Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce

Issue: May 2006

CHAMBER NEWS

A new ‘waste-watching’ service has been launched by Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce to help larger companies profit both the environment and their bottom line through making more efficient use of utilities.

Total energy management is at the core of the service, which begins with an on-site survey to assess areas of waste and make recommendations for improved efficiency, and includes professional follow-up support to implement key proposals.

“The average business is wasting up to 20 per cent of its energy,” says Chamber President Stephen Woolfe. “Considering that gas and electricity prices have risen by as much as 60% over the last year, and water is also set to spiral over the coming years, companies are frittering away more profit than ever before – as well as causing unnecessary damage to the environment from needless CO2 emissions.”

The new Chamber Utilities™ service, delivered in partnership with Utility Auditing Ltd, offers qualifying companies access to a broad range of energy efficiency funding via the Carbon Trust. This can cover the cost of surveys, preparation of energy policies and staff awareness training, and includes interest free loans to help implement a range of energy efficiency measures.

Chamber Utilities™ is able to arrange Carbon Trust funding applications and provide advice on making use of Enhanced Capital Allowances to offset costs.

Businesses may seek help with monitoring and targeting to promote better cost control,along with a full range of procurement and supplier management support to make sure they buy their energy at the most advantageous price and validate bills on an ongoing basis. A Climate Change Levy management service is also available.

A dedicated business manager provides the company with a complete project management service and an expert helpline service is also available.

Companies can also gain control over their water supply through Chamber Utilities™ which makes a detailed examination of patterns of water usage and cost profile to identify any waste or anomalies in billing. Such work may pay off in the recovery of overcharges dating back six years and could amount to thousands of pounds. Advice on total water management and leak detection is available to ensure users optimise efficiency.

Major savings are also possible through increasing the efficiency of wastewater processes, reducing pollution, and identifying recovery value for recycled waste product.

Mr Woolfe added: “With climate change and spiralling utilities costs, energy management is now a boardroom issue. We can help organisations to develop and implement coherent and practical strategies for dealing with these issues. Many efficiency measures can be implemented at low and zero cost, and where investment is necessary the payback is often within one to twoyears - or even quicker if the investment qualifies for an interest free loan and Enhanced Capital Allowance. After that, the ongoing savings add up to some serious money.”

For information contact Chamber Utilities™ on 0845 120 2423, or email: info@chamberutilities.co.uk

LeicestershireChamber is planning a seminar to help local businesses and their employees understand more about pension saving and planning for retirement. The free seminar, to be held on 14thJune at the National Space Centre inLeicester, will focus on the importance of pension saving, along with a look at current issues there to assist people in making confident choices about their financial future.

The Leicestershire Chamber seminar, delivered in conjunction with TF Bell and Company, comes at a time when pension saving is high on the agenda in the UK and with findings from the Pensions Commission indicating that as many as 9 million individuals have inadequate provision for their retirement.

This event is one of 35 seminars held in different locations around the country and will be open to both members and non-members of Chambers of Commerce. The session will provide:

Information from a respected expert about the benefits of pension savings
Practical and useful information for future pension investments
Information on how changes in legislation may affect businesses and /or employees. In particular, the impact of the pensions A- Day (April 6th2006) and how this will affect business and employees – including details on the amounts that can be saved each year, changes to retirement ages, as well as when and how people can draw on pension funds
Details of where to go for ongoing support and information

Sharon Jeffrey, Commercial Manager at Leicestershire Chamber and organiser of the local event, said: “We are pleased, through delivery of this seminar, to be promoting the importance of financial planning for retirement. Getting the right information on pensions across to employers and their employees is crucial. Individuals need to be switched on to the importance of saving for their retirement and it is clear that employers can play a significant role in helping raise awareness.”

To find out more about the seminar please contact Kam Atker on 0116 204 6614. Advance booking essential.

If you haven’t entered the Chamber Awards before, or you have entered previously and not won, you may be asking the question, ‘Why should I enter the Chamber Awards this year?’

Anthony Alan Foods won the Business of the Year award and the £25,000 Award for Outstanding Business Achievement at the Chamber Awards 2005. The company was also a winner the previous year when Managing Director Tony Moloney won the Entrepreneur of the Year award.

When asked why businesses should enter the Chamber Awards, Tony said: “The recognition that comes from winning a Chamber Award creates a buzz within the company and it is also highly regarded by customers and suppliers alike. It gives the winning company a 'stamp' of credibility and can be used in discussions with business partners and potential partners at all levels. Because Chambers of Commerce are at the heart ofUK business, there is no better way to assess the achievements of a company than by judging them against their peers across the country.”

His top tips for completing your entry forms are:

· Keep your responses brief and within the word count

· Make your points clear and unambiguous

· Assume the judges know nothing about your industry

· If you’ve done something that is good, you need to say why it’s good

· Don’t be modest - If you’ve got something to shout about then shout it!

The closing date of the awards is June 26thbut if you submit your completed entries by May 31syou will be entered into an Early Bird Draw to win a car navigation system worth over £300! Go towww.chamberawards.co.ukfor more information and to download your entry forms.

CHAMBER EVENTS

Date: 23rd May
Time: 7pm-11pm
Venue: Ramada Leicester Hotel,Leicester

Cost: £49.50 Chamber Members / £59.50 Standard

Table of ten: £470 Chamber Members / £570 Standard

For the 2006 President’s Gala Dinner the Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce is delighted to welcome Bryan Jackson, Chairman of East Midlands Development Agency (emda), as a guest speaker.

Date: 24th May
Time: 9am - 4pm
Venue:Charnwood Court, 5b New Walk,Leicester
Cost: £160.00 + vat Chamber members / £200.00 + vat Standard

Designed to give a clear insight into the export process through an overview of export documentation, practices and procedures. This course is aimed at all staff levels in shipping, sales and accounts ensuring that all those involved in the export process are familiar with the procedures, terminology and documentation involved in exporting.

Date: 26thMay
Time: 12 noon-2pm
Venue: Quorn Country Hotel, near Loughborough

Cost: £22.00 (one price only) includes buffet

As part of the Chamber’s ongoing series of luncheons around the country we are delighted to announce that local MP Andy Reed will be our guest speaker at the Loughborough area luncheon event.

Date: 6th June
Time: 9am – 5pm
Venue:Charnwood Court, 5b New Walk,Leicester
Cost: £125 + vat Chamber Members / £165 + vat for non-members.

All too often time and effort is wasted by calling and attending meetings which are not well prepared, have no clear purpose and where attendees fail to participate in making decisions. This course aims to assist in dealing with those aspects that inhibit the effectiveness of meetings and emphasise the best practices that make meetings successful.

Date: 7thJune
Time: 6pm-8.30pm
Venue: Campus Centre, DeMontfortUniversity,Leicester

Cost: Place only, no display stand: £25 Chamber Members / £35 Standard

Place and space for display stand: £55 Chamber Members / £65 Standard

Hosted by De Montfort University this event gives members an opportunity to reserve space for an exhibition stand, network and exchange company literature with fellow attendees over a glass of wine.

Date: 8thJune
Time: 6pm-8pm
Venue: Premier Travel Inn,Braunstone Lane East,Leicester

Cost: £17.63

Maggie Robinson of M Powered Coaching will be the guest speaker at this BWL event at which she will help attendees discover the secrets of motivating staff, managing difficult people and handling conflict.

Date: 14th June
Time: 8am - 10:30am
Venue: National Space Centre,Exploration Drive,Leicester
Cost: Free of charge

Can you afford not to invest in your future? The Department for Works and Pensions in association with the British Chambers of Commerce are keen to raise awareness of the issues surrounding pensions. Regardless of your age, gender or investment history it is important that you are aware of the issues that will affect you financially in the future.
The Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce is workingin partnership withT F Bell & Companyto raise local awareness of the issues associated with the lack of pension saving in theUKmarket and the impact it will have in the future.

Date: 15th June
Time: 7.30am – 9.30am
Venue: Leicester Tigers Ground,Aylestone Road,Leicester
Cost: £25.00 Chamber Members/ £35.00 Standard, includes full English breakfast

The Leicester Regeneration Company (LRC), a public and private sector partnership currently tackling the physical regeneration of around 1000 acres of centralLeicester, launched its Regeneration Masterplan back in November 2002. Work has now started on site in four of the five major projects in the LRC masterplan, with work happening on ten schemes. John Nicholls Chief Executive of the LRC will bring us up to date on these projects and will also look ahead to the next steps.

Date: 21st June
Time: 6pm- 8.30pm
Venue: Hilton Hotel, Junction 21 Approach,Leicester
Cost: £32.50 Chamber Members / £42.50 Standard, includes 2 course meal

Janet started her career as a solicitor in 1971 and became a partner with C Norman Astill & Sons inLeicesterup to 1975. A member of the Local Criminal Justice Board Public Confidence Group she has taken responsibility for the implementation of Speaking Up For Justice (the legislation for vulnerable and intimidated witnesses). As Chair of the group responsible for establishing the remote site for Victim Support, the first one to enable witnesses to give evidence without having to attend court, she has also taken the responsibility for raising the profile of Victim Support and other voluntary agencies, highlighting their need for extra funding.

Date: 27th June
Time: 9am- 5pm
Venue:Charnwood Court, 5b New Walk,Leicester
Cost: £125 + vat for Chamber members and £165 + vat for non members.

Delegates attending this course will be able to ensure that their customers receive the best customer service at all times.

Date: 28th June Time: 9am- 5pm Venue:Charnwood Court, 5b New Walk,Leicester
Cost: £125 + vat for Chamber members and £165 + vat for non members.

Delegates attending this course will be able to ensure they are equipped to handle difficult situations and contribute to their organisation’s success with exceptional customer service.

Delegates will understand and be able to:
Create a Professional Impression
Controlling a Telephone Call
Use the Telephone as a Rapport Builder
Become a Telephone Super User

For more information on any of these events or to make a booking call Kam Atker on Tel: 0116 204 6614 or visitwww.chamberofcommerce.co.ukand click on what’s on/events.

LEGISLATIVE NEWS

A new website providing straightforward, factual and accessible information on the European Union has been launched by the Foreign Office.The site is launched as initial findings from a Eurobarometer poll reveal as many as 60% of the public would like to have more information about the EU.

The new website can be found athttp://www.europe.gov.ukand the Foreigh Office states that it will be both a valuable resource on UK EU policy and the debate on the future direction of the EU. A future of Europe section will set out a range of opinions on the EU and invite people to contribute to the debate.

The Foreign Office is also launching a new EU Guide. This is being sent to public libraries and other information points around the UK and will be available online at http://www.europe.gov.uk.

One year on from the launch of Securing the Future - the UK Sustainable Development Strategy - DEFRA, ODPM and DTI have jointly published "Securing the Regions' Futures". This report sets out the ways in which the Government will strengthen the delivery of sustainable development in the English regions.

'Securing the Regions' Futures' responds to the Sustainable Development Commission's review of sustainable development in the English regions and its sixteen recommendations. This sets out the analysis put forward by the Sustainable Development Commission with 20 recommendations to increase the regions' contribution to delivering sustainable development. The key elements of this approach are:

· Using the sustainable development principles and priorities to underpin the refreshed or updated high-level regional strategies.

· Creating a strengthened role for regional sustainable development roundtables as 'champion bodies'.

· Embedding sustainable development within the work of Government Offices and across their organisations so as to become exemplars in the regions.

· Supporting the role of Regional Assemblies in delivering sustainable development through all their functions.

· Working with Regional Development Agencies to help them deliver economic productivity, which delivers sustainable development at the same time - and to ensure that this contribution is fully reflected in Regional Development Agency assessments.

· Maximising the contribution which city-regions, sub-regions and inter-regional strategies can make to delivering sustainable development through innovative ways of working at these levels.

The full report is available to download at: www.sustainable-development.gov.uk/index.asp

OTHER NEWS

Companies are invited to a free seminar at The New Marriot Hotel off the M1, Junction 21 inLeicesteron Wednesday 7thJune 2006. Two sessions are running – 9.30am to 12.00pm and 1.30pm to 4.00pm.

This is a great opportunity to learn how businesses can benefit from technology. Subjects are varied and will include Virtual Offices, Hotdesking, Voice Over IP, CCTV Security over IP, Internet Security, Web Design, how to choose the right web designer and how do you know you’re getting the best results from your website.

On site and demonstrating on the day will be experts on Data, Voice and Web Design. If a subject is not listed above that you need more information on, our experts will be able to provide advice on the day.

To register your interest for this limited seminar please contact HeadStorm Marketing on 0870 170 9697 or emailallyson@headstorm.co.uk.

Business groups, local authorities, partner and community organisations, as well as interested individuals, are being encouraged to have a say in shaping the strategy to increase the numbers and quality of businesses setting up in the region.

An online questionnaire, along with the draft ‘Business Birth-rate Strategy’ consultation document, outlines how East Midlands Development Agency (emda) and its funding and delivery partners are working to create a strong economy by building an enterprise culture, increasing the number of people considering starting a business, and increasing start-up and survival rates.

The document makes a number of draft recommendations to deliver this goal. These build on existingemdainitiatives, like the Universal Start-Up Offer (which provides a minimum level of high-quality support for those in theEast Midlandswishing to start a business) or the Small Business Service (where simplified business support can be accessed across the region).

John O’Reilly,emda’sBusiness Support Director, says: “It’s really important that we hear from people who have genuine opinions about our region and how we can improve the levels of support for those looking to turn a good business idea into a reality. The consultation runs until 26 May, and we look forward to receiving feedback overthe coming month to further enhance our vision in making the East Midlands a top 20 European Region by 2010.”

To find out more about the Business Birth-rate Strategy, and to complete the online questionnaire, go tohttp://www.emda.org.uk/bbrs

It is on average 6-7 times more expensive to gain a new customer than it is to retain an existing one, and - according to a recent Bain & Company study published in the Harvard Review - a 5% increase in customer retention can increase profits anywhere from 25%-95%.In the hunt to win and retain customers, in a marketplace where competition is fierce and customers have become increasing demanding, it is essential for competitiveorganisationsto develop a strategy thatmaximisesthe relationship with their customers.

Customer: Strategy & Management 2006is dedicated to doing just that, as theUK's only eventfocussedon helpingorganisationsto acquire, retain and grow more profitable customers, it is a hot-bed of ideas and innovation.Covering products and services tomaximiserelationships with customers throughout their entire customer lifecycle, the exhibition takes place at the NEC,Birminghamon 21-22 June 2006.

For more information or to register your free attendance visit the Customer: Strategy & Management website:www.customer-event.co.uk.

Tuesday June 20th2006 at East Midlands Conference Centre,LeicesterCityFootball Club from 9.30am-12.30pm.

Apex Leicester, led by Ann Height OBE, has launched a first for theEast Midlands, agroundbreakingconference focusing on the issues surrounding employershiringoffenders. Free to all delegates, this conference will bring together some of the biggest companies in theEast Midlandsto discuss their views, concerns and success stories on employing offenders.

The Employing Offenders Conference has many major partners including APEX, EMDA, GOEM, ROMS, Job Centre Plus, the Learning & Skills Council and Leicestershire Cares.

Delegates need to confirm their free place in advance by contacting Louise on Tel: 0116 294 2048 or visiting www.hollandalexander.com

British companies are throwing away business and loosing money by systematically annoying and alienating their customers. A backlash at shoddy customer service and unrelenting sales pitches is hitting business where it hurts the most – on the bottom line, according to the latest consumer research for the National Consumer Council (NCC).

The report reveals a sorry picture of businesses over-promising and under-delivering, treating customers in a clinical and patronising way and being incapable of getting the most basic things right. The NCC terms this remarkable phenomenon ‘the stupid company’.

Philip Cullum is the Deputy Chief Executive of the NCC and is a frequent commentator on consumer issues on TV and radio. His recently published report: The Stupid Company-how British businesses throw away money by alienating consumers, is the product of over ayear and a half’s research. The NCC asked British consumers what it is that companies do that either pleases them or drives them to despair.Cullum found that, although big business is most guilty of poor customer service, small and medium organisations are not immune from the stupid company syndrome.

The five key ways that customers say companies get it wrong are:

· Inflated expectations and broken promises:the stupid company over-promises and under-delivers.

· Sell, sell, sell:they are obsessed with making a sale- ignoring existing customers while offering great deals to new prospects.

· Sneaky and dishonest:the stupid company believe they can succeed by misleading consumers through underhanded or evasive tactics.

· Impersonal and robotic:they do not take ownership of a problem; rather they appear distant, clinical and uncaring.

· Incompetent and ineffectual:finally, the stupid company lacks empathy with their customers: they are slow moving, patronising and apparently incapable of getting the basics right.

“When companies neglect customers they are acting against their own self interest - because consumers are fighting back by not buying their products. The NCC’s work shows how businesses can profit if they are willing to think differently, take the risk of standing out from the crowd, and put customers at the heart of their business,” says Cullum.

Endorsed by the Department of Trade and Industry, the third annual Startups Awards has been launched by Startups.co.uk, in conjunction with NatWest.

For further information visitwww.startupsawards.co.ukor Tel: 020 8334 1648

A campaign has been launched to encourage local businesses to make their businesses more accessible to disabled customers and staff.

The campaign, Adjusting for Better Business, will inform small businesses about their obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act and show them how they may only need to make reasonable adjustments to meet the needs of disabled people.

A jargon-free information pack aimed exclusively at small businesses is available to illustrate some of the adjustments that can be made.

Launching the campaign, Minister for Disabled People Anne McGuire, said:

“The Adjusting for Better Business campaign is about encouraging small business entrepreneurs to look at what reasonable adjustments they can make to benefit both their business and disabled people. Making these adjustments is good for disabled people and good for business because it encourages more customers through your doors.”

Personal customer service is one of the main ways that a small business can really make itself attractive to customers. And some of the common sense adjustments being suggested are ideal for the smaller business, such as talking more slowly and clearly to a customer with learning difficulties to find out what he or she wants or providing a seat for those with mobility impairments who need to sit down.

Other low-cost adjustments could include providing information or documents in different formats, such as larger print or braille, and making entrances and internal layouts more accessible. Some of those changes also make sense for mothers with pushchairs.

The campaign recognises that disabled people include those with less obvious conditions such as diabetes or a mental health condition, as well as people with the more traditionally recognisable impairments such as those who use wheelchairs and blind or partially sighted people. As the information pack makes clear, it is important to consider the needs of all disabled customers.

The campaign is not focusing on expensive changes such as lift access to upper floors as, in many cases, these will not be considered “reasonable” for many small businesses under the Disability Discrimination Act.

As part of the campaign, small employers are also being given advice on the steps they can take to enable existing staff, who may become disabled, to remain in work and how they can help disabled job applicants to fill vital roles in their business.

For more information visitwww.dwp.gov.uk/dda.

For copies of the booklet, or copies in accessible formats:

Tel: 0845 1249 841

Textphone: 18001 0845 1249 841

Email: ddainfopack2@meads-ltd.co.ukhttp://www.dwp.gov.uk/employers/dda/booklet.asp

Shell Step has begun its search for forward thinking SMEs to join its 20thannual programme and get a key business project completed by a talented undergraduate this summer.

In 2005 DBRL in Enderby, Leicestershire, participated in Shell Step and Computer Science student, Daniel Hughes, configured and implemented a solution that gave its clients remote access to their IT systems.

DBRL has undergone a number of changes over the last 12 months including the development of a complete Internet based backup solution and a switch from providing general IT support services to being focused purely on backing up customer data. Daniel has played a large role in these developments as he has been working full time with the company for his industry placement year.

Technical Director, Nigel Taylor, said: “Daniel’s project was such a great success that we decided we should keep him on during his placement year. He has been an important part of our team for the last 10 months and we will be sorry to see him go back to University for his final year.

“Our experience of the Shell Step programme has been so positive that we will definitely be considering signing up to get another project completed this summer.”

Last year 1,112 companies, from across theUK, benefited and projects ranged from product development and marketing, to ICT and administration process improvement. Shell Step students provided solutions that saved time and money, developed new capabilities and outlined potential new markets.

Ambitious SMEs, interested in getting a new initiative off the ground, or completing a project that keeps getting overlooked, can find out more atwww.shellstep.org.uk. Shell Step is delivered throughout Leicestershire byDeMontfortUniversityand

Success Matrix.

Many smaller businesses find that they either do spend a lot on training and see very little benefit or would like to spend more but fear that it won't be worthwhile. This problem has been recognised by Leicestershire Learning and Skills Council and the European Union and they have provided funding to help businesses choose the training that will make a difference to the bottom line.

The project offerscompanies a range of supportfree of charge. The Training for the Futureproject provides:

• Training for a key member of staff to be able to continue identifying your skill needs so you keep ahead of the competition. This training will result in anInstituteofLeadershipand Management (ILM) qualification

• Consultancy support to help you identify existing and future skills needs of your workforce and develop a training plan to address them

• Signposting to free and subsidised training and other grants

• Grant aid paid to you to meet training needs identified through the training plan not funded through other means

• An opportunity to improve internal training by providing training for a Workplace Trainer that also results in an ILM qualification.

The whole package means that you will receive about £2,000 worth of help for free. Afterwards you will identify what training your staff need to have the greatest impact on your business and that will more than pay for itself through improvements that result.

This programme is available from January 2006 for 18 months. To be eligible, your company must:

– Employ fewer than 250 staff

– Have a turnover of less than £24.8m

– Have a balance sheet value of less than £16.7m

– Not be more than one quarter owned by firms that do not qualify under the above requirements

– Be located in Leicestershire.

Local dates are as follows:

Thursday 18th May + Thursday 29th June; Melton Mowbray

Thursday 25th May + Thursday 6th July; Birstall

Tuesday 19th September + Tuesday 17th October; Stoneygate, Leicester

Tuesday 3rd October + Thursday 2nd November; Loughborough

Tuesday 7th November + Tuesday 5th December; Ashby

Thursday 7th December + Thursday 25th January 2007; Stoneygate, Leicester

For more information call 01246 267724, email:future@learningforbusiness.co.ukor visitwww.learningforbusiness.co.uk

Procon Leicestershire Steering Committee is pleased to invite you to the second ProCon Leicestershire Event of 2006, which focuses on the Olympics 2012.

This event will set out the scale and variety of the construction projects associated with delivery of the Olympics, what opportunities there may be for companies to get involved, and how to do so. It will also highlight any locally based opportunities and consider the impact of the "Olympic factor" on local developments, resources and skills.

ProCon Leicestershire Event on Tuesday 6 June 2006

Venue – The Club Lounge, Walkers Stadium,Leicester

Main Sponsor: HBJ Gateley Wareing

Registration: from 4pm (The Club Lounge, Walkers Stadium)

Formal proceedings: from 5pm to 7pm

Please reserve your place at this event by contacting Pam Allardice on Tel:0116 285 9050

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

At the end of June, John Townsend, Deputy President of Leicestershire Chamber of commerce, will be joining a UKTI Market Visit toBulgaria.

John will be looking at the property market and checking out the investment opportunities offered by this fast developing market, boosted by the prospect of joining the EU in 2007 or 2008.

Business opportunities exist in the commercial centre ofSofiaand also in the mountain resorts (summer and winter sports) and theBlack Seacoast - the summer playground of eastern European states.

As on his previous visit to Bulgaria last September, John is happy to make enquiries on behalf of other companies whilst out there, using the facilities of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce, to which the Haskovo Chamber is linked and with which we have a co-operation agreement.

Contact John direct on Tel: 0116 279 2586 or through the Chamber on Tel: 0116 247 1800.

May 23rd -24th2006

On Tuesday 23rd May Bob Cobley, Commercial Officer from the British Embassy inDenmark, is due to visitLeicesterto discuss opportunities for companies in the creative industries sector from across the region. There will be two meeting sessions of small groups of companies designing and manufacturing high-value consumer goods which includes lighting, textiles, designer giftware and table-top items (ceramics, glassware etc).

On Tuesday 24thMay, the focus will be aid-funded business and Bob will be joining up with Tim Jelley, Senior International Trade Adviser in Leicestershire, to help companies interested in these areas.

June 12th-16th2006

UK Trade and Investment are organising a market visit toMoscowwith the option forSt. Petersburgfrom 12th-16thJune 2006. Whilst the Russian market still requires a careful approach and long term commitment, the opportunities are incredibly vast in such a wide range of sectors: clothing and textiles, DIY and construction materials, media, hi-tech production and engineering, communications, food and drink processing, household goods, furniture upholstery, services, cosmetics, healthcare and pharmaceutical and oil and gas.

UK Trade & Investment are holding a series of free and informal meet and greet events introducing UKTI and explaining how they can guide you through the exporting process successfully. On September 21stthey will be holding a workshop in Market Harborough and look forward to seeing you there to discuss how they can give you all the help and support you need to start or continue exporting.

For further information on any of the above please contact your local UKTI team on 0116 258 7329 or email: export.ukti@blleics.co.uk

Following on from the successful March 15th event inLeicesteron Agents and Distributors, EMITA have published details of their forthcoming programme for 2006-07 :

May 31st Bulgaria&Romania

June 21st Turkey

July12th Protecting Your Intellectual Property in the International Market

Please refer to the EMITA website (www.emita.org.uk) for more information on planned events.