< Previous40 Business Link www.blmforum.net LEGAL SERVICES While you talk to them about how they would approach your situation, pay attention to how comfortable you feel. Communication between you both will be crucial throughout your legal dealings, and sensitive conversations are bound to be much easier if you sense an instant rapport. As long as you aren’t making unfair judgements or acting on discriminatory attitudes, it’s okay to use your instincts. Intuition is often undervalued in business—though it can be a slippery source of reasoning, the fact it’s more in tune with emotion is more helpful when considering the person you want on your side, not just the job you want done. Consider it a working relationship and choose someone who not only possesses the required legal expertise, but also understands your business. A strong lawyer-client relationship is built on trust, and needs someone you feel good about working closely with. Finding someone whose ethics and personality aligns with your business and its goals can bring you a long way towards closing a deal with them. But certain details shouldn’t be overlooked, even at this late stage in talks. Before making a final decision, inquire about the lawyer’s fees and billing practices. Different lawyers may have various fee arrangements, such as hourly rates, flat fees or contingency charges. Be sure to discuss the estimated costs and any potential additional expenses associated with your legal matter, as getting tripped up by fine print may land you in yet another complicated situation further down the line. Discuss any associated expenses, which can include court filing, travel expenses or witness fees, and determine which ones you or your lawyer will cover. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to discuss them with the lawyer before signing. One of the most important things to remember is that open and ongoing communication is key in any legal matter, and is a requirement of any law professional to facilitate. You should never feel discouraged from speaking out about anxieties relating to your discussions, and you’re entitled to regular updates on progress and developments while being given space to discuss them further. As a final note, specialised lawyers often have extensive networks within their field. Consider whether the lawyer you’re teaming up with has connections that could be beneficial to your business going forward. They may be able to refer you to other professionals, such as tax experts, industry consultants, or financial advisors, to provide comprehensive support. You never know whose help you could use, and making connections through people you already trust can be a valuable lifeline for quick and reliable legal help in the future. © stock.adobe.com/insta_photoswww.blmforum.net Business Link 41 CORPORATE HOSPITALITY W hile employers grapple with the value of working- from-home and staff’s requests for versatility on the matter, there’s a much subtler war being waged on the conferencing front – with more and more conferences choosing to continue the adaptation of video calls and online meeting places that became so commonplace during the pandemic. While most have opted to have digital events in addition to physical ones, capitalising on the benefits of both, there are a lot of businesses which have become more comfortable with long-distance communication and online events, choosing them over physical ones. It’s not hard to see why. Organising a physical event involves a lot of work and cost, from booking a venue through to ordering supplies and taking time off with key staff to host it. Similarly, attendees have to decide if they can afford to take time off and must then dedicate it to travel, all of which serves to turn many people off. Digital events dodge out on much of this, and while the costs will never be nothing as some IT support will always be required, the capability to have staff hold an online event and then get back to work with minimal disruption can’t be understated. It’s ironic in some ways that employers who would protest at employees wanting to work from home would embrace so swiftly the idea of conferences from conferencing The future of Physical event? Digital? Why not an AI event? 42 Á © stock.adobe.com/.shock42 Business Link www.blmforum.net CORPORATE HOSPITALITY home, but the financial benefits are hard to miss, and the fact it keeps staff at work only makes it more attractive to bosses. However, there are sacrifices in doing things online that are holding others back. Doing business face-to-face has long been a standard in the B2B industry and, in a time where there are more online fraudsters than ever before, it can be hard to trust those doing business solely online. That’s not such a problem if a company has a strong reputation, but even then, there may be less impetus to stick around after the event to talk. The benefit of a physical conference is that the guests really have no option but to stick around – they’re already there, so they might as well. Conversely, while you get to keep your staff at the business so too do your guests in a digital conference, and the temptation will be there to log out immediately after the event is through and return to work. This could cost an event holder in terms of opportunities to network and form relationships. The big question, of course, is whether this can change, and how soon technology can change it. Advancements in AI and digital technology including VR could be utilised to create events that provide a meta-physical presence. It sounds like something ripped from videogames but there already are videogames in which people gather with virtual avatars and chat – and they get tens of thousands of people in them just hanging out as people might at a pub. They’re opportunities to meet new people, hang out with friends, and get some much-needed interaction, and they were very popular during the pandemic. Such might seem too childish for business, but the videogames industry www.blmforum.net Business Link 43 CORPORATE HOSPITALITY itself was seen as a childish one in before companies started realising how much money was in it. If nothing else, it can be used to predict some future trends, and businesses would receive genuine financial benefits to hosting digital events with an in-person element. The future may also be shifting toward AI assistance in this regard as well, however. Already several big brands are experimenting with digital AI avatars to reflect their companies – think mascots but powered by AI and capable of answering questions and speaking. Others are going much more subtle with it, creating humanlike AI to replace some customer service roles. These aren’t necessarily to replace humans, but to cut down on call wait times by replacing the automated “if your problem is x, press this button” responses with an AI-powered assistant who could actively listen to and provide answers, then forward the call to a human operator if they can’t solve the problem. The theory is that this could be replicated to conference events, perhaps by providing several AI-powered reps to stand in at a digital event and network with guests on behalf of the company. Naturally, these would have to be quite advanced so as not to offend, but AI is getting more advanced month by month and what might have been seen as pipedreams in 2023 are looking more and more plausible in 2024. Not all are happy, however, and with good reason, for as AI gets more and more convincing at mimicking human behaviour, the potential for abuse rises. The problem is unlikely to be an AI uprising, but much more likely to be unscrupulous scam artists using AI to defraud companies and individuals. © stock.adobe.com/stokkete44 Business Link www.blmforum.net AUTOLINK March motors We look at some new models and refreshed names coming to our roads this year www.blmforum.net Business Link 45 AUTOLINK Mercedes-Benz CLE Cabriolet The new CLE Cabriolet is equipped with an electrically operated fabric acoustic soft top. The insulated multi- layer structure can be raised or lowered in 20 seconds while the vehicle is travelling at up to 37mph. When lowered, a powered divider automatically separates the folded soft top from the remaining luggage space. The year-round usability of the CLE Cabriolet is further enhanced by the AIRCAP® electric wind deflector system and the AIRSCARF® heating system, both fitted as standard. AIRCAP® consists of two elements: the wind deflector above the windscreen extends at the touch of a button to direct airflow over occupants’ heads, while the automatic wind deflector behind the rear head restraints reduces turbulence. AIRSCARF® circulates warm air around front seat occupants’ necks, keeping them warm in cold or windy conditions. The new Mercedes-Benz CLE Cabriolet is now available to order in the UK, with prices starting from £52,995 OTR. 46 Á Mercedes-Benz CLE Cabriolet46 Business Link www.blmforum.net AUTOLINK Hyundai i20 N Line Hyundai Motor Europe has announced the new i20 N Line with an upgraded look. Featuring refreshed design elements both internally and externally, the i20 N Line aims to enhance the driving experience with its sleek and modern appearance. The sporty iteration of the i20 model is set to begin production in April. The new i20 N Line presents a range of exterior enhancements, boasting a captivating sporty aesthetic. These enhancements include a newly designed set of 17” alloy wheels and an updated pattern for the front radiator grille. Additionally, N Line-specific design elements such as the bumper and inserts add a distinctive flair to the vehicle’s appearance. This model offers a choice of nine body colours, including four new options: Lumen Grey Pearl, Meta Blue Pearl, Vibrant Blue Pearl, and Lucid Lime Metallic, allowing drivers to express their individual style on the road. Dacia Spring Dacia’s first all-electric model, Spring is widely credited for making electric mobility accessible to all. First launched in 2021, it was the third most sold electric car to retail customers in 2022 and 2023. In total, more than 140,000 Dacia Spring have been registered worldwide since its launch. Spring’s energy efficiency and carbon footprint were particularly praised in 2022, when it was awarded the maximum 5-star rating from the independent European organisation Green NCAP. Dacia continues its mission to be the best value for money car brand that constantly redefines the essentials. Applying this to Spring, Dacia wants to encourage drivers to make the shift to all-electric cars in an accessible way. A car’s design – along with efficiency, price and practicality – is one of the essential pieces in the puzzle. The All-New Spring features the new Dacia design, first seen on the latest generation Duster. It is a robust and assertive style that makes the Spring more attractive than ever. The interior has undergone a spectacular transformation with a complete overhaul of the entire space, just as the only part of the exterior body to remain unchanged is the roof. Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer The ID.7 Tourer differs significantly from the fastback saloon at the rear. The long roof line and its elegant transition to the boot lid in particular are striking design features of the electric estate. In terms of style, the Tourer is a fusion of a classic estate in the format of the Passat, and a dynamic shooting brake such as the Arteon. Thanks to the increased height at the rear, the luggage compartment volume is even larger than that of the fastback saloon: with five people on board, the ID.7 Tourer has a luggage capacity of up to 605 litres (rear seat backrest in cargo position). When Hyundai i20 N Linewww.blmforum.net Business Link 47 AUTOLINK Unit 3, Woodside Park, Station Road, Tetney, Grimsby. DN36 5HX Find An Experienced Motor Mechanic In Tetney, Near Grimsby n Servicing n MOTs n Repairs n Brakes & Tyres n Engine diagnostics n Car Batteries n Exhausts n ECU Remapping n Air Conditioning Testing/repairs/Re Gas VW, AUDI, SEAT & SKODA SPECIALIST Tel: 01472 812130 | www.lincsvwa.com loaded up to the backrests of the front seats and up to the roof, this figure rises to up to 1,714 litres. The new ID.7 Tourer is equipped with the latest-generation electric drive system. Volkswagen will offer two different battery sizes for the ID.7 Tourer. Depending on the battery energy content, the electric touring car is expected to achieve WLTP ranges of up to 685 km. The largest battery is designed for a maximum charging capacity of up to 200 kW at DC quick-charging stations. At this power level, the battery can be recharged from 10 to 80 per cent in significantly less than 30 minutes. Dacia Spring Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer48 Business Link www.blmforum.net AUTOLINK Porsche Taycan GTS Review An outstanding driving experience Porsche Taycan GTS Review An outstanding driving experiencewww.blmforum.net Business Link 49 AUTOLINK The Porsche Taycan GTS saloon is a stunning four-door electric sports car with a sleek and aerodynamic design. Moreover, its lightweight construction makes for an outstanding driving experience. U nder the bonnet, the Porsche has a dual-motor setup that unleashes 590 horses. This enables the electrified sports car to sprint to the hallowed 62mph in 3.7 seconds and on to 155 mph. The Taycan also has an official range of 313 miles, which is more than enough for most UK drivers. The interior of the German-made car is as impressive as the outside. The cabin is spacious and luxurious, with high-end materials and finishes. The dashboard features a clean, uncomplicated design, with a central touchscreen display controlling most functions. The Taycan GTS saloon also vaunts a premium sound system and climate control. One of the most remarkable aspects of the Taycan is its handling. The car is incredibly agile and responsive, with precise steering and excellent grip, thanks partly to all-wheel drive. The GTS also features Porsche’s Active Suspension Management system, which adapts to real-time road conditions to provide a smooth and comfortable ride. Additionally, the saloon’s regenerative braking system helps improve handling, slowing the vehicle down quickly and smoothly. Safety is a top priority for Porsche. Therefore, the Taycan GTS has advanced safety features that keep you and your passengers as looked after as possible. These include lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and a 360-degree camera system. It is an environmentally friendly vehicle that produces zero emissions during operation. This makes the sports car a better transport option for our planet than traditional petrol-powered vehicles. The Porsche also has various charging options, allowing you to charge it at home, work, or a public charging station. The Taycan GTS is an exceptional electric vehicle redefining industry standards. Its streamlined design, intense performance, luxurious interior, and advanced features make it a top purchase if you insist on electrified performance and luxury. Fast Facts Porsche Taycan GTS, as tested Max speed: 155 mph 0-62 mph: 3.7 secs Electric Range: 313 miles Battery/Motor: 93.4kWh/2x e-motor Max. power (PS): 590 CO2: 0 g/km Price from: £110,200 On the RoadNext >