s vital we continue on this path.”

The rankings are the most widely recognised and widely used among international students, research has found.

UNIVERSITY JOY

“Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character. But if you must be without one, be without the

strategy”

76 PORTFOLIO

CITY news

“Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it”

DRAGON BOATS CHILDREN’S CHARITY The sun shone at Brighton Marina as teams gathered recently for Rockinghorse Children’s Charity’s Dragon Boat Race 2014.

Fifeteen teams took part in the event to raise much-needed funds for the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital, of which Rockinghorse is the

official fundraising arm. Local businesses taking part included Brighton & Hove City Cabs, Priory Group, Dyn and Mishon Mackay.

Scores of supporters headed for Marina Square to cheer on competitors and soak up the late September sunshine. Following a three-way

battle between The Unsinkables, Priory Pirates and Brighton RNLI, the RNLI Brighton Lifeboat team proved to be on winning form and were

crowned 2014 Dragon Boat champions.

The event raised £25,000 for Rockinghorse Children’s Charity, including match-funding from Lloyds and Santander, which will be used

towards providing counselling sessions throughout 2015 for parents who have children on the High Dependency Unit (HDU) at the Alex.

Speaking after the event, Ryan Heal, CEO of Rockinghorse Children’s Charity, said:

“We are so pleased with the fantastic support shown at our 2014 Dragon Boat Race at Brighton Marina. Fifeteen teams took part on the day

and helped us raise an amazing amount of money, which really will make a difference to the lives of sick children and their families in Sussex.”

The Dragon Boat Race will return to Brighton Marina on Sunday, 27 September, 2015. www.rockinghorse.org.uk and all Sussex companies

should consider entering to raise money for a worthy cause and to give staff a great motivating day out.

PORTFOLIO 77

CITY news

PUSHING THE BOAT OUTSupporters of the Brighton Open Air Theatre (BOAT) are relieved that their project was given planning permission last week. The theatre

will be created by landscaping land currently occupied by a disused bowling green in Dyke Road Park in Hove. The work would include

building an acoustic wall and building terraces for the audience. The site is owned by the Council and would be operated as a theatre with

seating for 425 people.

The architects Miller Bourne said in a written submission to the committee: “When it is not in operation, which will be the majority of

the time, it will be a pleasant space to sit and relax.”

The project was the brainchild of Brighton playwright, theatre maker and construction manager Adrian Bunting, who died of pancreatic

cancer last year aged, 47.

Mr Bunting left his £18,000 life savings to the project. The BOAT committee has since raised more money as it looks to turn Mr Bunting’s

dream into a lasting legacy.

New figures show that Brighton is leading the way in the creation of new jobs. Having set out to help create 6000 jobs, official data shows

that the figure was smashed with the creation of 9,400 jobs between 2010 and 2014. This makes Brighton 38th in the top 100 Councils. The

growth came from sectors such as insurance, finance, culture, retail, digital and IT.

Councillor Geoffrey Bowden, Chairman of the City’s Economic Development and Culture Committee said: “This is very positive news for

the city: unemployment is down and the pace of jobs being created is growing. Brighton & Hove is among areas leading the country in terms

of private sector dynamism. We are out-competing London on a head-for-head basis, and we are very much punching above our weight”.

BRIGHTON LEADS THE WAY

“It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the ones most responsive to change”

78 PORTFOLIO

NATIONAL news

NATIONAL NEWSPlease note these are the personal views of our City Editor, Maarten Hoffmann

CHANCELLOR’S WARNING

MADE IN BRITAIN

The UK economy has been growing

strongly this year, with GDP rising by 0.9%

between April and June, following a 0.7%

rise in the previous quarter. We are now

growing faster than any other country in

the world.

Chancellor George Osborne has warned

that the UK economy will be affected by

the slowdown in the eurozone economy.

Talking to the BBC, he said this was a

“critical moment for the British economy”,

which was not “immune” from what was

happening on the continent.

The eurozone economy was stagnant

between April and June, with the German

economy - Europe’s biggest - shrinking by

0.2%.

Mr Osborne said there were steps the UK could take to protect itself.

“The eurozone risks slipping back into crisis and Britain cannot be immune from that; it’s already having an impact on our manufacturing

and exports,” he said.

Official figures published earlier this week showed that growth in the UK manufacturing sector slowed to 0.1% in August.

“We are not immune from what’s going on in the rest of the world, but we can take steps to protect ourselves,” the chancellor said.

“We must stick with our long-term economic plan, so delivering economic stability. We are cutting business taxes, making the UK a place

to invest, and that will protect jobs right here.”

Boasting that products are “Made in Britain” could add more than £2bn to the UK

economy, recent research from Barclays has shown. But it is not just the flag that

is valuable. It is the flavours.

Appetite for British branding is particularly strong in emerging markets, where

buyers are significantly more willing to pay a premium for British products than

people in developed nations. This trend matches ONS data showing that UK exports

to non-EU countries are growing at a much faster rate than exports to EU countries.

In July 2014, exports grew by £500m to non-EU markets, five times more than the

increase to EU countries.

PORTFOLIO 79

NATIONAL news

25 MINUTES

LIDO AT LAST

HMRC ARE AT IT AGAIN

According to research, it takes most home buyers only 25.5 minutes viewing a property before making a decision to purchase. Home hunters

spend less time buying the most expensive purchase they will ever make than watching an episode of EastEnders! The research found that one in

eight purchased a property without even seeing it. Meanwhile, one in five decided to buy within ten minutes or less. The study, by Barratt Homes,

suggests that we spend just seven and a half minutes more deciding to buy a home than we do on buying a new pair of jeans.

Saltdean Lido is at last moving forward. The Grade II listed building, built in 1937, has been on the English Heritage endangered building list for

far too long, and since the Saltdean Lido CIC finally got hold of the building last year, little has happened except further decay. Plans have been

submitted to the Council to remove the divider between the two pools and create one large 25m pool. The former paddling pool will be reinstated

with provision for a sand volleyball court, sand pit and children’s play area. Re-development of the main building is still delayed as the CIC has

still not submitted their Heritage Lottery Fund application. The Council need to move on this with a quick agreement to save this historic building.

Thousands of people will receive a second tax statement from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) after their first estimate was miscalculated.

More than five million taxpayers received an initial estimate because they paid the wrong amount of tax in the year to April. But HMRC said errors

had emerged in the process, mainly because it had received incomplete information from employers. Fewer than 100,000 people were affected,

HMRC said. An accountancy body has accused the tax authority of double standards over accuracy, and we should not forget that this is the same

HMRC that are demanding powers to smash and grab your bank account if they think you have not paid enough. If they make a mistake, you will

have to sue them for the return of the money, and these powers will require no court oversight. I don’t know why they just don’t take all our money

and just give us back what they think we should have.

The brand and logo of Apple have been named the most valuable in the world, worth nearly

$119bn (£80bn), or more than the entire gross domestic product of Morocco, Ecuador or Oman.

The Silicon Valley firm, already the world’s biggest company, with a stock market valuation

of $591bn, saw its brand value increase by a 21% over the past 12 months, according to the

closely-followed Interbrand Best Global Brands annual report.

Apple, which is recognised the world over by its simple “Apple with a bite missing” emblem,

led a surge of technology companies in this year’s report which has pushed more traditionally

valuable brands, such as Coca-Cola, McDonald’s and Gillette, down the table.

Google’s brand value rose by 15% to $107bn to take second place, followed by Coca-Cola, up

3% to $81.5bn, IBM ($72.2bn) and Microsoft ($45.5bn).

Facebook is the biggest riser in the chart, increasing its brand value by 86% to $14.3bn

and taking 29th place in the table ahead of longstanding global corporate names such as

Volkswagen, Kellogg’s and Ford.

THE BIG APPLE

“A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him”

Barcelona – Spain’s second city, and the

self-confident capital of Catalunya –

wears its cultural and political identity, as

well as its heart, on its sleeve. A thriving port,

prosperous commercial centre and buzzing

cultural capital of three million people, this is a

city that vibrates with life, style and energy.

Since the 1992 Olympics, Barcelona has

had a dynamic re-building programme and the

city is now as smart as any European capital.

Most evident perhaps are the 5 km of sandy

city beaches and the surrounding green parks,

gardens and waterfront walkways, which now

add a Mediterranean glamour to the city.

We wanted to make the most of this beach

city, and as a counterpoint to busy days of

sightseeing, we opted to stay in the trendy

Poblenou area, close to Mar Bella Beach, one of

the prettiest of the city beaches. Only 15 minutes

by Metro from the city centre, this was a perfect

spot in a vibrant and lively neghbourhood full of

cafes and artisan shops.

Barcelona proudly shows off a stunning

diversity of architecture – from the medieval

Barrio Gótico – one of Europe’s best-preserved

Gothic Quarters, to the Modernism of Antonio

Gaudí, the streets and avenues being literally

studded with fabulous modernist buildings by

Gaudi and his contemporaries.

In fact, if there is one building in the city to

which a visit is obligatory it has to be Antoni

Gaudi’s masterpiece,Temple Explorati de la

Sagrada Familia. Still under construction (your

entrance fee helps to fund the on-going process)

the visual impact is simply overpowering in its

uniqueness and endeavour. Just remember to

book online in advance to avoid the queues.

You can’t expect to visit all of Barcelona’s

many world-class museums and galleries

in one visit. Our must-do museum was the

celebrated Museu Picasso, but our wish-list for

future visits includes the Museu del Modernisme

Catalan, the Museu National d’Art de Catalunya,

(MNAC), the Museu d’Art Contemporani de

Barcelona (MACBA) and the Fundacio Miro.

As tourists we considered it our duty to visit

Las Ramblas. The famous thoroughfare, lined

with stalls, runs all the way from Port Vell up to

Plaça Catalunya, and is home to The Liceu Opera

House and La Boqueria – the city’s best-known

market with its vast range of fresh produce.

We loved wandering around the narrow

alleys and majestic squares of the Gothic

Quarter, culminating in viewing Barcelona’s

mighty cathedral, La Seu, one of the great Gothic

buildings of Spain. Head to the roof terrace for a

unique view of the city.

Barcelona has been enjoying a culinary

renaissance for some time and boasts some

of the most inventive cuisine in the world. You

don’t need to spend a fortune to enjoy great

food and wine here. Sometimes the best time

is to be had just soaking up the atmosphere of

this vibrant and cosmopolitan city in one of the

many lively bars or outdoor terraces.

Brilliant BarcelonaPerfect for a city break at any time, vibrant Barcelona has it all

“Barcelona has been enjoying a culinary

renaissance and boasts some of

the most inventive cuisine in the world”

All of life goes on out of doors in Barcelona;

so that, even as a visitor, you really feel part of

the city. And this is an easy city to navigate…

Use the plentiful taxis and the excellent Metro

service to get around, though we walked

everywhere in the city centre, to make the

most of the incredible architecture and the

atmosphere.

With so much to see and do in the city, it

was a welcome contrast to return to our

peaceful apartment by the beach where we

relaxed on the apartment’s sun terrace; or

at the beach, where we swam in the sea and

enjoyed evening drinks and snacks in the

many Chiringuitos. A highlight was a vast

Sunday Paella with friends in a beach-side

restaurant after a morning’s paddle-boarding.

We were too busy on this visit to leave the

city boundaries, apart from a very enjoyable

trip to the magnificent Camp Nou football

stadium, home to FC Barcelona.

Another time we will head out to Gaudi’s

fantasy park, Parc Guell; to Montjuïc, home

to the Olympic Stadium, and to Tibidabo, the

mountain-top amusement park backed by the

Collserola hills.

PORTFOLIO 81

TRAVEL

WE STAYED:

Just off the Rambla Poblenou, in a hidden gem

of a square opposite acclaimed fish restaurant

Els Pescadors. Our apartment had a must-have

outdoor space (a roof terrace) as well as being

5 minutes from Mar Bella Beach. We found our

apartment on Airbnb. www.airbnb.com

WE ATE:

Fantastic tapas in this popular friendly

restaurant with a pretty outdoor courtyard.

Fresh ingredients and inventive presentation.

El 58, Rambla Poblenou.

Gourmet ‘Tapas Gastronomique’ in ultra-smart

surroundings at Llabmer, Carrer de la Fusina.

Fresh and tasty food with fast and friendly

service in this standing-room-only central

tapas bar. Perfect for early-evening people-

watching. Quimet & Quimet, Carrer del Poeta

Cabanyes.

WE SHOPPED:

We love the traditional Spanish department

store experience at El Corte Inglés, including

the enormous delicatessen section, El Rincon

del Gourmet, located on the basement floor

of El Corte Inglés’ Plaça Catalunya store. We

headed to Portal de l’Angel and Passeig de

Gracia for high-end high street shops. There is,

of course, a Zara on every corner – and all the

Zara brands, from Bershka to Massimo Dutti.

WE PAMPERED:

We booked in for a Spa manicure and pedicure,

plus the Delux Garra Rufa Fish spa treatment

at AquaBliss Fish Spa, a divine oasis in the

heart of the city. AquaBliss Fish Spa, Calle

Condal, Barcelona

WE TRAVELLED:

We flew to Barcelona with Monarch, who offer

flights daily from Gatwick.

www.monarch.com

WHEN TO GO:

Summer is hot and busy, but that’s what

the beach is for. Just book everything to

avoid queues. In Spring and late Autumn

the weather is still warm, but the city is less

crowded. Also an ideal winter destination: it

is generally still warm enough to eat outside

even in December.

With thanks to:

www.roughguides.com

www.cntraveller.com

www.turismedebarcelona.eu

Images courtesy of © Turisme de Barcelona

THE DETAILS:

82 PORTFOLIO

BEAUTIFUL homes

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PORTFOLIO 83

SOCIAL event

The Platinum Club

The premier networking forum in the county,

The Platinum Club, met again recently at

The Grand Brighton. The event was packed

with a diverse array of eclectic business

leaders from across the region enjoying

fine Champagne and the finest canapés in

town. The service at The Grand Brighton was

impeccable as usual and plans are afoot

for a Grand/Platinum marquee at the Veuve

Clicquot Gold Cup Polo at Cowdray Park for a

member’s awayday next summer.

For more information contact

[email protected]

Andy Brett, Gemma King

Maarten Hoffmann, Hemantha Trevelyan, Fiona Anderson

Lynne Edwards, Joanne Whippy

Mark Tully, Sophia Lee-Spencer, Kate McCoy

John Kelly, Hanna Flack

Karim Mohamed, Sam Leonard, Pieter Grobbelaar, Robert Hanna

John Burroughes, David Edwards, Maarten Hoffmann

Lloyd Magee, Tony Rice, Martin Krawczyszyn

Pieter Grobbelaar, John Burroughes, Ian Trevett

BUSINESS lunch

English’s Restaurant & Oyster BarCity Editor Maarten Hoffmann eats out at English’s of Brighton

“Passing shoppers were enviously peering onto my plate to see what I was eating. A compliment to the chef”

BUSINESS lunch

English’s is housed in a building that

has stood since Edwardian times and

used to be three fisherman’s cottages.

The existing Oyster Bar used to be Brazier’s

fishmongers and the brass work and marble

display on the outside of the building are totally

original. In the early part of last century, Mr

English married one of the Brazier’s daughters

and the rest, as they say, is history.

Today, English’s is owned by the Leigh-Jones

family, who purchased it in 1945, and has

established itself as one of the most famous

seafood restaurants in the South of England.

And for good reason. I started with salt &

chilli pepper squid in lime yoghurt (£8.95) with

my guests partaking of pork rillettes with plum

chutney, toasted sour bread (£6.95) and lobster

croquettes (£4.95). With starters, I always

know when the food is good as conversation

halts for a moment or so whilst flavours are

savoured and appetites are sated. It was all

splendid with a very light batter on the squid

which is of paramount importance, excellent

rillettes and tasty croquettes, although it was

noted that the taste of lobster was a tad too

subtle. The rillettes were a little more pulled

pork but the sour bread really set it off.

Quite unbelievably for October, we were

sitting al fresco in the pretty courtyard area

with classical buskers playing and the hubbub

of people all around. This area of East Street

has a certain charm that is quite different to

so many other areas of town. But I digress…

Onto the main course, and I just had a taste

for meat – l know, l know, this sounds daft in

a superb seafood restaurant, but the other

two had fish so I decided to go AWOL and very

pleased l did. The Steak Diane (£24.95) was

absolutely fabulous with 28-day aged steak

from Redlands Farm in Sussex, cooked to

perfection (medium rare), succulent and moist

with a very delicate Diane sauce, hand cut chips,

and roasted carrots & seeds. The others enjoyed

roasted halibut with fondant potato and cockle

& crayfish sauce (£25.95) and half a lobster

thermidor (£21.45) with lemon mayonnaise.

You could never fault their lobster

and the cockle sauce was an

inspired addition to the

beautifully roasted

halibut, as fresh

as a daisy and

caught off

Brighton pier

that morning.

Even autumn

diners can eat

outside as the

front courtyard

offers an intimate

sheltered area, so

intimate in fact, that

passing shoppers were

enviously peering onto my

plate to see what I was eating. A

compliment to the chef perhaps, but a

slight distraction nevertheless.

Then a beautiful Russian lady

sat down close to me and

the passing irritation

all seemed a

distant memory.

Honestly, we

tried. We knew

we had to try

pudding but

there really

wasn’t too

much room left,

so we ordered the

old staple, crépes

suzette, which just

goes to prove that the

oldies are the goodies.

English’s of Brighton29/31 East StreetBrighton BN1 1HL01273 327980www.englishs.co.uk

“Quite unbelievably

for October, we were sitting al fresco in the pretty

courtyard area with classical

buskers playing”

PORTFOLIO 85

“So when they tinker with it and launch a new model, it takes cajones the size of a Panzer tank”

A LEGEND CONTINUESThe Volkswagen Golf seems to have been around since the Stone Age, and there cannot be a person in the country that has not owned one, or driven one, at some point in their lives. I remember being mightily impressed when they first launched the GTi – the first hot hatch and a car that defined the phrase

TECHNICAL STUFF:Price: From £16,775 - £22.995Performance: 0-60mph in 8.6 secs (2 litre)Top Speed: 138 mph (2 litre)Economy: Bluemotion 88.3 mpgEmissions: 85 – 165 g/km

The original GTi was fast, well-planted

and – shockingly for us Brits who up

to that time had to make do with the

miserable efforts of British Leyland, Ford

and Triumph – well-built and reliable. It sold

by the bucket load and forever changed our

expectation of new cars. So when they tinker

with it and launch a new model, it takes

cajones the size of a Panzer tank.

But then, they are Germans and if you can

rely on anyone to get it right, it is Stuttgart.

And they haven’t let us down; the new model is

excellent and continues the tradition of sound

engineering, unnerving reliability and high

levels of refinement. All Golfs are now turbo-

charged, and power starts with the 1.2, 1.4, 1.6

and 2 litre, and with the 1.4 and up, have the

clever knack of shutting down two cylinders

when you don’t need them to save fuel. I think

anything other than the 1.6 and 2.0 are a tad

underpowered, so that is where l would spend

my money, and they are both smooth and offer

plenty of punch.

The ride and handling are both sensational

with well-weighted steering and suspension

that offers a comfy ride and very little roll in

the corners. The larger engines are smooth

and refined, and the Blue Motion version is

remarkably fuel efficient, and with solid resale

values, this car is a very good long-term

prospect. Although the Audi A3 holds it value

even better and is cheaper to lease, l still

think the Golf would be a slightly better deal,

although it’s horses for courses. You pay your

money and make your choice.

Every model comes with stability control,

airbags all over the place, and the SE model

gets the new City Emergency Braking

system that, supposedly, applies the brake

automatically if it detects you are about to

crash at speeds below 19 mph. At 20, I guess

you’re on your own! Plenty of space for four

adults in comfort, and five if need be, and it has

a clever adjustable floor in the boot that allows

you to divide the luggage space in two and

reduces the load lip. There is not a lot those

dastardly clever designers have not thought

of. It also has the maximum 5 stars in the Euro

NCAP safety tests, so it’s great to know that

if you stuff it, you have an excellent chance of

walking away. And with kids in the back, this is

seriously important stuff.

The new Golf sits alongside the Audi A3 and

the BMW 1 Series, which are both seriously

good cars, so the choice comes down to which

one you prefer to drive and to look at as they

are pretty much equal in most other respects.

Difficult not to notice that all three cars are

German, proving yet again that if you want

quality, style and refinement in a mid-size car,

German is the only way to go.

They don’t come particularly cheap, but this

is cancelled out when you take into account

running costs and resale values, so plumping

for a cheaper model will, in the long run, cost

you more. I would go for the 1.6 petrol SE

model as that will give you everything you

really need and will prove the best model to

own when you come to sell it.

I always think that the game of golf is a good

walk spoiled. This Golf is a good walk replaced

with remarkable engineering and, if you insist,

you can get your golf bats in the boot!

Motoring Review: Maarten Hoffmann

“if you want quality, style and refinement in a mid-size car,German is the only way to go”

VOLKSWAGEN GOLF motoring

ISSUE 6 . 2014The independent business magazine for the South East

PLATINUM

PLATINUMPlus:

NatWest Funding Guide

Personal Finance Guide

International Trade

Legal Issues

Accountancy

Marketing

Commercial Property

Business Travel

Editorial Opinion

Expert Panel

Networking

Motoring

LORD SUGARSugar and Spice

IS THERE A CRISISIN CAREERS ADVICE?

FEATURE INTERVIEWS:nik aSkaroff of eMc

corporate finance

John BurrougheS of unigloBe

BENTLEY CONTINENTAL died and gone to heaven

excluSive Media SponSor for the gatwick diaMond BuSineSS awardS

the Big StorY

M: [email protected]

W. www.platinumbusinessmagazine.com

T: 07966 244046

PORTFOLIO 89

POLITICS

The first thing I’ll be doing with business

in mind, if I’m elected as part of a

Labour government next year, will be

making sure that we get the economy back

on track. The past four years of double-

dip recession followed by sluggish growth

haven’t been good for anyone and I want to

see a healthy, growing economy for starters.

As someone who runs my own business,

I know that it can be a struggle at times so

I want to see a business strategy that puts

small firms, home based enterprises, and

start-ups at its core rather than favouring the

bigger firms. Freelancers too are increasingly

a vital part of the work economy.

Living and working in Brighton, it’s obvious

that small businesses are the lifeblood of the

city economy and significant employers too.

That’s why it’s important that we shop locally

as much as we can to support our region. I

have already been out and about meeting

small businesses in Brighton Kemptown

and Peacehaven so I know that we’ve got a

staggering array of innovative and diverse

small firms and producers around here.

But despite such variety, it’s too often

just the big businesses and multinational

companies that are getting the perks. I want

to see some of the huge companies that

aren’t paying their fair share of taxes putting

a lot more into the pot. After all, they rely

on our education system, NHS, road and rail

infrastructure and its only right they pay to

support all that.

I’m also fed up with their excuses. Some

multinationals may not be breaking the law,

but the law is certainly broken. I’ll be calling

for tighter tax regulations for tax avoiding big

businesses.

It’s the same with the banks. We bailed

out the banks and recapitalised them with

quantitative easing but it seems to me that

they haven’t played fair with SMEs since. In

particular, small businesses I speak to have

been crying out for lending and financial

support.

It could be money to grow the business,

invest in equipment, stock or staff, or it could

be an overdraft to help keep on top of cash

flow. The banks must be forced to lend again

to viable and responsible businesses. I’ve had

enough of their excuses and I expect a Labour

government to crack the whip there too.

Another issue I’ll be campaigning on,

and this won’t be popular with all business

owners, is the Living Wage. Ed Miliband

has committed a Labour government to

introducing an £8 minimum wage by 2020

(the over 21 rate rose to £6.50 at the start of

October) but I’m impatient.

Here in the South East, I hope businesses

will strive to get to an £8 hourly wage sooner.

Not least because so many people are really

struggling to make ends meet as prices go up

but wages don’t. I’m particularly concerned

about younger people who are often working

really hard but struggling to pay rocketing

rents.

Politicians and political parties certainly

don’t have all the answers so I want to

hear more from SMEs and business people

(especially in the Brighton Kemptown and

Peacehaven constituency) In June, I brought

Toby Perkins MP, our Shadow Minister for

Small Business, down to Brighton. Local

entrepreneurs and business owners from all

industries took part in roundtable discussions

about what they want to change in business

and this has informed our policy. Please do

keep in touch, because I want to understand

exactly what the issues are that affect you.

I’m looking forward to meeting you.

Nancy Platts, Labour MP Candidate - Brighton Kemptown, and Peacehaven

Nancy Platts Labour MP

E: [email protected]

IF YOU ARE RE-ELECTED, WHAT BENEFIT WILL YOU BRING TO BUSINESS IN YOUR AREA?

90 PORTFOLIO

BEAUTIFUL homes

THE CBI HAS DECLARED THAT CAREERS

ADVICE IS IN CRISIS. WHAT DO THEY MEAN BY

THAT AND WHAT WOULD YOUR REACTION BE?

I think there’s a common misunderstanding

about what careers advice is, and it’s very

often seen as a one-to-one interview and

nothing else. I’d actually argue that career

development and support, particularly for

young people, is made up of three elements:

• It’s made up of good careers education that’s

planned into the curriculum, which is about

individuals identifying what they’re good at,

developing self-confidence and self-esteem.

• The second part of that is about experience

of work in all its forms. This includes work

placements, employers coming in and talking

on a first-hand basis about jobs.

• And then the third part of that three-legged

stool is around the careers guidance element.

At the CDI we’re very concerned that current

policy has emphasised the experience of work

over and above the proper intervention of the

careers professional. So I think the CBI is very

much talking about that. There isn’t a strong

intervention from a careers professional, and

it isn’t in the context of a strong curriculum and

experience of work.

CAREERS ADVICE HAS FUNDAMENTALLY

CHANGED, WITH SCHOOLS OFTEN TAKING

CARE OF THEIR OWN CAREERS ADVICE NOW.

IS THAT CORRECT?

Yes, that’s right. The statutory duty moved

and I think that is widely acknowledged as

a serious flaw in public policy. In moving the

responsibility from local authorities, there

When the summer exam results were announced, Katja Hall, CBI Deputy Director-General, was scathing on

the effectiveness of careers advice in schools:

“The shift of responsibility for careers advice to schools has been a failure. Schools, Government and

businesses all have a role to play in fixing the problem; it cannot be shouldered by schools alone...”

So what is the state of careers advice in 2014? Ian Trevett met with Karen O’Donoghue, the President of The

Career Development Institute (CDI), which is the voice of the career development sector, to find out.

IS CAREERS ADVICE IN CRISIS?

PORTFOLIO 91

CAREER development institute

has also been a loss of funding. There was

a significant disappearance of millions of

pounds, which was formerly invested through

the Connexions Service.

Connexions wasn’t just about offering

careers advice, it was also working with

young people who were unemployed, looking

at removing the barriers, and improving

employability skills. It wasn’t always about

providing the best possible careers guidance.

It was more around social skills and dealing

with some very hard-to-reach young people.

And in that context it did an exceptionally good

job, I think.

With schools taking over, they’ve got no

resources yet they’ve got a responsibility.

They haven’t necessarily got the experience of

providing careers services and they haven’t got

a local authority service to go to directly. There

is very little in terms of regulation about what

a qualified careers guidance advisor looks like.

Many schools have done very well. But the

OFSTED review last year identified that only

one in five schools were actually delivering

the new statutory duty. It isn’t a criticism of

schools, it’s a criticism of policy.

DO SCHOOLS HAVE TOO MUCH ON THEIR

PLATE ALREADY?

Schools will prioritise the other criteria that

the government requires of them. So they are

prioritising hitting five A* to Cs. Or they might be

prioritising moving students into Sixth Form.

So they might be able to generate extremely

high standards but they’re not necessarily

generating people who are either work ready

or, more properly, career-resilient, by which I

mean they’ve got the management skills that

they need to make choices for themselves.

DO YOU FIND THE CBI’S INTERVENTION QUITE

HELPFUL IN THAT CASE?

I think I would comment that a number of

employer bodies are very helpful in promoting

career development. The Federation of Small

Businesses and The British Chambers of

Commerce have also commented that young

people are just not ready.

Going back to my first point which was

around the public understanding of what

career development services is: I do worry

because I represent a professional body

for practitioners – I do worry that there is a

suggestion that actually if you put employers

in front of a classroom that young people will

be inspired and they will suddenly realise

all the world of opportunity that is available

to them. I worry about the idea that this one

interaction with an employer will change years

of stereotyping and facilitate social mobility

for all as well as economic prosperity.

IT HAS OFTEN BEEN SAID THAT THE JOBS

THAT PEOPLE HAVE IN FIVE YEARS’ TIME

MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN INVENTED YET. SO

HOW CAN YOU OFFER ADVICE TO A YOUNG

PERSON WHEN THE WORLD CHANGES SO

FAST?

At the CDI we are passionate about ensuring

that everybody understands what being a

careers professional looks like. And for us

there are lots of different people who are

practising now who are really professional.

But in order to give really strong guidance,

they have to be graduate level and we believe

that they should be a registered practitioner.

That means that not only have they got a

qualification, they’ve also got a code of ethics

and they’ve also demonstrated an ongoing

Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

which you’d expect from any professional.

A strong element of the qualification is

that the practitioner understands labour

market information, they understand what

is going on in the world of work. They won’t

understand every single job in every single

sector throughout the whole of the UK. But

they will understand labour market trends

and they will most importantly understand

where information can be gleaned to stay up-

to-date. And that’s a critical part. It isn’t about

counselling, it isn’t about having a cosy chat.

It’s about bringing that dimension about the

world of work.

It is also about developing career

management skills, it’s understanding

strengths and weaknesses, it’s understanding

personal motivation, it’s looking at how to

find information and to be self-directed in

sorting that information. It’s about looking at

what the barriers might be as well. So it is

around career management skills which are

transferable. And I think that that’s what’s

really important, that we’re talking about

developing transferable skills in schools which

will last a lifetime. It’s too much of a truism to

say the world of work is changing rapidly and

nobody has a job for life, all those things. So

we’ve got to have those skills to make sure that

if somebody wants to change their job, change

their career, are made redundant, looking for a

promotion – how do you do it? And those things

should be embedded pre-16.

THE POLICIES ON CAREER DEVELOPMENT

VARY ACROSS THE FOUR HOME NATIONS. WHY

IS THIS?

In Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland

there is a publically funded all-age career

service and they do widely respect careers

practitioners. They ensure that they’re all

signed up and paid-for members of the CDI,

because we’re a professional body and it’s

reflective of their professional practice.

In England there is a view that schools

should be almost wholly autonomous. Now I’m

not making a point about that, I neither agree

nor disagree. But I do think that schools need

to be properly funded to make the choices

that they want. They are funded in a number

of different ways but they are definitely not

funded to deliver careers guidance.

What there is, though, in England is a

National Careers Service which is specifically

for adults, and the National Careers Council

for England has on a number of occasions now

called for an extension of the responsibilities

of the National Careers Service to work with

young people.

IF YOU WERE THE MINISTER, WHAT WOULD

YOU DO?

I would like to ensure that there was an all-age

careers service that was free or subsidised to

“At the CDI we’re very concerned that current policy has emphasised the experience of work over and above the proper intervention of the

careers professional.”

92 PORTFOLIO

CAREER development institute

all those who needed it. And I think that’s an

important point: It’s not for everybody, it’s for

those who need it.

SO DO YOU TAKE THE EMPHASIS AWAY FROM

SCHOOLS?

No, I think it should be a partnership with

schools. The current mantra goes that schools

know their students best and know what they

need. And I agree with that. But schools equally

are focussed largely inwards and on the needs

of their students and not outwards and what’s

happening in work. And so they need to have

that support. I would put back the statutory

responsibility for work-related learning.

I would strengthen the inspection regime

to make sure that there was independent,

impartial careers guidance that was going in

from somebody who was CDI registered at

Level 6 and make sure that that was properly

inspected.

YOU SAY IT’S RECOGNISED THAT WAS

PROBABLY A BAD MOVE. DO YOU THINK THE

CURRENT GOVERNMENT RECOGNISES THIS

OR DO THEY STILL STAND BY THE POLICY?

A few years ago, the Minister, John Hayes, was

very supportive and I think he understood the

power, the social benefits and the economic

impact of careers guidance, and it was he

who drove the establishment of the National

Careers Council for England. He started

talking about the profession being a graduate

profession, and there is a legacy from what he

said.

We’re positive that Nick Boles, the new Minister

of State for the Department for Business,

Innovation and Skills and the Department for

Education, understands the agenda, and he has

announced that he was accepting the National

Careers Council recommendation to establish

an employer-led advisory body which would

talk directly to ministers. He’s committed that

it’s going to be employer-led and that they’re

looking for a high profile employer to chair that

group. It will include representatives from the

careers sector and from education, and I think

that will be very powerful. And I think that’s a

really positive step.

There was never a golden age of the careers

services, so it’s wrong to look back. But I

think we need a champion who doesn’t say,

‘Well, my careers advice at school was awful,

and therefore it must still be awful now 30

years later.’ I think that’s an inappropriate

and inaccurate portrayal of what we did.

Our responsibility in the CDI is to raise the

public awareness of what actually career

development is about, and that’s a very big

challenge because it isn’t just about that

careers intervention.

Careers guidance intervention is about

that whole raft of activities, and we in the

sector have got a responsibility to make

sure that people understand that and to help

government make the right decisions. We can’t

simply step back and criticise them for it.

That’s why we’ve been developing links with

the CBI, with the Chambers of Commerce, with

CIPD and the Federation of Small Businesses

because we know how important the voices of

employers are to government but also are to

young people and adults making choices.

“I would like to ensure that there

was an all-age careers service that was free or subsidised

to all those who needed it.”

www.thecdi.net

PORTFOLIO 93

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN THE SEARCHES

BUSINESS?

I set up Searches UK in 2008. Searches UK

provide solicitors and conveyancers with

a full range of residential and commercial

conveyancing searches which are required on

property transactions.

WAS THIS YOUR FIRST CHOICE OF CAREER?

I have always been involved in the property/

legal arena. When I left school I worked in estate

agency for 12 years before deciding to join a

firm of solicitors, which also involved speaking

to and working with estate agents. It was whilst

working here and seeing the speed and service

of search companies that I decided to leave

and set up my own search business with the

vision of enhancing the search proposition for

solicitors and conveyancers, and ultimately

benefitting the property purchaser(s). Having

an insight into various areas of the property

industry has allowed me to model Searches

UK on my experience, which benefits everyone

involved.

YOU ARE THE BOSS! WHAT DO YOU LOVE OR

HATE ABOUT THAT?

I love Searches UK and love and value the

fantastic team that I work with. I strongly

believe that happy staff means happy clients,

and I do feel we have the best team in the

search industry. All of our staff love, yes, I mean

love, what they do. They enjoy coming to work

and enjoy working with our clients. It really

doesn’t get better than that.

DO YOU BELIEVE IN HAVING FUN WITH YOUR

STAFF?

Yes I do. As well as attending various events,

including the Sussex Business Awards, Law

Society dinners and estate agents balls we

arrange team-building activities, meals out,

nights out and more. I like to reward the team

for the effort and hard work they put into the

business.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB?

I liked to work when I was young so that I could

earn money for things like a ZX Spectrum! My

first job was a morning paper round; I then

also added an evening paper round, and then

thought I could squeeze in a Saturday job, so

got a job washing cars at a car showroom in

Lancing!

DID YOU NEED QUALIFICATIONS FOR YOUR

PROFESSION?

My background in the property field has given

me a very good understanding of the business.

As a company, Searches UK are accredited

by COPSO (Council of Property Search

Organisations), follow the Search Code and

additionally have gained (for 3 years running)

the Legal Eye Quality Standard.

DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY AT WORK FOR YOU.

My days vary. I spend a large amount of time

seeing clients around the country, attending

conferences and seminars, helping out in the

office, ensuring the staff are happy, and so on.

No day is the same, and I love that!

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB?

I enjoy working with a fantastic bunch of people

and am so proud to have them working WITH

me at Searches UK.

IS NETWORKING IMPORTANT FOR YOUR

BUSINESS?

Yes, networking is a very important part of the

business, and as a company we spend a lot of

time attending various events, breakfast clubs,

seminars and conferences around the country.

WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW

UP?

Whilst at school I wanted to be a travel agent.

I don’t think this was to do with working in a

local shop, but more to do with getting cheap

holidays!

Searches UK, Unit 2

Gemini Business Centre

136-140 Old Shoreham Road

Hove, BN3 7BD

0845 2411815

www.searchesuk.co.uk

CAREER LADDERThis month we speak to Andrew Stenning about his career journey

Andrew Stenning is Managing Director at Searches UK, a national conveyancing search provider.

94 PORTFOLIO

BEAUTIFUL homes

PORTFOLIO 95

SOCIAL event

NatWest Brighton Venus Awards

Nat West were delighted to be the Title

Sponsor of the Brighton Venus Awards 2014.

Into its second year the Venus Awards took

centre stage once again. The extremely

glamorous and exclusive social event of

the business calendar, the Venus Awards

Ceremony [dubbed the Working Women’s

Oscars,] held court in the magnificent Grand

Hotel on Friday, October 17th, 2014.

96 PORTFOLIO

CELEBRITY interview

THE UNSTOPPABLE DAVINASussex local Davina McCall talks to Portfolio about her gruelling charity work and her plans for the future

Throughout her career, when not

being the charismatic presenter of

some of the most iconic television of

her generation, Davina McCall has always

been a vocal advocate of giving to charity. In

2014, she has combined both those facets

of her life and taken them to the extreme.

Fresh from being the face of Channel 4’s

Stand Up to Cancer, the 47-year-old has

spent the year “combining two things that

I love: charity and getting fit”.

In this instance, “getting fit” might be

something of an understatement. In March,

the Sussex-born McCall, who still lives

in the area with her husband Matthew

Robertson and their three children,

undertook a gruelling 500-mile cycle, swim

and run for BBC Sport Relief: a monumental

feat of endurance that raised £2,239,931.

She calls it “her biggest ever achievement”.

It was also an emotional whirlwind.

“I did cry non-stop during the challenge,”

she smiles, “but I also laughed a lot; I had

the time of my life, an amazing, amazing

time. But I did cry a lot and I was so tired

that if something moved me or somebody

was kind to me, I just didn’t have the

strength to hold it back. So if somebody

gave me a hug or said ‘I know it must be

difficult, are you missing your kids?’ it

would just start me off again”.

Her body “took a battering” from which

she is “still recovering” and she “doesn’t

think I could do such a big challenge again”

but it hasn’t put her off getting involved

in causes close to her heart. As she does

annually, McCall was recently involved in

Action DIVA, a series of ladies’ charity bike

rides in Sussex. “Action Medical Research

is a very quiet charity but it does amazing

stuff, funds amazing research that

changes children’s lives all over the world.

My health specialist told me I couldn’t take

part this year, I really missed it but I drove

the route and wound down the windows

and was screaming at everybody to ‘keep

going”.

Photography credit: Sportrelief.com

“The 47-year-old has spent

the year combining two

things that I love: charity

and getting fit”

CELEBRITY interview

McCall gives the impression of a fitness

fanatic, but she scoffs when asked if she missed

her vocation by not pursuing a life in sport.

“Oh God, no, and do you know what’s funny

– I didn’t even think about getting fit until I was

about 30. I used to dance in nightclubs non-stop

till I was 25, 26!” Besides, she wouldn’t swap her

career for anything.

“I’ve got the greatest job ever and I’m very

lucky to have a work-life balance that most

working mums don’t. I can get that balance

wrong, which makes me sad sometimes, but I

love what I do.”

Which is just as well, because in her

presenting roles for Million Pound Drop, Long

Lost Family and Got To Dance, McCall is as busy

as ever. “I feel like I’m at an age where lots is

happening, I could do lots of different things,

I’m feeling really excited about the future at the

moment, like there is a seismic shift in my life. I

quite like it when life is like that!”

“Action Medical Research is a very quiet

charity, but it does amazing

stuff”

“I didn’t even think about getting fit until I was about 30”

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*Terms & Conditions apply. 18’s and over. The financing offer applies in the United Kingdom only until 31st December 2014 on all Bang & Olufsen products with a RRP of more than £1,699. BeoVision Avant 55”: RRP £5,995, Motorised floor stand: RRP £1,195, energy class C. The price excludes installation. BeoVision 11 40”: RRP £4,195, Easel stand: RRP £365, energy class C. The price excludes installation. BeoLab 18: RRP £4,535. This price example is based on a pair of loudspeakers with wooden front panel and floor stand. BeoPlay A9: RRP £1,699.

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BeoVision Avant 55”

From £199.58 per monthwith motorised floor stand

over 24 months with a deposit of £2,400

BeoVision 11 40”From £152.00 per monthover 24 months with a 20% deposit

BeoLab 18From £151.16 per monthover 24 months with a 20% deposit

BeoPlay A9From £56.63 per monthover 24 months with a 20% deposit

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portfolio nov/dec 2014

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