Carol Jones, Author at Stewart Hindley

Handy Hospitality with a Motorhome Lifestyle

Posted on July 11, 2019February 5, 2020 by Carol Jones

When we think of holidays, the standard reaction is to think of golden beaches, warmer climates, palm trees and hotels. With the ever increasing costs of foreign adventures more and more people are looking for an alternative way to enjoy their break away. For many the answer could be on their doorstep….

Hospitality at Home

The UK is packed full of things to do and see. Exploring the Jurassic Coastline, taking in the history in Edinburgh to riding a carousel on Blackpool Pier. One of the most attractive prospects of holidays in the UK is the convenience of being able to drive to most destinations avoiding public transport and airports.

A key buzz word that is making its way into the UK hospitality industry is “RV Lifestyle”. Packing your necessities into a campervan (or Recreational Vehicle) and heading off on an adventure has become something of a fashionable trend.

So why choose a Motorhome Holiday?

Freedom and flexibility

Being able to take a detour or change plans at any time is an attractive prospect for holiday makers. Travelling in a motorhome means no flights or trains to be tied to, if a road looks interesting – take it! It can be handy to have a list of campsites in the area that will accommodate campervans as there are restrictions as to where you can park up for the night.

Home from home

Everything you need is contained in the vehicle, there is no need to cram camping equipment into the boot of the car, or pile suitcases around passengers on the back seat! Most motorhomes have clever storage options, and room for all the necessities.

Larger motorhomes have lounge areas, tables, kitchenettes, bedroom sections even washrooms. Smaller vans have kitchen facilities and fold out sleeping areas. There are many different options to suit every requirement.

Hospitality and Trends

The UK Caravan and Motorhome Club (https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/) estimates there are approximately 225,000 campervans on Britain’s roads. There are a multitude of pages on social media sites such as Pintrest dedicated to people “making over” old motorhomes, offering suggestions on clever furniture ideas and decorating.

Decisions to be made

Whether you want to own or rent a motorhome, there are a few things to consider:

What do you want? Who is travelling with you, what type of space will be required? A motorhome trip for 2 will have very different needs than a family of 5.
If you are planning on purchasing a motorhome, where will it be kept when you are not using it?
Try it for size. Before purchasing a motorhome, rent one to make sure it is something you want to do. Purchasing a campervan can be quite expensive and if you don’t enjoy it, it is a costly error.

Where do we go?

If you are stuck for ideas on where to go on your campervan adventure, Your RV Lifestyle (https://www.your-rv-lifestyle.com/things-to-do-in-england/) have picked 100 Things to do in England! London to Lanhydrock, Dorset to Durham, this article will give you plenty to think about if you are planning a motorhome holiday.

For those who prefer to be stationary, Stewart Hindley & Partners are experts in raising finance in the hospitality industry. If you have ever considered owning and operating a hotel, bed and breakfast or guest house, get in touch with us today and we can help source the best loan for your business.

Commercial Property Finance – Invest in your Business

Posted on June 17, 2019 by Carol Jones

The Federation of small businesses reports that there were 5.6 million small UK business at the start of 2018, and the UK real estate market is still a very desirable investment. The appeal of owning commercial property, whether to run a business from it, or rent out the space is keeping the UK commercial property finance market a highly competitive industry.

There are many types of commercial property finance, and many factors that influence the type of lending required. Industry, length of term, size of business and client risk profile are all aspects that potential commercial lenders will assess.

Anyone can apply for commercial property finance from small start-ups to large established businesses. Some lenders are more specific to the industry for example; hospitality or retail and can offer more specialised plans depending on the property investment and circumstances.

Adaption and flexibility

Commercial lending has had to adapt in recent times as owners and tenants are demanding more flexibility. Commercial office space in particular has had an influx of people looking for flexible working spaces. The evolution of “hot desks” and remote working requires owners to provide shorter leases to tenants.

The commercial property finance industry has had to meet the changing needs of commercial property investors, moving away from very rigid lending solutions and offering more customisable commercial lending options.

Owner vs Tenant

The commercial property market is not just for investors. When owning and operating a business there are many reasons to consider commercial property finance and purchase a building as opposed to renting a space.

Depending on the type of commercial property acquired, mortgage payments may not differ greatly from rental payments. Property prices are frequently rising so there is always the opportunity for capital gains and a premises could experience a significant increase in value over a short time.

Expert Advice

Working with a broker like Stewart Hindley is advisable when considering commercial lending. Extensive market knowledge means they can source the best deal available and offer expert advice on how to proceed. Commercial property finance can be quite complex and it is important to have a strong understanding of what potential lenders may need and how to present an attractive proposal to successfully secure commercial lending.

Stewart Hindley Commercial Finance can advise the type of funding you are likely to need following a no obligation consultation and suggest the best approach.

Get in touch today to discuss options available.

Is combining career and property investment the way forward?

Posted on June 5, 2019February 5, 2020 by Carol Jones

For people today there are daily stresses of work, finance and finding balance in life. What if you could combine property ownership and work? The general misconception is that owning a bed and breakfast or guest house is for people in the later stages of their lives, looking to step away from perhaps a stressful job or invest in a business before retirement. This isn’t the case, if you can meet the B&B funding requirements of the lenders, this combination lifestyle could be possible.

Why not purchase and run a bed and breakfast?

Entering the world of bed and breakfast ownership is no easy task as running a successful business can be a challenge. Stewart Hindley & Partners are experts in their field, specialising in bed and breakfast funding and guest house finance. They have helped many clients over the years, young and old realise their dream of owning and running a B&B, by offering expert guidance to secure the B&B funding required.

So why is owning a bed and breakfast so great?

If you like meeting new people, would like a flexible work day, enjoy entertaining, and are not fazed by a bit of hard-work then a guest house could be the perfect way forward. Many look for B&B funding to escape the daily grind, but why not consider the prospect of a successful bed and breakfast business before becoming tied to the 9-5 way of life. Many people work hard to own a home, then are unable to spend any time there as they are working hard to pay for the mortgage! By considering B&B funding, that hard earned property is not only a home and a workplace, it is an investment and a way of life.

A Modern Day B&B

Bed and breakfasts don’t have to be quaint cottages by the seaside. Travellers and tourists are always looking for new experiences. Themed rooms, eco homes, even a Peruvian-inspired bed and breakfast with Llamas…. There is also greater demand for an online presence with social media promotion and online testimonials. Once you have secured B&B funding, a solid marketing plan will help the business.

There are no specific qualifications associated with running and owning a guest house. However, before looking for B&B funding, it would be wise to undertake some in depth research. Local areas, activities, events, facilities, who is your potential competition and how will you compete with them? Would you do all the daily jobs yourself or would you need to employ people?

Here to help you through

So whether you are thinking of making the leap into the bed and breakfast industry, or an experienced B&B owner, Stewart Hindley and Partners have the knowledge and expertise to help secure the right B&B funding.

Get in touch with Stewart Hindley and Partners today.

The appeal of the British glamping holiday

Posted on May 30, 2019 by Carol Jones

The glamping holiday – a very British affair

Shepherds huts, tee pees, wood lodges, yurts and even treehouses are dotted across the English countryside as glamping continues to grow in popularity. In fact, these ‘alternative’ glamping holiday accommodation units are becoming as institutional as afternoon cream teas, strawberries and tennis, and black taxis.

Holidaymakers are flocking to the great outdoors with the promise of being at one with nature whilst also banking a good night’s sleep.

As long ago as 2010, Sawdays, one of the first and leading directories of handpicked and inspected special places to stay, saw the potential in this type of holidaying. They created their own spin-off website canopyandstars.co.uk, a collection of inspected and selected, quirky places for glamping. From there glamping has really taken off. Today, many sites including TripAdvisor and Air B&B offer glamping opportunities for holidaymakers happy to brave the uncertainty of the British summertime weather.

So, what is driving this desire to glamp?

Could it be the B word?

Yes, I mean Brexit. The uncertainty around whether we’re in or out. Brits don’t know whether to expect vast re-entry queues at the end of a summer holiday or whether we’ll continue the in-or-out debate for the months ahead. It could be that the uncertainty around Brexit and whether we have a blue passport, or a burgundy passport could be making Brits more reluctant to book an overseas trip.

Maybe it’s a money thing?

Of course, part and parcel of this is the poor performance of the pound at the moment. With such low exchange rates, the appeal of travelling overseas that drove everyone to hop off to the continent in the ‘90s, now isn’t so strong.

Or an escape from digitalisation?

Or perhaps it’s a rebellion from living our lives in the fast lane. The rate at which we live, breathe, drive, in fact, do everything, has sped up. Increasingly frequently we crave getting back to nature. Digital detoxes have become a real ‘thing’ recently, but not everyone wants complete isolation from the digital world. For some, just being back under the starry sky, shrouded beneath a green canopy or even just breathing fresh air is enough to enable us to find the pause button and make us feel grounded once again.

Whatever the reason, the glamping phase is here to stay so, with the continued growth in popularity of glamping, maybe there’s an opportunity to extend your business to include glamping and give your visitors a chance to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life?

We understand the hospitality business through and through and are long-established specialists in securing hospitality finance. We can offer you friendly and informative advice to help you build your glamping business.

Browse our site for case histories and more information about the process involved in securing hospitality finance or call us now to speak to our team of experts.

How to boost your eco appeal as a staycation destination

Posted on May 14, 2019 by Carol Jones

Global tourism contributes around 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions. That puts the tourism industry ahead of the construction industry in its contribution to the greenhouse effect. Tourists contribute to a global carbon footprint through air travel, rail travel, even travel by road. There are hidden costs: food, and how food reaches its destination, accommodation, heating and cooling of the accommodation, cleaning of pools and even the purchase of souvenirs all play their part.

However, despite all these different ways that tourists contribute to carbon emissions, the biggest contributor is air travel. Some figures suggest that air travel contributes around 65% of the carbon footprint of the tourism industry overall. As we become more aware of the impact we are having on our planet, more of us are choosing a staycation over tropical islands.

And, as we’re doing our bit to reduce our individual carbon footprint, it’s heartening to see B&Bs and hotels make a concerted effort to offer environmentally friendly holidays. Here are a few ways that you could make your B&B more eco-friendly to both minimise your carbon footprint and appeal to your more environmentally conscientious visitors.

Install electric charging station

Between 2013 and 2017 the number of electric cars on the roads have increased from 3,500 to 125,000. Further growth is expected, but the challenge is currently the infrastructure. At present, according to ZapStats there are only 13,300 charging points at 8259 locations around the UK. Therefore, anyone taking to the roads for an electrically transported staycation is likely to welcome the opportunity to charge up overnight.

Source local

Another way to reduce your carbon footprint is to source goods locally wherever you can. Not only will your carbon footprint reduce, but your guests are likely to see it as a real appeal to have genuine locally grown or reared produce.

Repair, reuse or recycle

Be responsible with your trash, compost what you can, and reuse or recycle wherever possible. Reduce the amount you send to land fill. If you can repair things or upcycle them, do so. If you can’t but the item is still usable, consider donating it to a charity where your unwanted goods can go to help someone else create a new home.

The specialist financial experts here at Stewart Hindley are here to help you secure the best commercial loan for your Bed & Breakfast business. We always seek to go beyond this, offering as much comprehensive advice to help you build a successful business and reach your potential. Highlighting the opportunity to create a more environmentally friendly holiday bolt hole is yet another of the ways we deliver this.

For more information on how we can help, please get in touch. You can call us on 01488 684834 or drop us a message through our website.

How hoteliers can increase room rates by improving customer facilities

Posted on May 8, 2019 by Carol Jones

Here, Mike Hardman from hospitality equipment suppliers Alliance Online shares his advice for hoteliers looking to improve their customers’ experience — and, therefore, increase revenue.

Your revenue per available room (RevPAR) is a good way to measure the average rate you sell your rooms at, allowing you to keep track of your success and compare your hotel with competitors. If you haven’t already, you can determine your RevPAR by multiplying your average daily rate by your occupancy rate. Your occupancy rate is the number of occupied rooms you have divided by your total number of available rooms, multiplied by 100.

If your RevPAR isn’t as high as you’d like, you can raise it by focussing on customer experience. Improving your facilities won’t just allow you to charge guests more for their stay — your customers will also be more inclined to share their positive opinion of your hotel online and bring you more custom.

Below are just some of the ways you can improve customer facilities and increase your average room rate in return.

Offer something extra for your guests

During the booking process, tempt potential guests with packages and promotions. Give them the option of add-ons such as breakfast, shuttle services, or extra treats for their room to bump up their average spend.

When setting up rooms, it’s a good idea to provide your guests with low cost but high-quality items that have the potential to feel like little gifts. A bowl of fresh fruit, a vase of flowers, boxes of chocolates and, of course, toiletries can all be stocked in the room to make your guests’ stay more luxurious.

Improve your housekeeping and room services

High cleanliness standards are perhaps the most crucial way to show your quality and maintain positive reviews from guests. Don’t be frugal with deep cleaning tools, products, and practices, or you could end up paying the price. You can also offer extra services for guests, such as laundry and dry cleaning, ironing and pressing, and even shoe polishing to increase value.

Make sure you’re advertising the fact you offer room service; if you find that guests aren’t always taking advantage of it, it might not be as obvious as you think. Present their chosen refreshments with style by finding modern, instagrammable crockery, and ask staff to remove the lids from serving dishes in front of guests in their room. Staff can also bring a bucket of ice and pour drinks out of the bottle for an extra flourish. This level of service feels fancy, but it also gives staff the opportunity to ask guests whether to leave the bottle and add it to the bill.

Customer service

Effective planning and smooth communication between staff and guests allow problems to be solved before they become disasters. Keep on top of maintenance to prevent any issues arising during your customers’ stay, such as faulty air cons or cosmetic damage. Be prepared to manage your guests’ needs as quickly as possible by having plenty of extra pillows, towels, chairs, highchairs, and cots to hand. If this is something you might struggle with, consider whether your inventory management system needs updating.

As much as you can, go for the personal approach. Instead of working the whole building, give staff sections to take care of so they can better keep track of their guests’ names and preferences. If possible, it’s also good to invest in staff that can communicate in many different languages to cater for foreign guests.

Staff should be fully-trained and aware of the contents of all service dossiers and menus. That way, they can be a complete source of information and don’t have to leave guests waiting as they try and find someone who knows the answers to their questions. These little organisational details improve the overall guest experience, making them more likely to spend money in the future or convince others to do the same.

With these tips, you can begin to improve your customer facilities and consequently raise your average room rates.

The secrets behind a good B&B breakfast

Posted on April 29, 2019 by Carol Jones

Whisper ‘full English Breakfast’ and ears will perk up instantly as images of sizzling sausages, crispy bacon, juicy mushrooms, tasty vine-ripened tomatoes grilled to perfection, golden hash browns and eggs, sunny side up, spring to mind.

However, balancing the guest experience with the rising costs of food, can be tricky. You don’t want to see good food (and potential profits) go to waste, but you can’t disappoint your guests, and a decent breakfast can secure rave reviews and subsequent bookings.

Tom Kerridge, in this article on how to make a full English breakfast, suggests that the perfect English Breakfast includes sausages, smoked streaky bacon, plum tomatoes, Portobello mushrooms, black pudding and eggs (sunny side up), topped with a slice of toast.

Whilst a supermarket saver sausage may save some pennies, it’s not going to leave your guests with a good taste in their mouth (literally). However, you can really get positive feedback flowing with decent ingredients in your breakfasts. If you can splash out and upgrade ingredients, tell your guests. If you see ‘locally produced sausages’ in a menu, it sounds so much more appealing than just ‘sausages’. And, if you’re dishing up organic sausages, say so.

Much of these ingredients will keep for at least several days in the fridge, which means you don’t have to limit yourself to a full English. You should consider offering a continental option too, with croissants, pain au chocolat, or other pastry options.

With an increasing awareness of healthy foods, you could offer a smoothie option, or fresh juicing? Whilst not exactly hassle-free, it can be a great way to minimise waste by using up leftover fruit and veg before it goes off. Juices are delicious and nutritious, and are almost certainly a unique selling point to share with your guests.

And, it doesn’t all have to be about the food.

Consider where your guests might like to eat. Whilst many will be happy with eating in a communal dining room, take into account that some may prefer to eat in the privacy of their own room. A ‘breakfast-in-bed’ option may provide added B&B appeal and many guests would be happy to pay a little more for the privilege!

Tell your guests what they can look forward to. Help them to anticipate the treat that awaits by describing the breakfast options. Maybe leave a menu in their room, or in a shared area, or at the very least on the tables. When your guests know what to expect, they can choose what not to have, cutting down on your waste too.

The very name, Bed & Breakfast, suggests that the breakfast part is a big deal. By considering what you are offering your guests for breakfast, you can ensure that the breakfast you offer is as responsible for getting return visitors as offering your guests a good nights’ sleep.

Stewart Hindley & Partners is an independent, whole-of-market finance broker which means we can find the most cost-effective way to re-finance or release capital for your B&B business. Our specialists in business funding and business recovery can help you find the right products and ensure your application for finance is successful.

Around the UK in 5 unmissable coastal stops, whatever the weather

Posted on April 10, 2019 by Carol Jones

In summer, UK coastal B&Bs are sorted. Tourists flock to lounge on sandy beaches and paddle in crystal clear waters. But what happens the rest of the year ‘round? A visit to the coast doesn’t only have to be in summer. Let me take you to 5 British seaside destinations around the UK where you’ll find something special to do, whatever the season.

Crosby, Merseyside

Crosby, Merseyside doesn’t have to depend on beaches and sunshine to draw in the crowds. Where the River Mersey turns into the Irish Sea, visitors can see one hundred iron men. Antony Gormley’s cast-iron replicas of his own self pepper a 3km stretch of beach and provide quite a sight. Albeit, an unsettling one when the tide comes in. If iron men aren’t your thing, you’ll find red squirrels and Neolithic footprints preserved in the sand just up the coast in Formby’s National Trust coastal reserve.

Portmeirion, Wales

If you want to leave reality behind awhile, visit Portmeirion. With its Italianate village, complete with piazza, grand porticoes and terracotta-roofed houses, Portmeirion is a place where reality is put on pause as you lose yourself among the splendor of Portmeirion’s pastel-painted houses. There isn’t anywhere else in the UK where you can step out of Wales and into the Med.

Of course, if you head West in September, Portmeirion hosts Festival No.6, which attracts impressive headline acts such as Noel Gallagher and the Pet Shop Boys.

Tintagel

Aside from being within walking distance of Bude’s beautiful and award-winning sandy beaches, Tintagel offers rows of shops selling goodies such as Cornish clotted cream fudge and ice cream of every flavour imaginable. Once you’re all sugared up, head over to King Arthur’s Castle (you’ll need the sugar kick to take on the steps!) and retrace the footsteps of King Arthur and his knights. If, after all that you need to refuel, stop off for a pasty before hitting the surf (yes, anytime of year) in neighbouring Bude.

Charmouth

If you’re tempted to trade quaint little villages for staggering stegosaurus remains, then Charmouth, with its active fossil hunting community, beachfront museum and spectacular cliffscape, is a great place to visit. With the right clothes, even a windy, stormy day can be great for fossil hunting. You never know what the elements might uncover!

Stewart Hindley has been helping coastal B&Bs and boutique hotels to find and secure the right hospitality finance package for their business for more than 13 years. If you’d like to discuss your hospitality finance requirements, give our experts a call today on 01488 684834.

When do you need a commercial mortgage?

Posted on March 26, 2019 by Carol Jones

One question we’re often asked is, ‘when do I need a commercial mortgage?’

The simple answer is that if you are looking for a commercial premises, either for an office, a shop or even a manufacturing unit or workshop, and you, like most people, can’t afford to buy premises outright, then a commercial mortgage is what you’ll need.

Aside from investing in a new property, you may want a commercial mortgage if you are looking to extend a premises or refurbish or update a property.

What is a commercial mortgage?

Funds borrowed against a commercial mortgage are protected with the bank having a registered interest in the property in the same way that your domestic mortgage would.

Why can’t I just borrow against my existing mortgage?

It’s essential that when you are borrowing for a business, you borrow against a commercial mortgage because borrowing against a standard domestic mortgage could mean you are risking your home and your business.

A commercial mortgage works differently to a standard mortgage. Decisions to approve a commercial mortgage will take into consideration your business plan, expected returns, and also the way in which the property will be used.

Commercial mortgages can be more generous than domestic mortgages, but you will need a decent deposit of 2030% or more.

That’s not all, you’ll also need to convince the lender that you know what you’re doing.

Ideally, you’ll have some proof of experience in the sector. You’ll need a good personal credit history and, if you already run a business, the lender will want to see your trading accounts to make sure you’re responsible with your cash.

They’ll also expect a comprehensive debt proposal. It’s not easy to secure a commercial mortgage but if you know what lenders are looking for, and have the information that they need available, you can substantially boost your chances of a positive response to your application.

You can also get specific sector mortgages too, such as hospitality mortgages, which are designed to support investors in that particular niche. Often their documentation and information requirements are slightly different, reflecting the nuances of that industry, but at Stewart Hindley, we have a team of specialists available to help you jump through the paperwork hoops and get the best chances at securing the right mortgage for you, whatever you need, whatever industry you are in.

To speak to our experts and find out more about how they can help you to find and secure the right commercial mortgage, or hospitality mortgage for your business, call us today on 01488 684834.

What Support is Available for Business Buyers?

Posted on March 13, 2019 by Carol Jones

While entrepreneurs can often find lots of generic information about buying a business, it’s less easy to find details on more specific kinds of regional support. So, we are looking at the various kinds of help available to those looking to purchase a business in the Principality of Wales.

What businesses are popular in Wales?

There are a large number of business opportunities in a country with such rich diversity.

Traditional tourism is very strong in Wales, but the coastal regions and wild interior landscapes are now being exploited for more adventure-type of experiences than ever before. And with its own rich and unique cultural history, Wales is also the natural home for many different types of creative and craft-based industries.

The energy industry also has deep roots in Wales, though the rise of renewable energies and modern concerns about the environment have also played a prominent role in the formation of some new sustainable, eco-friendly Welsh businesses.

A welcoming, outgoing and tourist-heavy population also provides countless locations and opportunities for food and drink businesses.

Wales attracts global players in areas such as Life Sciences and all kinds of Tech and ICT industries. And furthermore, the country is renowned for its workforce expertise and strong track record in developing strong links between industry and the higher education sector.

Why buy rather than start a business?

Starting a business has its own merits and may seem like the obvious option for an aspiring entrepreneur full of fresh, innovative ideas. However, there are some important advantages in choosing to buy an existing business instead.

Not only are there less risks attached to buying a ‘going concern’ rather than attempting a new start-up, you will also be able to reap the financial rewards much sooner.

In Wales especially, buying an established business will provide you with a fast-track opportunity to grow and find success in a rapidly growing market. There are now a record 238,200 active firms in Wales, and a huge 99.3% of that number are independent SMEs.

An ideal business-purchase opportunity for example, could be purchasing an off-license in a prime location. Not only would such a business have its own local customers, in many areas there would also be opportunities to contact and supply other establishments – especially those business owners catering for tourists.

What kind of support do you need?

Buying a business comes with its own special difficulties, so getting the right help at the right time can make this process far easier.

Broadly speaking, support services will involve: Financial, advisory and overall mediation services.

Finance

It’s very important to have all your finances in place before attempting to buy any business. Sellers will be keen to know not only that you wish to purchase the business, they will also need firm reassurance that you have the necessary means in place to go ahead and complete the transaction.

The Development Bank of Wales is a specialist lender to businesses in Wales and can offer loan support in a number of different formats.

The Bank can support both B2B and B2C enterprises and, although it does lend to others, its particular focus is on micro to medium-size business needs.

Brokers

A broker’s expertise can be very helpful, especially if you feel intimidated by the entire purchase process.

They can guide and support you from start to finish. Your relationship with your broker will be vital to your success, so you should also spend time to ensure your broker understands precisely what you are looking for.

And it goes without saying that your broker should be someone you can get on with and trust completely to manage your investment on your behalf.

Advisory

In our modern age, finding an advisor can be done from the comfort of your own home. And thanks to the abundance of resources available, you will be able to find advice on trends and all kinds of sound investment for yourself. For example, Business Wales can offer business advice to prospective entrepreneurs.

Whatever route you choose, when it comes to helping you to develop business ideas and innovation, the enthusiastic help and support you will receive in Wales will always be second to none.

By Jo Thornley, Head of Brand and Partnerships at Dynamis. Joining in 2005 to co-ordinate PR and communications and produce editorial across all business brands. She earned her spurs managing the communications strategy and now creates and develops partnerships between BusinessesForSale.com, FranchiseSales.com and PropertySales.com and likeminded companies.