CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MEMBER TO MEMBER DISCOUNT SCHEME
The Chamber of Commerce is pleased to report more and more of its members announcing offers which are available either exclusively or heavily discounted to other Leicestershire Chamber members. The full list of companies and their offers is available on the Chamber of Commerce website www.chamberofcommerce.co.uk under the Membership section and members are encouraged to see which of these they can take advantage of.
Two of the latest companies to join this scheme are the recently renamed Westfield House Hotel, formerly The Corus Hotel, in Blaby who will allow Chamber members to join their Lifestyles Health Club with swimming pool and health facilities for £25 a month compared to the normal peak-rate membership of £45 a month as well as giving discounts on their food and drink and B & B rates; and Wile Limited who offer a 25% discount for members who want to turn business documents into mobile audio and images.
If you haven't got an offer there yet, why not get in touch to see if there is anything which you can add for yourselves. As well as increasing the sense of community within the Chamber membership this opportunity also gives those participating members another marketing opportunity for their company's products or services. If you wish to have more information on this service or let us know of an offer you are thinking of promoting then you can contact our Commercial Manager, Sharon Jeffrey onJeffrey.s@chamberofcommerce.co.uk.
CHAMBER EVENTS TO HELP BUSINESSES
In the coming months the Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce will be running a series of workshops and events that are all designed to help local businesses.
The one-day workshops, all practical and informative in nature, are open to all Leicestershire businesses and you don't need to be a member of the Chamber to attend a course - though discounts are available to those in membership.
To help companies get to grips with importing and exporting goods the Chamber runs four courses from the beginners Export and Import Foundation courses through to the more advanced Export Letter of Credit workshop.
For more details on forthcoming workshops please call Kam Atker at Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce on Tel: 0116 204 6614, email:atker.K@chamberofcommerce.co.ukor visitwww.chamberofcommerce.co.ukand click on What’s On/Events
ONE IN FOUR EMPLOYERS UNCLEAR OVER 2007 SMOKING BAN RULES
New research reveals widespread confusion among employers over next summer's smoking ban inEnglandaccording to UK health & safety experts, Croner.
The 2007 Health Bill will completely ban smoking in the vast majority of public spaces and workplaces, including outlawing the provision of smoking areas at work.
Trevor Davies, health & safety expert at Croner, says: “The findings point to a clear misunderstanding among a worrying number of employers over what a complete ban actually means. With just under half saying they enforce a complete ban yet still provide smoking areas.
“It's encouraging that the vast majority have some sort of smoking policy in place, but having a policy doesn't mean organisations are ready for a total ban. We want to alert businesses that, even though there's just over a year until the legislation comes in to force, those who think they are already compliant should check that they are in reality enforcing a complete ban – which means the removal of smoking areas for employees.”
Currently there is no specific legal requirement to ban or restrict smoking in the workplace. However, smoking is prohibited under some industry-specific legislation for safety reasons. There is also an implied duty to control passive smoking at work under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
Croner’s Top Tips for Creating a Smoke-Free Workplace:
- When devising a policy on smoking at work give priority to the needs of non-smokers who do not wish to breathe tobacco smoke, if the ban is not justifiable on safety grounds.
- Changes to the smoking policy must be implemented in consultation with employees.
- Make sure the transition period is adequate. The transition period between the policy being advertised and the date of its actual implementation is commonly about three months but this can vary depending on the organisation and employees.
- Offer support to those employees who wish to give up smoking.
INSURANCE COSTS CONTINUE TO SPIRAL FOR EAST MIDLANDS SMES
With employer liability insurance costs set to rise again when the delayed Injury Cost Recovery (ICR) legislation comes into force on 1st October 2006, Bibby Financial Services is urging the business community to review health and safety policies as a matter of urgency.
Under the new legislation, the NHS will have the right to claim back from employers the cost of treating staff injured on their premises through their employer liability insurance. This change in the law is expected to increase the cost of employer liability insurance by up to 8 per cent for small to medium-sized businesses.
With many struggling to stay in business and remain profitable through the early years, the burden this imposes on owners and managers is viewed by many as another kick in the shins from the Government when it comes to supporting the prosperity of the small business community.
Kevin Rose, Bibby Financial Services spokesperson for the East Midlands, said: “Despite the seemingly bleak outlook, there are positive stepsUKowners and managers can take to minimise the rise in their employer liability insurance when the new regulations come in to affect.
“Insurers have made it clear that they are willing to work with the business community to keep costs as low as possible, by reflecting responsible health and safety practices in their rates. Owners and managers who wish to minimise the impact of the regulations on their business should review their health and safety procedures as a matter of priority and work with their insurers towards a manageable solution.”
In order to help tackle the often-complex area of health and safety in the workplace, Bibby Financial Services has developed the following tips:
- Get registered- if you have at least one employee you must register your company with the appropriate body. If you have employees in an office or shop, you need to register with your local council. If you have a factory, you must register with the Health and Safety Executive. For more information log on to:www.hse.gov.uk
- Assess the risk- you are legally required to assess the risks in your workplace. Carrying out a risk assessment is the first step in minimising the cost of health and safety by ensuring that the correct preventative measures are in place
- Put it in writing- if you employ more than five people, you must have a written health and safety policy and make sure that it is communicated to all employees. The policy should include: your general approach to safety, details of individuals responsible for health and safety matters and any specific health and safety procedures or emergency instructions you have in place
- Training matters- ensure that you provide appropriate health and safety training for all employees. Include health and safety training as part of the induction process and always monitor their behaviour to ensure that training is effective and that the procedures are being followed
In case of an accident- you must have suitable first aid facilities and under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) you are required to report serious injuries, diseases and dangerous incidents. All businesses must have an accident book to record the date and details of each accident, including the name of the injured person and what action was taken.
Summer BBQ at Whitwell Hotel & Conference Centre
Date:17th August 2006
Venue: Whitwell Hotel & Conference Centre, Main Street, Whitwell, Oakham
Time: 12.00 – 14.00
Cost: £20 includes glass of wine or juice and BBQ food
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 potential new business opportunities. The Chamber's Summer Networking luncheon provides a wonderful opportunity to enjoy an informal summer barbeque in the pretty setting of Whitwell Hotel & Conference Centre, Whitwell near Oakham in Rutland. Attendees will be able to network and exchange company literature over a glass of wine and a buffet barbeque. During the luncheon delegates will be invited to place their business cards into a hat and several will be selected at random, allowing the card holders the opportunity to give a short informative presentation on their business.
Business Women's Link Networking Evening
Date: 19th September 2006
Venue: Premier Travel Inn Leicester South West, Braunstone Lane East, Leicester
Time: 18.00 – 20.00 includes buffet meal
Cost: £17.63
Maggie Robinson is the guest speaker for this BWL event and she will introduce a product called the Strength Development Inventory, which has been designed to improve the quality of all relationships.
An Evening Full of Indian Spices
Date: 12th September 2006
Venue: Spice of India, Syston, Leicester
Time: 18:00 - 20:30 includes buffet dinner
Cost: Chamber Members £25 /Standard £35
Leicestershire Chamber invites you to a networking evening with an Indian touch at one of Leicestershire's well-known Indian restaurants.The Spice of India will be providing a delicious buffet banquet, with several starters and main courses, you can eat as much as you like and go back for more as many times as you want.
Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce is keen to encourage members to network, linking businesses of all sizes and sectors together to enable them to meet, exchange views and identify potential new business opportunities.
Chamber Golf Day
Date: 26th September 2006
Venue: Beedles Lake Golf Club, Broome Lane, East Goscote
Time: 08.30 - 16.00 includes breakfast and lunch
Cost: £48.50 Members £58.50 Standard
The second corporate hospitality golf day of 2006 will be held amongst the pleasant surroundings of Beedles Lake Golf Club and will include superb golf along with breakfast, lunch and prize-giving ceremony. Players will be arranged in teams of four with a chance to win both individual and team prizes. Sytner BMW are kindly sponsoring the prize of a car for a lucky hole-in-one winner with the other prizes, including trophies and golf equipment, sponsored by H W Chartered Accountants.
Employment Law Seminar
Delivered in conjunction with Freeth Cartwright LLP
Date: 27th September 2006
Venue: Leicester Tigers, Aylestone Road, Leicester
Time: 07.30-09.00 includes breakfast
Cost: £25.00 Chamber Members/ £35.00 Standard
After many years of debate, finally the Age Discrimination Regulations come into legal force the first week in October; this seminar will look at what the regulations say in plain English, the steps that you need to take to comply, when you need to take them and the consequences of failing to abide by the regulations.
For more information or to book on to any of these events call Kam Atker on Tel: 0116 204 6614 or visit www.chamberofcommerce.co.uk and click on what’s on/events
TECHNOLOGY OPPORTUNITY
Are you constantly being challenged on how you can grow your business? Increase sales? Improve customer loyalty? Increase your profits?
Does information technology play a key part in your business strategy or are you still unsure as to where it can add value? Owner managers of small and micro businesses are experts in their own specialist fields but there is growing evidence that their competitiveness and survival will require an increased ability to better exploit IT. However, they often do not have the confidence, time or knowledge to find out how technologies can help.
e-skills UK, the Sector Skills Council for IT, Telecommunications and Call Centres, are developing the Business IT Guide to support small and micro businesses in getting business benefit from the use of IT. The Business IT Guide (BITG) is an online diagnostic self-assessment tool for small businesses & micros with typically less than 10 employees. It has been designed to help such organisations understand how IT can help their business, identify specific IT projects and support them in taking the requisite action.
e-skills would like to invite Chamber members to experience using the guide first hand. There is no cost and they are not trying to sell you anything. Furthermore the guide does not advise individuals to purchase any particular product or service from any supplier. And once you've finished going through the guide, you can complete an online survey to let them know what you thought worked well and what worked less well.
Sound interesting? All you need to do is visit the website at https://tmb.e-skills.net. You can use the guide as much as you wish. All e-skills ask is that you complete the online survey and provide them with some feedback. They'll even give each of the first 250 respondees a £10 M&S voucher as a thank you for taking the time to use the guide and complete the survey.
CSV MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY
Saturday 28 October 2006 is CSV Make a Difference Day, the UK's largest day of hands on volunteering. Supported by Barclays, CSV MD Day encourages people to try volunteering for one day in an activity that will have a direct positive impact on the local community.
This is a great way to strengthen your business' links with the community and gain positive publicity as well as develop new skills amongst staff members.Use this day to highlight your current community involvement or to kick start a new programme.
To find out how you can get involved in this year's CSV Make a Difference Day, go to our website,www.csv.org.uk/differenceor call freephone 0800 284 533.
SMALL BUSINESSES IN DIRECT MAIL BLITZ AS PRICING IN PROPORTION DRAWS NEAR
Royal Mail is mailing over 3 million small and medium-sized businesses across the UK to help customers prepare for Pricing in Proportion (PiP)
The letters alert customers to the launch date – August 21st- and urge them to visitwww.royalmail.com/changefor more information or call the dedicated helpline on 08456 113 113.
Customers can also register for online updates so that they can fine-tune the way they use their mail. The operation is part of a £10m communications campaign across the UK and focuses on the effectiveness of direct mail to deliver important messages.
Pricing in Proportion will mean that mail is priced in three size formats, Letters, Large Letters and Packets. Prices will more closely reflect the cost of collecting, sorting and delivering the mail and will take into account the size and shape of mail as well as weight. More than 80 per cent of business mail will be the same price or cheaper to send. But it’s important to remember that for many of the items that will cost more to send, customers can keep the costs down, for example, by folding A4 items in half and posting in a standard, C5 sized envelope.
Lorna Clarkson, Royal Mail's Director of Pricing, explained: “With less than three months to go before PiP is introduced, it is critical that SMEs start preparing for the changes. Stocking up on C5 sized envelopes is just one simple step that businesses can take to ensure they benefit from the cost savings available to users of smaller envelopes.”
LOOKING FOR A HOT PROSPECT?
The new organisation Hot Prospects is offering SMEs in the East Midlandsa dedicated graduate recruitment service with no fees.
The service will be 100% grant funded for all SMEs in the region for an initial period of up to ten months – saving the £1000 standard fee to be charged to larger corporate organisations and saving the 10% to 25% fees charged by many recruitment agencies.This unique launch offer has been made possible by support from East Midlands Development Agency (emda).
Businesses and graduates will be encouraged to log details of vacancies and CVs onto the Hot Prospects website. At that point an account manager will be designated to the vacancy and assess the database of graduate details held by the site, forwarding details of appropriate candidates and arranging interviews until a suitable applicant has been appointed.
Hot Prospects intends to offer ongoing services to its business clients to help them maximise the potential of the graduates that they take on. In the near future a range of supplementary products will be rolled out – products such as graduate induction programme design, bespoke structured graduate programmes, training programmes and graduate support helpline.
For more information call 0845 450 5460 or visit www.hotprospects.org.uk from 19th June 2006.
S4B TRAINING
S4B is the commercial training brand of LeicesterCollege. We offer customised accredited training and nationally recognised qualifications which meet the needs of your business.
• Appraisal Training – 23 August 2006
• NEBOSH – 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 September / 6, 13, 20 and 27 October
/ 3, 10, 17 and 24 November / 1 and 8 December 2006
• CIEH Manual Handling/COSHH – 4 September 2006
• Safety Passport – 5 and 6 September 2006
• IOSH Working Safely – 11 September 2006
• Marketing Your Business – 12 September 2006
• Reception and Administration Skills – 13 September 2006
• Finance for Non Financial Managers – 18 September 2006
• Effective Minute Taking – 19 September 2006
• Caring for your Customers – 20 September 2006
•Institute of Leadership and Management – 7, 14, 21 and 28 September 2006
• First Aid at Work re-qualification – 25 and 26 September 2006
• Telephone Techniques and Effective Communication– 27 September 2006.
For all your training needs, please call S4B on Tel: 0116 229 5555 or email s4b@leicestercollege.ac.uk or visit www.leicestercollege.ac.uk/s4b
CHAMBER IMPORT/EXPORT COURSES
Export Foundation Course
Date:15th August 2006
Export Documentation Course
Date:23rd August 2006
Export Letter of Credit Course
Date:30th August 2006
Import Foundation Workshop
Date:6th September 2006
All courses are charged at a reduced rate for Chamber Members of £160 + VAT and toNon-Members/Standard at £200 + VAT
For more information or to make a booking please contact Kam Atker on Tel: 0116 204 6614, email:atker.k@chamberofcommerce.co.ukor visitwww.chamberofcommerce.co.ukand click on What’s On/Events
TRADE DELEGATION VISIT
Mr Jin Suidong, Senior Advisor,Anyang City, Henan Province, China along with other officials of Anyang City, paid a visit to Leicester on 26th June for what is hoped to be the start of friendly co-operation between the two cities.
The visit included a meeting with Martin Traynor, Group Managing Director for the Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce, along with Min He of the Leicester Shire-China Trade Bureau and Kay Marsden, International Trade Manager for UK Trade and Investment.
The purpose of the visit was to explore the potential to promote trade and cultural exchange between Anyang City and Leicestershire, and included a visit to the New Walk Museum & Art Gallery where Mr Suidong found interest and potential to display artifacts from Henan, the origination of the only surviving, ancient language, in the world. The programme also included lunch with Cllr. David Parsons, Leader of Leicestershire County Council, and attendance at the Leicestershire Chamber President's Cocktail Party held at Belvoir Castle.
For more information please contact Min He on Tel:0116 258 7312
UKTI CALENDAR OF EVENTS
East MidlandsInternational Trade Association (EMITA) July 12th 2006
The next event is on 12th July and is entitled Protecting Your Intellectual Property in the International Market.Please refer to the EMITA website (www.emita.org.uk) for more information.
Visit by Commercial Officer From British Embassy, Madrid July 21st2006
On Friday 21st July, Fernando Pons who is the Commercial officer from the British Embassy in Madrid is due to visit Leicester to discuss opportunities in Spain for companies across the region, active inthe following sectors: Aerospace, Railways, Marine, Ports and Logistics, Airports, Engineering and Police or Security.If you would like more information, please contact Jason Loomes on Tel: 0116 258 7311 or e-mail: jloomes.ukti@blleics.co.uk
Free Business Language Courses for SMEs from September 2006 From September small to medium-sized companies in the East Midlands region will be able to take advantage of free intensive business language training to help their business succeed inEurope. These courses will equip delegates with the essential language skills and confidence to help their company compete effectively in overseas markets.For further information please contact Liz Littler on Tel:07714 450 844.
Export Awareness Roadshows September 21st 2006
UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) is holding a series of free and informal meet and greet events introducing UKTI and explaining how it can guide you through the exporting process successfully and the next event is on September 21st in Market Harborough. For further information, please contact your local UKTI team on Tel: 0116 258 7329 orexport.ukti@blleics.co.uk
Market Visit To Denmark (Clothing & Fashion Wear) November 13-15th 2006
UKTI will be taking a group of British companies to Denmark in November to explore possible clothing and fashion wear sector opportunities. Any companies who operate in this sector may be interested in joining this market visit, for further details please contact Suzy Bolton on Tel: 0116 2587 314
EAST MIDLANDS SMASHES TARGETS IN BOOSTING JOBS
According to recent figures published by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) theEast Midlandshas exceeded its inward investment targets for 2005-6. In total, a record 74 project successes were achieved in the last year (up 9% on the previous year’s performance), which delivered 4,546 new or safeguarded jobs (up 25% on last year).
For the whole of theUKnearly 90,000 jobs were created or safeguarded in the last financial year as theUKalso recorded its highest number of inward investment projects to date. The record 1,220 projects bring new employment to every region of the UK.
In theEast Midlands, these projects have ranged from automotive and aerospace component manufacturing to healthcare research and product development. Within the region, key highlights also include an increase in the number of projects with a Research & Development element to their business operations.
For new jobs resulting from all foreign investments during 2005-6 the average annual salary of £24,748 is 21% higher than the average gross annual salary of £20,532 for theEast Midlands. For new jobs resulting from new foreign investments during the same period, this is even greater, with an average annual salary of £35,815.