Aspen Waite Group News Autumn 2026
The Master Teacher 33 years of wisdom, helping you plan for a brighter future
Advise • Educate • Innovate
“Autumn is the mellower season, and what we lose in flowers we more than gain in fruits.” — Samuel Butler
- Amit Ray
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CONTENTS
04 Welcome from Paul Waite 06 The Significance of ‘33’ 08 Inflation! 10 A Business Worth More 12 Who Really Has Access to Your Business? 16 Classic Cars 18 Keep Moving 22 Octopus EV: Drive to Win 24 Proxemixs: The Space Between Us 26 September 2026 HR Top 10 28 The Roadshow Effect 30 The A-W of Services 32 Smarter Waste Solutions for Business 34 Grumpy Bear’s Cookery Corner 40 The Cocktail Cabinet
PAUL WAITE - FCA FCCA - CHIEF EXECUTIVE ASPEN WAITE GROUP
Welcome to the Autumn edition of our quarterly magazine. If you are reading this and you would like to contribute an article, get in touch with me at: Paul@aspen-waite.co.uk Welcome to the Autumn 26 edition of the Aspen Waite Magazine. The past few weeks have possibly been the best, Business Development-wise, in Aspen Waite history. On 13 August 1993, a rather scared Paul Waite turned up at Aspen House for my first day as Aspen Waite. So, in August, it was our 33rd birthday. As a person who is always trying to think outside the box, I decided to use the 33rd birthday as something to build the magazine cover around. I am so glad I did, as my research strengthened my belief in the Power of the Universe and that certain things are meant to be. The colours of 33 are purple and green, my own chosen corporate colours. It is a very powerful number, symbolising the ‘Master Teacher’. This could also be argued to represent me rather nicely I then decided to research the numerology of my birthdate, the outcome 04
of which accompanies this editorial. The results were simply staggering, an almost complete description of me. Even the bit about adapting my leadership. At least 20 years ago, I had the staff psychometrically tested by the legend that is Steve Jones. I thought I’d set a good example, so I was done first, and Steve presented the findings at a group staff event. The study showed that I was a perfect leader, but also was a ‘Maverick’ character. In particular, because I am a natural entrepreneur, i.e. I know instinctively what to do and how I am going to go about it. Steve said that some of my followers might misunderstand what I was planning to do. So, I had to become the world’s best communicator to compensate. I therefore give email updates regularly, and in group meetings I am extremely open. In 2019, we entered the Top 100 firms at number 97, and the following year rose to 78. Then Covid came along, plus a bit of treachery and sorrow, and we were less than half the group we had once been.
It’s been a really tough period, but I believe I’m the best accountant I’ve ever been, and we have the best client list in our history and the best range of services. A really diverse range of work and a lot of happy clients. We are getting a lot of new R&D opportunities and also a few new Land Remediation Claims. We’ve really broken into cyber/digital/AI, and I’m proud to include articles from several new clients in this feature. On September 25, I celebrated 45 years as an accountant, which is no small achievement. The front cover has my interpretation of the 33rd birthday theme, with Herne the Hunter taking centre stage. Don’t forget to listen
to me, ‘Herne’s Son’ on Aspen Waite Radio every Thursday at 9pm. When I meet business owners, new network members and other professionals, I hear a constant message: ‘Other accountants don’t care! They don’t or can’t advise; they are entirely reactive!’ Our message is like a breath of fresh air. Great and timely advice, a 24/7 caring attitude, a hand around the shoulder to fight battles and help you gain your R&D money. I have picked up so much new work recently and met so many great people. I believe that we are back to where we would have been if Covid hadn’t happened, except we have a much-
improved range of services, and I am a less naive and more handson CEO. Next year is going to be extremely interesting. In August, my daughterin-law gave birth to Eleanor and Wynter, so I now have three granddaughters. Wynter looks just like my dad, which can be disconcerting. I have lost 16 kilos this year, and I think I look better than I did six years ago. I am training like a super athlete, averaging over 2,500 calories a training session (elite athlete standard). Last week, I cycled 70.5km (circa 45 miles) in four sessions at a very high intensity, plus a range of other activities, mostly arms. I have even decided to dress smart again, well at least sometimes.
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06 ASPEN WAITE / AUTUMN 2026
33 The Significance of ‘33’ BY PAUL WAITE
On August 13 this year, Aspen Waite became 33 years old and, when thinking about designs for the September magazine, I decided that we had focused enough on AI, digitalisation and cyber security in our cover designs. So I started to look at the significance of the number 33. It is a highly important number, arguably the most important. It combines two powerful numbers, 11 and 22, and represents the Master Teacher, imbuing many of the qualities I like to think I stand for.
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THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ‘33’
Jesus was 33 when he was crucified. Both Hinduism and Islam attach great significance to the number 33 in terms of religious structure and tradition. The colours of 33 are purple and green, which is highly relevant as they are my personal corporate colours. They were also the colours of the Suffragette movement, a cause I would have fiercely supported.
07 A PERSONAL REFLECTION
I then wanted to take this further, so I studied the numerology of my birth date. What was revealed was simply amazing. I’ll let you decide for yourself.
THE NUMBERS
MONTH – FEBRUARY
MY CORE LESSON IN LIFE
Balance, co-operation, sensitivity
To lead without dominating. A balance of self-reliance and collaboration.
DATE
Independence, karmic drive, resilience
LIFE PURPOSE
To stand tall in my individuality while breaking new ground and inspiring others. YEAR
Analytical mind, introspection, inner wisdom
OTHER POINTS
I have diplomatic empathy when advising LIFE PATH – 1
others. I need quiet solitude to think.
Symbolising leadership and innovation LIFE’S LESSON KEY STRENGTHS
Independent pioneer, self-reliance,
To stand on my own two feet at an early age.
strong-willed, natural initiator, visionary.
Paul Waite - CEO Aspen Waite paul@aspen-waite.co.uk Paul Waite - CEO paul@aspen-waite.co.uk ASPEN WAITE / AUTUMN 2026
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08 ASPEN WAITE / AUTUMN 2026
Inflation! Monika Stukova, MSc, CFA
It’s hard to take a trip to the supermarket
The question really is: are the grocery
these days without feeling like it’s a total
stores to blame? American grocery stores
rip-off. You may have noticed your grocery
have among the lowest margins of any
bill rising since 2020. Experts say, all
business. They generally collect 1-2% of
around the world, food prices have
sales in profit after tax. It’s a similar story in
increased by between 25 and 30 percent
Britain. It is very hard to find a grocery
since 2020. It is an astonishing figure in just
store in the developed world that appears
six years. And the jump in prices has not
to be earning a generous profit margin.
really been matched by wage growth anywhere.
Grocery stores are incredibly competitive.
This has become a political issue. In New
shop around and go to different
York, for instance, Mayor Zohran Mamdani
supermarkets. It is even stronger now that
has promised to bring down the cost of
we have online price comparisons. Grocery
living and his plan includes opening
stores in Britain are hyper-competitive.
government-run supermarkets. They will be a more affordable place to shop for groceries. Mamdani plans to put these stores on city-owned land so that they will not pay rent or property taxes. It’s not entirely clear, however, whether that will work out.
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INFLATION!
Shoppers are very aware that they can
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What’s quite striking is that wholesale
Annual inflation across the rich world has
prices have gone up by slightly more than
stopped falling towards 2%, the target in
consumer prices. Just by a couple of
most of them. In August, it reached 3.3% in
percentage points. So, if retailers are not to
the euro zone, the highest in three years.
blame, then who is?
British inflation hit a five-month high of
The sharp increase in input costs over the past five years is a major culprit. These
3.1% in August. Inflation is just under 6% in Lithuania.
costs include fertiliser, pesticides, seeds,
Many central banks are not willing to take
repairs and more.
any chances. A new cycle of interest-rate
The war in Iran has kicked off the latest round of inflation by pushing up input costs. It has caused the price of oil and natural gas to rise. In Europe, natural-gas
hikes may be just getting started. UBS believes that many of the central banks which have not yet started hiking will do so soon.
prices are more than twice as high as before the war, while British gas prices have also reached a three-year high.
Monika Stukova MSc, CFA, CF Corporate Finance monika.stukova@aspen-waite.co.uk
Sources: The Economist | Reuters
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ASPEN WAITE / AUTUMN 2026
A Business Worth More How the right technology, built around your business, can improve profitability, reduce dependency and create assets you own. Tamas Feher, Founder & CEO, Isolio
One day, somebody may sit across a table from you and put a price on the business you have spent years building. You will remember the late nights, the customers won and the risks taken. They will be wondering how reliably it makes money, how it can grow, and what happens when you are no longer there. The late nights, regrettably, do not come with a separate line on the valuation. That is a useful perspective even when a sale is years away. It is also where our work at Isolio begins.
Start with the business We work alongside business owners to understand what they want their company to become, then work with their teams to identify what is getting in the way. Perhaps invoicing occupies days that could be spent looking after customers. Perhaps purchasing decisions quietly erode margins. Perhaps the business runs beautifully, provided the same two people never take a holiday together. Each calls for a different response. Buying the same AI subscription for all three is unlikely to be it.
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Our starting point is the commercial outcome: stronger profitability, less dependence on particular people, clearer information or more capacity to grow. From there, we help decide what is worth changing and deliver it. That might mean connecting existing systems, introducing digital employees to handle repetitive work, or building a software product around the company’s own requirements. We stay involved through implementation, maintenance and improvement. The owner’s team brings the knowledge of the business. We bring the engineering capability to put that knowledge to work.
From clicking buttons to getting work done Bonus Eventus, a field service business, had already built Expedite, its own software platform for managing operations, margins, purchasing and invoicing. The next ambition was straightforward: instead of employees continually operating the software, could the software carry out more of the work for them?
Isolio designed and implemented eight digital employees within Expedite, covering activities including procurement, reporting, inbox management and invoicing. They use information already held in the platform, with human approval wherever judgement and control require it. The Invoicing Specialist can generate 40 invoices in approximately six minutes. The Procurement Manager is expected to help deliver around £40,000 in additional annual margin through more competitive purchasing. The point is to free capable people for the work the business really needs them to do: looking after customers, solving problems and making good commercial decisions. Time released is not automatically profit. Its value depends on what the business does with it. That is why the conversation must continue after the technology goes live.
Build something of your own There is another opportunity here: turning the way your business works into something it owns. Years of experience often live in people’s heads, spreadsheets and informal routines. Where that knowledge can be captured in useful workflows and in-house software, it becomes easier for the wider business to use, repeat and develop. We help owners build those products cost-effectively, using existing foundations where appropriate rather than starting everything from scratch. Sometimes that means replacing expensive software. Sometimes it means developing a capability that an off-the-shelf product cannot provide.
Those bespoke workflows are the client’s intellectual property. We can also build software products the business owns, while Isolio retains ownership of its underlying platform. Knowing what you own, what you license and what needs ongoing support is part of making a sound investment. Ownership alone is not enough, of course. Software should earn its place through practical usefulness and commercial results. A neglected application is not suddenly a valuable asset because someone has called it proprietary.
A better business, with more choices For an owner considering a sale in three to five years, the aim is to build a record of stronger performance and a business that depends less on their daily intervention. For someone who has no intention of selling, those improvements are hardly a disadvantage. Technology cannot promise a particular valuation. What it can do, when built around the business and properly supported, is help improve the things that give it value. That is the work we do, side by side with owners and their teams.
To explore where technology could add lasting value to your business, contact Aspen Waite and ask about working with Isolio.
Tamas Feher Founder & CEO, Isolio tamas@isolio.ai
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The Question Every Business Should Be Asking - Who Really Has Access to Your Business? By Belinda Louch
Every organisation relies on digital identities to decide who can access its systems, information and services. Yet the identity environment behind that access is often far more complex than business leaders realise. A member of staff opens their laptop on Monday morning, signs in and gets on with their job. They access email, business applications, shared information and perhaps several cloud services. It feels routine. Behind that single sign-in, however, sits something fundamental to the organisation: identity. Digital identities determine who can get into systems, what they can see, what they can change and, in some cases, how much authority they have once they are there. They include employees, administrators, contractors and service accounts used by applications and technology. That makes identity much more than an IT administration issue. It is part of the foundation on which modern businesses operate.
Identity environments rarely stand still Most organisations did not design their current identity environment in one sitting. It has developed over years as people joined, changed roles and left; new applications were introduced; businesses moved services into the cloud; suppliers were given access; organisations merged; and security requirements changed. For many organisations, Microsoft forms an important part of that identity environment. Active Directory, which began on-premises, may now be connected to Microsoft Entra ID and Microsoft 365, while other organisations have moved completely to the cloud. Each individual change may have made sense at the time. Collectively, however, they can create a complicated picture. Permissions accumulate. Accounts remain after they are no longer needed. Administrative access can become broader than intended. Older authentication methods may survive alongside newer controls. Service accounts can become critical to business operations while receiving comparatively little attention.
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There is also an external dimension.
This is why access to critical systems matters
Usernames, passwords and other
at a business level.
business-related information can surface in publicly available breach data on the open and dark web following compromises elsewhere. Together, those details can help an attacker attempt access or target the person behind an account. If the account is still active or has privileged access, that exposure can amplify risk across the organisation. None of this necessarily means an organisation has poor security. It means identity deserves a place in the organisation’s wider business risk strategy.
When access becomes a business issue
If an attacker gains control of an identity with access to critical systems, the impact can extend far beyond that account. Systems may have to be taken offline to contain the incident, potentially bringing operations to a halt. Customers and suppliers can be affected too, and recovery depends on establishing which accounts and systems can be trusted. Even without an incident, a weakness in identity can increase cyber exposure, complicate recovery, affect the protection of sensitive information and make it harder to demonstrate effective governance. It can also become an obstacle during cloud migration,
The important question is not simply, “Do we
restructuring or wider technology
have user accounts under control?”
transformation.
It is whether the organisation understands who
This is particularly important in Microsoft
and what can access the things that matter
environments, where Active Directory, Entra ID
most.
and Microsoft 365 may all play a part in
Consider an administrator account with
determining access.
extensive privileges, an old account that was
Looking at each component separately can
never disabled, or a service identity with
miss the relationships between them. For
permissions that have grown over time.
organisations operating hybrid environments,
Individually, these can look like technical
understanding how older and newer identity
housekeeping matters.
systems interact is increasingly important.
The same principle is becoming increasingly relevant as organisations adopt AI tools. If an AI service is connected to business systems or information, what it can access may depend on the permissions of the user, application or service identity behind it. Excessive or poorly understood access can therefore affect not only what a person can see, but what information an AI-enabled service may also be able to retrieve, process or expose.
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More technology does not automatically mean stronger foundations
Start with visibility and priorities
Cybersecurity investment is essential, but
however, the starting questions can be
buying additional technology cannot by itself
straightforward.
Identity security can quickly become a highly technical subject. For business leaders,
resolve weaknesses in the underlying identity environment. A new security platform may provide valuable protection, but it does not necessarily tell an organisation why an account still has excessive privilege, whether an inherited configuration remains appropriate or which identity weaknesses should be addressed first. The same principle applies to larger transformation programmes. Organisations investing in Zero Trust, privileged access management, identity governance or Microsoft cloud modernisation are more likely to benefit when the identity foundations beneath those programmes are properly understood. That does not mean everything has to be perfect before change can begin. Often, the more useful approach is to establish the current position, identify the areas carrying the greatest exposure and work through improvements in a sensible order.
Are our employee logins, email or website domains externally exposed in data breaches? Are old, dormant or shared accounts creating unnecessary exposure? Do we know which identities have the greatest levels of access? Are people retaining permissions they no longer require? Are our HR records and identity systems aligned, so accounts and access accurately reflect who has joined, changed roles or left? And, if weaknesses exist, do we know which ones matter enough to address first?
This is where prioritisation is important. Not every issue carries the same business risk, and attempting to fix everything simultaneously can create unnecessary cost and disruption. Effective identity security is not about producing the longest possible list of technical findings. It is about understanding what those findings mean and deciding what should happen next.
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Working together to strengthen identity Through Aspen Waite’s partnership with
How confident are we that we know who and what can access our systems and information today?
Orbital, organisations can access specialist identity security expertise, practical guidance
If the answer is unclear, Orbital can help you
and independent advice.
build a clearer picture and decide what to
Orbital helps organisations assess identity risk and exposure, identify what matters most and set practical priorities for improvement. That might involve reviewing exposed account
tackle first. Belinda Louch, Founder, Orbital Identity Security
information, privileged identities and account
www.orbitalis.co.uk
hygiene across on-premises, cloud and hybrid
theteam@orbitalis.co.uk
identity environments. Our approach is practitioner-led and consultancy-focused, rather than product-led. We work alongside organisations to make proportionate improvements and build
0121 269 6004
Call to action: Awareness enables practical action.
stronger internal capability.
If you are an Aspen Waite reader, Orbital
For leadership teams, the most useful
identity information in known breach data. We
identity-security question may therefore be a
can help you understand what the findings
simple one:
may mean and where action may be needed
offers a free initial scan for organisational
to reduce privacy and access risks. If you would rather start with a conversation, get in touch for a no-obligation chat about your identity security priorities.
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16 ASPEN WAITE / AUTUMN 2026
Classic Cars By Mark Waite
Whether you are an avid collector or simply an enthusiast, classic cars can evoke powerful emotional connections. But why?
The smell, sound and sight of a classic
Unexceptional cars bring joy because of
vehicle triggers personal memories,
the link they bring back to happy
mindfulness and a link to the past.
childhood memories. Other classics deliver
It is this emotional link that has affected the classic car market the most in recent times. Whereas previously high value
happiness through links to our cultural past, be those films, posters or racing teams.
Ferrari GTO’s, Lamborghini Muira’s, C, D
Current ‘must haves’ are typically vehicles
and E type Jaguars were the types of
of the 1980s and 1990s, such as hot
vehicles buyers went for more recently its
hatchbacks and turbo-era cars, are
more mundane and often mass-produced
growing in demand and price. Key buyers
vehicles that are getting the attention.
are in the 40 to 60 age range, so they are looking at cars from their childhood. Fast Fords like Escort Turbo’s and Sierra Cosworth’s have seen their values soar.
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A low-mileage Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500 that had been fastidiously maintained by its owner has been sold by Silverstone Auctions (now Iconic Auctioneers) at auction for more than three times top estimate. The black Cosworth RS500 was offered with a pre-auction estimate of £150,000 to £180,000 in the hope that it could well break the previous record of £132,750. The Cosworth didn’t just break the record, it well and truly smashed it, with the hammer falling at £592,250, including fees. Even for an RS500 described as the finest example that’s a huge figure.
By comparison Jaguar E type values are dropping. Covering a much wider production period of 1961 to 1975 over 3 series values have dropped significantly from their 2018 peak, falling by nearly 50% in real inflation-adjusted terms. The main reason for this is that younger collectors show less interest in 1960s sports cars. True classics will always retain strong values, but it is striking to see cars from our childhood becoming more valuable. Or are we simply getting older? Mark Waite
BSc, FIMI, MSOE MIRTE, Eng Tech, Group COO, CEO of Aspen Waite Legacy mark.waite@aspen-waite.co.uk
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18 ASPEN WAITE / AUTUMN 2026
Keep Moving The more things change, the more things stay the same. Or perhaps it’s the other way around.
By Nathaniel Warren
I once again sit here on the Coogee Cliffside writing to you all with more tales of my Australian adventure. It’s not been a usual winter, with the windows and doors barricaded, trying to shelter from the rain and the frost, but instead one full of desperation to make every last moment count. For that is the inescapable antagonist I’ve tried to outrun: time. In case you aren’t already familiar, I’m Nathaniel Warren, a presenter for AW Radio, where I deliver a weekly travel show, and for the past year I’ve been in Australia learning life lessons and trying to catch a tan every step of the way.
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It has been almost exactly a year since I
Now I’ve been forced to say farewell to
left home and my time here is nigh. Over
things that have not only shaped my past
the last year I’ve achieved lifelong goals,
year but have laid the foundations for the
made friends that will stay with me
person I am becoming.
forever, fallen in love with the most incredible girl and made memories that will last a lifetime. And when all of that is true, it makes it incredibly hard to say
So how do you come to terms with the loss of a special time in your life? It’s a question I’ve battled with for a while. At
goodbye.
times I’d dedicated days to just sitting
But the battle against the clock is
possibly even understand how I would
unrelenting and undefeatable. It feels like
possibly cope with such a thing and just
just yesterday I was discovering new
recently in the most unlikely of places I
suburbs every day, swimming at new
think I found an answer.
beaches, turning the key to my first house for the first time, and then eventually into my second, much nicer home alongside all my friends.
with my thoughts and trying to reflect,
A few weeks ago, I went shark diving with my brother, a present he gifted me for my birthday and what will inevitably be our last big experience we get to share here together.
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For some, the idea of heading into a place
And perhaps that winter has been more
you cannot breathe, surrounded by
than just a season. It has felt like the slow
dangers that could end your life in an
ending of a time and place that I have
instant, may seem daunting, but there’s
come to love, the inevitable cold that
another world of calm and beauty that
arrives when you know something
opens when you head into the blue abyss.
beautiful is coming to an end. Never again
One that has its own lessons and
will I be stepping foot in a foreign land for
philosophies. The most striking for me
the first time, finding my feet with a bunch
comes from nature’s most famous
going through the exact same thing, it
predator. The shark.
truly has been a moment in time, and
You see, some sharks have to keep moving or they will die. They physically
When I began writing this article, I
cannot pump water over their gills without
thought it would be an autumn story. I
moving forward. It’s something I find
was looking towards the death of my time
remarkably human.
here and the cold of winter that lay
For us, the only way to not dwell and be stuck on something lost is to keep moving forward. It’s a lesson that not only inspired my first tattoo but also my ability to sit here and write to you all, not unscathed, but stronger from the winter I have just endured.
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that’s ok.
ahead, the natural end to a chapter that I had spent so long building. But somewhere along the way, I realised I was looking at it from the wrong season. Here in Australia, spring is just around the corner. There is new life ahead, new experiences waiting, and perhaps most importantly, a new sense of hope.
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So whilst the spot I sit in stays unchanged and the sunlight still beams upon my pen, with the same old crash of waves serenading me, for me, a lot has changed. Everything has changed. No matter what happens next, I leave this country more ready than ever for the vast experiences I still have to come. And if there’s one big takeaway or lesson that I could pass on to anyone from my year long adventure, it’s to follow your heart.
Say yes to the people, the places and the chances that make you feel alive, even when you know they cannot last forever. I don’t know what’s next for me. One day, maybe I’ll return to this place and start a new story, but for now this chapter is closing so that a new one can begin. But that doesn’t mean anything I’ve gained here will ever truly be lost or forgotten. We carry these things with us. So take each lesson with grace, and whenever you find yourself in a position where you have to leave something behind that you truly love, remember the world is your oyster. There is still so much out there to see, so much to experience and so many memories still to be made. So keep on moving. You never know what might be next.
Soon I’ll be swapping the Australian coastline for the beaches, mountains and madness of Asia, waking up each morning not knowing where I’ll rest my head that night as I continue my travels across the other side of the world. There’ll be plenty more stories, adventures and probably a few questionable decisions along the way. If you want to follow along, tune into The Travel Tapes every Thursday from 8–9PM on AW Radio, where I’ll be bringing you the next chapter of the journey.
Nathaniel Warren Aspen Waite Radio Presenter nathaniel.warren@aspen-waite.co.uk drew.armstrong@aspen-waite.co.uk21
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CAMPAIGN SPOTLIGHT / SEPTEMBER 2026
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22 ASPEN WAITE AUTUMN 2026
Rosie Wall:
Proxemics The Space Between Us
I am an abstract expressionist artist, and
Following the exhibition, I was approached by
my work has increasingly become a way
Abstracted, a prestigious global promotional
of exploring the territories that sit beneath and beyond the visible world: emotion, memory, mortality, connection and legacy. Following the success of my recent exhibition, Act Three, Scene Two, I brought together a
thousands of followers. Three of my paintings were selected to be featured, and this subsequently led to an invitation to become a featured artist in an abstract art magazine. It has been an exciting development in my practice and has given me an opportunity to
collection of work exploring life, death and
share my work with a much wider audience.
legacy. The exhibition was presented within the
I believe we are seeing an important shift
atmospheric surroundings of a church, where large cotton and linen pieces were suspended from the rafters, allowing the work to occupy the space rather than simply hang within it. I wanted the viewer to experience the paintings physically and emotionally, moving amongst them and becoming part of the installation. The exhibition was accompanied by an installation of New Age music created by Mr C.
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art platform on Instagram with many
within the art world towards authenticity of expression. There is less emphasis on creating work that is simply formulaic, aesthetically pleasing or immediately understandable, and a growing appetite for abstraction that comes from a genuine place of feeling and experience.
This is where my own practice sits.
Mark Carey at Deal Radio, adding another
My paintings are rarely created quickly. I work
sensory layer to the work. Sound, space, texture
in layers, sometimes returning to a piece over
and paint came together to create an
many months and, in some cases, years. Paint is
environment that reflected the themes I was
added, removed, obscured and rediscovered.
exploring: our existence, our mortality and the
Marks disappear and re-emerge. The finished
traces we leave behind.
work carries the history of that process within it.
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Although the imagery can be extremely
We can carry another person within our
abstract, there is always a narrative beneath
thoughts, our memories and our emotional
the surface. I am not necessarily interested in
landscape, creating a kind of invisible
telling the viewer what that narrative is. I want
geography between us.
to create enough of an emotional language for the viewer to discover their own response. For me, abstraction is not about removing meaning. It is about allowing meaning to exist without having to explain itself.
This exhibition is about that geography. It is about the spaces we occupy individually and the unseen threads that connect us. It is about intimacy and distance, presence and absence, what is spoken and what remains
My next exhibition, Proxemics: The Space
unspoken. Most importantly, it is about the
Between Us, takes this exploration into a new
possibility that physical separation does not
territory.
necessarily diminish connection. Sometimes, the
The word proxemics relates to the way we use
distance itself becomes part of the relationship.
and experience physical and emotional space
Through Proxemics, I want to continue pushing
between ourselves and others. I am fascinated
my practice towards an increasingly authentic
by that invisible space: the distance between
and uncompromising form of abstraction. I am
two people, two minds, two lives. What
interested in what happens when I stop trying
happens there? What remains when someone
to make a painting understandable and
we love is physically distant from us? Can
instead allow it to become an emotional
connection exist across geography, across time,
experience.
and even across absence?
Ultimately, my work asks the viewer to step into
The Space Between Us explores love,
that space between what we know, what we
connection, memory and the shared mind’s eye.
remember, what we feel and what we cannot
It considers the extraordinary human
quite articulate.
experience of feeling connected to another person even when they may be somewhere else in the world.
That is where I find the painting begins. Rosie Wall
MA/BA/PGET/GTP Goldsmiths Relationship & Business Development Manager rosie.wall@aspen-waite.co.uk
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24ASPEN WAITE AUTUMN 2026
September 2026 HR Top Ten By Rhona Hope We are entering a period of significant employment law change. The key question for September/October 2026 is not whether every policy has already changed, but whether there is a clear owner, timetable and implementation plan for each requirement.
Employment Rights Act readiness – RED
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The immediate deadlines are significant: 1stOctober 2026: Employment Tribunal limitation periods increase from 3 months to 6 months. October 2026: stronger sexual harassment prevention duties.
Action following incidents; Consideration of high-risk environments/events; Third party harassment risks.
QUESTION: If asked tomorrow to demonstrate “all reasonable steps”, could you produce the evidence?
October 2026: significant changes to trade-union access and rights.
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January 2027: unfair dismissal qualifying period reduces to 6 months and the compensatory award becomes uncapped.
This is rapidly becoming one of the most important HR governance issues.
QUESTION:Are your managers and processes ready for an environmentwhere employees can bring unfair dismissal claims after only six months.
Review your probation, performance management, capability and dismissal processes now, rather than wait until January 2027.
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Sexual Harassment – RED
AI in HR – AMBER
Is your organisation using AI for recruitment, CV screening, performance assessment, absence monitoring or workforce analytics HR needs to know exactly what is being used and howdecisions are being made. Be particularly careful about automated recruitment decisions and stress the importance of meaningful human oversight. Think about creating an AI-in-HR register. QUESTIONS:
This is more than just updating the harassment policy.
Are you using AI in recruitment?
From October, employers will be expected to take“all reasonable steps”to prevent sexual harassment, including harassment by third parties.
Is employee data being put into AI tools?
Do you have evidence of:
Do you have an approved AI policy?
Risk assessments; Manager training; Employee training; Reportingroutes;
Rhona Hope CEO Aspen Waite People rhona.hope@aspen-waite.co.uk
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Investigation procedures;
Are candidates told? Are managers using generative AI for HR decisions? Is there meaningful human oversight? Have you completed appropriate Data Protection Impact Assessments?
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Manager Capability – RED
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Brief managers on the forthcoming Employment Law changes. ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation & Arbitration Service) specifically recommends supporting line managers as part of employers preparation for employment law reform.
HR Policies Audit – AMBER
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Holiday Records – AMBER
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Check that annual leave records are kept by HR or payroll systems.Annual-leave and holiday-pay records must be kept for at least six years, as required from April 2026.
Trade Union Readiness – AMBER
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September has several live employment consultations. In particular, the consultation on workplace-monitoring technology closes on 30thSeptember and the Tipping Code consultation closes 29thSeptember 2026.
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Identify which policies need to be updated. For example, harassment, disciplinary/grievance, trade union relations, sickness, family leave, flexible working and dismissal. Do not wait until the legal commencement dates.
Consultation Deadlines – AMBER
People and Health Strategy GREEN
Review absence, long-term sickness, occupational health, reasonable adjustments and return-to-work processes. The Government’s Keep Britain Working review was updated on 23rdSeptemberand it puts considerable emphasis on employers’ role in tackling health-related economic activity.
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2027 HR Roadmap – GREEN
Get your2027 HR change calendar into one place now to include changes to:
If you are a unionised organisation, review your arrangements for union access, recognition and communications. New statutory union-access provisions arrive in October 2026.
Unfair dismissal; Fire-and-rehire; Menopause/gender equality action plans; Enhanced protections for pregnant women/new mothers; Flexible working and other reforms are coming.
There are Five Immediate Key Actions: 01
02
03
04
05
Sexual harassment readiness check.
Tribunal time-limit change briefing.
6-month unfair-dismissal project plan.
Manager briefing & training programme.
2027 employment law roadmap.
Please call me or email me if you’d like to discuss
Rhona Hope Aspen Waite People
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ASPEN WAITE / AUTUMN 2026
The Roadshow Effect By Mark Waite
It was a honour and a privilege to represent Aspen Waite at its first ever ‘Roadshow’ held at Millennium Point Birmingham home of the West Midlands Cyber Hub. I was ably assisted by Tina Fincham and Drew Armstrong whose help and assistance were invaluable. Also Rosie Wall for her behind the scenes facilitations arranging the event. The event was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the wide range of services provided by Aspen Waite and some of its strategic partners to and promote these to a wider audience.
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Presenting on the day were some of our core business partners from across a diverse range of sectors, creating a unique environment to celebrate the expertise, services and achievements that each partner brings to the business community. More than simply a networking event, the roadshow provided a valuable opportunity to meet face-to-face, understand each partner’s individual service platform and explore how those services can be introduced to a wider audience. By connecting partners with one another, we are creating a powerful network of mutual introducers, where businesses can actively champion and recommend each other’s expertise, opening doors to new relationships, opportunities and collaborations.
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The event also created an exciting legacy beyond the day itself. Through individual podcasts featuring participating partners and clients, we can continue the conversation across social media and digital platforms, showcasing the people, businesses and services behind the network. Each podcast becomes another opportunity to raise visibility, share expertise and promote the wider ecosystem of partners, creating a cycle of collaboration, introduction and growth. The Business Expo Radio Roadshow is therefore not simply an event, but a platform for connection, celebration and continued business development, helping every partner to amplify their story while supporting the success of the wider business community. We are delighted to celebrate the participants on the day who helped make the event such a great occasion - Andrew Horkan from Cyber Tzar, Paul Giness from the Beattie Partnership, Martin Taylor from 1VisionPrint, Jason Daniells from Concorde Insurance, Andras Tasi from Esemdee, Freya Hamid -Green from Octopus EV, Louisa Brimacombe-Wiard from Green Energy Advice Bureau and Indra Drabbe from Ecologi. Our full list of services continues to expand and we look forward to inviting more of our partners to future events.At the heart of what we are building is a sincere ambition to create a lasting business legacy: one rooted in sustainability, responsible growth and meaningful support for our partners and potential network clients.
True sustainability is about more than environmental responsibility; it is about building businesses that are resilient, ethical, adaptable and equipped to thrive for generations to come. Through the Aspen Wade network, our ambition is to bring together expert knowledge, practical business support and sustainable thinking, helping organisations to understand not only where they are today, but what they want their business, their people and their wider impact to look like in the future. As CEO of Legacy at Aspen Waite, I am particularly excited to develop this important area of our portfolio. The word legacy is deliberately at the heart of it. We want to help businesses create something that endures: sustainable strategies, stronger relationships, responsible growth and a support network that continues to add value long after the initial introduction. By connecting our partners and clients, sharing expertise through our radio, podcast and social platforms, and encouraging businesses to become introducers and advocates for one another, we can create a genuinely collaborative ecosystem. Ultimately, it is about building businesses for today while creating a positive legacy for tomorrow.
Our full list of services is available here A-W of Aspen Waite Services and am happy to say we have many more partners ready to join us.
Mark Waite, CEO Aspen Waite Legacy mark.waite@aspen-waite.co.uk
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24ASPEN WAITE / PARTNER CAMPAIGN
Smarter waste solutions for your business IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
Good morning,
Waste management is an increasingly important consideration for businesses looking to reduce operational costs, improve efficiency and support their wider sustainability goals. That is why Aspen Waite is pleased to work in partnership with PRM Waste Systems, an independent specialist in recoverable material processing equipment and innovative waste solutions. With over 25 years of expertise, PRM supports businesses with trusted equipment, UK engineering and independent advice, helping organisations find the right solution for their material, their site and their operational requirements.
OVER 25 YEARS OF EXPERTISE
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Whether your business is dealing with food and agricultural organics, plastics, metals, WEEE or other recoverable materials, PRM can help review your current waste processes and identify practical ways to improve material recovery, reduce waste volume and lower transportation or disposal costs.
How PRM Waste Systems can help Equipment Supply PRM holds exclusive UK distribution rights for a trusted range of specialist brands, giving businesses access to proven global technology across a wide range of industries and material types.
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ASPEN WAITE / PARTNER CAMPAIGN
Solutions in action MATERIAL RECOVERY / UK ENGINEERING / ONGOING SUPPORT
Bio-Processor For businesses dealing with organic material, PRM's on-site processing unit can reduce organic material volume by up to 80% within 24 hours, helping to reduce collection frequency and lower disposal costs.
PRM Projects For operations that need more than an off-the-shelf solution, PRM's UK engineering team can design and build bespoke processing plants tailored to your material, volumes and site.
Service & Maintenance PRM also supports businesses with planned maintenance programmes, responsive call-outs, parts supply and full machine refurbishment, helping reduce downtime and extend equipment life.
PRM can support a wide range of waste and material processing needs, including aerobic food digesters, air separators, balers, bin lifting systems, compactors, conveyors, depackaging systems, dewatering equipment, feeders, granulators, shredders, screening machines, screw compactors, source segregation solutions, and service and maintenance contracts. If you would like to explore how PRM Waste Systems could support your business, please contact Aspen Waite Legacy at legacy@aspen-waite.co.uk and we will be happy to follow up.
Alternatively, you can give us a call on this number
01278445151 Aspen Waite / PRM Waste Systems
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Grumpy Bear‘s Cookery Corner As the harvest season is upon us, here are some things for you to try in the kitchen with all the seasonal produce that we have.
Apple Chutney John Porteous
John.Porteous@aspen-waite.co.uk
A recipe from my Great Auntie’s trove of things to make…
Ingredients •
3lb / 1.36kg apples (after coring)
•
8oz / 230g brown sugar
•
1¼ pints / 710ml vinegar
•
1 tbsp salt
•
6oz / 170g onions
•
1oz / 28g root ginger (grated)
•
8oz/ 230g raisins
•
3 small red chillies (deseeded and chopped)
Method 1.
Sterilise several jars: preheat your oven to 140C/275F/gas 1; wash the jars and lids in warm soapy water; rinse thoroughly under running water; place upside down in the oven to dry. Alternatively, put them through the hot cycle in a dishwasher.
2. Mince the apples, onions and raisins. 3. Put the vinegar in a large saucepan and boil for 10 mins. 4. Add all the ingredients, and boil until the liquor has evaporated – the watery look on the surface should have disappeared. 5. Pour into the sterilised jars, put the lids on and allow to cool.
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Rasberry Jam John Porteous
John.Porteous@aspen-waite.co.uk
Another one from my Great Auntie...
Ingredients • For every 1lb (450g) of raspberries • Add a few less ripe raspberries into allow 1lb (450g) white granulated the mix, as it enhances the overall sugar (no need for jam sugar here). flavour of the jam.
Method 1. Sterilise several jars and their lids (see the apple chutney recipe for details). 2. Place a few saucers in the freezer to chill. These will be used to test when the jam has reached setting point. 3. Put the raspberries and sugar into a wide preserving pan over a very low heat, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. 4. Bring to a rapid rolling boil (when the bubbles cannot be calmed down by stirring with a spoon). Cook for 3-5 minutes until the jam reaches setting point – the jam will start to thicken and boil more slowly, with thicker, heavier bubbles. 5. To test for the setting point, remove the pan from the heat while you test the jam – this is very important. Spoon a little of the jam onto a cold saucer, leave to cool for a few minutes, then push your finger into the jam. If it wrinkles, it is ready. If not, return the pan to the heat and cook the jam for a minute or two more and test again. 6. When the jam has reached setting point, ladle it into the sterilised jars and twist the lids on while the jam is still hot. The jam will thicken up as it cools and the seal on the jars should dip. If a jar doesn’t seal, store it in the fridge and use the jam within a couple of weeks.
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Apple-rum Meringue John Porteous
John.Porteous@aspen-waite.co.uk
This is one of my favourite desserts – you have to try it! Serves 6
Ingredients •
4oz / 115g ratafia biscuits
•
4 tbsp white rum
•
1 1/2lb cooking apples
•
10z / 28g unsalted butter
•
1/2 tsp of ground cinnamon
•
1/4 tsp salt
•
3 egg whites
•
4oz / 115g soft brown sugar
•
3oz / 85g granualted sugar
Method 1. Preheat your oven to 180C/350F/gas 4 2. Cover the base of a flan dish with the biscuits and pour the rum over to soak. 3. Peel, core and thickly slice the apples, place in a saucepan, add the butter, cinnamon, brown sugar and 2-3 tablespoons of water, and simmer for 10-15 minutes or until the apples are just cooked. Leave to cool and then spoon over the biscuits. 4. Beat the egg whites with the salt until stiff, but not dry. Stir in the granulated sugar and beat for 2 minutes or until the mix is smooth and glossy. 5. Fold in the caster sugar and immediately spoon over the apples, swirling to soft peaks. 6. Bake in the centre of the oven for 10-15 minutes or until the meringue is pale beige. 7. Serve with cream or ice cream.
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The Cocktail Cabinet
Smoky Maple Old Fashioned John Porteous
John.Porteous@aspen-waite.co.uk
This is an interesting spin on one of my favourite tipples.
Ingredients • 60ml bourbon or rye whiskey
• 1 dash orange bitters
• 15ml maple syrup
• A splash of a peaty scotch (any of the Islay ones really)
• 2-3 dashes angostura bitters
Method Add all the ingredients to a mixing glass with ice, stir well until chilled then strain over a large ice cube in a rocks glass. Garnish with a twist of orange peel.
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Bramble John Porteous
John.Porteous@aspen-waite.co.uk
A nice way to enjoy balckberries from the hedgerow
Ingredients • 45ml gin • 30ml fresh lemon juice • 12.5ml sugar syrup • 12.5ml blackberry liqueur*
Method 1. Shake the gin, lemon juice and sugar syrup with ice. 2. Strain into a glass filled with crushed ice. 3. Top with more crushed ice and compact it to form a volcano-shaped mound. 4. Drizzle the liqueur over the mound. 5. Garnish with a blackberry and a slice of lemon (and a dusting of icing sugar if you like). Serve with a straw. * Crème de Mure is the classic liqueur, but try making your own…
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Blackberry Liqueur John Porteous
John.Porteous@aspen-waite.co.uk
A great way to use raspberries is to make this gorgeous liqueur.
Ingredients • 1lb / ½kg blackberries • ¾lb / 340g caster sugar • Gin or vodka
Method 1. 1¾ fill a Kilner jar with crushed blackberries. 2. Add 6oz sugar per pint capacity and top up with gin or vodka. 3. Stir gently every day for a few days, until the sugar has fully dissolved. 4. Strain off after a fortnight or so, and bottle.
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At Aspen Waite we’re here for you, always. So why not book a meeting today to start your journey? Head Office
Rubis House 15 Friarn Street Bridgwater, Somerset TA6 3LH Tel: 01278 445151
Lions House Media, Trade and Innovation Centre
Benjamin Holloway House West Quay Bridgwater TA6 3HW Tel: 01278 445151
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New Broad Street House 35 New Broad St London EC2M 1NH Tel: 02038 807314
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Boston House Grove Business Park Wantage, Oxfordshire OX12 9FF Tel: 01235 766162
Dedicated representation in Ireland and Scotland and trusted partners and associates nationwide.
Editorial Team Paul Waite, Editor in Chief Emily Waite, Branding, Editing and Design Craig Arthur, Print and Digital Support Drew Armstrong, Digital Support and Design John Porteous, Proof Reading Samuel Waite, Proof Reading Thanks to all our content contributors.