Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce

CHAMBER NEWS

Plans are being made to ensure that the 2004/5 directory is accurate and relevant for all of our members. Many of you will be familiar with the update forms which are sent out containing details of your current address, tel & fax, email & web-site if applicable and directory classifications with space on the right hand side of the form for any corrections or amendments. The next batch for the 2004/5 directory will be sent out shortly and it is important that these are checked carefully and if any changes to address, company name etc are planned then the Chamber is informed. Any time during the year that your company’s details change we would appreciate you letting us know in writing either by letter, fax to 0116 2470430 or email leics@chamberofcommerce.co.uk for the attention of Danny Whitehead.

There is also an opportunity to have an advertisement placed within this directory and all members will be contacted by Kemps, who publish the directory, to see if this is of interest.

Information has been received from Colchester Borough Council Environmental Health Department regarding one of the latest Health and Safety scams currently in circulation.
A letter under the heading "Final Notice" has been received by a number of small businesses. The letter looks fairly official and purports to come from the Health and Safety Enforcement Agency, Summerseat House, Summerseat, Liverpool L3 6HB.
After some inaccurate information regarding changes to health and safety legislation, and the consequences of non-compliance, the letter concludes:

What To Do Now:
Step One: Complete the order form overleaf, including all relevant details.
Step Two: Enclose a cheque for £125, made payable to "REGISTRATION FEES".
Step Three: Enclose the order form and cheque into the envelope provided and return to us within seven days.
Note: If your payment is already on its way and has overlapped with this notice, please accept our apologies for having troubled you. Your compliance pack will be delivered within the next 28 days.

[Note: This scam is designed to force people into buying a very expensive health and safety compliance pack. There is no registration fee involved for most businesses. Although a poster and accident book, as mentioned in the letter, are required, these can be bought locally for a few pounds.]

Please Be Aware!

From: David Kern, Economic Adviser to the BCC

• UK Q4 2003 GDP quarterly growth was confirmed at 0.9%. Annual Q4 growth was raised to 2.8%. Growth in 2003 as a whole was upgraded from 2.1% to 2.3%.
• In the February issue of the BCC’s Quarterly Economic Forecast, we raised our forecast for UK GDP growth to 3.0% in 2004 & 2.5% in 2005.
• The huge Budget deficit & the large external deficit will limit UK progress.
• Tax rises totalling some £10bn-£15bn will be needed in the next 2-3 years, to avoid breaking the Golden Rule. The main rises are likely after the General Election.
• Our interest assumption is that the UK repo (base) rate will be raised to 4.50% by end-2004 & to 5.0% in 2005.
• £ remains very strong; it has eased against the $, but has risen against the €. Our exchange rate assumption is that £ will stabilise in the next few months, but weaken against most currencies after mid-2004.
• The global upturn is on course, with most growth forecasts unchanged over the past month. The US, China, India & Japan are the 2004 main growth drivers.
• Economic activity is set to strengthen in the next 6-9 months. But medium-term prospects are uncertain. Huge imbalances persist, and growth will slow in 2005.
• The main dampening factors are: terrorism, huge budget & external deficits, excessive debt, and trade & currency tensions.
• US GDP, after spectacular annualised quarterly growth of 8.2% in Q3, slowed to 4.1% in Q4, below expectations but still above trend.
• US GDP is forecast to grow 4.6% in 2004, with 2005 growth slowing to 3.7%.
• Euro area GDP growth is forecast at 1.9% in 2004 & 2.1% in 2005.
• Japan’s GDP growth is forecast at 2.4% in 2004 & 1.9% in 2005.
• Asia’s economic status will strengthen further, driven mainly by China and India.
• Interest rates, both official rates & longer-term bond yields, will rise in 2004.
• Increases in the US Fed Funds rate will be gradual, to 1.75% by end-2004.
• The ECB may still lower interest rates shortly, if the € rises much further.
• In spite of the G7 Florida meeting & recent $ rises, renewed $ falls are likely in the next 3-6 months - to $1.30-$1.35 per €, $1.89-$1.94 per £, and Y103-Y99 per $.
• Gradual and orderly $ falls can help ease global imbalances; but a $ collapse will be very damaging. The US will continue to adopt a relaxed attitude to the $’s fall.

UK background: The UK economic upturn has accelerated, and growth is now slightly above trend. Revised figure confirmed GDP quarterly growth at 0.9% in Q4 2003, but annual Q4 growth was raised to 2.8%, and growth in 2003 as a whole was revised upwards from 2.1% to 2.3%. In the February issue of the BCC’s Quarterly Economic Forecast, we raised our forecast for UK GDP growth to 3.0% in 2004 & 2.5% in 2005. The UK labour market remains strong, with falling unemployment and employment near an all-time high. But both wage increases & price inflation remain modest. However, the huge Budget deficit, and the large external (current account) deficit, will be factors dampening UK progress. With Public Sector Net Borrowing (PSNB) forecast at £38bn in both 2003-04 & 2004-05, we believe that tax rises totalling £10bn-£15bn will be needed in the next 2-3 years, to avoid breaking the Golden Rule. But the main tax rises are likely after the General Election. As expected, the UK repo (base) rate was raised to 4.0% earlier in February, and our forecast indicates further gradual increases, to 4.50% by end-2004 & to 5.0% in 2005. The UK recovery is strengthening, but the economy remains over-dependent on the upsurge in public sector spending, recruitment, & pay. The much-needed rebalancing of the economy towards investment & exports remains inadequate. Over the medium tem, the UK economy faces serious challenges. But the 2004 & 2005 outlook remains satisfactory, with good growth, low inflation, tolerable (albeit rising) interest rates, & high employment.

Base rate and sterling: At its February meeting, the MPC raised as expected its key interest rate (repo or base rate) to 4.0%. All nine MPC members supported the decision to increase rates. However, the arguments were finely balanced, and less conclusive than the unanimity of the decision may indicate. The forecasts in the Bank’s February Inflation Report provide only limited support for the MPC’s decision. The official forecast states that, without a small interest rate rise, CPI inflation will increase to just over 2% early in 2006. But inflation is now well below the 2% target, and on the central projection would remain below target for most of the next two years. While the strength of sterling was discussed by the MPC, the Committee concluded that it was not sufficiently important to affect its decision to raise rates. We retain our assumption that the MPC will continue to raise interest rates gradually over the next year. But having moved in February, the MPC will probably keep rates stable until May at the earliest. We expect the repo rate to increase to around 4.50% by end-2004 & to 5% in 2005. Gilt yields will also rise in 2004.

£ remains very strong; it has eased against the $, but has risen against the €. Our exchange rate assumption is that £ will stabilise in the next few months, but weaken against most currencies after mid-2004, largely in reaction to the large external deficit. An early referendum on UK Euro entry remains extremely unlikely.

The Global Economy: The global upturn is on course. Published data has been mildly disappointing in the US & the Euro area, but Japan’s performance has improved. Growth forecasts have remained broadly unchanged over the past month. The US, China, India & Japan are the main 2004 growth drivers. Economic activity is set to strengthen in the next 6-9 months. But medium-term prospects are uncertain. Huge imbalances persist, and growth will slow in 2005. The main dampening factors are: terrorism, huge budget & external deficits, excessive debt, and trade & currency tensions.

US non-farm payrolls rose 112,000 in January, below expectations. Job figures for November & December were revised upwards, and the unemployment rate fell from 5.9% to 5.7%. Overall, US employment growth is still inadequate. The US household survey indicates a more robust US labour market than non-farm payrolls. But employment growth must be at least 150000 per month to secure a sustainable reduction in the unemployment rate. US GDP, after spectacular annualised quarterly growth of 8.2% in Q3, slowed to 4% in Q4, below expectations but still above trend. Consumer spending slowed; but inventories rose, and investment was strong. After growing 3.1% in 2003 as whole, US GDP is forecast to grow 4.6% in 2004, with growth slowing to 3.7% in 2005.

Euro area GDP quarterly growth was 0.3% (1.2% annualised), down from 0.4% (1.6% annualised) in Q3, and growth for the whole of 2003 was only 0.4%. German growth remained very weak, at 0.2% in Q4, and –0.1% in 2003 as a whole, as exports were held back by the strength of he euro, and consumers remained worried about jobs, pensions, and rising healthcare costs. The Italian economy, hit by strikes and the Parmalat scandal, stagnated in the final quarter. France held up best in Q4, with GDP growth at 0.5% or 2% annualised. Looking ahead, Euro area GDP growth is forecast at 1.9% in 2004 & 2.1% in 2005. Growth will be limited by persistent euro strength, unduly tight fiscal & monetary policies, and inadequate reforms.

Japan’s GDP quarterly growth in Q4 2003 was 1.7% (7.0% annualised), much stronger than expected, and was 2.7% in 2003 as a whole. But prices fell 1% in Q4, triggering renewed fears of deflation. Japan’s growth (while much better than in 2001 & 2002), is forecast to slow, to 2.4% in 2004 & 1.9% in 2005. Bad debts, deflation, and adverse demographic trends, will limit Japan’s growth. Developing Asia’s economic status will strengthen further, driven mainly by China & India. But other regional economies (e.g. South Korea, Thailand, & Malaysia) have recorded strong growth figures in 2003.

Interest rates, both official rates & longer-term bond yields, are set to rise in 2004. But increases in US official rates will be modest and gradual, in spite of the change in the Fed’s wording, from “maintaining accommodation for a considerable period” to “be patient in removing accommodation”. We forecast the Fed Funds rate at 1.75% by end-2004. The ECB may still lower interest rates before long, if the € rises much further. In spite of the G7 Florida meeting & recent $ rises, renewed $ falls are likely in the next 3-6 months - to $1.30-$1.35 per €, $1.89-$1.94 per £, & Y103-Y99 per $. The Euro area will bear the main adjustment pains resulting from the $’s fall, as Japan intervenes to limit yen rises, and China still pegs in the near term the renminbi’s to the US $. The G7 statement at the Florida meeting, that “more exchange rate flexibility is desirable for major countries or economic areas that lack such flexibility”, was mainly addressed to China. However, China is not a member of the G7, and will not abandon its policy of fixing the renminbi to the US$ solely because of international pressures. At the same time, domestic pressures, particularly overheating and higher inflation could persuade the Chinese to allow a moderate (5%-10%) renminbi revaluation in the next 9-12 months. Gradual and orderly $ falls can help ease global imbalances; but a $ collapse will be very damaging. The US will continue to adopt a relaxed attitude to the $’s fall.

UK GDP: Revised figures for Q4 2003 confirm quarterly GDP growth of 0.9%. But annual Q4 growth was raised from 2.5% to 2.8%, and growth in 2003 as a whole was revised upwards from 2.1% to 2.3%. In the February issue of the BCC’s Quarterly Economic Forecast, we raised our forecast for UK GDP growth to 3.0% in 2004 & 2.5% in 2005. The gap between UK & Euro area growth remains very wide. The December 2003 Pre-Budget Report (PBR) has forecast 3%-3.5% GDP growth for both 2004 & 2005. The official forecast is clearly achievable for 2004, but still appears too high for 2005. Moreover, the significant rebalancing in the economy predicted in the PBR, with a sharp upsurge in investment & exports, is unlikely to materialise on present trends.

Household consumption quarterly growth was 1.1% in Q4, after upgraded growth of 1.1% in Q3, and to 1.0% in Q2; annual growth was 3.2% in Q4, after upgraded growth of 3.1% in Q3 & 2.4% in Q2. We assume that any future slowdown in the growth of household consumption (due to a cooling housing market, and greater caution fostered by the higher personal debt burden) will be gradual. In year on year terms, but not on a quarterly basis, growth is set to accelerate in 2004.

Investment rose 1.6% in Q4, and annual Q4 growth was 2.9%. Figures for previous quarters were revised upwards, and growth in 2003 as a whole was 2.6%. Within total investment, business investment rose 1.3% in Q4, but in 2003 as a whole registered a fall of 1.3%. Manufacturing investment rose 3.3% in Q4, but in 2003 as a whole registered a huge fall of 8.8%. While the Q4 figures signal a welcome improvement, investment growth is likely to proceed at an inadequate pace.

The UK Balance of Payments current account deficit worsened sharply in Q2 and Q3 2003, and is forecast to remain large, at around £30bn (some 2.5% of GDP) in both 2004 & 2005. Although the pound is currently very strong, the risks to £ from a large external deficit, will make it more difficult for the MPC to limit rate rises, because of the concern that the deficit could trigger in the future speculative pressure against £.

UK main sectors: Service sector Q4 2003 quarterly growth was confirmed at 1.0%, after upgraded growth of 1.0% in Q3 and 0.3% in Q2; year-on-year Q4 services growth was confirmed at 2.6%, after 2.4% in both Q3 and 2.5% in Q2. It remains to be seen whether the strong services growth in the second half of 2003 signals a sustained acceleration. Our forecast for services growth envisages gradual moderation in the pace of expansion, with annual average growth of 3.2% in 2004 & 2.7% in 2005, after 2.5% in 2003. Our forecast for construction output envisages annual average growth at 7.8% in 2004 & 7.0% in 2005, after upgraded growth of 6.3% in 2003.

Manufacturing output, after falling 0.6% in November, fell 0.1% in December, worse than expected. In the three months October-December 2003, manufacturing output rose 0.2% compared with the previous three months, and was 1.1% higher than in the same period in 2002. To put recent figures in perspective, after falling 1.3% in 2001 & 3.6% in 2002, manufacturing output recorded zero growth in 2003 as a whole. Output is still 4% below its 2000 level. Chemicals (+4.5%), and engineering (+2.9%), recorded the best year-on-year figures in October-December; basic metals (-3.4%), and textiles (-0.4%) recorded the worst figure.

Manufacturing forecast: After a prolonged recession, manufacturing output has stabilised in 2003, and we have seen signs of patchy recovery. Our forecast envisages that the upturn will strengthen gradually over the next 12-18 months, with output growing 1.7% in 2004 & 2.2% in 2005. Manufacturing output & profits have benefited from the earlier fall in the pound against the €. But the more recent strength of £, particularly against the $ & against Asian currencies such as the renminbi, is creating new and serious problems for the sector. Overall, the manufacturing upturn will remain fragile, and manufacturing employment is set to decline further.

UK labour market: Britain’s labour market continues to combine low unemployment and low wage pressures. Claimant-count unemployment was 892,100 in January, the lowest level since 1975; it was down 13,400 from the revised December figure, a larger fall than expected, and was down 40,300 over the year. On the wider ILO measure, unemployment was 1,459,000 in October-December, down 21,000 on the previous three months, and down 55,000 on the same period a year ago. The jobless rate was 2.9% (January) on the claimant count, and 4.9% (October-December) on the Labour Force survey (LFS) measure. The employment level was 28,156,000 in October-December, up 5,000 on the previous three months, and up 156,000 over the year. The working age employment rate was 74.5% in October-December, down 0.1% over a year earlier. Manufacturing employment was 3,462,000 in October-December, 111,000 lower than a year earlier and the lowest level since 1984. The jobless rate (LFS measure) was lowest in the South West (3.1%), Eastern (3.5%), and the South East (3.8%). Regional jobless rates were highest in London (7.0%), the North East (6.4%), and Northern Ireland (6.3%).

Average earnings growth was 3.4% in October-December, down from 3.5% in September-November, slightly below market expectations. Private sector earnings growth was unchanged at 3.2% in October-December. Public sector earnings growth slowed further, from 4.8% to 4.4%, and the large gap between public & private sector earnings growth narrowed modestly. Looking ahead, unemployment will stay low, and the resilient labour market is set to remain a favourable feature of the UK economy. Above-trend growth in output may start exerting some upward pressure on wages. But the main potential threat to stability is the upsurge in public sector spending and recruitment, which could trigger strong public sector wage claims, as well as increased labour militancy. I expect earnings growth to accelerate gradually, towards 4%-4.5% per annum.

Inflation: CPI inflation, which is the basis of the new UK inflation target based on the Consumer Price Index (previously known as HICP), was 1.4% in January, up from 1.3% in December. The year-on-year rise in the all-items retail price index (RPI) was 2.6% in January, down from 2.8% in December. The ‘underlying’ retail price measure (RPIX), which the Government targeted until recently and excludes mortgage interest, was also 2.4% in January, down from 2.6% in December. The December inflation figures were broadly in line with market expectations. The gap between RPIX and HICP narrowed sharply in January, to 1.0%.

Goods price inflation in January was 0.8% on the RPI measure, and 0.0% on the CPI measure. Services price inflation was 2.9% on the RPI measure, and 3.1% on the CPI measure. Margins in the high street are still under pressure, even though retail sales volume growth accelerated. In the three months November-January, high street prices remained in negative territory, and were 0.8% lower than a year earlier. Looking at UK inflation prospects, the various measures are likely to fluctuate narrowly around current levels in the next few months.

RSM Robson Rhodes Economic Adviser
Tel: 020 8904 6293 E-mail: david.kern@btinternet.com

LEGISLATIVE NEWS

A new strategy to improve future standards of workplace health and safety in Great Britain has been launched by Des Browne, Minister for Work and Pensions and Bill Callaghan, chair of the Health and Safety Commissions (HSC). The strategy sets out a new direction for the health and safety system and the roles of HSC, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Local Authorities (LAs). HSE and LAs will target resources on the areas of greatest need and be less active where risks are well managed. In these areas there will be greater emphasis on advice and support.

Key features of the strategy:

• Focusing resources on poor performance to get best results
• Promoting greater involvement of workers
• Making information readily accessible and clearer
• Involving all stakeholders and forging close working relationships where everyone has a voice and can contribute

The strategy for ‘Workplace Health and Safety in Great Britain to 2010 and beyond’ can be accessed on the HSE website at www.hse.gv.uk

Under new minimum wage regulations announced by Employment Relations Minister Gerry Sutcliffe, up to 170,000 homeworkers could get more money. The changes will mean that home and piece workers will have to be paid at a rate that is linked to the National Minimum wage. Homeworkers include those that pack greeting cards to assembling Christmas crackers.

From October 2004, employers will:

• No longer be allowed to set the rate of pay at four fifths of the time it takes an average worker to complete a set piece of work
• Give employees clearer information about the rate they are expected to work at, and their hourly wage
• Pay all homeworkers the minimum wage for all hours worked
• 100% of the national minimum wage for the number of hours it takes an average worker to complete an agreed block of work – a ‘fair piece rate’

For more information, visit www.dti.gov.uk

New legislation to cut back on red tape for large stores which open on a Sunday have come into force. The measures mean that large shops in England and Wales no longer have to notify local authorities of their Sunday trading hours and local authorities no longer have to keep a register of notification of Sunday trading hours. The Regulatory Reform (Sunday Trading) order 2004 does not change the main features of the Sunday Trading Act 1994.

There are no changes to:

• The range of hours that large shops are permitted to open on a Sunday
• The requirement for a large shop to display their opening hours
• Enforcement of the Act by local authorities

The Order also repeals Section 26 of the Revenue Act 1889, which prohibits the sale of mentholated spirits on a Sunday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Order does not apply to Scotland.
For more information, visit www.dti.gov.uk

CSR Minister – Stephen Timms, has launched the Publication of a global framework setting out the Government’s approach to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at the international level. The draft strategic framework focuses on encouraging action and progress to maximise the business contribution to social, environmental and economic development.
The draft framework will shortly be available on the DTI website at www.dti.gov.uk/sustainability

With the help of business plans designed to deliver real economic benefit for the people of the East Midlands region, £38m is set to benefit the area in the coming financial year. The East Midlands Development Agency board met last month to approve the business plans, which were submitted by each of the sub regional strategic partnerships (SSPS). The £38 million has been divided between each of the SSPS for the year 2004-2005 based on both the economic development of the region and in delivering the key priorities of the regional economic strategy at the sub regional level.
For more information, visit www.emda.org.uk

A new report of 400 firms has revealed that 89% of the computer software purchased was too difficult to understand, 56% argued that it was simply not what they expected. The SME Software market is worth an estimated £4.1 billion a year. Going on the results of this study, it suggests that companies could be wasting around £1.5 billion on software they never use.
For more information, visit www.businesseurope.com

According to campaign group, Action Energy, UK SMEs waste over £1 billion, equivalent to £7,000 per business, every year by leaving computers, printers and lights on when they are not being used. A recent survey of 400 SMEs by the company showed that while almost all thought they were fairly energy efficient, 54% admitted that they had never taken steps to improve.
More information is available on this story from www.chamberonline.co.uk

CHAMBER EVENTS

Date: 19th March
Time: 12 noon - 2.00pm
Venue: Prestwold Hall near Loughborough
Cost: £22.00 Members/ £28.00 Standard

As part of the Chamber’s ongoing series of luncheons around the county, we are delighted that Charnwood MP The Rt. Hon.Stephen Dorrell will be our guest speaker at the Charnwood Area Luncheon. This lunchtime event presents an excellent networking opportunity as well as giving attendees the chance to raise any issues of concern with a local MP.

Date: 23rd March
Time: 7.30am – 9.30am
Venue: Leicester Tigers Ground, Aylestone Road, Leicester
Cost: £17.63 One price only

E-Commerce is an important part of trading nowadays and this event will cover everything you need to know to be able to put together your own effective website and set up automated trading with your customers. E-security, a key issue when integrating e-commerce within a business, will also be covered to ensure that both systems and transactions are safeguarded.

Date: 24th March
Time: 6pm - 8.30pm
Venue: Sturgess Jaguar, Narborough Road, Leicester
Cost: £20.00 Members/ £30.00 Standard

Leicestershire Chamber is keen to encourage members to network, linking businesses of all sizes and sectors together to enable them to meet, exchange views and identify new business. Sturgess Jaguar will host this networking evening and there will be the chance for attendees to view some of the company’s latest vehicles.

Date: 22nd April
Time: 8am - 9.30am
Venue: Belmont House Hotel, De Montfort Street, Leicester
Cost: £25.00 Members/£35.00 Standard

Keeping up to date with rules and regulations is an important part of business and this particular workshop, in conjunction with Chamber Services, will focus on areas of health and safety.

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

How much will Gordon Brown's Budget on March 17 hit your company's coffers and your own pocket?
Will the Chancellor again raise the tax burden on businesses to fund the Government's multi-billion pound health and welfare spending?
Will the self-styled champion of enterprise help small and start-up firms?
Will he help those involved in cutting-edge research? What about the beleaguered manufacturing industry?
How will you be affected if you're an employee, a mother, a father, a car driver, an alcohol drinker or a smoker.

Comprehensive coverage of the Budget 2004 will be available in the Leicester Mercury on March 16, 17 and 18.

Regeneration East Midlands (REM) has been established to help improve the effectiveness of regeneration activity in the East Midlands and incorporates the activities of East Midlands Funders Forum, East Midlands Observatory and Opun – the Centre for Architecture and the Built Environment. It is an independent organisation for people who have an interest in any aspect of regeneration or economic development and is driven by its customers and members.

Regeneration East Midlands provides services in four key areas:
• Design and the Built Environment;
• Funding Access;
• Knowledge and Intelligence;
• Skills and Organisation Development.

Regeneration East Midlands builds on existing support activities by providing relevant, practical, high quality and accessible services.
This project has already secured funding support from the East Midlands Development Agency, Government Office for the East Midlands , East Midlands Regional Assembly, Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, Arts Council England and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
Cllr Ross Willmott, Chair of the Regeneration East Midlands steering group said, “Regeneration activities are essential to ensure the future growth and prosperity of the regions towns, cities and rural areas. This is an exciting new organisation offering practical help to individuals and organisations involved in all aspects of regeneration. Working with you, we can make the East Midlands a better place to live and work. Getting involved will benefit all of us.”

TO GET INVOLVED - JOIN REM FREE - Simply complete the form on our website – click here to go directly to the form or contact us by phone on 0870 240 4459 .

We are currently recruiting for five new members of staff to join the REM team – a Chief Executive, Funding Executive, Research Executive, Project Executive and Administrator. A job advertisement and job and people specifications are available at www.regenerationem.co.uk or by calling 07050 196 167. Applications are sought for the Chief Executive position by 26 th March 2004 and for the other posts by 9 th April 2004.

There are a number of newly launched services, which may be of interest: -
REM BURSARY FUND – click here to find out more.
INTRODUCTION TO REGENERATION PROGRAMME - find out more – click here.
AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE - apply via www.regenerationem.co.uk.

To find out more about REM and our services, visit our website www.regenerationem.co.uk . Alternatively, write to Regeneration East Midlands, Apex Court, City Link, Nottingham, NG2 4LA, telephone 0870 240 4459 or fax 0115 853 3666.

The next training workshop being offered by cedar will be at Loughborough University on Tuesday 16th March 2004. cedar is an ecodesign and consultancy initiative offered through the Department of Design and Technology at Loughborough University, which aims to inform design and manufacturing businesses in the electrical and electronic sectors, about the benefits of ecodesign, and empower them to improve the environmental performance of their products and meet legislative requirements.

Main benefits to attending include:
• Low cost opportunity to learn about ecodesign and understand the different ways that products can be improved
• Introduction to new ecodesign tools
• Hands on opportunity to use ecodesign tools to identify improvement strategies for a specific product
Understand how designers can contribute to ecodesign
Costs:
• For companies who sign up to the Fast Track programme the total cost is £250 per company for 2 people to attend the workshop + ½ day on site product evaluation + ecodesign opportunities report - www.cedarconsulting.org.uk
• If not involved in Fast Track, the workshop costs £50 per person

To register:
Please contact Dr. Vicky Lofthouse by phone on 01509 222777

The University of Leicester Centre for Labour Market Studies and NIACE are hosting a conference to explore the implications of the national Skills Strategy for the vocational curriculum of adults.

Entitled 'The Vocational Imperatives: The Skills Strategy and the New Adult Curriculum', the conference will study in particular the implications of the Strategy on colleges and other training providers seeking to provide appropriate vocational courses and qualifications.

The event takes place at a time of changing skill requirements, when recent reservations have been expressed by Adult Learning inspectors about the quality of current training.

Conference sessions will question how we can continue to ensure quality in adult learning within the context of the Skills Strategy and how colleges can make a full contribution to national priorities without sacrificing the interests of their adult learners. It will also discuss whether we are ready for the promised qualifications revolution.

The conference will be of interest to anyone involved in adult education and training, including: college managers; adult education providers; work-based training providers; employers; policymakers; and staff in further and higher education responsible for developing vocational education and work-based learning.

NIACE Policy Officer, Alastair Thomson commented: "Our wholehearted support for the aspirations of the Skills Strategy doesn't mean that there shouldn't be an informed debate about how the needs of adult learners are best protected and promoted. Our colleagues in the University are well-placed to consider how we can better help more people to have more choices."

'The Vocal Imperatives: The Skills Strategy and the New Adult Curriculum' will take place on 16 March 2004 at the Aston Villa Conference and Banqueting Suite, Birmingham. Further details are available from Gurjit Kaur, tel 0116 204 2833, email gurjit.kaur@niace.org.uk, or see the website http://www.niace.org.uk/Conferences/Vocational04.html

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Import Foundation Workshop
Date: 19 March 2004
Venue: Charnwood Court, 5b New Walk, Leicester
Beginners course sets out to give a clear overview of the procedures and
documentation involved in importing.

EU Enlargement Seminar
Date: 26 April 2004
Venue: Charnwood Court, 5b New Walk, Leicester
Seminar to explain the transition of exports, VAT, documentation and procedures within the enlarged community.

For detailed information contact: John Moore Tel: 0116 2587 329

LONDON, 18-20 APRIL 2004
A powerful lineup of speakers for this April's Russian Economic Forum continues to draw record numbers of delegates from Russia, Great Britain, Continental Europe, the United States and all around the world, with this year's event also promising to attract unprecedented media interest.

Newest names to top the agenda in recent weeks include The Lord Browne of Madingley, Group Chief Executive, BP plc; Leonid Reiman, Acting Russian Minister for Telecommunications and Informatisation; Donald Johnston, Secretary General, OECD, and Steven Theede, Chief Operating
Officer, Yukos Oil Company.

An intensive programme of two plenary sessions and more than 20 workshops and panel discussions will feature over 100 speakers, highlighting a variety of issues critical to Russia's ongoing development into a modern, market-based economy.

Other confirmed speakers include:

* Patricia Hewitt, UK Secretary of State, Trade and Industry
* Dr. Supachai Panitchpakdi, Director General, WTO
* Anatoly Chubais, CEO, RAO Unified Energy System of Russia
* Simon Vainshtock, President, Transneft
* Alexander Khloponin, Governor, Krasnoyarsk Region
* Andrei Kostin, Chairman, Vneshtorgbank
* Digby Jones, Director General, CBI
* Frank Dunn, President and CEO, Nortel Networks
* Aleksei Mordashov, Chairman, Severstal-Group
* Kakha Bendukidze, General Director, OMZ (United Heavy Machinery)
* Rod Eddington, Chief Executive, British Airways plc
* Sir Roderic Lyne KBE CMG, Her Majesty's Ambassador to Russia
* Roger Munnings, President and CEO, KPMG Russia and CIS
* Peter Aven, President, Alfa Bank
* Charles E. Ryan, Chairman and CEO, United Financial Group
* Peter Hambro, Chairman and CEO, Peter Hambro Mining plc

To register, or for an updated programme, contact the organisers directly on 44 20 7510 2560 or via email on info@eventica.co.uk.
More information is also available on the official Russian Economic Forum websites, at www.eventica.co.uk