GROUNDBREAKING SCANNING PACKAGE FOR CHAMBER PRIMARY HEALTH PLAN
State-of-the-art technology used in the diagnosis and treatment of serious illnesses such as heart disease, brain disorders and cancer, MRI, CT and PET scanning, has been added to the Chamber Primary Health Plan - at no extra charge to employers!
Under the Chamber Plan, when an MRI or CT scan is recommended by a consultant physician or surgeon, appointments can be quickly arranged and often take place within two weeks.
This innovative benefit is just one of the enhancements to the Chamber Plan, which is provided by the Westfield Health Scheme as the British Chambers of Commerce official health cash plan supplier. The dental and optical benefits have also been enhanced by 50% on level one of the scheme.
The improved Plan was made available from November 3rd 2003 for all existing chamber members wishing to purchase it for their employees for the first time. All existing Chamber members who have already purchased the Plan will be contacted by Westfield to introduce the new benefits.
Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce is one of the many Chambers nationwide that has adopted the Chamber Plan as a service for their members, as a means of reducing absenteeism, reducing the risk of litigation, improving productivity and staff recruitment and retention.
The Chamber Plan offers three levels of cover - £1, £2 or £3 per employee, per week and provides 100% reimbursement on all benefits and covers pre-existing conditions. In return for these weekly contributions, paid by the employer, the employee can claim tax-free lump sums towards the cost of everyday healthcare that include dental, optical, therapy treatments and consultation with a specialist. The Plan also includes access to a 24-hour counselling and advice line and up to five face-to-face counselling sessions.
For more details please contact Westfield on 0845 602 1629 or visit www.westfieldhealth.com/chamber.
CHAMBER TAKES FEAR FACTOR OUT OF SWITCHING ENERGY SUPPLIERS
Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce is helping its members to take the fear factor out of switching energy suppliers.
“Many local businesses are reluctant to shop around on their energy and are missing out on potential savings because of a fear of sharp practice in the industry. This is borne out by a ten-fold rise in complaints of miss selling received by Energywatch, the gas and electricity watchdog, during the past year.” says Martin Traynor Chief Executive of Leicestershire Chamber.
“Our Chamber Utility Auditing service, delivered in partnership with independent energy management company Utility Auditing Ltd, can help companies find the most competitively priced contract on gas and electricity, without any fear of being ripped off. What’s more the service is completely free, members have nothing to lose in testing it out.”
According to Energywatch, businesses enjoy less consumer protection than domestic customers and thousands of small firms are finding themselves with account, billing and transfer problems.
Chamber Utility Auditing offers impartial advice and expert support in identifying the best energy deals and ensuring that companies have the right tariffs and supply capacity for their needs. On-site energy audits are also available to help firms reduce consumption.
On average, local companies are saving an around 20% on gas and electricity costs by using the Chamber service. A free water supply evaluation service is also available, which can help businesses recover money if overcharging has occurred during the past six years.
For more information contact Vicky at Leicestershire Chamber on Tel: 0116 204 6601
NEW WORKPLACE TRANSPORT SAFETY ADVICE CENTRE
A new workplace transport safety advice centre has been created by the Health & Safety Executive and the Freight Transport Association (FTA) to give information and advice on all aspects of workplace transport safety. FTA transport advisors are available to give guidance and advice to vehicle operators, drivers and those responsible for site safety on this major cause of British workplace injury and fatality. The telephone number for this service is 0870 099 0099 and lines are open between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.
NEW REPORT AVAILABLE ON IMPROVING PEOPLE MANAGEMENT WELCOMED BY PATRICIA HEWITT
Patricia Hewitt, Trade and Industry Secretary, today welcomed the publication of a report on how companies can make the most of their workforce by evaluating Human Resources on a more strategic, corporate level. Denise Kingsmill responsible for the independent task force set up in January 2003, ‘Accounting for People’ (AFP) aimed to look at how organisations could measure the quality of their Human Capital Management (HCM) and report on its impact on business performance. HCM considers people management as a high level strategic issue and challenges the traditional view that HR is simply an operational matter. From the report it is clear that people are the most valuable and important asset of a company and that regular staff dialogue and promoting equal opportunities and work life balance together with encouraging training and development can all help raise productivity.
The report is available at: www.accountingforpeople.gov.uk
FIRMS IN THE MIDLANDS RISK BEING SUED UNDER NEW DISABILITY LAWS
A survey by the Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID) found that 70% of small midlands companies did not intend to make any changes under the updated Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), which comes into effect in October next year. It was also found that only two per cent of small businesses in the midlands have made the changes required of them under the DDA. Businesses are advised that failure to adapt for forthcoming changes will result in legal action. To examine new laws concerning disability, visit: www.eoc.org.co.uk
NEW CODE OF PRACTICE ON EQUAL PAYA new revised Code of Practice on Equal Pay has received Parliamentary approval and will come into force on 1st December 2003. The code, produced by the Equal Opportunities Commission explains employers’ obligations on equal pay. Aimed at employers the revised code takes into account new law and recent equal pay case decisions and provides practical guidance on how to ensure pay is determined without sex discrimination. The code is admissible in evidence in any proceedings under the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 or the Equal Pay Act 1970. This means that, while the code is not legally binding, an Employment Tribunal may take into account an employer’s failure to act on its provisions.
For further information, visit: www.eoc.org.uk
MURDER MYSTERY EVENING
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!
CHRISTMAS NETWORKING
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.
REGENERATION BREAKFAST
Date: 26th November
Time: 07.30 – 09.30
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.
BUSINESS WOMEN'S LINK FOR LEICESTERSHIRE - CHRISTMAS FINALE
Date: 27th November
Time: 18.00 – 21.00
Venue:Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce offices, New Walk
Cost: £25.00 plus vat this includes wine & mince pie reception, presentation, and buffet
Talking Through Your Hat will take a look at the importance of recognising different personality types and how you might be able to interpret behaviours, whether it be a customer, colleague or someone in your personal life. The presenter Patricia Wheatley Burt has over 20 years experience working with many organisations in various sectors.
CHRISTMAS COMES TO LEICESTER
Leicester’s countdown to Christmas kicks off this year on Sunday 23rd November with “Light up Leicester”, the city’s festive extravaganza. The shops will be open from 10am to 5pm and there will be a full programme of entertainment and music with the lights switched on at 5.30pm.
Late night shopping starts at the end of November with most city centre shops open until 9pm as follows:
• Every Wednesday from Nov 26th to Dec 17th
• Every Thursday from November 27th to December 18th (8pm at the Haymarket Shopping Centre)
• Every night from Wednesday December 17th to Friday December 19th and on Monday and Tuesday the 22nd and 23rd December
LAST CALL FOR RISING STARS
With the entry deadline for the Leicestershire Business Awards 2004 less than a fortnight away the time to submit your application is now! The entry process has been changed this year to make the first stage easier and encourage more organisations to apply. Applications can be made online at www.bizawards.co.uk and the event organisers can review draft applications and, if necessary, suggest improvements.
David Wilson, Chairman of the Leicestershire Business Awards, said: “We are looking to the future, to unearth some more rising stars in the Leicestershire economy.”
The awards are designed to accommodate businesses of any size, new or old, in the private and public sectors. If you believe you’ve got a success story worth sharing enter now.
For further information contact Katie Bennett at HeadStorm Marketing & Event Management on 01455 633939 or email: Katie@headstorm.org.uk.
DISCOVER THE SECRETS OF SUCCESS
The fourth season of Business Showcase opens on Wednesday with a visit to the Leicestershire Business of the Year 2003, King Vehicle Engineering. This event is already fully booked but the other Leicestershire Business Awards 2003 winners will follow its lead over the next 6 months.
These events give you the opportunity to discover the success stories behind the organisations. They will share the secrets of their achievements, provide a benchmark for your business’ success and describe the positive impact of winning an award. This year free places are being offered to Chamber members.
For further information or to book a place contact Allyson Jeffrey or Caroline Birchall at HeadStorm Marketing & Event Management on 01455 633939 or email: allyson@headstorm.org.uk.
FREE SEMINARS ON IMPORTANT LEGISLATION DEVELOPMENTS
The DTI and DEFRA are organising a series of awareness raising seminars on the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (ROHS) Directives. Seminars will be run around the country between December and February. The seminars are free of charge and of interest to any organisation involved in the importing, manufacturing, distribution or retailing of electronic products and components as well as those organisations involved in the collection or refurbishment of electronic products.
For further information, contact: Charlie McDermott on 01865 384 927 or email: Charlie.mcdermott@erm.com
DRIVING AT WORK
The Health & Safety Executive has recently produced a free leaflet outlining your legal responsibilities to manage work related road safety. These requirements are in addition to the duties you have as an employer under road traffic law, e.g. the Road Traffic Act and Road Vehicle (Construction and Use) Regulations, which are administered by the police and other agencies such as the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency. The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, requires you to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of all employees while at work. You also have a responsibility to ensure that others are not put at risk by your work-related driving activities. (Self-employed people have a similar responsibility to that of employers.) Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, you have a responsibility to manage health and safety effectively. You need to carry out an assessment of the risks to the health and safety of your employees, while they are at work, and to other people who may be affected by their work activities. The Regulations require you to periodically review your risk assessment so that it remains appropriate. You are required to consult with your employees, and where applicable, their health and safety representatives, on the health and safety issues covered in this guidance. Health and safety law does not apply to commuting, unless the employee is travelling from their home to a location, which is not their usual place of work.
For further information contact Health & Safety Click on their website at www.healthandsafetyclick.net.
DTI PARTNERSHIP FUND PROVIDE 2.5M FOR BETTER EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS
Employment Relations Minister, Gerry Sutcliffe has allocated £2.5m from the DTI Partnership Fund for projects aimed at improving working conditions in charities, hospitals, offices and factories. It is hoped that good employment relations will boost productivity and encourage innovation and success. In all, 70 projects costing a total of £5.5m and benefiting almost a quarter of a million workers across the UK will be set up. More than £9m has already been given out to over 250 projects through The Partnership Fund since it was launched in 1999.
For more information, visit: www.dti.gov.uk
NEW EQUALITY COMMISSION SET UP TO FIGHT DISCRIMINATION
A new Equality Commission to fight discrimination and challenge inequality wherever it occurs has been announced by Patricia Hewitt, Trade and Industry Secretary and Minister for Women, and Lord Falconer, Secretary of State at the Department for Constitutional Affairs. This new commission will bring together the work of existing equality commissions to give greater support and more joined-up advice to individuals, businesses and communities to crackdown on discrimination and promote equality and diversity. The new commission will bring together the work of three existing equality commissions – the Commission for Racial Equality, the Equal Opportunities Commission and the Disability Rights Commission and take responsibility for new laws outlawing workplace discrimination on age, religion or belief and sexual orientation.
For more information, visit: www.dti.gov.uk
NEW ONLINE CONSULTATION INITIATIVE GIVES BUSINESSES CHANCE TO SHAPE GOVERNMENT POLICY
The British Chamber of Commerce (BCC) has launched a National Electronic Business Panel as a mechanism to allow it to be more responsive to pressing issues and to comment with authority on key announcements made by government and other relevant agencies. The ability to accompany comments with supporting statistics is believed to be invaluable in increasing the immediacy and focus of the already strong and respected Chamber Network and its members. A panel of participants will be contacted electronically, via short ‘tick the box’ electronic polls. The results of these polls will be made directly available to both Chambers and the members of the panel, and will be used at the National level to highlight and promote the position of the business community on the pressing issues of the day.
If you are interested in creating what is hoped to be an invaluable resource in rapidly gauging the position and reaction of the business community, locally, regionally and nationally, then send your name, company name, and email address to:
a.hawkes@britishchambers.org.uk
For further information, visit www.thebritishchamberofcommerce.co.uk
BANK RAISES UK RATES TO 3.75%
The Bank of England has raised interest rates by a quarter percentage point, the first rise in nearly four years. The decision was given a cautious welcome by the British Chambers of Commerce, which said it was “acceptable when…viewed as a reversal of July’s precautionary cut of 0.25 points.” But it warned: “This initial rate rise should not turn into a trend of rising rates”. It added that if the decision does lead to a succession of rises “it will endanger the upturn in the manufacturing sector recovery, which has been such a long time coming”. Economists have warned that more interest rate increases are likely over the next year. Some forecasting that rate will be as high as 5-5.5% by the end of next year.
Source: BBC News
MEED CONFERENCE TO HIGHLIGHT SAUDI GROWTH AND REFORM
DSaudi Arabia’s strong economic performance and reform programme, developed to promote investment and widen popular involvement in the way the kingdom is governed, will be the themes of MEED’s Investing in Saudi Arabia conference, to be held on 1-2 December at London’s One Whitehall Place.
Saudi Arabia is recording a healthy rate of economic growth coupled with balance of payments and budget surpluses. Saudi Aramco is the world’s leading petroleum exporter, heavy industries are expanding and the banking system is profitable and expanding. Experts say the kingdom is enjoying its best economic performance for more than two decades.
The opportunities and challenges created by these trends will be highlighted in a keynote address by Prince Abdullah bin Faisal bin Turki al-Abdullah Alsaud, Chairman of the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (Sagia). Recent developments that will be explored will include the new capital markets and insurance laws.
Mike O’Brien, Minister of State for Trade & Investment, previously responsible for Britain’s Middle East policy as a minister of state in the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, will deliver a response from the UK government.
Other issues to be tackled at the conference include:
• a 10-year forecast for the Saudi economy
• Saudi Aramco’s oil and gas plans
• petro-chemical industry expansions
• developments in power and water
• mineral and railway plans
• trends in the Saudi labour market
• prospects for the telecommunications sector
• Saudi Arabia as a base for engagement in the Iraqi market.
Confirmed speakers include the President and Chief Executive Officer of Marafiq (the utilities company set up to provide power and water to the industrial cities of Jubail and Yanbu), Acting Deputy Minister for Mineral Resources, President of the British Electronics Institute and Saudi Development & Training Company, former Chief Executive of the Advanced Electronics company Abdulaziz al-Sugair and the Managing Director and General Manager of the National Company for Co-operative Insurance.