Island Life Magazine Ltd August/September 2009 | Page 109

LOCAL BUSINESS

life

Proposals
with punch

to hone our team and start
to develop our new outside
catering business. For years the
Royal has been asked to take
on bigger events and turned
them away but we are now
poised to cater to the Island’s
most prestigious events. Our
outside catering business will be
developed for people who want
the high quality food product
synonymous with the Royal,
served in their own home or
marquee.” Photo: Alan Staley

By Esme Shakeshaft

Banks may not be a soft touch when it comes to lending
agreements, but that doesn’t mean funds aren’t available
for the right businesses that present themselves in the
right way.
The right business for one bank may not always be

White Aesthetics

right for another. However, there are some common

A new Parisian dentist has
joined the successful Isle of
Wight Dental Studio team at
their Ryde dental practice on
St John’s Road. Dr.Thomas
Seris, 35, is no stranger to
the Island, having previously
worked with practice founder
Dr. Jacques Gautier in East
Cowes, and his English is very
good, albeit with an attractive
French accent.
Born and educated in Paris,
Dr. Seris completed a special
qualification in gum disease
in Sweden in 2001, and then
worked in Hampstead in
London between 2001 and
2004. He also has an advanced
qualification in dentistry from
the State University of New
York. “This qualification was
all about getting better in
all areas of dentistry with a
special interest in gum disease
and cosmetics,” said Dr. Seris.
“It’s nice to give a smile back
to people. They might have
been scared to laugh and
suddenly you give them their
life back.
“Prevention is the key to
make sure that people do not
need a dentist ever again,”
he continued. “The main
approach has to be medical
– we know much more about
dentistry now than ever

Key personnel must clearly have sufficient expertise

before.”
Both Dr. Seris and Dr.
Gautier are very highly
qualified in cosmetic dentistry
and the practice has its own
laboratory in the sister St
James Clinic in Upper St
James’ Street in Newport.
The Ryde clinic was the first,
opening two years ago, and a
recent makeover has added a
pink feature wall to the clean
black and white interior.
Dr. Seris’s other passion
for the sea, particularly
windsurfing and sailing, drew
him back to the Island. “My
favourite destination in France
is Brittany, which is like it is
here, and I love Islands,” he
explained.
The Isle of Wight Dental
Studio is at 18 St John’s Road,
Ryde, PO33 2RN. Tel: 810050.

features, such as the quality of the management team.
and experience to deliver the business plan. If your
management team can’t inspire confidence, bank lending
will be hard to come by.
Banks will also need reassurance about the robustness of
the business – this includes an assessment of the prospects
of the sector in which it operates the quality and reliability
of customers and the security of the supply chain.
The financial track record of the business is obviously
important. Earnings should be at least stable, preferably
growing. Forecasts of future earnings and cashflow
need to be realistic. Assumed growth rates, for example,
need to be justifiable. Third part evidence, such as
sector growth statistics or government commitments of
investment funding, can be useful.
There also needs to be a clear reason for the funding
request and a clear explanation of how the funding will be
used to achieve any stated business goals. If a business
is looking to change banks, any new potential backer will
need reassurance that they aren’t taking on a problem
customer.
Putting together a comprehensive and attractive proposal
for a bank can feel like a daunting task. Moore Stephens
can help. We can cast an objective eye over business plans
and forecasts, applying an independent reality check. We
can also use our contacts in the financial sector to sound
out the suitability of a proposal for a particular lender.
This can save a lot of wasted time and effort.