The Brighton Chamber Podcast

Richard Robinson, best-selling author of 20 books on popular science and the founder of Brighton Science Festival, talks about the brilliance of science, applying it to the workplace and his latest project: My Manager and Other Animals.

Our September speaker, Andy Winter, the Chief Executive of Brighton Housing Trust reveals insights into his background, from his childhood in apartheid South Africa to his early days working for BHT. Andy also discusses his motivations for working in social care and homelessness, as well as the challenges he faces as a Charity Chief Executive.

Penny Thompson, Chief Executive of Brighton and Hove Council talks to the Chamber about her life and how she got to where she is now

Brighton Summit 2014; interview with keynote Rob Forkan from Gandys flipflops by Miranda Birch at the Brighton Chamber 'Come On An Adventure Business Summit'

As MD of Propellernet, Nikki Gatenby spent 20 years working in advertising agencies in London and Paris before returning to her roots in Sussex in recent times. Based in the heart of the Lanes in Brighton, Propellernet is a digital marketing agency, providing high quality services to the travel, fashion, retail and financial sectors. Nikki has always loved learning new skills and currently holds qualifications from Kingston University, London Business School and Cranfield University. In addition to running a commercially successful business, Nikki also focuses on ensuring that her workplace is a calm and happy place for her staff. This concern and her investment in staff welfare has resulted in Propellernet winning numerous awards: under Nikki's watch, Propellernet was voted Best Place to Work in the UK, 2013 by the Great Places to Work Institute and The Guardian. Nikki herself was awarded Managing Director of the Year by the Brighton and Hove Business Awards in June this year. But that's not all: Propellernet was awarded the accolade of European Search Agency of the Year, 2013 in the European Search Awards. Propellernet also holds an Investors in People Health and Wellbeing status - a real coup, not least due to the company's relatively small size. Outside working hours, Nikki's boundless energy supports her love of scuba diving, fast cars, helicopters and motorbikes! This business breakfast features Nikki talking about making life better - for her customers AND her staff and how to harness your dreams to turn them into reality. She's a powerful believer in the positive and talks about grabbing life with both hands so that the future really is ours to create.

Martyn Evans is the Creative Director at Cathedral Group, a specialist mixed-use property development company based in an 18th Century listed church in SE1. Martyn is leading the creative process of developing a new and exciting part of the city, intended to contribute significantly to the economic growth of Brighton and Hove, where the old municipal market building is in Circus Street, Brighton. Martyn is primarily responsible for Cathedral Group's creative direction and marketing across our portfolio of development projects and is heavily involved in the Circus Street project. He is often called upon to judge industry awards such as Architect of the Year Awards, sponsored by BD Magazine, and The AJ Small Projects Awards. Before joining the Cathedral board in 2011, Martyn ran a successful branding and communications consultancy working in the property, regeneration and urban design sectors with a particular focus on regeneration through creative industry and cultural engagement.

Like Lord Sugar many local business owners are discovering the benefits of hiring an apprentice. At this breakfast we hear from three member businesses who have taken on apprentices about how it has affected their business. Pete Jenkins is Director of e-Advantage Solutions Ltd and Entrepreneur in Residence at the University of Brighton. Pete took on his first Apprentice two years ago and says "I was too busy to take on new business and knew I needed staff. Taking on my Apprentice enabled me to increase sales in that first year by 72%. I have since taken on 2 interns from the University too." Al Tredinnick is CEO and Sales Director for Digicave a high tech digital agency in Brighton. "Because our work is so complicated and our clients so demanding we didn't think hiring a PA through the apprenticeship scheme would work. As soon as we saw the calibre of the candidates we realised that it would be fine. We hired our apprentice for a full time position and can't imagine the company without her now." Carol Lewis is one of the directors who set up Bainbridge Lewis Accountants 3 years ago. "It was really scary taking on our first employee but our apprentice has been a massive asset to the business and we are planning to take on another apprentice in the Summer." They discuss what prompted them to take the plunge; how they've managed the process and what they've learnt, about what they looked for in their first recruit and what finally made them feel confident enough to say 'You're hired!'.

What advice would you give new Manchester United Manager David Moyes? There's one man in this city very well placed to answer that question: Martin Harris. He's just taken on the post of MD at Brighton and Hove Buses; 'the bus industry equivalent of following Sir Alex at Old Trafford'. Roger French made Brighton and Hove Buses the most successful 'club' in the 'premier league' of British bus companies so, like Moyes, Martin says he expects the two most common phrases he'll hear for many months will be "big shoes to fill" and "tough act to follow". He shares the same values as both French and Ferguson: loyalty, taking the long view and working strategically but he already has exciting plans to build the company further, improve customer service and to introduce new innovations. At this breakfast we hear how Martin plans to balance keeping the faith of the existing faithful whilst bringing his own stamp and style increasingly into play. Martin already has fourteen years experience of working in Brighton (11 of them working for Roger French in the 80's and 90's) giving him a distinct advantage over David Moyes. He also explains why, after many years experience of managing bus brands in the North East, this was the one job that could tempt him away.

Chamber breakfast with guest speaker Jonathan Markwell in conversation with Steve Bustin. Any businessperson knows that belonging to a community can be vital to business success. Software developer Jonathan Markwell has focused on building these communities both online with sites such as How Sociable, and is well known in Brighton for building the offline workspace community at The Skiff. Jonathan talks about the entrepreneurial spirit needed to found and grow several businesses of his own and how he's used his knowledge to work with start-up businesses in Chile. He also tells us about how his ability to spot a new online trend meant he was the very first British user of Twitter and why he's leaving the world of entrepreneurialism behind to return to employment for the first time in seven years! Business Breakfasts are held monthly at Carluccio's and draw in a wide range of businesses from Brighton and beyond. With lots of opportunities for networking and a thought-provoking business speaker, it's the best breakfast most of us will have in a month. The early start fits in with your working day and, if you're new to the Chamber, our Ambassadors are on hand to ease you in.

Joel Virgo was born and raised in Brighton and Hove and has been living back in the city since 2006, following moving away for study at Newcastle University and subsequently a number of years working as a history teacher in the North East and East Anglia. Since 2001 Joel has been working in church leadership and now leads CCK, one of the largest and most diverse community organisations in the City of Brighton and Hove, with people from all parts of society and many different ethnic backgrounds represented. Joel has taken time to transition and remodel the organisation, seeking to help it communicate with relevance to new groups of people that traditionally faith groups wouldn't engage with. In recent years they've seen many students and young people get involved and have also opened new venues in two, soon to be three, locations across the city. Also CCK is increasingly exploring and developing ways to serve and contribute, in partnership with other key groups and individuals, to the welfare and prosperity of the city and surrounding areas. Joel is regularly invited to speak in Leadership contexts around the UK and further afield. In particular Joel is sought after to talk on how to communicate with relevance in a contemporary world, how to manage large-scale organisational change and how to create a culture of multiplication. Here Joel will shares his story, littered with failures as well as successes, as he addresses issues of leadership transition, team selection and development and creating a culture of multiplication.

Come along and meet some of the Brighton winners and judges of the 2012 Sussex Business Awards and be amongst the first to hear of the new Brighton and Hove Business Awards being launched this month. We hear from two past winners: Michael Yeoman, South Downs Solar and Keivn Berry, Sussex Cricket Ground as well as Sussex Business Awards judge, Karen Lord.

Richard Robinson worked in TV for many years, as a founding member of Spitting Image and creating the puppet characters in several children's programmes, including The Riddlers. He was also a busker for almost as long, starting the Covent Garden buskers pitch. He has written twenty science books, including 'Why the Toast Always Lands Butter-side Down'. Richard set the Brighton Science Festival up eight years ago and has never looked back, he says, in the way that someone climbing a dangerous mountain never looks back. What pulls him up is the astonishing discoveries that are revealed daily and the pleasure of sharing them. What pulls him back is the ludicrous lifestyle and the imminence of bankruptcy. At this breakfast Richard talks about omniscience: what happens when you know too much? History is littered with the trembling remains of people who not only knew too much but also suffered for it: Galileo, Darwin, Brunel, Hooke, or in mythology Odin and Cassandra... Big names, but what about you? When one morning you realise you know more about running the office than everyone else there, do you incite the wrath of the gods? Richard Robinson offers a stark choice.

Within Sight Training is one of the UK's leading hypnosis training companies training people in hypnotherapy, counseling and psychotherapy. It was formed four years ago by Jill Wootton who had become a hypnotherapy trainer and established practitioner after leaving her job as exhibition director at Reed. In 2011 Sara Maude joined Within Sight training to study a Diploma in hypnotherapy and psychotherapy whilst working in the commercial world as a Human Resources Manager. It was at this stage that both recognised how valuable the knowledge and leading edge techniques taught on the Diploma would benefit people in the business world, it was from here their idea to take Within Sight into that world was born. Both Sara and Jill have been on life changing journeys, leaving the Corporate world to follow their instincts and launch their own businesses. While their knowledge of the business world has served them well, it is their underlying passion to help people become empowered to manage their own health and well being that drives them forward. As stress levels soar and threaten to become the single biggest challenge of the 21st Century there has never been a greater time for people to have the knowledge and skills to take the reins of their own emotional wellbeing and become masters of their destiny. Sara and Jill talk about the journey that took them to the launch of the new arm of the business; sharing how some key mile stones in 2012 have got them to where they are now, as well as what 2013 will see them aiming for.

If you like coffee and live in Brighton and Hove, chances are you've come across Small Batch Coffee. They import and roast all their own coffee in small batches (hence the name!) garnering huge praise and huge numbers of loyal customers. With outlets at both Brighton and Hove stations, 3 coffee shops and stockists all over the city, they've certainly made a splash in the area. At this breakfast, owner Brad Jacobsen are interviewd by Steve Bustin, media trainer and former BBC broadcast journalist and owner of Vada Media. He and Brad talk about the hard work that built the company. Brad also discusses taking his necessary leap of faith, borrowing £20,000 from a friend to buy a coffee roaster... and having to work 3 jobs to keep him going while he mastered the art of not burning each batch! From the challenges he faced when he realised he'd launched a business in the middle of a recession, to finally securing his perfect premises after hoping it would become vacant for two years, we hear all about the Small Batch journey, including how they held their first shareholder meeting-cum-Christmas party in Burger King...

After a combined 18 years In Teaching and IT recruitment best friends Paul Munton and Tony Mead decided to bring an end to their frustrating careers and take the plunge with a new venture. 'I know, why don't we quit our jobs and buy a nice little B and B near the seaside, should be easy, right?' At this breakfast Tony and Paul present the inspiring and humourous account of their journey from buying the old-school Diana House, a run-down, dated and struggling B and B, in June 2006 to its transformation into the award winning Snooze Guest House. Without the unlimited resources of a big chain they've had to be creative and imaginative in every aspect of the project. They developed a talent for salvaging hidden gems and pieces from bygone eras and transformed them into 'snoozed-up' furnishings that set them apart from the competition. This was no one-stop shop at Ikea; It's taken blood, sweat, a few tears and all their heart and soul to get to where they are today. They talk about their vision to bring a fresh new style to Brighton's tourist map and how they managed to stand out from the crowd. They also talk about how they've created a unique brand: Snooze is about attitude, the atmosphere and the way they run things. Creating an award-winning business has required risk-taking, huge sacrifices, working tirelessly and to top it off, they've had 4 children between them during this time! Come and join the Snooze boys and listen to their success story complete with full on Fawlty Towers moments at the beginning, their rapid progression, TV appearances, success stories and even their current frustrations on how to expand their innovative project. After all Snooze is not just any old B and B it's a way of life...

Yummy Lollies Ltd is a small independent business which grew out of an idea sparked in 2007 by hot summer weather and hungry children! As parents of young children Sarah and Zoe were met with many requests for ice lollies while at the park. Unable to find anything which wasn't laden with sugar, colours and E-numbers, a business plan was hatched and Yummy lollies was born; a small independent business which produces and markets healthy ice lollies for adults and children. At first all products were handmade but by 2010 demand had grown so much that they couldn't supply quickly enough and manufacturing was outsourced, allowing production volumes to increase by 300%! The first 'yummy' stockists were found by (quite literally!) knocking on doors. Delis and cafes in Brighton signed up straight away and they now have over 1000 stockists all over the UK including National Trust sites, Bella Italia Restaurants, selected Waitrose stores, The Eden Project, Cook and English Heritage sites. At this inspirational breakfast Sarah and Zoe talk about how they've grown their idea into a cool, award winning business and how they've come up with a novel way to combat the seasonality of their product by working with businesses ranging from Monarch Airlines to Bing and Google (here's a tip: ice lollies are the latest must-have branding tool!)

Piglet's Pantry is just a year old, set up by Jo Philips a passionate chef, owner and Pie Queen to Brighton and Hove Albion FC. Join her on the Piglet journey to find out how they went from a small delicatessen in Shoreham-by-Sea to running a large production unit in Worthing. Jo shares with you her vision, some of the pitfalls, the highs and lows - how to navigate one of the most difficult financial markets we have seen in the UK and most importantly how to grow your ideas into a great business. On the way, Jo shares some of the Piglet secrets, about how and when to engage online - how to use free advertising and media to your advantage and how to make noise about your business without it costing you a penny. So come and join in the Piglet fun, be inspired and 'pig out' at breakfast.

Neil Laughton is the Founder and CEO of the Business Leadership Academy, Founder and Director of City Airways, Founder of Bridge to Enterprise, Non-Executive Director of Berghind Joseph and Chief Leader of Project New Horizons, an annual programme of youth development for kids in the Care System (NEET's). He started out as a Royal Marine Commando and SAS officer then founded, developed and sold his businesses to a FTSE 100 company in 2011. In his spare spare time (apparently he has some) he leads adventurous expeditions all over the world. He has completed the Explorers Grand Slam - climbing the highest mountain on each continent including Mt. Everest and skiing to both the Geographic North and South Poles. Neil has also made twelve first ascents in Greenland, trekked unsupported across South Georgia, circumnavigated the UK on a jet-ski and piloted the world's first road legal bio-fuelled flying car 10,000 km from London to Timbuktu including a flight over the Straits of Gibraltar and across the Sahara Desert. Now he's found time to speak at this Chamber breakfast: expect to find out the origins of his passion for extraordinary expeditions, whether he gets the same 'buzz' from his business adventures and where his next journey will take him.

Will McInnes is a passionate voice on 21st century business and how the internet is radically changing our personal behaviour, our organizations and our society. His new book Culture Shock provides an inspirational guide for better ways to do business in the 21st century. The company he founded, NixonMcInnes, is a pioneering social business consultancy which itself is constantly experimenting with its own radical management practices and has been recognised by WorldBlu as one of the most democratic workplaces in the world. Will is a non-executive director of Wired Sussex, which supports the development of the digital business community in Brighton. Will is married with two energetic young boys, is a mountain biking geek, loves camping and eating far too much curry. At this breakfast Will talks about what makes him tick, how he came to be doing what he does today and his hopes for the future: both professionally and personally.

Michael Divers started his career in Personnel in Glasgow where he progressed to leading HR teams in Glasgow City Council, the Student Loans Company and Scottish Enterprise. After moving to London in 2001 he set up a headhunting business in the City as part of a recruitment advertising agency Bartlett Scott Edgar. He joined the Boards of both BSEL and its parent company TMP Worldwide: finding himself quickly but firmly established in the City. In 2006, Michael was part of the leadership team that acquired TMP Worldwide from its parent, Monster Worldwide, with private equity backing from Graphite Capital. But then came the bold decision to step off the corporate ladder and start-up his own business, and in 2010 Michael left TMP Worldwide. His next move was to Brighton where he collaborated with former Barlett Scott Edgar colleague Heather Staff, who had just left the leading HR consultancy Penna, to create bold_hr. Now working by the sea and under his own steam, Michael and the team have successfully set about working with clients to deconstruct some of the myths and gobbledegook surrounding HR. At this inspirational breakfast Michael shares his personal journey in moving from a senior corporate role to starting up a new business in Brighton - the highs and lows and why he believes more than ever that a new and bolder approach to the people agenda is essential if businesses are to grow and be more profitable.

There's co-working and then there's Officreche. Co-working with a flexible nursery onsite: no commute, no paying for childcare when you don't need it - and an online booking system. A freelance writer and facilitator, Elizabeth Moody-Stuart, is also a mother of 2 (her youngest is just one month younger than Officreche). Now an accidental entrepreneur, she had the idea - then the determination and the need to put this innovative concept into practice. The business isn't even a year old and the nursery has been rated Outstanding by Ofsted while the community of families who use it to balance their lives is growing steadily. At this inspirational breakfast Elizabeth talks about the 18 months from light bulb moment to opening the doors of Officreche - she describes it as a DIY MBA. From IP protection and VAT registration, through building renovations and recruitment, to marketing and tweaking the business model - a rollercoaster ride made bumpier by pregnancy hormones...

Jason Kitcat is a Green City Councillor and Cabinet member for Finance and Central Services on Brighton and Hove City Council. A member of the UK's first ever Green council administration, Jason was first elected in a December 2007 by-election and took the reins from Bill Randall as leader of the council in this month. Get to know Jason at this inspirational breakfast and find out how running five businesses, helping Netmums become a top UK website and becoming a digital rights campaigner contributed to his success and why his current business is politics.

Ellie Kidson; Visual Retail Specialist and head of Training and Development, set up Metamorphosis with Creative Director Eve Reid over 5 years ago to provide independent retailers with powerful retail skills and knowledge that they might not otherwise have access to. Metamorphosis specialise in maximising retail sales potential: delivering creative, yet practical high quality training and development solutions, ideas and retail concepts to independent retailers. Today Metamorphosis works with some of the UK's most innovative indies using creativity, commercial savvy and customer insight to assist them in creating exceptional in-store experiences and maximising their retail sales. At this inspirational breakfast Ellie talks about her and Eve's unlikely partnership, their inspiring story and their mission to 'save the high street' and 'shape tomorrow's retailers'.

Since setting up Potcakes in 2000, Judith Young has produced events of all shapes and sizes across the globe, from an awards ceremony for Ericsson Worldwide in Rio de Janeiro to the opening ceremony in Mauritius for Mo Ibrahim Foundation's Index of African Governance and several Labour Party conferences. Judith has worked in the industry for over 25 years and with a variety of clients from a broad range of industries including the Labour Party, Waitrose, Heron, Budgens and Londis and The AA. She lives and breathes every aspect of production from set design, video and slide creation through to logistics and fault-free execution. Her experience, creativity and use of the latest materials and technologies have transformed venues into special events, exceeding clients' expectations. Originally based in London, Judith decided to join Brighton's bustling media community and moved Potcakes down in 2010. Now after every event, Judith makes the most of the beach to recharge her batteries. At this Inspirational breakfast Judith talks about making the bold decision to start her own company. She covers her journey to becoming a leading influence in political style, corporate innovation and video style creation, along with what happens when it all goes wrong.

Arguably Brighton's most famous landmark, The Royal Pavilion occupies the very heart of the city. Packed with art and culture and tracing a remarkable history, the Regency palace has become the symbol of Brighton and Hove. Robert Yates is head of fundraising for The Royal Pavilion and Museums Foundation, raising money to restore and preserve the iconic building. At this inspirational breakfast Robert retraces the key steps in his path to the pavilion: from drinking with his dad to completing his degree. Robert also worked in Tanzania and Guyana for 4 years, before embarking on a journey in fundraising: spending 5 years at the Royal Botanic Kew Gardens, paving the way for his current role at the Royal Palace. Robert talks about how to cook up a new working culture at an established organisation and his thoughts on the main ingredients to achieving it. He also highlights the important role that the Pavilion plays in Brighton's culture: past and present.

Robert Griffiths is Fundraising Director of the Martlets Hospice and a member of the Hospice's Senior Management Team. Robert has a degree in Hotel Management, worked in Advertising and PR industries for 17 years and prior to joining the Martlets in 1998, spent several years working in sports marketing. He is also a Vice President of the Chamber. It is likely that many of us will have know someone who has directly benefitted from Hospice Care, whether locally at the Martlets, or elsewhere in the country. It is also a sad fact that a number might well need the services of a hospice in the future. Robert seeks to dispel some of the myths that are often associated with hospice care using both inspirational and amusing patient stories to illustrate how the Hospice seeks to ensure that patients are able to make the most of the time they have remaining and to die with dignity and without fear. He also talks about the business of running a charity and how he faces up to the annual challenge of raising £3 million. A special message from Robert: 'Is it true that every woman has handbag tucked away that she will never use again? If so, please bring along that unloved and unwanted bag to the breakfast to donate to the Martlets for a fundraising event the Hospice is holding later in the year. Thank you'

Am I bovvered? You need to be... because Generation Y needs you! Caricatures like Catherine Tate's Lauren, Harry Enfield's Kevin and Perry and Little Britain's Vicky Pollard can affect young people's career opportunities and value to the business community. This next generation of employees/customers has a critical role in navigating our economy through stormy times. They are battered with negative messages of a future of doom and gloom, expensive education, early debt, no job prospects, global competition for jobs and the media portraying them with negative stereotypes. Aroop Tanna is Director of Magnified Learning, a consultancy promoting dialogue between businesses and young people through inspirational and motivational education programmes. At this Inspirational breakfast Aroop explains how he became frustrated at the lack of suppliers of high impact work-based activities to develop young people's skills so he set up Magnified Learning, believing he could do better. Six years on, the company is designing and delivering a wide range of education programmes for corporate clients involving hundreds of employees, working directly with thousands of school and college students each year, inspiring and helping them prepare for the future. Talk to the hands? And the faces too.

We all know Choccywoccydoodah. A design focused chocolaterie, it's a Brighton phenomenon and a place to show off to visiting friends and family. Christine Taylor is the brains behind the brand and keeper of the top secret recipe that allows them to fashion fantastical fare completely from chocolate. The company is more successful than ever with the shop, chocolate cafe, a bespoke service chock full of celebrity clients and their own TV series. Specialising in one-off sculptured chocolate fantasies; bespoke wedding cakes; chocolate gifts; birthday cakes and more, their creations unite the worlds of art and food. At this inspirational breakfast Christine talks about how she managed to turn a brilliant idea into a booming business, their exceptional success story and how she managed to gather together a dynamic and unique team who manage to provide their customers with much more than they could have ever anticipated.

Richard Robinson worked in TV for many years, as a founding member of Spitting Image and creating the puppet characters in several children's programmes, including The Riddlers. He was also a busker for almost as long, starting the Covent Garden buskers pitch. He has written twenty science books, including 'Why the Toast Always Lands Butter-side Down'. Richard Robinson set the Festival up eight years ago and has never looked back, he says, in the way that someone climbing a dangerous mountain never looks back. What pulls him up is the astonishing discoveries that are revealed daily and the pleasure of sharing them. What pulls him back is the ludicrous lifestyle and the imminence of bankruptcy. At this inspirational breakfast he explains why the Festival needed to be done, how he found himself doing it, and the extraordinary, life-changing experience it turned out to be.

In May of 2011, Councillor Bill Randall found himself centre stage in the first Green Administration in the country. As Leader of Brighton and Hove City Council Bill now spends his days making those big decisions for the city, his time is no longer his own, and people want to speak to him at all hours of the day and night. In his professional life Bill is a freelance writer and commentator who has written about housing, community and environmental issues, and the arts for national newspapers and magazines since the 1970s. He acts as a media advisor to three housing associations outside Brighton and Hove. Bill is also a trustee of Same Sky, a community arts organisation in the city, and is a Governor of Elm Grove Primary School. With such a full and hectic schedule what have been the challenges and the highlights? What does he like and not like about this complete and unexpected change of life? And how does he stay the relaxed, positive and friendly man we have got to know? At this inspirational breakfast Bill talks about what it has been like for the last 9 months and what his hopes are for the coming year with his new role as the City's Mayor.

Duncan Baker-Brown is an award-winning architect whose love of sustainable design began when he was just eleven. As a small boy growing up on a farm near Epping Forest, Duncan watched the construction of the M11 across the valley. He was immediately struck by its incongruity and his thoughts quickly turned to the environment and sustainable design. Today, Duncan has combined his love of design with his passion for all things green and is co-director of one of the UK's leading award-winning green architectural practices, BBM Sustainable Design. His success was greatly inspired by his family, with his business acumen and sense of adventure instilled in him by his mother, who ran her own successful business, and his father, an Olympic and National Judo coach. However it was his uncle who was also an architect who brought his fascination with architecture to the fore. After winning The House of the Future Design Competition in 1993 and building FutureHouse, Duncan has worked on some of the UK's most high profile and interesting projects, such as the Greenwich Millennium Village and The House That Kevin Built at Grand Design Live in 2008. He is currently working with Kevin McCloud to rebuild this house on campus at the University of Brighton's Faculty of Art. At this inspirational breakfast, Duncan talks about why 'going green' doesn't have to be expensive, and why he believes that green businesses and green economies will play a major role in leading us out of this recession.

Richard Maher is Operations Manager for Carluccio's: his fourth position within a company he has been with for ten years. Richard's background is exclusively within the hospitality industry spanning human resources, recruitment and store management. His current role allows him to 'do a bit of everything' and use all of his knowledge to deliver great service to his customers with that little something extra. Richard talks about his journey through the company and how he's enjoyed the freedom to work the way he wants want to, whilst adhering to the values of such a successful brand. He shares his experiences of being able to influence how the business moves forward and explains why he thinks it's possible to find new and exciting challenges without having to change companies. Richard also discusses Christmas, his busiest time of year, and in particular how he manages to share the culture of the Italian Christmas with his customers.

Kate Peach has worked for Early Years Childcare for the last 18 years, rising from the most junior position to nursery manager, then all the way up the company's ranks to become Managing Director in 2010. Kate now manages nine day nurseries across the South East - including two in Brighton and Hove - and employs around 350 staff. Led by her strong belief in the importance of high standards of childcare and a huge passion for the industry's issues, Kate chairs two branch networks for the National Day Nurseries Association and has also led national campaigns for change on issues that affect childcare provision, consulting with other providers and engaging with government at a local and national level. Along her successful business journey, Kate has learned a lot about retaining friendships throughout hirings, firings and promotions whilst earning colleagues' respect as a manager. At this inspirational breakfast, Kate talks about the challenges presented by working with friends and what makes a brilliant boss.

With guest speakers Tim Jarvis, Director of SeeThat. Tim Jarvis started SeeThat from his grandmother's bedroom in April 2010 having quit his much loved job at Sussex Cricket after two and half years. 18 months on and SeeThat is working with clients such as AXA Insurance, The Government, Local Councils, large PR firms and many National Sporting Governing Bodies. Tim tells us about what caused him to make the bold decision to start up alone, leave a job that he loved and throw himself into the unknown world of self-employment. He also covers all the highs and lows that he has experienced so far on the journey and what it has meant to him to build a strong team around him. SeeThat is a creative video and animation production company focussing on online delivery. By utilising the power of online video, not just from an engagement point of view, but also from an SEO viewpoint, SeeThat have produced some remarkable results for a whole host of different organisations.

Seventeen years ago, Jonathan Hirsch designed an electric guitar - then spent twelve years promising himself that "One day I'll do something with it"... In 2006, after a successful career in the interactive media industry, Jonathan finally began what turned out to be a much-longer-than-planned process of bringing his guitar to market - patenting, prototyping, refining the production process and finally launching Hirsch Guitar (and the Hirsch SB-1 Radius 'smallbody' electric guitar) in January 2011. At this breakfast, Jonathan talks about what inspired the design, what took so long, what he's learned along the way, and what (he hopes) will happen next.

Nicholas Röhl's involvement in the restaurant business began as a nineteen-year old working on the shop floor of an industrial factory in the countryside just outside of Tokyo. It was here that he learnt Japanese and the appreciation for Japanese food which led to the co-founding of Moshi Moshi, the first British owned sushi restaurant in the UK. Since then, Nicholas has opened a number of Moshi Moshi branches, and in 2008 opened a sister restaurant called Soseki. For most of Nicholas' career, he has been a film-maker and writer. His credits include three documentary films for Channel 4, and as a screenwriter he has worked with big names including Ralph Fiennes and Jeremy Thomas. At this inspirational breakfast, Nicholas' talk centres around the moment that his life changed drastically - with the opening of a million pound restaurant in the heart of London on the day Lehmann Brothers collapsed.

David Marks co-founded Marks Barfield Ltd architects in 1989 with Julia Barfield. In 1994 David and Julia founded the London Eye Company, which they remained directors and shareholders of until 2006. In 2000 David was made an MBE in the Queen's New Years Honours List and received the Prince Philip Special Commendation for Outstanding Achievement in Design for Business and Society. At this breakfast, David talks about plans for the Brighton i360 and the lessons they learned from the London Eye, the challenges set by the credit crunch and how the project will contribute to green tourism in Brighton and Hove.

Ten years ago, Rob Shepherd earned his living as a writer-director in the world of film and television, with a new, small, local webhosting company as an accidental sideline. By chance rather than design, he is now full-time MD of the international press release agency Press Dispensary, as well as having a few equally accidental side projects. "Like so many people, my career has been characterised by accidents and chance happenings," Rob muses, "but what I've learned over recent years - because of the financial crash and because of the speed with which the commercial world changes nowadays - is that accidents, upsets and unintended events are no longer a threat to business: they can instead become its foundations. Being accident-prone is now A Good Thing. And can drive a business." At this inspirational breakfast, Rob looks at the accidents that made him an entrepreneur and considers how embracing chance and planning for accidents is now a fundamental philosophy and inspiration for Press Dispensary, his accidental sidelines and his business self.

Dan Wilson is Brighton born and bred and works as a freelance consultant specialising in eBay, ecommerce, internet marketing and social media. He is also a copywriter and the bestselling author of Make Serious Money on eBay UK. After graduating from the London School of Economics, Dan cut his teeth at eBay where he was part of the team that founded eBay UK in 1999. Dan left eBay to go freelance in 2006 and has since worked with dozens of companies, including many net start ups (upad.co.uk, vzaar.com and Dragon's Den winner mydish.co.uk), huge firms such as BT and The Press Association as well as charity and public organisations. At this breakfast Dan talks about eBay and ecommerce in general, the fact that many SMEs have yet to make the most of the opportunities it presents and how your business could take some of its selling or marketing online.

John Keenan is business editor at [The Argus](http://www.theargus.co.uk/), covering the vibrant and varied Sussex business scene. He has lived in Brighton for more than 20 years. At this breakfast, John's presentation explains how businesses can gain greater press coverage. John highlights the dos and don'ts of writing press releases and unveils the mysteries of the inverted pyramid of news. Learn how to unlock the news items hidden in your company and turn your staff into superstars!

Would you like to know more about how the public sector plans to outsource after the cuts, how the city's road works are co-ordinated or what effect business has on the local environment? This event is part of the Chamber's series of Big Debates in 2011, giving you the chance to hear key people give their opinions - and maybe influence them with your own - in an evening of lively, entertaining and enlightening debate. Topics include: ## Travel and transport * What effect will train fare increases have? * Will the Park and Ride issue ever be resolved? * How can the plethora of road works be better co-ordinated? * Panellists * Geoff Raw, Brighton andand Hove City Council * Martin McGowan, Southern Railway Limited ## Jobs, skills and business support * In light of public spending cuts, will the council outsource more work to local businesses? * What support will there be for start-ups? * Panellists * Colin Monk, University of Brighton * Gary Peters, BrightonandHoveJobs.com ## Infrastructure and facilities * What does the Local Enterprise Partnership do? * What new developments are on the horizon? * Will there be more office space available? ### Panellists * Simon Fanshawe, Brighton and Hove Economic Partnership * Oliver Asha, Acumen Business Law ## Environment * What impact do businesses have on the local environment? * How active are they at protecting it or investing in it? * Do they do more than residents - and should they? ### Panellists * Thurstan Crockett, Brighton and Hove City Council * Jo Lacey, Magpie Recycling and Brighton Paper Round ## Brighton's business brand * What direction is business development taking? * Are we a tourism/hospitality city or digital hub - or both? * Where is the income generated and does it stay here? ### Panellists * Julia Chanteray, The Joy of Business * Alex Morrison, Cogapp

Whilst living and working in Brighton, The Big Lemon founder Tom Druitt became frustrated with the inability of public transport to provide a solution to the nation's transport needs whilst addressing the issue of climate change. With no prior industry knowledge, Tom and his team gathered their experiences as passengers to guide the design of a new type of bus service, whilst seeking to make the operation as green as possible. The Big Lemon was the first bus company in the UK to run all its vehicles on 100% biodiesel from locally-sourced waste cooking oil and won the Dandelion Award for Sustainable Business in 2009. They also came 8th in the RBS SE100 Index of Social Businesses in 2009 and won Best Sustainability Initiative at the 2010 Brighton and Hove Public Service Awards. At this inspirational breakfast, Tom talks about why he started The Big Lemon, his biggest challenges (and successes!) and his vision for the future.

The Young Parent's Project was founded in 2006 by mum and nutritionist Nina Ross, inspired by her work with pregnant teenagers and her own sister becoming a parent at eighteen. Whilst working on a youth support programme for pregnant teenagers Nina saw that the diet and nutrition of the young women was extremely poor. Time, money and a lack of awareness all contributed to this, resulting in weight issues, mood swings, aggression and depression. After studying nutritional therapy at the College of Natural Nutrition, funding from the Glimmer of Hope foundation allowed Nina to start running projects in Whitehawk and Moulsecoomb in 2007. The Young Parent's Project now employs seven members of staff and has secured 200,000 GBP from the SEIF (Social Enterprise Investment Fund) to start up a social investment arm. At this breakfast, Nina shares her inspirational story and talks about the challenges of building a social enterprise to create real change for young parents in the city.

Phil Frier has been the Principal of City College Brighton and Hove since August 2007. Phil's career includes more than three decades of working in education, with previous roles including Executive Director at Sussex Downs College and a Chief Examiner for the Examination Board Edexcel. City College, situated in the heart of Brighton, attracts around 9,000 students a year on a wide range of vocational and higher education courses - from construction to catering, hospitality to hairdressing. More than 400 of its students study Foundation Degree courses. In addition, the college works with more than 200 employers in providing support for partnerships as well as for employee training in customer service, business and digital media. At this inspirational Chamber breakfast, Phil shares his view of the role of the college in the city, as well as its work with employers and individual students.

At this inspirational breakfast Andrew Comben, chief executive of the Brighton Festival talks about the background to Brighton Festival 2011 as well as discussing the wider social and economic benefits of festivals and cultural events.

This workshop brings together Sussex-based food and drink suppliers with local buyers interested in sourcing new and unique products for customers. We provide practical examples of what buyers want from suppliers in order to create successful partnerships. Getting your food and drink products into Brighton and Hove's cafes, restaurants, hotels and supermarkets can be a time consuming business. That's why it's important to have the right approach to increase your chance of success. This informal and friendly workshop is aunique opportunity to learn, share and make new contacts and get valuable insight from a panel of experts. This recording features the following panellists: * Paula Seager, Natural PR * Olivia Reid and Dino Pavledis, Terre a Terre * Rob Carr, Hotel Du Vin and Bistro * Nicky Rohl, Moshi Moshi * Peter Allinson, Temptation Cafe * Galia Orme, CHOC Chick * Nicola Humble, Trading Standards

This workshop brings together Sussex-based food and drink suppliers with local buyers interested in sourcing new and unique products for customers. We provide practical examples of what buyers want from suppliers in order to create successful partnerships. Getting your food and drink products into Brighton and Hove's cafes, restaurants, hotels and supermarkets can be a time consuming business. That's why it's important to have the right approach to increase your chance of success. This informal and friendly workshop is aunique opportunity to learn, share and make new contacts and get valuable insight from a panel of experts. This recording features the following panellists: * Paula Seager, Natural PR * Prof Erik Millstone, University of Sussex * Peter J Field, Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex * Hillary Knight, A Taste of Sussex * Jackie Ellis, Sussex Tourism Partnership * Jason Burt, Farmhouse Cookery

[Digicave](http://digicave.com/home) was founded on the principal that just using photography and video on the web was like strapping pram wheels to spaceships – their mission is take the coolest new technology from the world of academic research and drag it into the mass market so we can all have a go! Digicave's first round of technology, launched this year, allows them to capture real objects and people to create perfect digital models in 3D. It also allows them to project virtual objects into the real world using Augmented Reality. When Digicave started two years ago it had no technology and no money = just some very interesting ideas. Since launching only ten weeks ago, they have already had interest from some of the world's leading brands and have been invited to exhibit in Las Vegas and Mumbai. At this breakfast, [Al Tredinnick](http://www.businessinbrighton.org.uk/members/al-tredinnick) will talk about his journey in setting up this company with his friends and how networking has been essential to their success.

At this special Chamber breakfast, we invite four of our inspirational members to step into our 'Business Spotlight' and provide answers to some of the pressing questions surrounding building a successful business in Brighton and Hove. This event offers you the chance to raise your profile within the Chamber while talking frankly and openly about the highs and lows of running a business, including the biggest challenges you've overcome. Tell us what you've got that puts you head and shoulders above your nearest competitor, what you enjoy most about being a business in the City, and who you're most indebted to for your achievements.

Much of our professional life is deeply marinated in a culture of strong management, but would things improve if management were removed? Jonathan Bacon, Professor of Neuroscience at the University of Sussex, has found clues in recent research into ants - creatures which are management free, yet famously successful. 'Swarm intelligence' of the ant colony emerges as a result of interactions between each ant and its neighbours. Much human activity is also management-free, the result of multiple interactions. Examples come from the internet, Wikipedia, the growth of cities and of course, networking events. At this special breakfast, in partnership with the Brighton Science Festival, Jonathan explores whether we really need managers...