Author: adm_f_club

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Mid-September we had the pleasure to teaming up with Club member and brand expert Aarti Parmar to host a masterclass on "Effective Networking Strategies to Maximise Personal Brand and Business Growth."

Delivering an engaging session, Aarti shared practical strategies aimed at refining our members' networking skills and personal branding.

 

The session covered:

 

BOOSTED NETWORKING SKILLS:
Aarti shared valuable tips on how to confidently start, nurture, and strengthen business relationships through genuine, conscious conversations. This resonated strongly with our members, who left with actionable insights to enhance their interactions.

 

 

REFINED PERSONAL BRAND:
The importance of effectively communicating a personal brand was a key highlight. Aarti’s approach helped members understand how to differentiate themselves in the market and attract the right opportunities.

 

 

ENHANCED ONLINE PRESENCE:
Aarti provided practical advice on leveraging social media to grow networks and increase visibility, motivating attendees to amplify their digital presence with authenticity.

 

 

NEW GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES:
The masterclass wrapped up with guidance on identifying and pursuing business opportunities within existing networks, sparking fresh ideas for collaborations and partnerships.

 

 

Co-founder of the club Kalpesh Patel explained “When it comes to branding and brand positioning, it’s not a topic that everyone fully gets on day one, which is why it’s super important to have someone like Aarti come in, strip back details and help our members fully get a grasp on what branding is and why it’s so important. Aarti doesn’t just speak and present with conviction, she embodies her craft and helps her audience understand, relate and connect with their business, their brand and their outcome. As a membership club, our objective is to get world class speakers and educators in a room to add value to our members and this why we chose Aarti Parmar”

 

Credit images to: Sheena Sabharwal

A recent survey of business leaders by Investec highlighted the simple steps that entrepreneurs can take to make their work more sustainable.

 

In a recent survey of 500 mid-market companies by Investec, more than half of leaders polled (55%) said that having a sustainability strategy was critical. In the report, they shared some simple ways that entrepreneurs could embed ethical working practices into their businesses. Here are the highlights:

 

Create a collaborative environment

Dr Marc Kahn, Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer at Investec, emphasised that business leaders should share experiences by joining a likeminded community. As part of its corporate and private banking services, the bank provides networking opportunities for entrepreneurs and business leaders.

“At this time, joining forces with likeminded partners can help provide valuable support,” said Marc. “This is important for entrepreneurs who are already navigating the highs and lows of running a business and want to ensure they have a sustainable relationship with the communities in which they operate,” he explained.

 

Define your mission

Competing strategic priorities could make it difficult to identify where sustainability can make a difference to your business and its stakeholders. Therefore, 44% of business leaders suggested defining your company purpose ahead of implementing environmental, social or governance improvements.

Once you’ve identified your company’s mission, internal training and education was recommended to focus efforts.

 

Make everyone accountable

While a third of leaders felt that a company CEO must be ultimately responsible for its sustainability efforts, making all employees accountable for the strategy’s success is also beneficial. Thirty-nine per cent of business leaders told Investec that the most effective step they took was to embed sustainability targets into personal performance reviews.

This focus can have a positive impact on hiring too. Up to 70% of current jobseekers are said to be looking for environmentally friendly employers, according to separate research from Future Business.

 

Embrace measurement

Thirty-five per cent of leaders said a lack of data was a barrier to advancing their sustainability strategies. One way to overcome this is to go back to basics when defining your sustainability goals.

Alicia Forry, Head of ESG for Alternative Investments at Investec, said entrepreneurs should identify the most relevant metric for their business. “It’s rare that companies struggle to identify what is material for them,” she said. “For example, it makes sense for a very energy-intensive manufacturer to focus on reducing emissions, because it will lower their costs over time and make their processes more efficient.”

 

Identify what resources are available

If you want to understand more about sustainability, useful tools are available from several organisations. The Government has recently launched the UK Business Climate Hub, which includes various how-to guides for businesses looking to improve their own operations. The Federation of Small Businesses also provides case studies and practical information for self-employed individuals who are aiming to achieve net-zero emissions. Meanwhile, the Cambridge Institute for Sustainable Leadership offers courses on improving sustainability which are sector-specific.

 

If you’d like to discuss how Investec could help you support the growth of your business or provide banking and networking opportunities for entrepreneurs, please do get in touch with Investec Private Banker Eileen Redmond-Macken at Eileen.Redmond-Macken@investec.co.uk.

 

This article contains hyperlinks to other websites, which are hosted and maintained by third parties and which may not be regulated by financial services regulators. Investec has no control over the security or content of these sites and you access them at your own risk.

In a life before Covid, the month of Oct/Nov played host to an annual dinner hosted by KP of Foundxrs Club and Sunny of Capital36. After a four-year break, Foundxrs Club and Capital36 teamed up with partners Soneva, Investec, Fortis Wealth, Lawrence Stephens, Dial A Flight Concierge and supported by John Caudwell’s charity to host the inaugural ICON DINNER 2024.

In early Oct, The ICON Dinner 2024 was hosted at a Gordon Ramsay restaurant in the city bringing together an intimate group of 40 guests including some of the country’s business leaders, game changers and entrepreneurial icons from members of the Hinduja family to British fashion icon, Karen Millen to property tycoons who continue to change the skyline of our great city.

 

 

Dr Marc Kahn, Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer at Investec, shares why sustainability is a commercial decision all business founders need to embrace.

 

Running a business requires adapting to new challenges on an almost daily basis. One of the most prominent current issues is how best to address sustainability in their corporate strategy. This is not just a moral or regulatory challenge, but also a commercial one.

“Today's markets are being disrupted because the world faces existential challenges not previously encountered” says Dr Marc Kahn, Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer at Investec plc. “Governments across the globe have realised that rising inequality and climate change must be addressed, or human beings are soon going to find themselves in a dangerous and unstable world. As a result, they are introducing regulations and constraints into the economy that aim to redirect capital flows and resources toward combatting these challenges. For businesses this means commercial strategies need to be adjusted to manage new risks and take up new opportunities for growth. Can a business simply carry on what it’s been doing in the past in face of such a significantly disrupted market and still expect to grow into the future? It’s unlikely.”

 

Stakeholders demand businesses help tackle challenges

For over two decades, Investec has been exploring how to have a lasting positive impact on people and the planet. Its recent survey of 500 mid-market UK business leaders revealed how they are tackling sustainability. According to the research, the majority believe that a good sustainability strategy can contribute to revenue growth, improved relationships with partners and suppliers and access to finance.

Overall, 55% of leaders of companies with a turnover of more than £10m said a sustainability strategy was ‘business critical’. Forty-one per cent think customer buying decisions are influenced by environmental, social and governance (ESG) activities; while 45% believe ESG factors play a role in the procurement and tender process.

 

Commercial opportunities that address sustainability challenges

There are many opportunities for investment and development in vital sectors. The UN has identified 17 Sustainable Development Goals that it believes are needed to ensure peace and prosperity in 2030 and beyond. These include affordable and clean energy; clean water and sanitation; and industry, innovation and infrastructure.

Investec is currently helping a business with its aspiration to become the largest electric vehicle car charging network in the UK. “In line with government emissions targets, by 2030 it is estimated that there will be up to 11 million hybrid or electric vehicles in the UK. This upscaling will help to ensure that owning an electric vehicle is a positive experience for individuals and the environment,” explains Marc.

 

Capital flows directed to products and services with a positive impact

When it comes to seeking support for your own ambitions, you may find that your bank starts to make lending decisions based on its own sustainability targets. More than 140 global banks have joined the Net Zero Banking Alliance which aims to ensure the net greenhouse gas emissions from their lending and investment portfolios reaches net zero, by 2050 or sooner.

In addition, private equity firms have stated that ethical considerations heavily influence investment decisions in a portfolio company in this Private Equity Trends research.

“At this time, joining forces with likeminded financial partners can help provide valuable support,” says Marc. “This is important for entrepreneurs who are already navigating the highs and lows of running a business and want to ensure they have a sustainable relationship with the communities in which they operate.”

 

If you’d like to discuss how Investec could help you support the growth of your business or provide personal banking and networking opportunities for entrepreneurs, please do get in touch with Investec Private Banker Eileen Redmond-Macken at Eileen.Redmond-Macken@investec.co.uk.

Seva (the concept of selfless service) and undeniable humility are two words that best describe property tycoon, entrepreneur, serial investor and philanthropist, Professor Peter Virdee, our esteemed guest for July 2024. Peter captivated club members with his inspiring rags to riches story of how the boy from Birmingham went on to achieve unparalleled success in business. Despite his dapper appearance, the man behind the Italian suit is humble, crediting his success to God and the people around him.

Peter shared candidly about his business journey and personal life, his words were authentic and stories vulnerable. He leads by example, fully embodying the ethos of Sikhism, a remarkable example of how personal success can be used for the greater good of others. Despite his celebrity rolodex, when asked to “name four people” he would have at his dream dinner party, his response was “I would have my late mother, four times over” – what more can we say about the DNA of one of the UK’s most successful businessmen.

 

 

Photographs by Glenn Foster for Foundxrs Club

London based LAS Group, have acquired Goldwyns. The acquisition of the historic firm was completed on 1st June and will super-size its offer in representing large international corporates as well as strong UK businesses, high and ultra-high net worth, well known families from around the world, including celebrities and sports personalities.

 

In honour of maintaining the rich history of pre-WW2 Goldwyns, the firm will now be known as the Goldwyns Group.

 

Partner at Goldwyns Group, and Foundxrs Club member, Sumit Selli, specialises in business advisory and wealth preservation. Sumit directly manages Goldwyns’ key relationships with clients and other stakeholders. He will be at the helm of the business, along with Martin Myers, another senior partner at Goldwyns

 

 

“My team and I have spent the last 10 years growing LAS from its infancy, said Sumit. “Our growth has been thanks to our loyal team and clients…many of whom have been with us for many years and celebrate our successes with us.”

 

On the acquisition, Sumit feels that the union of LAS Group with Goldwyns presents great opportunity for both firms and their clients. “This amalgamation allows us to leverage decades of experience, draw on combined strengths, and foster innovation.  As a result, we are better positioned to enhance the quality, value, and breadth of our services.”

 

Keeping the Goldwyns name feels like ‘the way forward’ for Sumit, blending modernity and history. “Goldwyns has been established since the 1930s so keeping the name enables us to

ensure that the legacy and history of Goldwyns lives on, while continuing to build on the joint successes. LAS as a brand will still exist but in a different capacity. Going forward our professional services businesses are all a part of the Goldwyns Group.”

 

The firm’s advisory, audit, tax and accounting business has now expanded with the acquisition, and the wealth management business will be enhanced with Goldwyns financial services also coming into the fold and being relaunched in 2025 to focus on debt advisory as well as traditional wealth management services. The firm is already making good progress with their continued investment into using artificial intelligence (AI) and plan to increase their time and investment in this space.

 

“Although this is an acquisition my message to both teams and clients is to see it as a merger…we are now one firm blending modern innovative ways of working and delivery with traditional values,” he said.

 

“We’re now in a position where the acquisition has allowed us to double in size overnight, giving us the opportunity to turbo-charge our growth. We’ve got scale and good opportunity, and this growth gives us access to even more market share.

 

“LAS group was only formed 10 years ago and acquiring a firm like Goldwyns gives us legacy. With that comes the partners and team with the knowledge, background, and expertise that they have on their side.

 

New team members at Goldwyns include senior partners and team from firms such as Blick Rothenberg, TC Group and HW Fisher, all much larger mid-tier firms in the City.

 

While the Goldwyns offices on Baker Street will be closed, the firm will bring all operations into The Royal Exchange which remain the Head Office in the City. In addition, Goldwyns Group have opened new offices in 110 Bishopsgate (formerly known as Heron Tower) which will provide a central hub for the growing team.

 

“We are a people business, and within the firm my main focus has been team culture,” said Sumit. “Our largest investment in the firm has been in the team and the culture that the team cultivates. This is apparent to our clients as most of our team are the faces of the business. Our clients are people and businesses who I believe resonate with our team culture and our firm’s values.”

 

Martin Myers, senior partner, Goldwyns, said: “I’m very confident in Sumit and his team’s ability to take Goldwyns into the future with us.”

 

www.goldwynsgroup.co.uk

Undisputably one of the finest watch brands in the world, PATEK PHILIPPE. So an absolute pleasure to be joined by Head of Marketing for the brand, Nick Wilson and the Chairman and CEO of one of their core retail partners in the UK, John Robinson.

Joined by the two wonderful gentlemen was club co-founder and host of the Q&A session Kalpesh Patel. As part of our ‘Audience with’ series, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Nick and John to have an open conversation about the brand itself, the industry, the future and everything else which surrounds luxury watches in today’s market.

 

 

Photographs by Glenn Foster for Foundxrs Club

“The competition is high and it’s not hard to find a 5-star luxury hotel in London, so what is it that makes The Rosewood so special?” Just one of the questions we asked Michael Bonsor, Managing Director of Chancery Rosewood which opens its doors in 2025.

Currently, and over the last 10 years Michael has played a pivotal role in opening and positioning the Rosewood London as MD and captain of the ship at one of London’s most revered and luxurious hotels in the city.

With a room full of Foundxrs, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Michael at his hotel for an exclusive Q&A session to really get under the skin and understand what it takes to run and operate a luxury hotel of this calibre in London along with exploring some of the challenging parts of his journey and how he manoeuvred through them, all the way to really understanding the minds and behaviours of guests staying at the hotel.

 

 

Photographs by Glenn Foster for Foundxrs Club

Continuing our salute and celebration of women in business, we teamed up with Selfridges and their personal shopping team to host 24 of our female Foundxrs for a champagne reception in their exclusive VIP personal shopping suite, followed by a 3-course lunch at Brasserie of Light with tables hosted by our very own Ruchi, Aarti Parmar, Amruti Choudhry and Katherine Pace.

 

DID YOU KNOW: In March 1910, Selfridges stood in solidarity with the suffragettes, pledging support to their movement by refusing to press charges following store window breakages on Oxford St. Selfridges later created in-store restaurants where women could dine unchaperoned.

 

 

Photographs by Glenn Foster for Foundxrs Club

To launch our ‘HERstory’ campaign 2024, we teamed up with Michelin Star chef, Atul Kochhar to open the celebration with a special exclusive curated breakfast at his Mayfair restaurant, Kanishka. With 40 of our female Foundxrs in attendance over breakfast, we had the pleasure of being joined by guest speaker, serial entrepreneur and investor Rupa G. Popat who was interviewed by Club member Nishi Shah, Foundxr of Happy Little Humans.

The campaign ‘HERstory’ was launched this month (MAR 24) in celebration of women in business. A campaign curated to highlight, engage, showcase and celebrate the entrepreneurial journey for our female Foundxrs. Partnering with brands and people who share the same thread of unity, sharing stories with one another to build a bond and collectively become stronger as one. Women supporting women. Foundxrs supporting Foundxrs.

 

 

Photographs by Glenn Foster for Foundxrs Club

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