roundtable


The Business Magazine arranged this roundtable of Solent Business Award winners and category sponsors, represented by KPMG, Taylor Made Computer Solutions, Pitmans Law, James Cowper Kreston, and NatWest to mull over .....


Winning views on uncertainty and opportunity Participants


John Atkins: Sales and marketing director, Aish Technologies


Mike Dalloz: MD, Performance In People


Anthony Donohue: Head of corporate Solent, NatWest


David Fawcett: Customer services manager, Amey


Neil Garwood: Head of operations, Southampton Airport


Joe Jeffers: FD, Taylor Made Computer Solutions


Lined up to debate: the Roundtable team Journalist John Burbedge reports the roundtable highlights How much uncertainty is there?


Surprisingly, Brexit concerns were not to the fore.


Loadbalancer.org operates globally, safeguarding critical enterprise IT applications against inefficiency, overload and costly downtime. It helps avoid operational uncertainties.


Lesley Wrankmore revealed that while clients are naturally uncertain about their future, Loadbalancer.org is happy to be growing. “We’re investing in several new geographic and industry areas, making sure we have the team in place to support new customers, no matter where they are in the world.”


Amey’s David Fawcett highlighted the austerity cuts adversely affecting public- sector project work.


Wrankmore: “Austerity has been less of a challenge for us, people have moved away from the high-end price-point products; at Loadbalancer.org we produce reliable, cost-


effective products.” Customers now require more value in return for their investment she noted.


Anthony Donohue: “There’s definitely post- Brexit uncertainty, but almost exclusively limited to currency fluctuations. There are some public-sector budget and procurement issues, but generally our clients are pretty positive. If they can get price rises through they will, but they are very mindful of what that action may trigger. People still seem prepared to pay for good quality products and services.”


Cait Salanson said her Winchester-based bespoke catering and hospitality business – 70% private, 30% corporate events – was fully booked this summer and already taking 2019 orders. “We haven’t noticed price sensitivity; people are planning ahead and still spending out.” While planning to expand her business, she wondered if the Solent market had a ‘disposable income bubble.’


Business THE TM MAGAZINE 24 businessmag.co.uk


Southampton Airport’s catchment area also seemed resilient to the usual cutbacks from uncertain budgets – business trips, holidays, etc – said Neil Garwood. “Our passenger numbers (40% business) are up year-on- year. This resilience gives me confidence that, although there are underlying market uncertainties, we are in a reasonably good position geographically and financially to withstand challenges.”


Rick Munro: Partner, Pitmans Law


Alex Nicholson: Partner, James Cowper Kreston


Cait Salanson: Director, The Little Kitchen Company


Will Smith: South coast office senior partner, KPMG


Lesley Wrankmore: Head of marketing, Loadbalancer.org


David Murray: publisher of The Business Magazine, chaired the discussion


Donohue and John Atkins highlighted that such resilience was underpinned by the beneficial travel aspects of a small regional airport with close, convenient and quicker amenities.


Will rising costs and TROC limit future opportunities?


KPMG retail sector expert Will Smith was “surprised by how strong the economy has been since the Brexit vote”, but felt that rising employment and production costs were now putting retail pricing under pressure. “I’m hearing everybody saying they need to get their prices up 5-10% in the next few months.”


Salanson had increased pricing by 10-20%, but largely because her successful company had gained a proven reputation, was in


THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SOLENT & SOUTH COAST – MAY/JUNE 2017


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