Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce

CHAMBER NEWS

The Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI) and the Leicestershire Development Agency (LDA), who deliver Business Link services on behalf of the Small Business Service (SBS) and the East Midlands Development Agency (emda) in Leicestershire, have agreed to merge, to provide a powerful, more focused and more effective representation and support organisation for the business community throughout Leicestershire. The Boards of both the Chamber and the LDA met recently at their regular Board Meetings to discuss the proposed merger in detail. Both Boards of Directors voted overwhelmingly in favour of the merger and it is now for the members of the Chamber to approve the merger at an Extraordinary General Meeting to be held on October 31st. If Chamber members do confirm their approval the merger would go ahead shortly after the EGM.

Chambers of Commerce and Business Links already work very successfully together within the same organisation in many parts of the UK, including in Northamptonshire, Derbyshire, Coventry & Warwickshire and Birmingham. A number of other Chambers and Business Link providers are also considering working together.

Comments made by individuals and businesses during the last 2-3 years suggest that many people believe that there are currently far too many different and confusing `business membership and support` organisations in Leicestershire. The proposed merger of the Leicestershire Chamber and the LDA, including Business Link Leicestershire, will begin to answer this criticism. It will ensure that more effective business support is delivered to a wide range of companies and organisations and will meet the demanding objectives set by both the SBS and emda within the important business start-up and SME business sectors – so vital to the growth of the East Midlands and Leicestershire economies.

The new organisation would be called the Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce, which will integrate the activities of the Chamber and Business Link. The current Chief Executive of the Chamber, Martin Traynor, and the current Chief Executive of the LDA, Tina McEwen, would retain senior executive positions within the merged company. It is anticipated that all staff currently employed by the Chamber and the LDA will retain their jobs, with some reallocation of responsibilities to reflect the new organisation.

A new Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce Board will be formed, with Michael Kirk (currently Chairman of the LDA) as Chairman and John Day (currently President and Chairman of the Board of the LCCI) as Deputy Chairman. Board members would include the President of the Chamber, with Stephen Woolfe due to take over as President from John Day in December 2003.

Patricia Hewitt, MP for Leicester West and Secretary of State for Trade & Industry, was consulted on the proposed merger at an early stage, and says “I am delighted that two of Leicestershire’s key business support agencies are planning to join forces to deliver even better services to the business communities in the city and county. Leicestershire already has an excellent reputation for encouraging business start-ups, and nurturing expanding companies within the small business sector. This will be greatly enhanced by this new, joined-up service, bringing together the Leicestershire Chamber, the Leicestershire Development Agency and Business Link”.

Michael Kirk and John Day said “We are both delighted that our respective Boards voted overwhelmingly in favour of the proposed merger of the Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the Leicestershire Development Agency. We firmly believe that the new organisation, to be called the Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce, will be even more effective in meeting the needs of businesses of all sizes, in all market sectors, throughout Leicestershire. A successful Leicestershire economy is vital, to meet our own aspirations and as our contribution to the demanding goals set by emda for the East Midlands region. We look forward to Chamber members confirming their support for the merger at the Chamber EGM on October 31st and to working with our new colleagues to strengthen the role of the new Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce”.

As we have previously reported, from 31 December 2003, businesses must have the new-style accident book.
The new publication, The HSE accident Book, (BI510), has been revised as most existing accident books allow personal details and information to be seen by anyone reading or making an entry in the book. The previous version, produced by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) and other similar books do not comply with the Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA).
The new book will help organisations to comply with data protection legislation. The Data Protection Act 1998 requires that personal details in accident books must be kept confidential. Individual record sheets can be removed and stored securely. The book contains 50 copies of the record sheets, instructions on how to use the book and guidance on the Reporting of Injuries, Disease and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 and the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1991. The accident book also contains lots of useful information on first aid and on how to manage health and safety in your workplace to help prevent accidents from happening in the first place.
The Information Commissioner ruled that a seven-month lead-in time from May 2003 might be given but that businesses must change their accident book to comply with the DPA by 31 December 2003.

The new book is available from the HSE library and good booksellers.
Copies of The HSE accident Book (ISBN 0 7176 2603 2), are priced @ £4.75 plus VAT
For further advice on Health and Safety contact Health & Safety Click via their website http://www.healthandsafetyclick.net.

LEGISLATIVE NEWS

Finally, case law has cleared up the issue of whether holiday pay may be rolled up into employees hourly wage and if in doing this employers are breaching the Working Time Regulations 1998.

The issues are borne out of Health & Safety objectives under the Working Time Regulations, which state that any action by the employer that may encourage employees not to take holidays is in breach of these regulations. However, in Marshalls Clay Products the Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT) rejected this view and said that it was overly paternalistic.

Previous cases, and Scottish Law, have previously ruled both ways. With particular focus on allowing rolled up holiday pay if it was expressly stated as such in the contract for employment.

The EAT came to this conclusion after assessing the unnecessary duty and administrative inconvenience to the employer to keep precise records of time worked by workers who change employers so frequently, in order to calculate holiday pay and the fact that if such practices are overruled, then workers will, in effect, benefit from double recovery of holiday pay.

As such, the EAT concluded that rolled-up holiday pay can be permissible, provided that it is specified clearly in the contract as a sum or percentage allocated to holiday pay.
The following guidelines have been provided:

(1) Rolled-up holiday pay is permissible, and must be clearly incorporated into the employment contract, and therefore expressly agreed

(2) It must be clearly expressed what the percentage or amount of holiday pay which is allocated to holiday pay is in the contract, and preferably in the payslip too

(3) Holiday pay must form a true addition to the normal contractual rate of pay

(4) Exact records of holiday taken must be kept

(5) Holidays should, wherever possible, be taken before the expiry of the relevant holiday year.

The Labour Party has adopted a policy of compulsory employer contributions as a way forward to addressing the pension crisis at their party conference in Bournemouth. The pension composite was overwhelmingly supported by unions and constituency Labour parties.

The government has announced a new kind of union safety representative for small and medium sized workplaces. The representatives don’t necessarily have to be union members and will work with employers to involve and consult the workforce on health and safety issues. The reps will play an important role in small firms that often don’t have union members, helping make workplaces safer and protecting people’s lives.

NEW SKILLS COUNCIL APPOINTED TO TACKLE POOR SKILLS AND LOW PRODUCTIVITY WITHIN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
According to the Independent, workers not being able to add up, read signs or communicate effectively are causing numerous accidents, reported to be costing the construction industry £1 billion a year. The new Sector Skills Council (SSC), a partnership between the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and the Construction Industry Council (CIC), will act as a strategic body to influence the improvement of learning provision including apprenticeships, further and higher education and national occupational standards.

New research has revealed that the UK’s service sector has enjoyed another good month in September, expanding at the fastest rate for over three years. The latest index from the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) found that the sector, which represents two-thirds of the British economy, rose to 58.7 last month, up from 57.0 in August and the fastest growing since April 2000. Firms reported that better trading conditions had triggered large amounts of new business.

New research has revealed that it is small firms who are the most regular offenders when it comes to using pirated software. According to the Business Software Alliance (BSA), 90% of the companies who settled following investigation, over the past 12 months were SME’s. A lack of awareness, no formal software policy and restricted financial resources are just some of the factors to have been blamed for such worrying figures. The BSA’s annual survey found that 26% of business software used during 2002 was illegal, the first increase for seven years. Firms are warned and reminded that they risk large fines as well as damage to their reputation if they use illegal software.

New figures have shown that the UK’s construction industry expanded last month at the fastest rate since July 2001. The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) said that the sector had expanded to 56.9 in September, up from 56.3 the month before. A result above 50, indicates expansion while a figure below 50, shows sector contraction.

Leading expert Professor Sir Kumar Bhattacharyya has said that a radical step to give manufacturers a five-year tax holiday is the only solution to prevent total ruin of the manufacturing industry, which is in steady decline. Bhattacharyya has also called for the control of training to be returned to the industry to close the gap between the demand for and the supply of skills. This would be achieved by a payroll training levy or company tax allowances.

Specialists from the police, financial services and legal professions urged firms to lobby ministers for more support against fraud. According to the latest figures, fraud costs UK businesses around £14 billion every year with SME’s alone costing an annual £38 million to dishonest workers over the past two years. Over half of British firms have become victims of fraud and it is a serious issue that needs readdressing.

Employers Liability insurance is compulsory and covers businesses against payouts if staff members are injured in work-related accidents or become ill because of their jobs. In recent years, the premiums paid out by bosses has risen rapidly due to the increase in the number of ‘no win no fee’ deals by claims companies and falling stock market values. UK small businesses, particularly manufacturers, transport and construction companies are being warned that premiums could increase further next year due to new asbestos regulations which come into force in May 2004. These will require businesses to carry out an asbestos audit on their premises, forcing yet another hike in premiums. Any business housed in a building constructed before 1998 could be at risk.

For further information concerning the above, visit www.dti.gov.uk , www.brtishchamberofcommerce.co.uk and www.workplacelaw.net

Or Contact:

Max Boden boden.m@chamberofcommerce.co.uk
Caroline Beake beake.c@chamberofcommerce.co.uk

CHAMBER EVENTS

Date: 11th November
Time: 7.30am - 9.30am
Venue: Leicester Tigers Rugby Ground
Cost: £23.50 members, £28.50 standard

John Nicholls, Chief Executive of the Leicester Regeneration Company gives us an opportunity to check the progress so far looking in particular at the proposed new Office Core close to the railway station and the Science & Technology Park near the National Space Centre at Abbey Meadows. Price includes a full English breakfast

Date: 18th November
Time: 7.30am - 9.30am
Venue: Leicester Tigers Rugby Ground
Cost: £17.63 one price

The Wireless Age, you’ve already invested in equipment that’s connected with cables so why should you now join the wireless age? This module will show you how the latest technologies can actually be implemented alongside existing systems to deliver real, cost effective business benefits that enable you to provide better support for your customers, staff and business. You will also get the chance to see some of the latest mobile and wireless technologies demonstrated and see how they can be used to provide “always on” business communications.

Date: 21st November
Time: 19.00 – 22.00
Venue:Time Out Hotel, Enderby Road, Blaby, Leicester
Cost: £28.00 one price

Meet, mix and mingle with the hilarious characters on arrival. Witness the murder – it could happen anywhere in the room! Take in new scenes at your table. Why not make this your Christmas Do!

Date: 25th November
Time: 18.00 – 20.30
Venue:Holiday Inn Leicester West
Cost: £20.00 members, £30.00 standard

Sponsored by Blue Arrow

Join us for the final networking event of 2003. In addition to this evening’s excellent networking opportunities you can also enter out Christmas prize draw before enjoying a delicious buffet and a glass of wine in the comfortable surroundings of the Holiday Inn Leicester West.

Date: 5th December
Time: 11.45– 16.15
Venue:Leicester City Football Club
Cost: £44.50 members, £49.50 standard, table of ten members £420.00, table of ten standard £460.00

The Annual Luncheon has a tradition of attracting excellent guest speakers and for 2003 the Chamber is delighted that it is the turn of Barry Cryer.
With over 400 already booked to attend, you are advised to contact us to reserve your place.

Leicestershire Chamber networking events are sponsored by Blue Arrow.

For more details or to book onto this event you can book online by logging on to our website www.chamberofcommerce.co.uk or contact Kam Atker on 0116 2046614 or email at atker.k@chamberofcommerce.co.uk

OTHER NEWS

Have you got several years’ business experience?
Good communication skills?
A positive attitude towards learning and the development of others?

If the answer to any of the above is ‘Yes’ then we need you……..

The Leicestershire branch of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) is launching a new mentoring initiative specifically designed to support students studying for a professional qualification by putting them in contact with an experienced business person who will act as their mentor for the duration of the programme, usually one or two years.

The mentoring initiative is designed to enable students to meet with a member of the business community, gain insight into a different organisational context and learn from your experience. All students have access to a tutor, some will have supportive line managers but the value to be gained from having an objective mentor to offer another business perspective cannot be overstated. Students are required to complete assignments, management reports, make presentations and take exams. They are encouraged to develop research skills and push their own learning by investigating areas of practice with which they are less familiar, for example absence management, change management strategies, the role of consultants or knowledge development. It is likely you will have a range of business experiences that could assist the students in gaining a deeper understanding of the subject area and develop a different perspective. This type of learning and contact with another organisation and business representative has been shown to be of enormous value in enhancing student learning.

For you, as the mentor, you have the opportunity to communicate and reflect on your experiences, offer support and guidance to someone studying for a professional qualification, support your own CPD and make a contribution to the development of business leaders of the future. The administration of the scheme and the matching of mentor and mentee will be through the Leicestershire branch of the CIPD, a named contact person will be available throughout the initiative to answer any questions you may have. You will be invited to a formal mentoring evening in November during which further information will be available and you will be introduced to the CIPD student you will be mentoring. The commitment from you is to agree to meet with the student at least twice during the academic year and be available for support via the telephone or e-mail as appropriate. The student will be committed to the successful completion of their studies using your experience as a valuable resource.
For further information call Julia on 0116 255 1551 x 6810 or email: jpointon @dmu.ac.uk.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

1-4 February 2004

Denmark is an ideal starter market for small to medium sized companies with little or no export experience. If you have a product that currently sells well in the UK market, the opportunity probably exists for your product in Denmark.

For further information and registration on this Explorer, please contact:

June Palmer, International Trade Department, Tel: 0116 2587 328
e-mail:june.palmer@leicestershire.businesslink.co.uk