Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce

Issue: August 2006

CHAMBER NEWS

Members of Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce can save money on their business and holiday travel by using the Chamber’s preferred product supplier Millington Independent Travel.

Millington Independent Travel have been booking flights & holidays for the people of Leicestershire for 35 years and have been the Chamber’s preferred supplier for the last 8 years.

The Chamber Travel Club entitles members and their families to discounted travel benefits with over one hundred airlines & holiday tour operators. Discounts also apply to car hire and hotel accommodation, plus they offer free executive lounge access at airports and up to 5% reduction on flights & holidays with selected operators.

An appointment service is available so that you can schedule in a convenient time to meet with one of Millington’s Travel Planners. This service operates at their newly opened Travel Lounge upstairs in Waterstones on Market Street in Leicester.

At their four centrally located Leicesteroffices you will find exclusive brochures for specialist holidays worldwide and Millingtons are experts in tailor made bespoke flights and holidays too.

Holiday Travel & Chamber V.I.P Appointments can be made by calling 0116 254 4450, Business Travel Enquiries can be made on 0116 250 9555or visit:www.millingtonindependent.com

Latest statistics show slow progress towards the UK Government’s target to cut carbon dioxide emissions by one fifth, with current progress standing at a 5.3% reduction since the benchmark date of 1990.

“If the Government is to fulfil the Kyoto Treaty requirements of a 12.5% cut, let alone its loftier ambitions of a 20% reduction, it has a lot of work to do to turn its fine words into action,” says Jeff Wealands, Technical Director of Utility Auditing Ltd (UAL), which delivers the cost-cutting Chamber Utilities service.

“While industry is playing a key role in driving down emissions, achieving a 11.4% reduction since 1990, the domestic sector is pulling progress down – recording an alarming 12.8% rise,” explains Jeff. “The Government is applying ever onerous taxation to make business go green, but there is no such control on householders. Unless the Government takes the politically unpopular decision to rein in the domestic sector, there isn’t any hope of fulfilling these targets.”

According to the annual energy trends and prices data, the Climate Change Levy has increased average prices of fuels to business by 10.5% for coal, 4.0% for electricity and 2.5% for gas. On top of the huge price rises in gas and electricity, which have almost doubled over the past two years, business is feeling the sting of cost increases coupled with taxation.

“It is only right that business should participate fully in saving energy. This is, after all, enlightened self-interest because energy efficiency allows an organisation to cut operating costs and perform more profitably; but other sectors, such as transport and domestic users should also be encouraged to play their part.”

Utility Auditing is an authorised consultant to the Carbon Trust, providing a range of energy efficiency services for business. For further information contact Chamber Utilities on: 0845 120 2423 or email:info@chamberutilities.co.uk

John Townsend, Deputy President of Leicestershire Chamber, has been invited by the Mayor of Haskovo, Georgi Ivanov, to attend the festivities of Haskovo Week at the beginning of September. The Lord Mayor and other civic representatives will also be entertained during the event as Cllr Michael Johnson, Chair of the City Twinning Association, hopes to finalise the twinning arrangements between Leicester and Haskovo during this visit.

As last year, John Townsend will be researching commercial opportunities for SMEs inBulgaria. In June this year, he joined a small group of businessmen, led by Stuart Evans from Lincolnshire, on a UKTI Market Visit to Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. This was a very successful visit, with several members being optimistic of concluding business deals on an ongoing basis ('products' included power generation equipment, domestic heating appliances, catering health and safety consultancy, construction procurement and property investment.)

If any members would like John to make enquiries on their behalf, directly or through the Bulgarian or Haskovo Chambers of Commerce (with which we have a co-operation agreement), he will be pleased to assist. You can contact John direct on Tel: 0116 279 2586, by email: JohnTownsend@f2s.com or via the Chamber on Tel: 0116 247 1800.

LEGISLATIVE NEWS

Membership of the Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce entitles you to access the website and helplines of QDOS Consulting where you can get accurate, up to date information on all employment law and legislation matters – completely free of charge.

For more information visit www.chamberhr.co.uk

By William Sargent, Executive Chair of the Better Regulation Executive

The UK’s future growth, jobs and international competitiveness depend on our ability to regulate better and as you will all know there has been a lot of talk – and action - in recent years on the Government’s desire to cut red tape.

The Better Regulation Executive is working to support efforts across Government but to make sure that regulation works for everyone, we want to hear from you.

In the autumn government departments will for the first time, publish plans setting out a list of regulations that will be removed or streamlined. Departments are already being sent ideas on how or where this can be done but if you’ve got your own ideas and haven’t shared them yet, get in touch now.

You can either send your suggestions direct to the relevant government department or to us at the Better Regulation Executive (details at www.betterregulation.gov.uk).

The Government’s commitment to reform is ongoing so helping us shape regulation now could have a direct impact on your work in the future.

This is your opportunity to have your say so it’s important that we hear from you. So go on, let us know your thinking.

Time is ticking on an age old problem.

Employers have barely two months to prime themselves for new age discrimination legislation to ensure that they do not fall short of the law.

Recent figures from the Age Partnership Group show that less than 1% of Leicester’s employers have actually begun to prepare for the laws which come into effect on 1st October 2006.

A region wide campaign launched to specifically target small to medium sized enterprises ahead of the legislation is urging employers to make use of its access to free support and advice before it is too late.

Manage Discriminationis funded by the East Midlands Development Agency (emda) and has joined forces with partner organisations ACAS, Jobcentre Plus and the Learning and Skills Council to form a knowledgeable information network, easily accessible to the regions employers.

emda’s Manage Discrimination Campaign Project Manager Deborah Frase said: “The regulations will mean that many employers will have to make fundamental changes to the way in which they recruit, train and promote their staff. There is a lot of information to take in and the sooner this is done the better. We can act as a ‘one stop shop’ to point employers in the direction of all they need to know on the legislation to make it easier for them to prepare for the potential implications ahead.”

The campaign is staging a series of free breakfast seminars across the East Midlands during October where employers can benefit from the wealth of information on hand. Manage Discrimination will visit Leicester on 12th October at the National Space Centre where Gill Lewis, Head of HR at Matalan, will talk about how the company has responded to the impending legislation.

The campaign will also have a presence at existing regional business events. All times, dates and venues are available to view on the campaigns website at www.managediscrimination.com. Delegates can also pre-register their attendance for events via the campaign website.

Part of Manage Discrimination’s work will also focus on promoting the positive aspects of mature workers to the regions employers by showcasing those businesses which already have age positive practices in place. It is hoped that these business ‘champions’ will inspire other employers to follow suit when it comes to age diverse recruitment. Any employers wishing to feature as potential case study subjects can submit their details on the campaign’s website.

The Manage Discrimination website is at www.managediscrimination.com

Bibby Financial Services (BFS) is urging small businesses in the East Midlands to review their employment policies as a matter of urgency to ensure they don’t risk prosecution.

Under the new Age Regulations, employers must ensure all employees are given access to help and guidance, promotion and development opportunities, adequate termination periods and equal perks and pay, regardless of their age, or face hefty penalties.

With recent research showing red tape as one of the major concerns for owners and managers, Kevin Rose, BFS spokesperson for the East Midlands, believes the introduction of yet more new legislation may catch many employers unaware.

Rose said: “Owners and managers of small and medium-sized enterprises must ensure they are treading carefully between the lines of numerous legislative requirements and while I applaud the thinking behind the new age regulations, I can see many businesses coming unstuck for failing to implement age positive employment practices.”

In order to help tackle the area of age discrimination in the workplace, Bibby Financial Services has produced several top tips to help owners and managers meet their new obligations:

· Review recruitment procedures– Take a look around your business. Are your employees diverse in terms of age range? Under new legislation, when recruiting you must consider who would be best for the position, rather than basing your decision on the age of an applicant.

· Don’t be an ‘ageist advertiser’- Adopt an age-positive stance across your recruitment strategy. Avoid using words like ‘young’, ‘energetic’ or even ‘mature’ in recruitment advertising to ensure you are not discriminating against particular age groups. Ensure any recruitment or advertising agencies you employ have their own age-positive policies in place and understand the new regulations.

· Honesty is the best policy– Be honest with yourself. Have you ever made a recruitment or promotion decision based on the age of a candidate or employee? If such a decision is made under the new legislation the business owner could be liable for costly and embarrassing fines, so make sure your policies are up to date by speaking to an HR specialist.

· Right to work– Under the new legislation all employees will be given the ‘right to request’ to continue working beyond the new default retirement age of 65, or any other retirement age set by the company. As an employer, you have a ‘duty to consider’ such requests and should build this into any employment policies or procedural handbooks you make available to staff.

· Educate staff– The new regulations cover not only employers but also employees. It is therefore essential that employees are educated about their rights, as well as their duties to the business. Any direct discrimination, harassment and victimisation on the grounds of age by any employee could see the employer held responsible.

· Don’t be afraid to ask for help- As with many pieces of legislation, the age regulations can be confusing. There are many places to turn for help and support including www.agepositive.gov.uk and the department of Trade and Industry (www.dti.gov.uk). The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) also has a wealth of information regarding the new regulations on its website.

Rose concluded: “Many businesses are already reaping the benefits of employing an age diverse workforce but even those that are, could fall foul of new legislation if they don’t get their employment practices in order.

“It’s nonetheless good to see that, with an ageing population and the introduction of the new age regulations, attitudes towards older and younger employees are beginning to change and more and more employers are starting to take advantage of relatively untapped labour pools to help grow and develop their business.”

CHAMBER EVENTS

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.

Delivered by Business Builder in conjunction with Ivan Lawrence Coaching
Date:22 September 2006

Venue: Charnwood Court, 5b New Walk, Leicester
Time: 09:00 - 17:00
Cost: £125.00 + VAT Chamber Members /£165.00 + VAT Standard

The Time Management Programme will help delegates reduce stress and improve personal performance and effectiveness through better management of themselves and their time.

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 Chamber 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 HW Chartered Accountants.

Deliveredin conjunction with Freeth Cartwright LLP

Date: 27thSeptember 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.

Date:25 October 2006

Venue: Stephenson College, Coalville, Leicestershire
Time: 18:00 - 20:30
Cost:

Place only, no display stand (inc. VAT) £25 Chamber Members / £35Standard

Place & Space for display stand (inc. VAT) £55 Chamber Members / £65 Standard

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

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

OTHER NEWS

You may be aware that from next month a single non-emergency number is being launched in Leicester city and Rutland county, these are amongst the first five areas in the country to have the number which will be rolled out nationally by 2008.

The launch means that people will be able to call the 101 number 24 hours a day, seven days a week to report matters that are less urgent than 999 calls. 101 is a Home Office initiative run here by Leicester City Council, Rutland County Council and Leicestershire Constabulary and is part of the drive to reduce incidents of anti-social behavior. More information is available at www.101.gov.uk

Regus has linked up with Environmental Business Products (EBP) to provide an environmental service and to help raise valuable funds for Rainbows Children’s Hospice (a charity based in Leicestershire), simply by recycling empty inkjet, laser printer cartridges and unwanted mobile phones, items that are normally thrown away.

How? By collecting and returning empty printer cartridges used within the office as well as those cartridges used at home. The idea is to work with Regus staff, affiliates and the general public to bring about a wide scale recycling program.

EBP will provide the following free of charge:

• Collection boxes placed where required

• Free pick ups by EBP vans or couriers

• Freepost recycling envelopes for inkjets

• Posters to promote the scheme

• Freephone number to order more materials - 0800 435576

• Website online formhttp://www.inkagain.co.uk/charity/rainbows.shtml

quoting Regus Rainbows

Connect Midlands, the regional network for entrepreneurs and high growth businesses, has launched the Connect Midlands £1m Investment Challenge.

Sponsored by BT Business and backed by Catapult Venture Managers Limited, this is an opportunity for entrepreneurs and high growth businesses across Leicestershire to gauge how ready they are to attract investment, showcase their business and potentially gain major investment from a reserved pot of £1m.

Supported by the East Midlands Development Agency (emda) and Growth Investment Network East Midlands (GINEM), the Investment Challenge uses an online assessment tool, ‘The Gauntlet’.

The Gauntlet has been developed by Doug Richard, founder and executive chairman of Library House in partnership with the London School of Economics and Political Science. Acting like a virtual investor, The Gauntlet asks the critical questions that investors ask, explains the rationale behind the questions and effectively tests businesses to see if they are ready for investment.

John Griffiths, Regional Manager at Connect Midlands, said: “This chance to use The Gauntlet is not only an invaluable opportunity to get short-listed for a slice of £1m in investment, it is also a chance to receive constructive, detailed and objective feedback on the status of your business.”

The top performing businesses will be short-listed, given one to one coaching by experts and then invited to present to industry professionals and investors at the annual Connect Midlands Investment Conference on 16th November. It will be here that the individual or syndicated winners will be announced.

Applications can be made online via www.connect1million.org. Closing date for entries is September 4th 2006.

The vision is bold and ambitious but the recently launched Regional Economic Strategy (RES) sets out the priorities for transforming the East Midlands into ‘A Flourishing Region’ by 2020.

Co-ordinated by East Midlands Development Agency (emda), its publication follows one of the biggest consultations ever undertaken in the region. Over 1400 stakeholders and partners were consulted at more than 200 events and road shows. A dedicated website also registered more than 20,000 hits from members of the public across the East Midlands who contributed ideas and outlined their hopes for the region’s future.

The vision for the region is that by 2020 the East Midlands will be made up of growing and innovative businesses, where skilled people are employed in good quality jobs; where we all feel part of healthy, inclusive communities and live in thriving attractive places.

Three themes are key to achieving this vision. They are underpinned by ten priorities, which are:

Raising Productivity

· Employment learning and skills

· Enterpriseand business support

· Innovation

Ensuring Sustainability

· Transport and logistics

· Energy and resources

· Environmental protection

· Land and development

Achieving Equality

· Cohesive communities

· Economic renewal

· Economic inclusion

Approved by Government, the strategy belongs to the region and forms a shared vision for the future successes and aspirations of theEast Midlands. The RES is reviewed every three years to ensure it meets the challenges of the changing priorities of a 21st century economy.

Now that the RES is complete the next step will be to produce a comprehensive action plan with key partners to ensure the East Midlands achieves the aims identified within the strategy. It is anticipated this will be ready by early next year.

Bryan Jackson, emda’s Chairman said: “It is clear that for the East Midlands to thrive and to compete with the best in Europeand the world, we must build on our distinctive strengths to ensure that our economic growth creates a prosperous and sustainable region, where everyone has the opportunity to achieve their potential.

"This is the region's strategy, not emda's, although we will play our full role in realising its aspirations. To make the change required to drive the East Midland’s economy forward the strategy must be owned and delivered by all those businesses, stakeholders and individuals that can make that difference. The East Midlandsis becoming an increasingly mature and self-assured region, clear about the joint efforts needed to progress its shared ambitions and prepared to take some of the difficult decisions needed to bring them to fruition."

Businesses are benefiting from ‘green workers’ taking their good energy habits from home to work with them, according to a new survey by E.ON.

· Over half of respondents said they turn off our computer completely at the end of the day

· Half of respondents turned off lights when they left an area unoccupied

· One in six ‘mind’ their energy habits at work and have tried to persuade colleagues to do the same.

E.ON believes that this rise in ‘green minded’ workers can be attributed to the general upturn in interest in environmental issues, with the study finding that good habits at home were reflected in the changes seen at work.

Samantha Baylis, Director of E.ON’s B2B business, said: “It’s hugely encouraging that people seem to be bringing more of their green habits to work with them. Most people probably feel there’s not a lot they can do about saving energy at work but I think they’d be surprised. Every time you overfill the office kettle to make a drink, turn up the air conditioning or leave your computer running needlessly, you’re having an impact on your company’s bottom line.

“Our ‘turning down and turning off’ message is one of the simplest ways to reduce energy consumption and bills – whether at work or at home – and companies can reduce their energy bills by as much as 10% through low-cost and no-cost energy efficiency measures. But, with around half of us still not giving energy saving too much thought, there’s clearly still some way to go.”

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

From September 2006 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 in Europe. 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.

The East Midlands International Trade Association(EMITA) have published details of their forthcoming programme for 2006-07 which includes:

September 19th ABC of South America (Argentina, Brazil, Chile)

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

UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) are 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; the next is on September 21stin Market Harborough. For further information call 0116 258 7329 or e-mail:export.ukti@blleics.co.uk

A reconnaissance visit to the Paris exhibitions in early October is being planned which will enable designer wear companies to visit and assess the suitability of exhibitions. For further detail please contact Suzy Bolton, UK Trade & Investment, on Tel: 0116 258 7314.

UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) and Leicester Shire China Trade Bureau are organising a market visit to Sichuan/Chongqing between November 4th-11th 2006.There is a travel grant for eligible companies and the visit will also include the EU-China Partnerariat event to take place in Chengdu, capital city of Sichuan Province, where 850 businesses from EU and China will have match-making business meetings. For more information please contact Min He on Tel: 0116 258 7312.