DO YOU KNOW IF YOUR BUSINESS PREMISES WERE BUILT USING ASBESTOS?
New regulations* mean that you must have your business premises checked, whether owned or leased, for the presence of asbestos and, if found, you must be able to prove that it has been either removed or is being effectively managed.
Asbestos was used as a building material up until 1999 and can be found lurking behind radiators, above false ceilings, lining lifts or as a sprayed coating on ceilings. It is difficult to identify and you will be unable to do so without the assistance of an expert.
The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations (2002) require that all non-domestic premises are assessed by a competent person and that if asbestos is identified it is removed or managed as deemed appropriate. In short you have a statutory duty to manage asbestos in your premises and failure to do so could result in a prohibition notice preventing access to your premises, criminal prosecutions, a substantial fine and the inability to obtain Employers Liability Insurance, which is of course, compulsory.
This is a time sensitive issue and you must be able to demonstrate that you are effectively managing asbestos by 21st May 2004. TF Bell, a preferred product supplier for Leicestershire Chamber, can arrange for a qualified consultant to visit your premises and provide you with a free quotation for an asbestos survey. For more details contact your regular TF Bell account executive or email: asbestos@tfbell.co.uk with your contact details.
*You can find out more about the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations by attending the Chamber’s Health & Safety Seminar on April 22nd at the Belmont House Hotel in Leicester. For more details on this event or to make a booking contact Kam Atker on Tel: 0116 204 6614, email: atker.k@chamberofcommerce.co.uk or visit www.chamberofcommerce.co.uk and click on What’s On and Events.
CHAMBER TEAMS UP WITH AA
Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce has teamed up with the British Chambers of Commerce and the AA to bring you preferential rates on the motoring organisation’s range of Fleetwide packages. With road congestion and transport problems said to be costing Leicestershire businesses £1/2 Billion every year it is vital to keep your vehicles on the road and operating as cost-effectively as possible. The AA Fleetwide options range from roadside assistance and home start through to assistance, recovery, provision of a hire car and accident management. Fleetwide packages start from around £30 per vehicle per year. For more details please email: rogers.v@chamberofcommerce.co.uk
RISING ENERGY COSTS
The wholesale price of gas is forecast to rise a further 21 per cent in 2004 warns Utility Auditing, the Chamber’s energy service. Last year electricity prices rose by up to 30% and the price of gas hit a three-year peak making UK gas among the most expensive in the world.
According to Paul Backx, Managing Director of Utility Auditing Ltd: "Companies whose gas and electricity contracts come up for renewal this year could be faced with price rises of up to 50 per cent since two years ago. Rising gas prices will have a knock on effect on the cost of gas- generated electricity, so most businesses will be affected. The days of cheap energy are no more and it is more important than ever for companies to shop around to find the best price."
Added Mr Backx: "When companies receive their renewal offer, they get a very brief window of opportunity in which they can cancel their existing contract. It is imperative that they act speedily to find a more favourable deal that balances price with good customer service and reliability."
Utility Auditing is an independent energy management company, which isn’t tied to any supplier. As such, the company can scrutinise the UK supply market and use its national purchasing power to identify a more favourable contract suited to the precise needs of individual customers. At the same time, Utility Auditing will also use its technical expertise to ensure that companies have the right tariffs and supply capacity for their needs.
Utility Auditing also offers free on site energy surveys to help firms reduce consumption and recover lost profits caused by energy wastage.
For help and advice contact Vicky Rogers at Leicestershire Chamber on Tel: 0116 204 6601
TOMORROW'S WORKFORCE - THE BUSINESS CASE FOR AGE
A conference, held on 25 March at Holywell Park, Loughborough set out a compelling call to act on the unavoidable impact of demographic change. There has already been a substantial shift in the age profile of the UK as well as the major developed economies, due partly to falling birth rates, but mainly because of improved public health and major improvement in the wealth, health and longevity of the generation born during and after WWII.
This has profound implications for businesses and their future, in terms of markets, workforce and investment. The implementation of the Age Directive into UK law in 2006 will force changes about many fundamental assumptions about recruitment, employment, provision of training and retirement. This new legislation will be aligned with existing laws preventing discrimination on grounds of race, gender, disability and gender preference. It was stressed that businesses need to begin working towards applying this now to avoid the obvious risks of litigation and the subtler encroachment of declining competitiveness as this demographic shift takes away the easy options.
Hard copies of slides/summaries from the conference available from Max Boden – boden.m@chamberofcommerce.co.uk, or for full details call Steve Milner, Diversity Co-ordinator, Business in the Community 0115 911 6667/ Email steve.milner@bitc.org.uk or Maggie Ross, Manager, Experience Works 0115 911 3648/ Email maggie.ross@ncn.ac.uk
HEALTH SAFETY SEMINAR
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.
BUSINESS NETWORKING EVENING WITH ADDED SPICE
Date: 27th April
Time: 6pm - 8.30pm
Venue: Spice Of India Restaurant, Syston
Cost: £22.00 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 opportunities. The Chamber’s curry networking events are always popular and this evening the Spice of India Restaurant will provide a superb buffet banquet allowing guests to taste several starters and main courses– you really can eat as much as you like.
IS YOUR WEBSITE LEGAL?
Date: 28th April
Time: 8am - 10am
Venue: Leicester Tigers Ground, Aylestone Road, Leicester
Cost: £25.00 Members / £35.00 Standard
Many businesses now use websites to advertise their services and trade electronically. There are, however, a number of legal issues that companies need to be aware of when it comes to using IT in these ways, including contracts with web designers and obligations imposed by the Electronic Commerce (EC Directive) Regulations 2002. This seminar, in conjunction with Harvey Ingram Owston, will look at some of the legal matters businesses need to address.
WOMEN IN BUSINESS FORUM
Date: 11th May
Time: 3pm - 9.15pm
Venue: Leicester City Football Club, Leicester
Cost: Training day, presentation and dinner: £75.00 Members/ £90.00 Standard
Presentation and dinner only: £32.50 Members/£42.50 Standard
Do you wish that you could be more effective? Often feel that you have not made the best use of your day or got the results you wanted in a business meeting? Then this year’s forum entitled “Think Win-Win” is not to be missed. Integra and Business Women’s Link are offering the chance to learn the principles behind the world renowned Seven Habits of Highly Effective People programme. The three-hour training session will cover such topics as personal vision, leadership, management and communication. The training will be followed by dinner and an evening presentation from keynote speakers Dr Ann Demarais and Dr Valerie White, authors of the fascinating book First Impressions. The doctors, who are experienced psychologists and specialise in interpersonal communication, leadership and executive coaching, will be helping attendees to unlock the secrets of positive first impressions.
For more details or to book onto Chamber Events please contact Kam Atker on Tel: 0116 204 6614/email:atker.k@chamberofcommerce.co.uk. You can also visit www.chamberofcommerce.co.uk and click on What’s On/Events.
GROW YOUR OWN BUSINESS CONFERENCE
If you are a business owner or are itching to turn your business ideas into reality, then everywoman's Grow your own Business Conference-East Midlands is an event not to be missed. This one-day conference and exhibition is being held on the 22nd of April 2004 at The Nottingham Gateway Hotel in Nottingham.
The conference offers exceptional value with free access to all workshops, lunch and beverages included in the price. Tickets are normally £150 (+VAT) but are available at a subsidised rate of £99 (+VAT) thanks to conference sponsors who are offering practical support to local female entrepreneurs by greatly subsidising the cost of tickets.
For a full programme for this conference including details of speakers and workshops visit www.everywoman.com/notts/agenda.asp
LOUGHBOROUGH INNOVATION CENTRE UNITS NOW AVAILABLE
Due to an exciting period of expansion and graduation, several units became available for rent at the end of March at the Loughborough Innovation Centre, one of the region's largest facilities for high tech start-ups. Located on Loughborough University’s campus, the centre provides fully serviced, secure accommodation with broadband internet access and mentoring support, low cost rent and flexible tenancies.
Tenancies are open to all new high-tech based companies, providing the help a young company needs to survive its critical first years, such as mentoring, access to networking organisations, free use of meeting rooms and free staff training development programme. Tenants also benefit from being based in a thriving and innovative research culture with seamless access to university expertise and technical know-how to boost competitiveness.
Loughborough Innovation Centre tenants include spin out companies from within the university and growing businesses from the East Midlands region and beyond. The centre was recently awarded the UK Business Incubation Ltd's (UKBI) Best Newcomer Award in recognition of the successful implementation of quality business support services.
If you, or someone you know, are setting up a new high-tech company or have recently started trading and are looking for suitable premises, please contact Polly Multon on Tel: 01509 228890 or email:p.r.multon@lboro.ac.uk
FUTURE OF REGIONAL INNOVATION DISCUSSED AT FREE NETWORKING EVENT
To celebrate over seven years championing technology and growth in the region, local networking group Loughborough Advanced Technology Initiative (LATI) is presenting an afternoon of informative presentations on the future of innovation in the region.
Bringing together an audience of representatives from high tech companies and business support organisations, the event will provide an excellent networking opportunity and news of the most exciting new developments to support innovation in the region.
Delegates will have the opportunity to find out about the proposed development for Loughborough’s new science park, discover Pera Technology’s innovation strategies to boost competitiveness and learn about the research of AstraZeneca R&D Charnwood one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies and Loughborough's second largest employer.
As one of the region’s largest networking and support groups, LATI has been successfully driving technology, growth and innovation in the area since 1997. Membership is made up from hundreds of regional companies, enterprising individuals, business support organisations, university departments and research groups.
The event will be taking place at Loughborough Innovation centre from 4pm on Monday 19th April. Members of the local business community are more than welcome to attend free of charge. For further information about this event and LATI membership please visit www.lati.co.uk.
LAST FEW SPACES REMAINING AT TECH-NI-FOLD BUSINESS SHOWCASE
As the 2003 Business Showcase series draws to an end this is your last chance to see what made the winners of the Leicestershire Business Awards 2003 the best. Tech-ni-fold, winners of the Innovation Award, will be showcasing their success on Wednesday 21st April.
Attendees will discover how Graham Harris has developed Tech-ni-fold from a one-man business into an organisation offering over 16 products, selling 150 devices a month and currently extending its network of 25 agents. He has built an international reputation for solving creasing problems in the printing industry. Individuals interested in hearing about the strategies and hard work required to turn an idea into a successful business will benefit from attending this event.
For more details or to book contact Caroline Birchall at HeadStorm Marketing on 01455 633939 or caroline@headstorm.org.uk.
TAKE STEPS TO BUILD TEAM SPIRIT AND PROMOTE CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY WITH THE MS SOCIETY
Keeping staff motivated and ensuring teams work together effectively for the health and success of a business is a constant challenge for the management of any company. And balancing optimal productivity with a healthy, happy workforce is doubly challenging when you consider the numbers of days lost to ill health and stress.
Businesses can tackle both these problems by proactively supporting and promoting charity fitness challenges to their employees. Businesses benefit many times over from this kind of activity with group training and participation supporting great team-building, sharper competitiveness between teams and improvement in health and reduction of stress levels through regular physical exercise.
Run by the Multiple Sclerosis Society, the two Bigfoot Challenges 2004 are held in Cheshire from 6th – 8th August and Wiltshire from 20th – 22nd August. The entry fee for a team of four is just £80 and covers all food, drinks, accommodation, massages and evening entertainment for the entire three days. The walk covers some of the most spectacular parts of the Cheshire and Wiltshire countryside, covering around 15 miles on day one, a full marathon on day two and a nine-mile victory march on day three. Accommodation is in the Bigfoot tented city, with hot showers, a team bar and a group of masseurs and support staff on standby to help with all aches and pains.
For more information, call the event hotline on 0870 241 3565 or visit the website at www.mssociety.org.uk/bigfoot.
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EXPORT / IMPORT COURSES
EU ENLARGEMENT SEMINAR 26 APRIL
Seminar to explain the transition of exports,
VAT, documentation and procedures within the
enlarged community.
UK Trade & Investment, in conjunction with the Chamber and Business Link Leicestershire, are running a number of international trade courses in Leicester with topics including export letters of credit, import and export foundation and export documentation.
For more information contact John Moore on Tel: 0116 2587 329
Or fax the International Trade Department on Fax: to 0116 2855 951
GREEN DOT
The German-British Chamber, in conjunction with Duales System Deutschland AG and the Leeds Chamber, is holding a free workshop in Leeds on Thursday, 29 April 2004.The workshop is for British exporters of consumer goods to Germany to explain their obligations under German packaging law, the workings of the Green Dot scheme and to offer practical help to those companies affected.
The German Packaging Ordinance obliges manufacturers and distributors to take back used, empty sales packaging from consumers free of charge at the actual point of sale or in its direct vicinity and to forward it for recycling. British companies can either fulfil this responsibility as individual compliers or they can join a dual system (compliance scheme). On payment of a licence fee to the German Green Dot system, they acquire the right to use the Green Dot on their packaging and are therefore freed from their obligations in Germany.
The 'Green Dot Germany Workshop' aims to give both current and potential Green Dot customers an overview of the scheme together with practical help on the registration process and completing declarations.
The event will be held at the Leeds Chamber, 102 Wellington Street, Leeds, LS1 4LT from 10am to 1pm with a subsequent buffet lunch. Places are limited, so please register with Ian Wivell on Tel: 020 7976 4171, fax: 020 7976 4101 or email your details to: green.dot@ahk-london.co.uk.