UNIQUE COMPUTING COURSE FOR EMPLOYEES LAUNCHED
Computer experts at De Montfort University are launching a pioneering new
degree programme to help small businesses make the most of IT in partnership
with the Institute for the Management of Information Systems.
Launched to local businesses in June at an event with Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce, the new Foundation degree in Information Systems
Management will enable people to study between 4pm and 7pm two nights week
to gain a Foundation degree over three years.
From there students could choose to go on to complete an Honours degree,
studying part time for a further two years.
Entry to the degree programme may not require formal qualifications and
individuals or companies who want to find out more should contact Course
Leader and lecturer Chris Wood, on Tel: 0116 257 7456 or email:
COMBAT PHISHING
Phishing is an illegal technique used to gain personal information for the purposes of identity theft and fraud and is often used by fraudsters to get your bank account details and PIN number. Phishing involves you receiving an email claiming to be from your bank with a link to an Internet site where you will be asked to confirm your details, PIN number, password etc. Genuine banks will NEVER ask for this information in this way.
Most of the phishing emails seem to be originating from Eastern European crime syndicates and are an attempt to take money direct from your bank account.
All UK banks operating Internet banking facilities give unambiguous advice that they never send email to customers of this kind. Ifyou do use Internet banking then the banks own websites stress that it is vital to set up and update anti-virus software, a personal firewall and anti-spyware software on your computer.
More details on phishing and other scams can be found on the National Hi Tech Crime Unit’s website at:www.nhctu.org
Export Foundation Course
Date: 23rd August
Time: 9am-4.30pm
Venue: Chamber Offices, Charnwood Court, New Walk, Leicester
Cost: £160 + vat for Chamber members / £200+ vat Standard
Beginners course to give overview of export documentation procedures and practices.
Export Documentation Course
Date: 30th August
Time: 9am-4.30pm
Venue: Chamber Offices, Charnwood Court, New Walk, Leicester
Cost: £160 + vat for Chamber members / £200+ vat Standard
Course covering the preparation of export paperwork including transport documents through to methods of payment and banking.
Letters of Credit Course
Date: 6th September
Time: 9am-4.30pm
Venue: Chamber Offices, Charnwood Court, New Walk, Leicester
Cost: £160 + vat for Chamber members / £200+ vat Standard
A course intended for delegates with working knowledge of export documentation involved in processing letters of credit.
Networking Evening with auctioneer Philip Serrell
Date: 6th September
Time: 6pm-8.30pm
Venue: Devonshire Place, Leicester
Cost: £25 Chamber members / £35 Standard includes three course meal.
An auctioneer for over 30 years, Philip is well known as one of the experts on the TV programme Bargain Hunt and has recently published his book An Auctioneer’s Lot. In addition to the excellent networking opportunities this event presents, those attending will also get the chance to hear Philip recount some of his fascinating stories from the world of antiquities and auction houses. You
are encouraged to bring along a chosen antiquity for Philip to assess and possibly even value.
Import Foundation Course
Date: 13th September
Time: 9am-4.30pm
Venue: Chamber Offices, New Walk, Leicester
Cost: £160 + vat Chamber members / £200 + vat Standard
A beginners course giving a clear overview of the procedures and documentation involved in importing.
Integra Presentation with Preethi Nair
Date: 14th September
Time: 6pm-8.30pm
Venue: Quorn Country Hotel, Quorn, near Loughborough
Cost: £32.50 Chamber members/ £42.50 Standard
Preethi is an entrepreneurial author and management consultant who duped the literary world by leading a double, and sometimes triple, life as her own PR consultant and it all paid off when she signed her three book deal with publishers HarperCollins.
Employment Law Seminar in conjunction with Freeth Cartwright LLP
Date: 21st September
Time: 7.30am-9am
Venue: Leicester Tigers Ground, Leicester
Cost: £25 Chamber members / £35 Standard
This seminar will look at a number of employment law matters including compliance with the Data Protection Act and dodging disability discrimination.
REAL ACTION FOR BUSINESS
Local businesses are being encouraged to get involved in the City Growth Strategy Day and help to shape actions for growth, competitiveness and enterprise in Leicester.
The event on September 8th will provide those attending with their first chance to hear what is being proposed by companies to make Leicester a more competitive and prosperous city. The City Growth Strategy Day will present local businesses with the opportunity to get involved in strategy and action plans for Leicester and to hear keynote speaker Liz Reynolds talk about “The competitive inner city.”
The event will also include the chance to network and build relationships to win new business as well as the chance to take advantage of a limited number of free exhibition spaces.
To find out more or to book space visit www.cgsleicester.info.
EMPLOYEE VOLUNTEERING
The British Chamber of Commerce is encouraging small businesses to give more time to local communities as a way of improving staff morale and public perception.
The announcement comes ahead of the launch of new research in July from CSV Make a Difference Day into the benefits of employee volunteering. CSV’s Make a Difference Day, which is supported by Barclays, is the UK’s largest single day of hands-on volunteering and provides an opportunity for companies to test the waters and see the benefits of employee volunteering for themselves.
Research from Barclays shows that 61% of managers say that their staffs communication skills have improved and 51% feel leadership has benefited thanks to volunteering. Further research shows that 70% of staff say their perception of their company has also improved following the implementation of employee volunteering programmes.
“CSV Make a Difference Day is a great opportunity for businesses to improve public perception and develop staff skills,” said David Frost, Director-General of the British Chambers of Commerce. “If employers are able to encourage their staff to get involved and give something back to their communities, they are sure to see rewards in improved staff morale and in a range of skills from leadership to communication.”
CSV Make a Difference Day takes place on Saturday 29th October and aims to encourage 100,000 people to take part, including 150 companies.
For more information on taking part, visit www.csv.org.uk/difference or contact Sara Burdon on 020 7643 1433 or email sburdon@csv.org.uk
THE MANAGEMENT ONE ACCOUNT- DEVELOPING SKILLS IN BUSINESS
The Management One Account, operated by the Centre for Enterprise (CfE), supports managers and leaders from small to medium sized businesses and social enterprises in the East Midlands to identify their training needs.
Through the Management One Account, managers are given the opportunity to meet with a personal development coach to help them identify their training needs and source a suitable training solution. Businesses can receive 50% funding for the training, worth up to £200; Social Enterprises can claim 100% of training cost.
The account, supported by the Learning and Skills Council and the European Social Fund, is for businesses that have up to 250 employees and social enterprises. For further information please call Karen Brar on 0116 229 3300, or visit www.skillsforenterprise.co.uk.
THE BOSS SEARCH
Research, conducted by Powergen, has come up with the top five characteristics employees value in a boss:
1. Positivity - being cheerful, especially in the morning
2. Generosity - rewarding/acknowledging hard work
3. Being part of the team - mucking in to get things done
4. Understanding - being sympathetic in times of personal crisis
5. Dedication - making sure employees stay happy and motivated
The research marks the launch of Powergens search for Britains Most Energetic Boss 2005, to find the most positive and enthusiastic small or medium-sized business boss.
Running until August 12 2005 at www.energeticboss.co.uk, the winner will be the boss who shows the greatest positive energy, enthusiasm and commitment to their employees or community.
The overall winner will receive a well-earned holiday to New Zealand, with the nominating employee getting a case of champagne.
Last years winner was Poole fish & chip shop owner, Ken The Cod MacKenzie. Ken regularly surprises his employees with days off abroad, scours the world looking for new fish and opens his house to raise money for a local childrens charity.
ONE STOP SHOP FOR EBUSINESS
By logging on to the new ebusinessclub.biz website, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the East Midlands can access a raft of useful ICT information.
As a one stop shop, the site offers SMEs an alternative to shelves of business directories, card files full of phone numbers and numerous support manuals, providing all the information they need, at the click of a button.
The site is easy to navigate and aims to provide information on every aspect of ICT including:
- Details of relevant training course and events
- Online advice from a panel of ICT experts
- A library of articles, documents and training course/event presentations
- Details of projects and initiatives running in the East Midlands which provide advice and support
- News of the latest ICT developments relevant to SMEs in the East Midlands
- ICT Supplier contact information
SAFESTARTUP FOR SMES
Safestartup, is an interactive website presented by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), which aims to help new small and medium-sized enterprises reduce accidents, injury and ill-health in their business and comply with the law. The first phase website (www.safestartup.org) is currently in the public domain and provides basic health, safety and environmental information for businesses. It covers topics such as: registration, health and safety policy, insurance, risk assessment and welfare. Phase II of Safestartup expands on the current website by including information on the main hazards and controls, which are specific to at least 35 occupations / business sectors.
Safestartup version 2 will combine both phases and is due to be launched shortly, we are therefore looking for pilotees (SMEs which include self-employed businesses or participants who wish to start up a business in the near future) to go on the phase II pilot website and provide us with feedback. If you are a small or medium-sized enterprise and can spend a few moments of your time to visit the pilot website and tell us what you think about its contents, presentation and usability, please contact Mary Ogungbeje on 0116 257 3212 or email mary.ogungbeje@iosh.co.uk - but no later than Friday 29th July 2005!
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING SIGNED ON CURRENT TRADE MISSION
A new collaboration between business leaders from Leicester Shire and Gujarat has been signed as part of a Trade Mission from India.
The delegates from Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry have formally agreed to link with the Leicester Shire Economic Partnership and Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce. This work will be channelled through the new India Trade Bureau and Invest Leicester Shire.
It’s a significant milestone as the joint working was first established earlier this year and will pave the way for Leicester Shire businesses to benefit from the rapidly expanding market in India, whilst Indian companies will be encouraged to begin trading from Leicester Shire throughout Europe. The key areas of close working are in the textiles, jewellery, tourism and ICT sectors.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH: CONSULTATION ON THE SMOKE FREE ELEMENTS OF THE HEALTH IMPROVEMENT AND PROTECTION BILL
The Department of Health is consulting on the process of drawing up the detailed legislation on smokefree public places.The key areas covered in this consultation document, where comments and responses would be particularly welcomed, are:
· the definition of enclosed public place/workplace
· the definition of prepare and serve food
· exemptions in general
· placing of signage
· the offences, penalties and defences
· enforcement
· timetable.
For more details visit: http://www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoute/04/11/37/20/04113720.pdf www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/11/37/20/04113720.pdf