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10 Watches to Get in 2022: 

1.TAG HEUER RED BULL RACING SPECIAL EDITION

With a bold technicolor design inspired by the scarlet and navy hues of the Red Bull Racing Team, Tag Heuer's latest creation is one for Formula 1 nuts to rev their engines at. It comes with round pushers that have been decorated with a red lacquer outline to highlight the chronograph start pusher at 2 o’clock. Meanwhile, a unique bezel is engraved with “Speed” in recognition of Formula 1, while the face is designed to mimic the cockpits of Formula 1 cars. The steel case back is engraved with “Red Bull Racing Formula One Team Special Edition”, there are two versions of the timepiece: one with a rubber strap and one with a stainless steel chain

2. CERTINA DS ACTION DIVER - 43MM

Swiss watchmaker Certina has created a triple-threat wrist-gear that wins in three areas: style, resistance, and precision. The DS Action diver - 43mm is extremely elegant in design, balancing black, gold, and stainless steel, has water resistance up to 300 meters, and carries an unrivaled automatic movement with an anti-magnetic Nivachron balance spring. The mechanism boasts up to 80 hours of power reserve, while its scratch-resistant sapphire crystal is an integral feature of Certina's DS (Double Security) concept, which has been a mainstay in the brand's products since 1959.

3. UlYSEE NARDIN BLAST MOONSTRUCK

With the Lunar New Year beginning this week, it's only apt that Ulysee Nardin's newest timepiece pays homage to the bright and shiny moon. The one-of-one 41mm astronomical watch, the Blast Moonstruck, reproduces the moon's orientation, and with an easy-to-read display, it is a less-complicated version of historically complex astrological instruments such as the alidade or astrolabe. The clever timepiece shows the exact positions of the moon and sun, accurate tidal coefficients, as well as local time, while it has been cast in an appropriately blacked-out ceramic case, which is decorated with copper and rose gold detailing on the case.

4. AVI-8 SPITFIRE SMITH AUTOMATIC

Avi 8's Spitfire Smith Automatic was designed to celebrate the innovative work of aircraft designer Joseph Smith, who as Chief Designer at Supermarine, was behind the development of the Spitfire, the most widely-produced British single-seat fighter of World War II. The case of the pilot's watch is designed to reflect the streamlined form of the aircraft and its brushed aesthetic mirrors the body of the mega-famous aircraft. Meanwhile, a domed sapphire lens tops the case and provides a clear view into the simple, yet ultra-chic, dial.

5. OMEGA SPEEDMASTER CALIBRE 321

Omega has kicked off 2022 with a new Speedmaster. The Speedmaster Calibre 321 is the brand's first major release and sees the signature style, which launched in 1957, recast in 18 carat Canopus gold. The new 38.6 mm release marks the collection’s 65th anniversary of the design, and it comes with a black onyx dial with an applied vintage Omega logo and typography featuring an oval “O" - a detail that was typical for the first CK2915 models back in 1957. 

6. BREITLING ENDURANCE PRO

Swiss luxury watch label Breitling has launched a special edition Endurance Pro in celebration of its long-standing partnership with The Watches of Switzerland Group. Limited to just 650 pieces, the watch, designed in collaboration, has turned dark green and is available exclusively at Watches of Switzerland. The athleisure sports chronograph combines high precision and innovative technology.

7. HUBLOT BIG BANG "ALL BLACK"

To pay tribute to the complexity of the monstrous Matterhorn mountain, Hublot has unveiled two ultra-chic versions (one for women and one for men) of the Big Bang "All Black" Zermatt. The 44mm men's version is available in 100 individually numbered pieces, which we want to get our mitts on. The microblasted black ceramic case houses the manually wound HUB4100 chronograph, which is visible through the sapphire case back, while the Matterhorn's identity is captured on the dial side.

8. IWC BIG PILOT’S WATCH 43 SPITFIRE

IWC's Big Pilot’s Watch 43 Spitfire is inspired by those nifty timepieces worn by military personnel. Automatic and self-winding, the watch carries an IWC-manufactured movement, an 82100 caliber, and a 60-hour power reserve. Most impressive is the soft-iron inner case that provides protection against magnetic fields – and the inner case itself is secured against displacement by a drop in air pressure.

9. OMEGA GLOBEMASTER ANNUAL CALENDAR

Omega has released three new models (Sedna gold, Burgundy, Green) of the Globemaster Annual Calendar Sedna gold, Burgundy, Green). These timepieces continue in the classical styling of the Globemaster line which was first released in 2015 as the world’s first Master Chronometer certified collection and are available from this month at Omega boutiques. Each 41 mm watch comes with signature details of the collection, such as a fluted bezel and a pie-pan dial, inspired by the first Omega Constellation watch released in 1952. A Central Observatory medallion is set on the scratch-resistant sapphire crystal case back, which Omega fans will recognize as a tribute to the Swiss brand's history of precision records and achievements in the early 20th century.

10. TAG HEUER FORMULA 1 X SENNA

Brazilian Formula 1 driver Ayrton Senna made history in 1991 when he became the youngest racer to win three world championships. 30 years on and in celebration of Senna's achievement, Tag Heuer and the Senna Foundation have partnered to launch the “ultimate racing watch". The robust product comes with a bold, anthracite brushed dial that is complemented by energetic yellow touches on the dial and date window, a ceramic tachymeter bezel, water resistance up to 200 meters, and a 43mm case in black DLC steel.

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US Ban on Russian Oil and Gas

Early last evening, the White House announced that the United States has decided to ban all imports of oil and gas from Russia. Through a move that is intended to pressurise Russian President Vladimir Putin, Biden claims that he intends to target the main artery of the Russian economy. The President further announced “we’re banning all imports of Russian oil, gas, and energy. That means Russian oil will no longer be acceptable at US ports and the American people will deal another powerful blow to Putin’s war machine.”

While the following decision may be one of a kind and might affect 3% of total oil exports from Russia, it is not entirely surprising given the current Russian decision to invade Ukraine. Rights advocates and Ukrainian leaders have called on the US and its European allies to sanction Russia's oil and gas sector in response to the invasion. Western countries, especially European nations have been hesitant to do so, as they depend heavily on Russia for their gas and energy demands. The case, however, is different for the United States, which imports 209,000 barrels per day of crude oil- 3% of the country’s total crude imports. The Biden administration has acknowledged the fact that “other nations may not be in a position” to impose similar bans. “ We can take this step when others cannot, but we’re working closely with Europe and our partners to develop a long-term strategy to reduce their dependence on Russian energy, as well.”

On Tuesday, the European Commission said the war “demonstrated the urgency of accelerating our clean energy transition”, announcing plans to increase the EU’s energy independence while reducing its reliance on Russian supplies. The prospect of a ban had already sent oil prices up by 30% last month, with oil prices hovering at about $130 a barrel and a gallon of regular gas selling for an average of $4.17 on Tuesday in the US. Regular analysts predict prices to go as high as $160 or even $200 a barrel if buyers continue shunning Russian crude, leading to US gasoline prices of more than $5 a gallon. As is evident, the most immediate effect will be on inflation. The US is currently undergoing its highest inflation in 40 years, and data to be released on Thursday is expected to show the Consumer Price Index going up by 7.9%. Possibly having profound consequences for the Americans’ standard of living.

In the short term, while the impact of this decision might be felt by the Kremlin, in the long term the effect would be minimal. As mentioned earlier, the United States of America imports a small share of Russia’s oil exports and doesn’t buy any of its natural gas. As the amount of oil, the U.S. imports is minimal, Russia could potentially sell that oil elsewhere, perhaps in China or India. Moreover, the recent Russian decision to send a team of representatives to Venezuela is evidence of the fact that if Russia were to be eventually shut off from the global market, countries such as Iran and Venezuela might be welcomed back as sources of oil. Such additional sources could in turn potentially stabilise prices. The next couple of weeks would be critical in seeing how Russia responds to the U.S’s decision as well as the UK’s decision to completely cut Russian imports by the end of the year.

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Success of the Sanction Game

Ever since the Russian invasion of Crimea in 2014, Western sanctions against the country have failed to act as a successful deterrent. While sanctions by the United States, the European Union and the other allies have fallen short of preventing an invasion, they are definitely having an effect on both the Russian government and​​ the people. The primary concern for the Russian Federation is that these sanctions can cause financial mayhem as they target the central bank and may lead to the freezing of its $630bn of foreign-exchange reserves. The West’s deployment of this economic weapon will also be watched with slack-jawed shock in China, which has $3.4 trillion of reserves and which will now be rethinking how to resist Western Pressure in the event of war over Taiwan.

Up until now, Western sanctions have been long on macho rhetoric about crushing Russia but short on clout. For example, the penalties on oligarchs and their offshore wealth have led some tycoons to call for an end to the bloodshed, but not changed decision-making in the Kremlin. Meanwhile, limits on Western technology and industrial exports to Russia will take months or years to have an effect. 

But how do these sanctions affect the common man in Russia? For days now, there have been long lines outside ATMs around the country as people rush to withdraw cash, amid fears of a breakdown in electronic banking. The value of the ruble has plummeted to a record low, less than 1 cent, as many people watched their savings erode in Monday's free-fall of the Moscow stock exchange.The Russian Central Bank more than doubled its key interest rate to 20%, after the U.S. and allies froze much of its foreign reserves that would normally be used to prop up the ruble.The Kremlin has in turn banned all Russians from transfering foreign currency abroad and ordered exporters to exchange 80% of their foreign currency proceeds for rubles. 

Russian shoppers have turned to social media to note the increase for some products, particularly electronics and appliances. Uncertainty over future prices is prompting some people to stock up. "For the past few days, it's been like Christmas for us," one electronics-shop assistant told the Financial Times. "People are ready to buy things even [though] we have been raising prices every few hours based on the forex situation." Several of Russia's largest supermarket chains have agreed to limit price increases to no more than 5% for dairy and bakery goods, sugar, and some vegetables, according to the Russian state news agency TASS, citing federal antimonopoly authorities. Russians were already facing inflation on foodstuffs due to pandemic disruptions of the supply chain.

Tens of thousands of Russian tourists have been stranded abroad as almost all European countries and Canada have banned Russian flights from their airspace. Russian travel companies believe that close to 150,000 Russians may be outside the country, with at least 27,000 in areas directly affected by air travel bans. The U.S. has now imposed its own ban too. VISA and Mastercard have blocked the sanctioned Russian financial institutions from their payment networks. Russian authorities say existing payment cards remain operational inside the country but cannot be used on foreign websites, according to state-owned RIA Novosti news agency. 

Cars and auto parts makers have also pulled back from Russia, including Swedish-based Volvo, British Jaguar Land Rover, and American Ford.  Fashion retailer Asos has reportedly suspended sales in the country. International artists and cultural organisations have also composed their own restrictions. Disney, Warner Bros, and Paramount are pausing theatrical releases of new films in Russia. Musicians and groups including Franz Ferdinand, Nick Cave, and Green Day pulled out of upcoming concerts in the country. The Cannes Film Festival and Eurovision song contest both rejected the Russian delegation from performing this spring.

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Redefining the GT Class

It seems that the Bentley has come eerily close to their proud claim of giving “wings to their cars”. While the expectations from a team with a respectable racing pedigree are extremely high, I believe they have outdone all expectations with the second-generation Continental GT. The introduction of the first-generation Continental GT, itself was dubbed as the most successful luxury sports car. Breathing new life into the brand. 

Much like its predecessor, the GT is a treat for the eyes. With its long stretches of curves almost inviting the driver to put the peddle to the floor and enjoy sheer luxury coupled with raw power and speed. The GT is slightly more aerodynamic than the older version, as the front wheels have been shifted forward, resulting in the engine being placed lower, and the weight is distributed more evenly. 

The new GT is marked with a dynamism that it lacked before. Unlike the first-generation GT, the car no longer struggles to keep its mass in order or heave around sharp corners. Characteristic of Bentley, the engine still sits a long way forward, still mostly ahead of the front axle. However, it is noticeably less nose-heavy, a result of the front axle positioning and the electric motor. All this means that it has the stamina to maintain constant speed over long distances without any trouble. 

The car is still very heavyweight, but the tendons and ligaments of the double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension- with their three-chamber air suspension spring/ damper units- are better able to keep control of the masses involved. These changes in the new generation GT have resulted in the car being monstrously fast. Lack of torque has never been a problem with Bentley, it is however the newfound aggression that sets it apart. Besides significant advancements in certain aspects, the marque has fallen short on a few minor details. One such is the unwelcomed wind noise with the optional 22inch wheels. Furthermore, the steering doesn't glide through the driver's hand as effortlessly as it used to. 

With the Second Generation Continental GT, Bentley has endeavored to give customers a more athletic, sporting, rapid, capable-Continental GT. The 48V electronics, longer wheelbase, and air suspension have brought crispness to the dynamics and allowed the car to cope admirably with the huge increase in straight-line performance. Comfort and relaxation may have slipped, but this is compensated for by the dynamic nature of the car. It has a dozen rivals in the weirdly busy coupe sector. But, none of them swallow distance with the charming swagger of a Bentley. 

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An Icon of British Automobile Excellence

Land Rover, the name that exemplifies endurance, strength, raw ruggedness and captures the very essence of the British stiff upper lip, is celebrating 50 years of the Range Rover. It was in 1970, that the first Range Rover was launched. Arguably the first luxury SUV that the world had ever seen. The Range Rover is only in its fourth generation. The current model of the brand has been around since 2012. 

In the spirit of celebrating the Range Rover’s 50 years, the company has decided to launch a limited edition model. Breaking from the tradition of using the body-on-frame model in traditional Range Rovers, and Land Rovers, the Limited Edition Range Rover is debuted with a new Aluminium monocoque body that is said to have cost the company a billion pounds to develop. Even though the limited edition is substantially bigger than the car it is set to replace, it is much lighter, which essentially means that it is much faster, more efficient, and easier to manoeuvre.  

While to some it might be unfathomable to think of a complex electric powered motor in a car bearing the iconic green badge, the new limited edition Range Rover is now available with a P400e, which is a small petrol engine along with an electric motor that has a plug-in capability. Something lacking in the SDV6 Hybrid engine in the previous model. Aside from the new electric motor, the company is offering the conventional V6s and V8s in petrol and diesel linked to an eight-speed automatic gearbox. 

As would be obvious by now, the limited edition Range Rover is not something, one can thrash and conquer terrain the way one would hope to do in the earlier models. The car stimulates a relaxed and laid-back driving style. The P400e is an exercise in keeping the internal combustion engine as hushed as possible. This is the result of two specific factors. Firstly, the less frequent use of the petrol engine, causing the drive to be more economical and secondly, the drone of the engine is not characteristic of traditional noise of a 4-cylinder. Even during a sprint to 60mph, the driver is greeted with a weedy noise that feels at odds with the interior one is seated in. So in real terms, it’s a slower thing than other Range Rovers. 

Let’s be honest, someone buying the limited edition Range Rover is not going to be treating that car like a Sunday off-roader or loading their pet dogs for a drive to the farm. The car was built to personify the British class and style. This invariably raises the question regarding the interiors. The Range Rovers have traditionally struggled with leg-room, up until the introduction of the Long Wheel Base option. In the case of this particular model, one can opt for additional space through the Executive class Section for the rear, giving two individual chairs with 40 degrees of recline. Additionally, there is the option of three-zone ambient lighting and various multimedia options. A major drawback in the version is the significant reduction in cargo space, as a result of the batteries under the boot floor. 

Anyone spending a six-digit figure will inevitably question how the Range Rover stands out from its competition. The limited-edition Range Rover no longer compares with other marques such as Bentley, Mercedes, and Aston on traditional SUV characteristics. The car is a better fit for competing against conventional luxury saloons such as the Mercedes S-Class. However, in comparing it to other high-range AWD SUVs in the market, the Range Rover falls short on a few aspects. The car comes without an anti-roll system preventing it from lurching around and rolling through corners. This might be a bit concerning given that this version is bigger than previous versions. Competitors in the market do come with an anti-roll system and it has transformed the way these cars are driven. Within the large array of SUVs available now, the Range Rover would not be the ideal car to hurry across the country. If you do plan to do that, it would be advisable to stick to the Range Rover Sport SVR. 

It is abundantly clear that the marque has focused on delivering along the lines of luxury in celebration of 50 years of Range Rover. But, at the same time have they fallen short on characteristics that define a Range Rover or are very much present in other rival cars. The jury is still out on whether the Limited Edition Range Rover, will do justice to the brand and marque that has stood for British Automobile Excellence.

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Having More Women On Boards Makes Companies More Ethical

We live in a world where equality and diversity is often seen and required on every level. That statement becomes truer each passing day and there are studies and research to reason why such things are beneficial for everyone.

A study conducted by Professors Haithem NAGATI of emlyon business school, Mehdi NEKHILI of Le Mans University and Moez BENNOURI of Montpellier Business School, investigated the relationship between gender diversity and related party transactions RPTs.

The results found that not only do more women on boards make companies more ethical, but they also reduce the number of RPTs - also known as “backdoor deals”.

They analysed French firms throughout 2001 to 2017, with 1260 firm-year observations across 97 companies and counted the number of RPT’s listed in the special reports.

The findings pointed out a significant negative correlation between female directors’ proportion and the number of RPT’s - stating, “Females were more likely to challenge managers use of RPTs, therefore reducing the number of RPT’s” This was the case especially when they are independent directors and members of the audit committee.

Haithem NAGATI - one of the researchers said, “They are also motivated because of the risks associated with validation of questionable and disputed transactions,”

The researchers added that due to females’ demographic, social, and psychological differences provides them with additional incentive to carry out strict monitoring.

From this, you might be thinking that these researchers are essentially saying that women have a better ethical compass than men. However, this isn’t the case as Mehdi NEKHILI stated that by women needing to have broken through a glass ceiling, “female directors involved in monitoring duties are more inclined to assert their role as a substitute for weak protection of minority shareholders and weak regulation of RPTs.”

Backdoor deals are seen as a major unethical policy issue worldwide - being not only a conflict of interest but, also an issue for minority shareholders.

With this in mind, we can see that the gender quota law has had a positive effect - making independent female directors and audit committee members are good candidates to effectively monitor managers.

Research studies such as this are prime examples of why a diverse inclusive workforce thrives in today’s world. Hopefully moving forward we see more women as board members.

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3 Key Factors Of An Effective Leader

There is a quote from an American Scholar that says “Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality.” - Warren Bennis. A similar quote from Saara Bange, Associate Director at Aalto University Executive Education says “The purpose and strategic direction of an organisation lie at the heart of impactful leadership.”

Two different but similar quotes from people from different backgrounds yet, they represent the same message. But Bange from Aalto University Executive Education says that knowledge, skills and competencies are the makings of an effective leader but ultimately defined by three key factors.

A Thought Process Influenced By Information

The first key skill of an effective leader is the ability to process and break down information and use that to influence their decision making. Information defines our sensemaking and interpretation of the world around us.

It is the leaders’ role to ask the questions What’s happening? What will happen? And, how actions will influence the events around them. Naturally, even when these questions are answered they will never be perfect.

Bange also adds that the knowledge of the answers being imperfect should not paralyze or hinder the decision-makers execution - which leads to the second point.

2. Adapt To Survive

By this we don’t mean for the leader to adapt, but rather the leader should adapt activities to survive the surrounding reality. This should be actionable on a micro & macro level and also on an individual level too.

Leaders who are aware of their behavioural traits, patterns and the systems that the world works within can utilise that knowledge to adapt to the situation that they face.

3. A Pheonix Mentality

According to Bange, this may at times require challenging the leaders own thought processes and the organisations’ mindset. Similar to being adaptable, it involves being able to renew and grow to the sporadic changes in the environment around them.

Remember that an organisation is more than an individual, it is a construct of structures and frameworks that support the leadership.

An organisation is a conglomerate of skills, knowledge and experience that set the parameters for the leaders to leave their mark. By strengthening the 3 key points we brought out from Saara Bange you too can improve your leadership and leave a mark on your team, organization, and surrounding society.

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Rolls-Royce & The Black Badge: The Origin Story

The origin of Black Badge is revealed by Rolls-Royce ahead of the October 28th announcement.

The pioneering, industry-disrupting spirits of founders C. S. Rolls and Sir Henry Royce.

Black Badge responds to the demands of a new class of disruptors and visionaries

Torsten Müller-Ötvös - Chief Executive Officer from Rolls-Royce Motor Cars once said. “Rolls-Royce has always attracted a unique breed of outliers, visionaries and iconoclasts…

Black Badge is not a sub-brand. It is an attitude that represents an authentic and confident response to the desires of a new group of clients who proudly practise bold self-expression.”

Though, that quote is paraphrased, its impact and insight is not missed on us. On the 28th of October at 13:00 BST Torsten Müller-Ötvös will announce a new product that will add to the Royce portfolio - “Black Badge”. As Müller-Ötvös mentioned this is not a “sub-brand” rather, it represents a natural evolution for Rolls-Royce as it is a brand that is defined by a culture of collaboration with its clients.

A Disruptive Heritage

founders Sir Henry Royce and C. S. Rolls both chose different paths from what their upbringing offered. Royce elevated from his humble beginnings becoming an engineering giant, creating motor cars. Whilst Charles Rolls, a young motor enthusiast with an interest in engineering, attended Cambridge University with an oil spattered tie - earning him the title ‘Dirty Rolls’.

Both with different starting points, though ultimately becoming the biggest and most influential motor brand of their time. The term ‘disruptor’ is given to people such as them in today’s world. however, in comparison to those disrupting different industries today, Sir Henry Royce and C. S. Rolls would deserve the moniker of arch-disruptors.

Together and through the persistent agonising pursuit of perfection, they created a car that was capable of replacing the traditional reliable horse & carriage. They were so successful in the creation of motor cars that years later, today the name Rolls Royce carries the same weight and influence as it did in the early 1900s.

Even though Rolls tragically lost his life at 32 years old performing at an air show at Hengistbury Airfield. Both Rolls & Royce built a brand and legacy that the likes of Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Richard Branson and Larry Ellison strive to today.

Black Badge Beginnings

To understand where the Balck Badge’s roots begin we must first look back to 2003. When the Goodwood era began and the Phantom made its presence known - a saloon car that artistically brought to mind the grandeur and imperiousness of its forbears. Through the Phantoms success and a lot of client feedback, the ‘Ghost’ was later introduced in 2009 - becoming the best-selling Rolls-Royce in history.

These successes further spurred Rolls-Royce’s desires to reattune itself with the coming generations, men and women that demanded more dynamic motor cars. This demand later inspired the all-terrain Cullinan and the seductive Dawn Drophead Coupé.

The Broader Luxury Industry

As clients became younger, more dynamic, diverse and conscious as did Rolls-Royce’s scope of inspiration. We live in an era where the tension between rebellion and design tradition is both frequent and celebrated. Thus inspiration from classic garment silhouettes led to the innovative, contemporary use of dark materials - often complimented with a flash of bold colour.

This aesthetic was very similar to those of ohn Varvatos, Alexander McQueen, Rick Owens, Yohji Yamamoto and Ann Demeulemeester.

This movement expanded to the streets beyond the catwalk by men and women from all walks of life who would carry this look with them as they travel, hence Rimowa’s iconic black suitcase and Bottega Veneta’s black Cassette bag. The black everything style took flight (literally) as Blackbird Air specialised in providing fleets of black private jets.

Black became an immovable status symbol of rare inimitable luxury.

A Truly Contemporary Movement

In a similar way, that Chanel’s ‘little black dress’ evolved, so did Rolls-Royce and its clients. The traditional colour palette that represented the heritage of the brand was replaced with a darker noir aesthetic. However, while black products have reflected a sense of luxury - especially in fashion, Rolls-Royce’s designers now work to subvert it through the injection of bold colour.

This holistic approach is the first time Rolls-Royce has made a direct response to changing customer demands with equal weight by the engineering team as by the design collective.

Through the Black Badge, it will be the marque to define the new way of channelling and living in the spirit of its founders, forever challenging itself in times of unprecedented change.

The next chapter in Black Badge’s remarkable history will be announced at 13:00 BST on 28 October 2021. Visit www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com for more.

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Enterprise Experiences: Reshaping The Interview Process

Enterprise is a magazine that provides our members and readers with topical, insightful and new articles on a regular basis. We cater to audiences from all walks of life providing deep-dive articles into High-Fashion, Business, Finance, Art & Culture, Lifestyle and more.

Now, Enterprise is expanding once again, to provide our members with live exclusive experiences that take place in the heart of our newsroom - in SE1 with a great skyline view.

We will bring pioneers of their industry under one roof to take part in an immersive interview process where the audience is as vital to the experience as the interviewee.

Enterprise Experiences

This immersive experience unveils the systems of the ways we work. We will bring to light the ways that the industry is changing and how we can be the ones in front of the change instead of behind it.

This experience will be attended by other selected captains of different industries, in an up-close and personal space where everyone has a voice and is able to share their expertise with like-minded people.

We will invoke change by reshaping the interview process with Bodhi Jones from KaiFlow - who will begin the process and guide the audience and the interviewee through an interactive journey of transformation.

Enterprise invites you, leaders, creatives, disruptors and entrepreneurs to be a part of our unique experiences and be part of the ones to lead the way to innovation, growth and change in the long term.

The Evening Will Feature

Insights into the mind of industry leaders.

A top chef refined in the culinary arts.

A selection of Champagnes & wines selected by an experienced sommelier.

Expert Mixologist in a pop-up artistically designed bar.

And so more

We have already started sending out invitations to our members and to other leaders of industries, if you would like to be part of an Enterprise Experience then contact the details below.

Georgie Ogilvie

T. 020 3876 4268

M. 07833473294

E. georgie.ogilvie@pearmarketing.co.uk

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Return of Europe's Premier African Polo Event

The world-renowned Lux Afrique Polo Day is coming back to London. It is the only event dedicated to African Polo, and it will be held at the Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club, Windsor on July 31st 2021.

The reputable event which is now in its third year brings the very best of African fashion, food and music to one place on one amazing day of sport in the English countryside. The day, which has been dubbed the “Black Ascot” due to its strong association with haute couture and horses. The spectacle will see well dressed and well-heeled Africans and polo aficionados join together for a day of glitz and glamour as well as prancing ponies as they join the spectacle of the Sport of Kings. The star-studded guest list includes some of the biggest names in the world of Afro entertainment.

The tournament will see some of Africa’s stars of Polo convene in the world-renowned RCB Polo Club for what pundits are saying will be a thrilling match. It will be a showcase of the finest players from teams across the continent as well as highlight young and up and coming talent.

Although last years event was cancelled due to Covid-19, this year’s event is revving up to be a world-class event that will see everyone come back with a bang!

Lux Afrique's Fabien Bernard said: “We are thrilled to be bringing back the Lux Afrique Polo Day to RCB Polo Club in Windsor. The event has already become a firm fixture in the social calendar, it is a fantastic day out.

“We are proud to showcase the incredible talent Africa has in the world of polo. We strive to change perceptions and the narrative and surprise people about what Africa has to offer. It’s also a unique opportunity to celebrate culture from across the continent.”

As much as there is to see on the field, there is as much to do off it. On top of the action happening on the pitch, guests will be treated to astounding African cuisine as well as performances from incredible musicians.

Tickets are getting snapped up quickly. They are available from s

https://luxafriquepolo.com/buy-tickets.

Tickets start at £59 for a standard ticket, £420 per person for a platinum ticket which offers different levels of access for this unique event. Private hospitality suites, which may also be purchased, cater to ultra-VIP corporate and celebrity guests. The party continues with DJs and dancing, so that the fun may continue long after the day is over.

For supercar fanatics, there will be supercars on show in which iconic cars will be on display for the enjoyment of guests. In addition, there will be a luxury shopping lounge in which deluxe brands will be unveiled and available for purchase.

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Tech CMOs Shift Marketing Efforts to The Digital Relationship

CMO’s and Marketers at Large brands have been interviewed, and it was revealed that there is a shift in marketing focus.

There have been detailed interviews with CMO’s from some of the largest technology brands which brought 5 trends to the surface which showed a shift in focus from lead generation to building digital relationships. The CMO Outlook report, which was 50+ pages, delves deep into different insights and ways of thinking by industry leaders and helps to understand how they helped to navigate unprecedented challenges and unlock business value and opportunity from it.

Copy House and immediate future collaborated to interview CMOs and Marketers from brands including Adobe, Worldpay, Siemens and SAP. The in-depth insight showed five main trends in marketing that reveals a shift in approach. As said several times by contributors, “there is a move to serve, not sell”

Kathryn Strachan, MD at Copy House says: “The change in direction, driven largely by the pandemic, saw marketers move to align more closely with customers and sales teams. The need to compensate for cancelled events and switch from promotional content to more helpful content, fundamentally change the marketing approach: refocusing efforts on delivering meaningful value that would make the audiences’ lives easier and reduce some of their stress by concentrating on solving pain points”.

Conversations came up that showed the need to build strong customer relationships, as well as to also help to identify new approaches such as the likely permanent shift towards hybrid led events. It also calls for the re-evaluation of the Martech stack and the desire to slow down and be empathetic to customers. What was clear throughout discussions was that social media played a significant part in their plans for the year ahead.

Colin Jacobs, Managing Director at immediate future, says: “The brightest minds in technology marketing have paved a progressive path for future social media marketing activities. Realising the importance of learning from human behaviours and data, marketers deliver contextual storytelling across a suite of assets, they have nudged and nurtured customers by delivering ‘relevance at scale.

Jacobs identifies a significant focus on excellence and best practice in social: “There’s resounding support of quality over quantity, that cuts through the social noise and builds closer, more personal, customer relationships. To create content that your audience cares about and engage with means you can no longer just pull apart a white paper and fluff a few ‘try now’ or ‘find out more posts. That’s lazy and boring social content – and it’s clear from these leading marketers that success is found in being serious about social media marketing and striving to break the social boring!”.

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A New LSE Report on China in the Age of COVID

Since the beginning of Covid-19, China has made Twitter a vital instrument. A new report from LSE IDEAS, the London School of Economics’ foreign policy think tank. It revealed that official Chinese Twitter activity went “into overdrive” as a result of the crisis.

Professor Chris Alden, Director at LSE IDEA, and Kendrick Chan, an Associate at LSE IDEAS authorised a report which stated that China’s Twitter activity went hyperactive during the pandemic, and it is facing increasing global criticism over claims that it intentionally misled the world by covering up the true extent of the coronavirus, Twitter diplomacy has become “effectively a ‘crisis messaging tool’ for Beijing”.

Chan and Alden put together data they had collected from official Twitter accounts of various Chinese embassies and spokespersons. They collated around 3 thousand tweets sent out by accounts owned by Chinese foreign policies entities, these include accounts owned by the Chinese Ministry of Affairs, the Chinese Mission to UN, the Chinese Embassy in the US, the Chinese Embassy in South Africa, and the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA).

Alongside the tweets, the authors also extracted other related data such as hashtag count, post type (tweet/retweet/reply) and user mentions, which were then compiled and analysed. This revealed two key findings:

Twitter is used to discuss controversial issues, especially COVID-19

Looking at the combined all-time hashtag count of Chinese Twitter activity, the LSE IDEAS academics found that issues, where China uses hashtags, tend to be controversial ones, with #COVID19 being used 1,204 times.

The second most used hashtag to come out of China was #coronavirus. Other controversial issues that also have achieved high hashtags count included:

Hong Kong (129 hashtags) and Xinjiang (98 hashtags). According to Alden and Chan, the use of hashtags could indicate a desire by China to influence the conversation.

China has always remained tight-lipped on Twitter, with its narrative being controlled and carefully curated

China’s narrative on Twitter remains tightly controlled and curated

The academics also found when analysing the type of tweets sent that most official Chinese embassy accounts have a weak preference for retweeting (52%) rather than tweeting (41%). Direct engagement in dialogue appears to be rare (7%).

They found that these official Chinese accounts have a primary preference for retweeting state-based news media, with outlets such as Xinhua News Agency, China Global Television Network (CGTN), China Daily placing in the top three most retweeted sources, while People’s Daily and Global Times were 7th and 8th place respectively.

According to the authors, via the report, the preference for retweeting state media sources – which are vetted before publishing – as opposed to actual tweets from actual ambassadors suggests the importance of “retaining the ‘core message’ or narrative.”

Professor Chris Alden, Director at LSE IDEAS and co-author of the report, says:

“Twitter has served as a platform through which China can push out swift and targeted rebuttals in real-time, all whilst reaching a global audience. Twitter diplomacy has therefore given China some much-needed breathing room. As the COVID-19 crisis has ‘normalised’ in recent months—arguably a mark of China’s relatively successful transition out of crisis—and the focus has shifted to other countries’ management of the crisis, this has allowed other issues to creep in up the agenda. As a result, Beijing’s use of Twitter diplomacy has similarly become routine.”

Kendrick Chan, Associate at LSE IDEAS and co-author of the report, says:

“We anticipate that this trend of Chinese authorities using Twitter as an instrument for swift, targeted rebuttals will continue. However, what is notably absent to date in the Chinese approach to Twitter diplomacy is the kind of individual messaging pursued by national leaders, most notably with Trump but also many others.”

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London’s Top 10 Most Picturesque Rooftop Bars

Summer is knocking on our doors again, with this year’s summer set to be a hot one for many Brits. As the sun starts to poke her head out once again, and at the same time restrictions being lifted, it is only fair that people are starting to get excited about what they want to do and where they want to go. One key activity most people want to do is to find a nice spot to relax, preferably with a drink in hand marvelling at the view, and so we thought we make a list of London’s Top 10 Most Picturesque Rooftop Bars.

Alfresco spots have a scratch for every ich, whether you want an exclusive party or maybe something more relaxed with friends, there are places north and south of the river that will suit all.

Aqua Spirit, SOHO

The Old Dickens & Jones department store has been renovated into a trendy Aua Spirit Restaurant and Bar. beware though, as they run on a first come first serve basis, so don’t leave it too late in the evening to check it out as it fills up pretty quickly.

It really is the perfect retreat after a long day in the office or for the lucky ones, wandering the shops of Central London. Their bartenders only use the finest ingredients and spirits to whip up favourite drink classics.

Pro-tip - The spot is especially beautiful at night with the glow of Soho and Mayfair rooftops.

5th Floor, 30 Argyll St, London W1F 7EB

Coq D’Argent, BANK

Coq D’Argent is a hit for after-work drinkers looking for a place to relax and splash a few pennies on a few beverages in the city. Coq D’Argent is a splendidly green garden spot atop the D&D London restaurant.

Coq D’Argent boats a French Chic styled bar-restaurant, with an eclectic food menu (including gluten-free and vegan options), and a spectacular wine list. When you are done ordering from the bar, meander through to the garden and relax in the sun, all the while taking in beautiful views of St Paul’s, Tower Bridge and the Tower of London

1 Poultry, London EC2R 8EJ

Lyric, Hammersmith

Now that the Cinemas are open again there is an urge to go and see b-movies with friends, family or loved ones. There is no better place in London to do so than the Lyric Hammersmith. Lyric has its very own rooftop garden bar so you can enjoy a pre-or post-theatre drink.

This beautiful space doesn’t compromise on big plants or foliage in general, instead, it offers a relaxing haven away from the streets of Hammersmith below.

Pro tip - Make sure to set an alarm on your phone for the start of the movie, you may miss it if you are not careful.

Lyric Square, London W6 0QL



Prince of Wales,

Being a native north boy, I only go down south when I really feel it’s worth it. One places I have been making the trek down south for a number of years now is the Prince Of Wales (POW). It is the best way to kick the weekend off. It has a great balance of Party atmosphere as well as socialising the rooftop terrace is always buzzing with people.

Weekdays are more chilled but the bar really thrives come Friday with its weekend DJ sets. If you can’t get to a festival over the summer, this may be your next best choice.

Pro-Tip - Spend a few minutes in the bar downstairs if the line is long to get in.

14 Lillie Rd, London SW6 1TT

Radio Rooftop Bar At Me London, The Strand

If you stretch your gaze up 10 floors at the ME Hotel London, you might be able to spot the Radio Rooftop Bar that has an effortlessly stylish aura that pays homage to the Ibiza clubbing scene.

As well as drinks, they serve a lovely selection of tapas dishes which all come with a slight twist such as black olive and bitter chocolate tapenade). Finish the evening off with one of their speciality gin and tonics. If it wasn’t for the stunning panoramic views across the city, you might just forget you’re in London.

336-337 Strand, London WC2R 1HA

Rumpus Room, Mondrian Hotel

There is an old bar proverb, It doesn’t matter about the size of the boat, it’s the motion of the ocean. This definitely applies to the Rumpus Room. Although it is small in size, the outdoor area of Rumpus Room more than makes up for that with its panoramic views over the London skyline and its delicious drinks menu. For those who are not familiar with London, this bar gives you the chance to view the city from one of the most picturesque locations, it is an idyllic spot to look out across the Thames and escape the everyday bustle of the streets below.

Sea Containers London, 20 Upper Ground, South Bank, London SE1 9PD

Sushisamba, Bishopgate

Looks are only skin deep, and this fully applies to Sushisamba, Bishopsgate. Granted it may not look like the most impressive building but hidden away 39 stories up is the terrace bar for SUSHISAMBA – a Japanese, Brazilian, Peruvian fusion bar.

The decor mixed in with the fine dining and glorious views of London makes this a popular spot every day of the week. With an impressive cocktail list crafted by star bartender Richard Woods, you can experience creative flavour combinations that perfectly complement the cuisine.

Heron Tower, London EC2N 4AY

The Culpeper, Spitalfields

The Culpeper boasts an expansive collection of beers on tap and has a great selection of no-nonsense pub food that is tasty and filling. But it’s the upstairs terrace that makes it particularly special.

If you continue heading up the beautiful Victorian building you will stumble upon a stunning highrise greenhouse and garden dining area fully stocked with amazing drinks and food for you to indulge on and it is complete with a wood-fired grill. Since it’s named after Nicholas Culpeper, a 17th-century herbalist, you can expect plenty of plant-based cocktail concoctions at The Culpeper. The rooftop also hosts a number of events throughout the year, including astronomy classes and gardening workshops.

40 Commercial St, London E1 6LP

Vista at the Trafalgar Hotel, Trafalgar Square

Vista can confidently say that they have maybe one, if not the best views of London for any rooftop bar. The rooftop overlooks a busy heaving Trafalgar square, with views right from the Horse Guards Parade to the National Gallery.

Famed for its quintessential Britishness, the bar serves plenty of Pimm’s cocktails and speciality G&Ts, with a dash of everyone’s favourite summer berries.

2 Spring Gardens Trafalgar Square, London SW1A 2TS

Bussey Rooftop Bar, The Bussey Building

Bussey Rooftop is nestled nicely on top of the colourful and iconic Bussey Building. It offers a unique dining experience slap bang in the heart of South London.

Bussey Rooftop Bar literally stands above the rest as the highest drinking hot spot in Peckham, offering delicious cocktails, seasonal bites and unrivalled 360-degree views of London’s dazzling skyline.

Roof B Bussey Building, 133 Rye Ln, London SE15 4ST

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Face-time Pressures Of Remote Work

Face-time pressure may force us back to the office, new research reveals

There is an increasing feeling that employees feel that to be in line for promotions they need to be in the office according to new research conducted within the “Reinventing Work” chair at ESCP Business School.

When employees are remote they feel as though they always need to be available as the idea is that organisations implicitly prefer physical attendance – a “face-time climate”. If they are unable or unwilling to then they feel they are compromising their well-being and productivity.

Employees feel that if they cannot physically be present in the office and show their commitment, they then have to resort to another type of signal: availability.

According to the authors: “The first thing we noticed was that there was no significant difference in terms of the number of hours worked. Those employees who continued to commute to the office reported working an average of 45.22 hours per week, compared with 45.17 hours for those working remotely full-time.

“What our results demonstrate is that the open scepticism of some organisations toward their remote workers is not only unfounded; it is also harmful to their well-being and performance and, ultimately, to the organisations themselves. It may well be true that some people make the most of being at home to work less, but nothing suggests that such laziness is any worse than that of employees who, sitting at their desks in full view of everybody, spend their working hours taking care of personal business.”

According to Emmanuelle Léon, associate professor of human resource management and scientific director of the Reinventing Work chair, “we have unusually experienced telework, due to the pandemic. Now that we are moving towards hybrid models, telework will only be beneficial if the following conditions are being met: a real willingness from top management to embrace remote work, appropriate training and coaching of both employees and managers, and organisational structures which make sense (size of the teams, length of the assignment, level of task interdependence).”

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The Great Talent Migration.

Research shows staffing exodus from London as remote working leads to an increased desire to leave the ‘rat race’

Guidant Global, The Global leader in talent acquisition and managed workforce solutions, is urging employers to stay aware of a talent exodus that is beginning from London. Insights reveal an increased desire from highly skilled people to move to less metropolitan locations in a remote working environment.

An analysis of where cities are losing and gaining talent, Guidant discovered that the capital is losing its highly skilled professional workforce to smaller towns and cities across the UK than it is gaining, as people seek to leave the ‘rat race’ behind for good.

When looking at the data it showed one place, in particular, was the prefered destination in the UK. The data showed that Epsom is proving a particularly popular destination, with London losing three professionals to this location for every two gained. The capital is also losing five people for every four gained to St Albans, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone, Welwyn Garden City and Leigh-on-Sea.

As Simon Blockley, CEO of Guidant Global, explained, those employers with a historically London-based talent approach will need to broaden their horizons.

“One of the side effects we’re seeing of the pandemic is a migration of talent from previously popular and crowded cities to other, more remote destinations that often offer better value for money when it comes to living costs as well as a better quality of life. The simple fact is, remote working has been proven to be feasible in many cases, so people are now more eager to make those permanent relocation moves of which they have dreamed. The challenge for employers now is to not only broaden the geographical scope of their workforce solutions but also re-evaluate where top talent is now located. For those with a London base, the resources you need are unlikely to still be in the same place.”

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Data Standardisation, Accessibility, Quality and the Environment

There is increasing pressure on organisations to disclose and report on environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance to their shareholders, investors and other stakeholders, concerns are rising regarding a lack of rich, consistent data.

They addressed this, Landmark Information is holding a virtual conference and have brought together a panel of experts to discuss how ESG source data can best deliver accurate and standardised metrics and reporting.

The ‘ESG Data: Standardisation, Accessibility and Understanding’ virtual conference takes place on 24th June 2021 and considers the role of data in driving meaningful ESG insights and scoring, and the importance of standardisation in due diligence, measurement and reporting.

People can take part in workshops and live discussions and they can also hear from experts panel speakers, who consider the common challenges shared by firms

in consistently measuring and managing ESG metrics. Attendees will also receive best practice examples of the firms that have successfully standardised their ESG reporting, and have the opportunity to raise any questions with the speakers.

Former Director of the Centre for Legal Education and Research at the University of Birmingham, Professor Robert Lee will be presenting the Keynote presentation to being the event. Professor Robert Lee Professor Robert Lee has also acted as specialist adviser to the European Parliament, the European Commission, the House of Commons and the National Assembly for Wales.

Other speakers include Jeff Cohen, Director of Capital Markets Integration at SASB; Erik Nyman, Child Rights and Business Specialist at UNICEF; Paul Davies, Partner at Latham & Watkins; Ellie Reeves, Partner at Ashurst; Tim Clare, Director, Transaction & Corporate Services at Anthesis Group; and Doug Bryden, Partner at Travers Smith; and Chris Loaring, Managing Director at Landmark Legal.

Simon Boyle, Legal Director at Landmark Information said: “ESG is burgeoning in its topicality and we will no doubt see the continued adoption as the mainstream due-diligence trend for investment decision making. Data plays an instrumental role in the accurate assessment, management and reporting of environmental, social and governance metrics, and we are delighted to bring together a group of ESG experts to enlighten and inspire delegates.”

The conference takes place on 24 June 2021 from 1:30 - 4:30 pm.

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The Impact of Fake Reviews and Negative Social Media Posts on UK Business

- A new report has found that 48% of UK businesses felt an impact on their company’s reputation and sales in the last year due to negative content about their brand online.

- 39% of companies are being affected by fake online reviews and 71% believe negative social media is the most damaging content to their company reputation.

According to a report published on the 26th of May by one of the UK’s leading online reputation management consultancy, Igniyte. They highlighted the damaging impact that fake reviews and negative social media posts have on UK businesses in the last year.

Igniyte surveyed 500 business owners and managers in the UK and showed the damaging effect that negative online content can have on Uk businesses reputation, specifically fake online reviews, and critical social media comments. The report also analyses the way businesses currently handle negative online content about their brand.

Researchers found that around 48% of UK businesses feel that negative content about their brand impacted their company’s reputation and sales in the last year. 39% of businesses said that they have been directly or indirectly affected by fake reviews on platforms such as Google, Trustpilot, Trip Advisor, Reevoo and Reviews.co.uk in the last year. However, 68% of businesses are worried about receiving fake reviews, with 84% of managers saying that online reviews are an essential part of the financial and reputational state of their business.

In 2021 fake or negative reviews are seen as one of the biggest threats for companies. However, data shows that 47% of businesses do not actively deal with or respond to their online reviews. To add to this, 71% of businesses said that critical posts and malicious comments on social media are the most damaging form of online content to their business - across platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Tiktok, Pinterest, YouTube, and Reddit.

The research asked what did businesses feel were their biggest threats to the reputation of their company, and aims to help guide businesses on how to improve their negative reputation.

As such, the biggest threats to a business’s reputation in 2021 are:

1. Negative reviews

2. Online crises (including Social Media crises)

3. Offline crises (e.g., operational or product failure)

4. Other businesses undercutting

5. Incidents with employees or board members

6. Lack of company social media activity

In 2021, negative reviews and content become much more of an issue than it has been prior to COVID. Negative press coverage is now a bigger threat to business reputation than operational issues like pricing, product failures or employee conduct. Of those businesses, 25% said that they do not currently monitor their companies online reputation with conventional monitoring tools. In fact, 28% of the UK managers that were questioned did not believe their business has been affected by negative online content.

Managing Director of Igniyte, Simon Wadsworth, said while speaking about the findings “We know the importance of online reputation to brands and businesses, and as specialists, we monitor changes closely. We’ve been tracking the causes of reputational risk for over ten years and it’s interesting to see the worry that negative, or worse still fake, reviews are causing, but we know there are lots of options that can be done.

What our Reputation Report 2021 shows very clearly is that threats both offline and online are affecting UK brands and businesses – often with huge financial implications. Tackling these often requires specialist help, starting with effective monitoring and auditing and including ongoing work to create and maintain a robust brand image – for individuals and businesses.”

Miles Bentley, Head of Marketing at Yoono, a brand-new start-up that offers reputation reports, adds: “your online reputation can be what makes or breaks you, whether an individual, a business, or a brand. In today’s digital world, people can find out a lot about you with a few searches, and we know how damaging that can be.

Critical customer reviews, negative social media comments and bad press are a much bigger problem for businesses than you might think, with many people using this information as a reason to not do business with them. Taking control of your reputation is really important, and one of the first steps is knowing what is being said about you, and what are your priorities.”