Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce

CHAMBER NEWS

What would you do with £25,000? Get thinking! Because £25,000 is the main prize in the Chamber Awards which are being launched this year. As a member of an accredited Chamber of Commerce you are also part of a wider national business network. The British Chambers of Commerce awards are open to all Chamber members and are designed to give recognition for your business success.

There are 5 categories for entry and you are eligible to enter as many as you wish:

The Microsoft Award for Innovation Through Technology
Entrepreneur Of The Year
Business Of The Year
Most Promising New Business
Export Business Of The Year

From the final five winners one entry will be selected for outstanding achievement and receive a £25,000 cash prize for their business. The awards are sponsored by Microsoft who have offered the cash prize to demonstrate their support of small and medium sized businesses. The award winners will be announced at a Gala Dinner evening to be held at The Guildhall in London. A celebrity will host the awards ceremony and the evening will culminate with the presentation of a £25,000 cheque to one lucky business. Judging for the awards will take place in 2 stages with regional judging completed during August. Finalists from the regional judging will proceed to the national judging with the winners announced at the Awards Gala Dinner in November.

The closing date for entries is 5th July 04 and entry forms can be downloaded at www.chamberawards.co.uk.

In response to complaints about the increasing delays in first post delivery, the Leicestershire Chamber will be writing to the Royal Mail and Post Watch to complain on behalf of the local business community. It would be useful to have case studies to demonstrate the harmful effect that late postal delivery has on particular businesses and we would welcome any leads on this. Please contact Max Boden (Fax 0116 247 0430/ boden.m@chamberofcommerce.co.uk) for more information.

Postcomm and Postwatch are consulting the public on the Royal Mail’s proposals to introduce a size-based element for the pricing of postage of larger sized letters and packets. For example the minimum cost of a first class A4-unfolded envelope could increase from 28p to 46p and the second-class rate from 21p to 38p. To be fair, there are also some trade-offs.

The Chamber has received an initial stock of 150 consultation leaflets, if anyone would like some of these then please also contact Max at the Chamber.

Alternatively, the consultation documents can be viewed on the Postcomm website: www.postcomm.gov.uk

Act now to avoid being locked into expensive energy contracts is the warning to businesses from the Chamber’s product supplier Utility Auditing.

Leicestershire Chamber Managing Director Martin Traynor commented: “Some suppliers require 90 days’ notice to switch contract, which provides a very brief window of opportunity to find a better deal. Prices for gas and electricity have risen sharply during 2003 and are still rising. Unless companies give themselves time to shop around they could get stuck with substantial cost increases.”

The Chamber, in partnership with independent energy managers Utility Auditing Ltd, is offering its members a free energy assessment to find the most cost effective supplier and ensure that the organisation has the right tariffs and supply capacity to suit their current needs. With its national purchasing power, Utility Auditing can negotiate the best prices available in the UK and help companies mitigate the price rises they face. Utility Auditing can also carry out government-funded Action Energy surveys to help eligible companies cut costs through conservation.

To book your free energy assessment or to find out more about the free help available to improve your energy efficiency, contact Vicky Rogers at the Chamber on Tel: 0116 204 6601 or visit our website where you can access the Energy Factfind at:
www.chamberofcommerce.co.uk then select the Chamber Energy page through the Services menu.

LEGISLATIVE NEWS

The Small Business Service (SBS) has launched a consultation into the feasibility of common commencement dates (i.e. a single date/s) for the introduction of new national and sectoral regulations that impact on business. The proposals would build upon the existing arrangement for domestic employment law, which is now implemented twice a year, on 6 April and 1 October.

The intention is to ensure that changes to policy are made in a co-ordinated fashion and to provide businesses with greater clarity and awareness about when changes will be made.

Key questions in the consultation document include:
• What areas of law would firms like to see covered by common commencement dates?
• Should the proposals also apply to areas of the tax system?
• Are there times of the year that should be avoided?
• Should we consider common commencement dates for European legislation?
The consultation, which is available on the SBS website at: www.sbs.gov.uk/content/consultations/ccdates.pdf seeks the views of all businesses, business organisations, trade associations, advisers and other interested bodies.
The consultation runs until 3 September 2004.

A survey of attitudes towards health and safety has been conducted by the MORI Social Research Institute and published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The study looked at the views of citizens, employers and employees. Topics covered included perceptions of risk, understanding of health and safety issues, responsibility for health and safety and the HSE’s image and customer care. Some key findings of the survey were as follows:

• The vast majority of the working population feel that they work in a safe environment.
• Health and safety is a middle ranking concern for employees – but in the top two priorities of those tasked with implementing health and safety regulations.
• While broadly positive about their work environment, employees are more likely to consider the workplace risky than their colleagues who actually have responsibility for health and safety within their organisations.
• Both employers and employees have very similar perceptions of the respective responsibilities of each party for health and safety in the workplace. Over half of employers and employees see the employers as the party with principle responsibility, with employees second.
• The majority of employers say that health and safety requirements benefit their company as a whole (73%), save money in the long term (64%) and defend them against unjustified compensation claims (57%).

The published results of the survey can be accessed online at www.hse.gov.uk/research/misc/attitudes.pdf or ordered from HSE Books, Tel: 01787 881165.

Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett has announced plans for an ambitious energy efficiency programme to boost efforts to tackle climate change and save the UK £3 billion on energy costs each year.
Energy efficiency plan key measures include:
• Save 12 million tonnes of carbon, including 4.2 million tonnes from households, by 2010
• More emphasis on communicating with people about climate change
• New energy service pilots through which energy suppliers can offer innovative energy efficiency packages to customers
• New fiscal measures announced in Budget 2004, including a tax allowance to encourage domestic landlords to invest in their properties

'Energy Efficiency - The Government's Plan for Action', sets out means of delivery to achieve the goals of last year's Energy White Paper and includes a pledge from Whitehall to provide committed leadership in the fulfilment of its targets.

Mrs Beckett called on everyone to contribute:"We can and must change the way we use energy. All of us - individuals, business, public services - can make a difference by using energy more efficiently, making savings on our own fuel bills, helping the UK economy become still more competitive and improving energy security."

The announcement was accompanied by the publication of a strategy for the energy-efficient Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Technology. CHP is a highly fuel-efficient technology which uses the otherwise wasted heat produced during power generation and produces 30 per cent fewer emissions than conventional generation.

For further information the documents referred to above are available as follows:

• Energy Efficiency - The Government's Plan for Action,
• Strategy for Combined Heat and Power (CHP) to 2010
• Fuel Poverty Annual Report

At website: http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/latest/2004/energy-260404.htm

CHAMBER EVENTS

Date: 8th June
Time: 6pm - 8.30pm
Venue: Leicestershire County Cricket Club, Grace Road, Leicester
Cost: Attendance only: £25 Members/£35 Standard,
Exhibition stand space & attendance: £55 Members/£65 Standard

Always keen to encourage members to network, Leicestershire Chamber has organised this event at which attendees will be able to view business exhibition stands whilst networking. There will also be the opportunity to exchange company literature over a glass of wine and a delicious buffet.

Date: 15th June
Time: 6pm - 8.30pm
Venue: Belmont House Hotel, Leicester
Cost: £29.50 inc. buffet supper

Ms Motivator Mo Shapiro can turn obstacles into stepping-stones on the path to success. An international best selling business author, broadcaster and speaker her words give people the confidence to succeed.

Date: 23rd June
Time: 8am-10am
Venue: Ramada Jarvis Hotel, Leicester
Cost: £25.00 Members/ £35.00 Standard

Patents, trademarks, designs and copyright are all important assets that can enhance a company’s value and bring real business benefits. This seminar will help companies to understand which of their ideas and products they can protect and how they can legally do so.

Date: 29th June
Time: 6pm - 8.30pm
Venue: Quorn Country Hotel, Quorn near Loughborough
Cost: £32.50 Members/£42.50 Standard

Amazingly, for someone who never had any aspirations to be a writer, Lynda Page has succeeded in writing 17 books in as many years. Her first book, written during rushed lunch breaks from her office job, took just 18 months to complete and was immediately snapped up by her current publishers. Lynda is now a full time writer and a resident of Leicestershire.

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.

Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce networking events are sponsored by Wilson Browne Solicitors

OTHER NEWS

Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Patricia Hewitt, has unveiled the new, one-stop Business Link website. For the first time, an online service will provide free and easy access to the government information, advice, funding and training that can deliver small business success. The site will also help reduce the time that businesses spend on rules and regulations, freeing them to concentrate on what they do best.

Businesslink.gov.uk has been written by business people for business people and is endorsed by all of the Government agencies and departments that deal with the 3.8 million small and medium-sized enterprises in the UK. Over the last six months the site has been refined by listening to feedback from those already in business and those wanting to start up.

Businesslink.gov.uk is the first service to provide SMEs with a single point of access to Government information and services, making it easier for firms to find what they want from Government and what they need to do for Government without having to search across several sites.

It will deliver positive benefits to small firms by:

• Helping them to reach their potential and boost their growth. Businesslink.gov.uk brings together an easy-to-use searchable database of over 2,500 Government funded business support products ranging from grants and loans to consultancy support to help build their businesses. There is also a training directory with over 500,000 courses, events and seminars to help firms develop staff skills.
• Cutting time spent on rules and regulations. Businesses will be able to find out quickly and easily what regulations apply to them and what they have to do about them. All on one site, for the first time ever.
• Simplifying people management. Entrepreneurs will be able to find out how to better manage their payroll and human resources through simple guides and tools.

The partners supporting the creation of the Business Link site are DTI, HM Treasury, Office of the e-Envoy, Small Business Service, Inland Revenue, HM C&E, Health and Safety Executive, the Environment Agency, ACAS, UK Trade and Investment, The Small Business Council and DfES.

Businesses in Leicestershire are walking away from contracts worth tens of millions of pounds every year because they don't fully understand the way that the public sector awards contracts and how procurement works. Government is keen for all areas of the public sector to make tendering and procurement more open to local suppliers because of the obvious benefits to the local economy.
In order to help remedy the situation the Leicester Shire Economic Partnership has announced that it will be holding a one-day 'Procurement Revolution' event for small and medium sized businesses in Leicestershire. The event, to be held at the Walker Stadium on Tuesday June 29th, will be the first of it's kind in the UK and is open to all businesses operating from Leicestershire.
Firms attending will be shown how to demystify the tendering process, learn how to see a project from the point of view of the buyer and hear from Leicestershire firms who have succeeded in making the breakthrough to win major national contracts. Groby-based firm Voice Connect is one of three firms that is being showcased at the event. They have won major national telecoms contracts against far larger national and international rivals. Tickets for the event, which are £65 each, are available by calling 0115 933 6600 or by e-mail at revolution@absolute-events.co.uk

Food and industrial organisations, using grain in innovative ways in their production process, are being offered the opportunity to apply for up to £50,000 Enterprise Award funding from the Home-Grown Cereals Authority (HGCA). Launched on April 13th, the latest round of applications offers funding of between £5,000 and £50,000 to finance most aspects of developing new products and markets, from the planning and research stages right through to public launches and promotional campaigns. Companies can benefit from marketing and business support in addition to the cash award. The initial application form, which can be found on the HGCA Enterprise website (www.hgca.com/enterprise), is simple to fill out and only takes a matter of minutes.

Julian Gibbons, Chairman of HGCA's Market Development Committee said: "I would urge anybody using, or considering using, UK-grown grain to seriously think about applying for a HGCA Enterprise Award. In addition to the potential financial support, previous winners have benefited from the free marketing and public relations provided.

Further information on the awards can be obtained from Charlotte Smethurst by email at: charlotte.smethurst@hgca.com or by telephone on 0207 520 3927

More information is available at www.hgca.com

David Blunkett said that trade unions, shop workers and retailers have a key role to play in boosting community safety when he promoted two schemes which use Special Constables to help tackle local crime problems.

Mr Blunkett has urged all employers to increase volunteering to help fight crime. In particular he called on retailers to follow the example of the innovative ‘Shop Watch’ scheme in London and Norfolk’s STEP (Specials Through Employment Partnership) scheme, where staff get additional leave to work as special constables and walk the beat they work in. Unions have a key role to play in helping this happen.

• The special constabulary is a voluntary body drawn mainly from the community served by each local force. Specials have full police powers and carry out a range of police work under the supervision, and support of, regular officers. Specials give a few hours each week, typically evenings and weekends.
• The Shop Watch scheme sees retail staff trained as special constables in order to combat retail crime, which is estimated to cost the industry £2.25 billion a year. It has been pioneered by the Metropolitan Police and Dixons Stores Group, and backed by the Home Office. The initial pilot is set to go live in Camden in the coming weeks and it is envisaged that Shop Watch will go nationwide in the near future.
• Under the Shop Watch scheme employees who volunteer for the Specials will be supported with fully paid leave to attend the Metropolitan Police’s Special Constable training course. Once fully trained, these ‘Shop Watch Specials’ will also receive additional leave for spending time on patrol with the special constabulary. While never ‘on duty’ in the workplace, the Shop Watch Specials will provide a reassuring presence to other staff members during their regular working hours.
• The STEP scheme is being piloted in Norfolk and sees employers provide one day (eight hours) additional leave per month for employees who are special constables, recognising the skills they are bringing in to the workplace and the impact they are having on the local community.

Leicestershire Constabulary is keen to recruit additional Special Constables, particularly in Leicester City. For further information, call 0116 222 2222 Extn 2657 or visit their web pages: http://www.leics.police.uk/careers_specials.asp

"Think Rural', the Rural Charter for England 's East Midlands is the first of its kind in this country. Its purpose is to engage organisations and companies to make a positive difference to the rural areas of the region. Those adopting the charter demonstrate their commitment to achieving rural prosperity and providing a fair deal for the region's rural areas for the benefit of all. The Rural Charter is sponsored, monitored and administered by the East Midlands Rural Affairs Forum (EMRAF) through the EMRAF Charter Committee.

Membership is open to all organisations and partnerships in the public, private and voluntary sectors that are based in, or involved in the region and whose policies and activities impact on the rural areas of the East Midlands.

Organisations and companies are invited to adopt the Rural Charter for the East Midlands and its objectives and become charter members. Companies can also opt to become Rural Charter Business Champions, a programme specially developed to cater for the business community. Activities and policies that are covered by the Rural Charter include:

• retail and commercial services (banks, shops, post offices)
• leisure, recreation and tourism
• development of regional, sub-regional and local strategies, policies and programmes
• transport services, including public transport and community transport
• business support services
• agriculture and food production
• tackling crime and improving community safety

These are just some of the activities covered by the charter but there are many others. The Rural Charter is relevant to all those activities and services that in some way impact on the quality of life of the region's rural areas

For more information visit: www.ruralaffairs.org.uk

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Over 3/4 of Britain's international traders believe that the recent expansion of the EU will be good for British business. And almost the same number believe the Government should be speeding up
plans to adopt the Euro to help them grasp new export opportunities. Those are the key findings of a new survey of the import/export business community by Croner, one of the UK's leading providers of business information, advice and support.

Peter Tucker, international trade expert at Croner, believes the survey respondents' first-hand knowledge of overseas trade gives them an excellent view of the likely consequences for business
of the EU expansion. He says: "Much of the debate over the forthcoming EU expansion has been
clouded by the wider issue of legal and illegal immigration, but from a business point of view, our survey respondents can clearly see some immediate advantages. After May 1st the markets in the new states immediately became more accessible to companies in other EU states and there will very many areas in which the advanced skills, knowledge and technology offered by British firms will be in demand.”

Peter believes that the Euro debate amongst the business community is becoming more and more based on real-life experience: "In terms of adopting the Euro, many export companies are
already trading in the currency and can accurately see how doing so has helped or hindered them. The response to our survey would indicate that most experiences have been positive and that moving the UK into the eurozone in the near future would be a positive step forward.”