OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE ON ENERGY COSTS: FREE SEMINAR
As many companies already know, utility costs have risen considerably in the past twelve months and with UK gas now having the unfortunate claim to fame of being amongst the most expensive in the world, businesses need to ensure that they are doing everything they possibly can to get the best deal from their energy suppliers. To help businesses cut energy expenditure Leicestershire Chamber, in partnership with Utility Auditing, already offers its members free, impartial and professional advice on energy contracts renewal that often lead to big savings for local companies of all sizes and from all sectors. Going one step further to help companies in the battle to reduce costs, the Chamber has also organised a seminar to ensure that local businesses can really make the most of all opportunities to cut those energy bills.
This seminar, organised by Leicestershire Chamber in conjunction with Chamber Services, is free of charge to attend and will take place on Thursday 29th July at the Belmont House Hotel, De Montfort Street in Leicester between 7.30am and 10am and includes a full English breakfast.
To register to attend please contact Marjorie Cropley at Leicestershire Chamber on Tel: 0116 204 6602 or email: cropley.m@chamberofcommerce.co.uk
LAUNCH OF THE BCC LANGUAGE SURVEY PART 2
The second part of the British Chambers of Commerce study into the impact of foreign languages on British business has been launched. The survey was a quantitative study questioning 1,000 exporters and produced many interesting results that reveal the value of language skills to exporters. The full report can be found at www.chamberonline.co.uk/pdf/Language_Survey2.pdf
NEW LEGISLATION EXPLAINED
A free seminar, funded by the DTI, will be held on 22nd July to help local businesses get to grips with important new legislation being introduced later this year. The legislation regarding Dispute Resolution will be introduced on October 1st and will cover statutory minimum disciplinary and grievance procedures to resolve workplace disputes. The seminar will take place between 9.30am and 12.30pm in the Underwood Suite at the Leicester Tigers Ground. For more information, or to reserve a place to attend, contact Bob Blyth, Advice Services Development Officer at Leicester City Council on Tel: 0116 252 8650
UPDATED EMPLOYMENT HANDBOOK FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
ACAS has published an updated publication entitled 'Employing People: A Handbook for Small Firms' which is aimed primarily for organisations without specialist personnel expertise, although employment specialists may also find it helpful.
The handbook includes:
• • Planning Employment Needs
• • Recruiting People
• • The Employment Contract
• • Pay
• • Training
• • Rules & Procedures
• • Unfair Dismissal
• • Controlling Labour Costs
• • Workplace Communications
• • Employee Representation
For further information and to view the handbook please visit: www.acas.co.uk/publications/h01.html
YOUR PEOPLE MANAGER
Investors in People have launched a new website aimed at helping the managers of small businesses deal with the everyday issues and problems of managing staff. Your People Manager is a new web service that provides free, plain English advice guides, the latest people-management news and provides answers to questions from a panel of advisers and experts at Ask Us.
To view the new service log onto: http://www.yourpeoplemanager.com
GOVERNMENT CONSULTATION ON END OF UPWARD-ONLY RENT REVIEWS
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has launched a consultation into the future of upward-only rent-review clauses in leases.
The options for consideration are to:
• ban upward-only rent reviews
• ban upward-only rent reviews subject to a floor of the initial rent
• give tenants a right to break if the upward-only rent reviews produced a rent above open market levels; limit lease length
• require landlords to give prospective tenants priced options
The Government is said to be unhappy with the current voluntary arrangements, but has stressed that regulation may be not be necessary. The consultation closes on 30 September 2004.
Link: http://www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm_urbanpolicy/documents/page/odpm_urbpol_029081.hcsp
INTEGRA PRESENTATION WITH LYNDA PAGE
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.
SUMMER NETWORKING BBQ-SPONSORED BY WILSON BROWNE SOLICITORS
Date: 6th July
Time: 6pm-8pm
Venue: Ramada Jarvis Loughborough Hotel, High Street, Loughborough
Cost: £25.00 Members/£35.00 Standard
A wonderful opportunity to enjoy an informal summer barbeque in the pretty courtyard setting of the Ramada Jarvis Hotel in Loughborough. Attendees will be able to place their business cards in a hat and several cards will then be chosen allowing people to make a short presentation on their company if their card is one of those selected.
SEMINAR: CUT THOSE ENERGY BILLS
Date: 29th July
Time: 7.30am-10am and includes a full English breakfast
Venue: Belmont House Hotel, De Montfort Street, Leicester
Cost: free to attend
Utility costs have risen considerably in the past year and with UK gas now amongst the most
expensive in the world, businesses need to ensure that they are doing everything they possibly can to get the best deal from their energy suppliers. To help business cut energy expenditure Leicestershire Chamber, in partnership with Utility Auditing, offers its members free, impartial and professional advice on energy contracts renewal which can lead to big savings in itself but, going one step further, this seminar has been organised to help local businesses to really make the most of all opportunities to cut those energy bills.
HOWZAT! A DAY AT THE CRICKET SPONSORED BY NTL
Date: 19th August
Time: 10.30am-6.30pm
Venue: Leicestershire County Cricket Club Ground, Leicester
Cost: £32.00 Members/£40.00 Standard
The annual Chamber cricket day provides guests with the chance to enjoy the Leicestershire V Yorkshire match from a private viewing balcony with personalised match tickets, executive parking and buffet lunch. An excellent corporate hospitality day with great networking opportunities.
For more details or to book onto Chamber Events please contact the Events Team on Tel: 0116 247 1800. 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
NOTICE FOR NETWORK GOLD MEMBERS!
A presentation outlining the future of Network Gold will be held at Snibston Discovery Park, Ashby Road, Coalville at 3pm on Wednesday July 7th and your comments & thoughts will be welcomed. There will be an opportunity for you to speak to members of the Steering Group as well as to discuss your opinions with other Network Gold Members. For further details of this event or if any companies wish to receive information on joining Network Gold, a business forum for North West Leics sponsored by North West Leics District Council, the Chamber, Business Link and Stephenson College, please contact Carrie Thompson on 01530 454771.
SUMMER SCAMS COST BUSINESS DEAR
Small and medium sized businesses should beware of 'fake' invoices landing on their desks over the summer months, warns the Advertising Standards Authority. Rogue traders, particularly those based in Switzerland, Austria and the Czech Republic, take advantage of senior management being on holiday to trick more junior employees into paying what looks like an urgent invoice. By paying this, the company actually signs up to a contract which forces it to then continue paying for years. Most of these so-called invoices concern subscriptions to print or Internet business directories.
The European Advertising Standards Alliance (EASA) has produced a five-point plan for dealing with fake invoices:
1. Check all invoices carefully - especially those coming from abroad or from unknown suppliers.
2. If you are in doubt about the validity of the invoice, call the company for further details. All reputable firms will be happy to share information.
3. Check the invoice for small print and read it.
4. If you realise that you've mistakenly paid a fake invoice, contact the company and request an immediate refund. Report the mailing to the Advertising Standards Authority, as it may breach section 7.1 of the CAP Code which states that "No marketing communication should mislead, or be likely to mislead, by inaccuracy, ambiguity, exaggeration, omission or otherwise". The case may also be referred to the Office of Fair Trading.
5. Check the European Advertising Standards Alliance's web site (www.easa-alliance.org) and www.asa.org.uk for regular updates on such mailings.
Tenon is organising a one-day conference on June 30th to explore the issues behind businesses outsourcing functions such as:
o Financial administration
o Payroll
o Employment benefits
o Customer services
o Software development
The event, supported by East Midlands Development Agency, Leicester Mercury and Business & Finance East Midlands magazine, will take place from 9.30am-4pm at the Walkers Stadium, Leicester City Football Club. Tenon is waiving the usual £99 delegate fee so that Chamber members can attend free of charge.
For more information or to make a booking please contact Out There Events on Tel: 0161 244 5825 or email: info@outthereevents.com
ARE YOU A GOOD EMPLOYER?
The Guardian newspaper is looking to encourage businesses across the UK to enter the "Good Employers" category of the new Guardian Public Services Awards. This category is aimed at recognising businesses that have developed progressive employment policies that allow their staff time to contribute to the delivery of public services - either as councillors in local
government or reservists in the military or emergency services. The closing date for the awards is the 30th July so there is plenty of time to get involved. All entries can be made through the award's website: http://society.guardian.co.uk/publicservicesawardsEntry page at:
http://society.guardian.co.uk/publicservicesawards/page/0,14476,1192554,00.html
http://society.guardian.co.uk/publicservicesawards/page/0,14476,1192544,00.html
TWENTY20's BACK
The Twenty20 Cup is back for another popular season at Leicestershire County Cricket Club’s Grace Road Ground. This fast, entertaining form of cricket provides a great evening out for everyone from family and friends through to a staff outing. Games start at 5.30pm and there will be a BBQ, beer garden, music, competitions, kids activities and much more.
Leicestershire Foxes vs. Durham Dynamos
Wednesday 7th July
Leicestershire Foxes vs Nottinghamshire Outlaws
Tuesday 13th July
Advance tickets: Adults £6, Juniors £3 and Family £15
To book tickets call 0871 282 1879 or buy online at: www.leicestershireccc.co.uk
back to top of page