EAST MIDLANDS CHAMBER DIRECTORY
The Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce is about to send off to the publishers of the East Midlands Chamber of Commerce Directory the full listing of all of our members to be included in the 2007 edition. This directory will be posted out to our members in December but if any of you will be moving or changing the name of your company before then and wish to ensure that your correct details are included in your entry then please can you email Danny Whitehead (whitehead.d@chamberofcommerce.co.uk) with your updated company name, address, telephone number, fax, email and website before 26thSeptember. If you wish to check that we have your correct details already then please call the Chamber on Tel: 0116 247 1800.
FREE WEB ACADEMY WORKSHOPS
Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce has organised two free Online Marketing Web Academy Workshops which will give you the skills and knowledge you need to improve your business using new Internet technologies.
Each workshop consists of:
- Three one-day sessions, typically held over a three week period
- A maximum of 10 delegates, each with their own computer
- Detailed course notes with practical exercises
- Resources and background materials in an online library
- Ongoing support via a virtual support centre with discussion forums
The clinics, which also include a light breakfast and buffet lunch, will be held at Highpoint Conference Centre, Glenfield, Leicester.
Dates for the November workshop are:
Thursday 16th November 2006
Friday 24th November 2006
Thursday 30th November 2006
The same workshop is also available in January and will run on the following dates:
Wednesday 10th January 2007
Wednesday 17th January 2007
Wednesday 24th January 2007
For more details or to make a booking please contact Kam Atker at Leicestershire Chamber on Tel: 0116 204 6614 or email:atker.k@chamberofcommerce.co.uk
NOW THERE'S NO EXCUSE...
Opportunity One
The Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce has negotiated special membership rates with the Living Well Health Club at the Hilton Leicester Hotel, Brauntone.
Chamber members can now enjoy the swimming pool, spa area and state of the art gymnasium and save money at the same time. There’s also a sun bed room for the use of Living Well members and you’ll be entitled to a 30% discount in the hotel bar and restaurant too.
Join now and you can enjoy over £250 worth of complimentary goodies including one month of free membership, a meal for two in the Hilton Hotel, a free fitness programme and three free 7-day memberships so that your friends and family can try the great facilities too.
Discounted Rates for Chamber members are:
GoldPeakMembership
£33 Single Saving 34%
£59 Joint Saving 30%
Off Peak Membership
£30.60Single Saving 15%
£49.30 Joint Saving 15%
Please contact Jayson Taylor at Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce for your qualifying letter on Tel: 0116 204 6619 or email:taylor.j@chamberofcommerce.co.uk
OpportunityTwo
The Westfield House Hotel (formerly The Time Out Hotel) on Enderby Roadin Blaby is offering members of the Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce the chance to use its Lifestyles Health Club for just £25 per month. Lifestyles has a swimming pool and relaxing spa area, a well equipped gym and a tanning room, plus,as the hotel has joined our member-to-member scheme, you can get great discounts on accommodation and food and drink too.
For more information call the Westfield on Tel:0870 6096106 or visit the website at:www.corushotels.com/leicester
QDOS CONSULTING: KEEPING YOU UP TO DATE
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
DON'T GET YOUR FINGERS BURNT
Bibby Financial Services (BFS) is warning the UK small business community to take heed of the new fire laws that come into force this October or risk getting their fingers burnt.
The new Regulatory Reform Order (RRO) aims to rationalise and consolidate many pieces of existing fire legislation and failure to comply may result in fines or even imprisonment for owners and managers of UK businesses. Steve Hollings, BFS spokesperson, said: "Despite the massive changes facing fire safety legislation in England and Wales, few entrepreneurs are aware of the update, let alone what is required of them. As a result, many are unprepared for the effects this can have on their business."
Unlike previous rulings, many self-employed people and sections of the voluntary sector will now need to comply as the new order applies to virtually all premises and covers nearly all types of buildings and even some open spaces. One of the biggest changes owners and managers will see is that, after October, fire certificates will no longer be issued (however, until 1st October a valid fire certificate will still be required). This change is due to a new onus being put on risk reduction and fire prevention. As a result, companies will need to nominate a "responsible person" to manage the maintenance of facilities, equipment and fire safety devices and to make sure that risk assessments are carried out.
It will also become compulsory for a company with five or more people to keep a record of these assessments and note any significant findings. For example, if an accident occurred in the workplace and no documentation was available of a risk assessment having been carried out, owners and managers could be at risk of prosecution.
Another key area of importance is dangerous substances and obvious hazards. These must be included in the new risk assessments, which must identify how they will be contained or used by employees.
Hollings concluded: "Carrying out and reviewing fire assessments can be a thankless, time-consuming process, but prioritising it is necessary if you are to comply with the new laws. Although many small and medium-sized businesses operating on a lean structure, with limited resources, can often struggle with the administration involved in keeping up to date with this and other recent pieces of legislation, it is vital to make provisions."
TELEPHONE TECHNIQUES
Delivered by Business Builder in conjunction with Broaden HR Limited
Date:18 September 2006
Venue:Charnwood Court, 5b New Walk,Leicester
Time: 09:00 - 17:00
Cost: £125 + VAT Chamber Members / £165 + VAT Standard
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.
BUSINESS WOMEN'S LINK (BWL) NETWORKING EVENING
Date: 19 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.
CHAMBER GOLF DAY
Date:26 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
EMPLOYMENT LAW SEMINAR
Deliveredin conjunction with Freeth Cartwright LLP
Date: 27 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.
INTEGRA PRESENTATION WITH RUSTIE LEE SPONSORED BY BUSINESS LINK LEICESTERSHIRE
Date:18th October 2006
Venue: Poachers Bistro, Church Street, Thurlaston, Leicester
Time: 12:00 - 14:00
Cost: £29.50 Chamber Members, includes a three course meal
Join us for lunch at the Poacher's Bistro and listen to Rustie's story about her magical career moments and life experiences. Rustie made her name and reputation as Britain’s number one authority on Caribbean cooking during her eight years on TV AM. Now a producer and presenter of her own TV cookery programmes and BBC radio shows, Rustie has starred in several hit musicals including South Pacific, Smokey Joe’s Café and Ain’t Misbehavin. Known for her gregarious laugh, fun loving personality and being a great entertainer, this is a lunchtime opportunity not to be missed.
EXPORT FOUNDATION COURSE
Date: 25 October 2006
Venue:Charnwood Court, 5b New Walk,Leicester
Time: 09:00 - 17:00
Cost: £160 + VATChamber Members /£200 + VAT Standard
Designed to give a clear insight into the export process through an overview of export documentation, practices and procedures.
NETWORKING WITH STEPHENSON COLLEGE
Date: 25 October 2006
Venue: StephensonCollege, 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.
SUCCESSION PLANNING SEMINAR - WHICH IS THE RIGHT OPTION FOR YOU?
In Conjunction with PKF Accountants & Business Advisers
Date:31st October 2006
Venue: The Space Centre, Exploration Drive, Leicester
Time: 07.30 - 09.00
Cost: £25.00 Chamber Members /£35.00 Standard. Includes breakfast.
This seminar is for owner-managed businesses and will be advising on the practical issues faced by owner managers when preparing a succession plan. The keynote speakers are Paul Thompson, Corporate Finance Partner and Ed Saunders, Director of Corporate Tax.
EXPORT DOCUMENTATION COURSE
Date: 1st November 2006
Venue: Charnwood Court, 5b New Walk, Leicester
Time: 09:00 - 16:00
Cost: £160.00 + VAT Chamber Members /£200.00 + VAT Standard.
This course is a natural follow up to the Export Foundation Course and covers the preparation and distribution of documents from the quotation stage through to payment and puts the theory into practice.
I COULD MURDER A PINT - MURDER MYSTERY NETWORKING EVENT
Date:17th November 2006
Venue: The Regency Hotel, 360 London Road, Leicester
Time: 19:00 - 22:00
Cost: £32.00 includes four-course meal
Make this part of your Christmas festivities. Meet, mix and mingle with the hilarious characters on arrival and then witness the murder - it could happen any-where in the room! Take in new scenes at your table as you network and try to solve the mystery.
WEB MARKETING - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY
Date: 28th November 2006
Venue: The National Space Centre, Leicester
Company owners, managers and marketing professionals will all find this breakfast briefing useful. This session delivers a top level management overview of the potential offered by web marketing. It is suitable for businesses planning to take their first steps in web marketing as well as those who want to further develop their online strategy.
The presenter, Susan Hallam, is an independent ebusiness trainer and consultant. She provides impartial, unbiased support to small businesses developing their internet marketing strategy.
This is an ebusiness club event, part of a virtual support network helping businesses to improve their productivity through the use of new ebusiness technologies.
From advice about using email to developing a website, online ordering and total ebusiness solutions, ebusiness club gives you access to all the resources you need to really benefit from the onlin world.
CHAMBER ANNUAL LUNCHEON
Date:1st December 2006
Venue: The Walkers Stadium, Filbert Way, Leicester
Time: 11:30 - 16:00
Cost: £49.50 Chamber Members (Table of ten £470) /£54.50 Standard (Table of ten £520)
The comedian Roy Walker will be the guest speaker at this year's annual luncheon event which will once again be sponsored by The Royal Bank of Scotland, Charles Street Buildings (Leicester) Ltd and Freeth Cartwright LLP.
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.
CHECK OUT RESOURCE EFFICIENCY SAVINGS USING NEW FACT SHEETS
Independent retailers in the East Midlands can take a big step towards cutting waste and utility bills by taking advantage of a range of free fact sheets available online from Envirowise.
'Check Out: Recycling and Waste' and 'Check Out: Utilities' provide information to help stores manage their resources more efficiently by reducing waste, water consumption and energy use. The new good-practice fact sheets also set out how much retailers could potentially save.
With over 1 million tonnes of waste produced annually by retailers and wholesalers in the East Midlands there is significant scope for a major reduction.
Envirowise Regional Manager for the East Midlands, Kay Gilby, says: "Unnecessary waste is costing the industry as a whole a staggering £360 million each year, yet businesses can make substantial progress in cutting these costs by following the straightforward advice in these new fact sheets."
"For example, most retailers can expect to reduce their water use by up to 40% and cut energy bills by up to 20% through simple resource efficiency measures that cost little or nothing to put into place."
The new fact sheets complement existing services for companies in the region. To download the fact sheets free of charge, visit www.envirowise.gov.uk/easymoney. For general advice on improving resource efficiency and boosting profits visit the website or call Envirowise on Tel: 0800 585 794.
ROYAL MAIL URGES BUSINESSES TO RESET METERS
Royal Mail is urging more small businesses which use postage meters to take advantage of a £30 million discount by resetting their meters to reflect a price reduction, following the introduction of the new pricing system on August 21st.
As part of the new pricing structure, the price of 1stclass post for meter users has been reduced by 1p and now costs 30p, rather than the previous price of 31p or the 32p for stamped mail. To take advantage of the discount, all customers need to do is reset their machines.
Lorna Clarkson, of the Royal Mail, said: "We always remind users to reset their meters when there is a tariff change and this time is particularly important if business customers are to get a share in the £30 million price reduction."
While it is important that all businesses check their meters have been reset, it is particularly important for smaller businesses that use manual franking machines.
The reduction is in recognition that business post costs Royal Mail less to handle and is on top of the 1p discount given to business mail as part of tariff changes in April 2005. Under the new pricing system Royal Mail is giving businesses a 'double whammy' with an increase in the weight limit from 60g to 100g, so customers can send more for less.
MARKETERS INVITED TO GET TOGETHER ABOUT STRATEGIC ALLIANCES
Marketers and business people alike are invited to learn the special qualities of strategic alliances at an event organised by The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) at the Leicester Tigers Ground on 21st September.
"Takeovers, mergers and acquisitions grab the headlines," explains Jill Wells, the Institute's regional chair for theEast Midlands, "but hardly a day passes when the business press does not mention a joint venture or strategic alliance. Decision makers are increasingly considering strategic alliances as a serious option available to them, and marketers are urged to attend this event and bring themselves up to speed with this vital business practice if they are to understand where tomorrow's organisational success may originate."
A strategic alliance is a relationship formed between two or more organisations where they may participate in joint investments or develop linked and common processes for mutual benefit. For many companies, it is a chance to increase the performance of their common supply chain and may be less burdensome than a merger or acquisition.
Strategic Alliances: Collaborate to Compete takes place at the Leicester Tigers Ground on Thursday 21 September 6.30 p.m. for 7 p.m. Cost is £5 for CIM members, £10 guests, free for CIM studying members and £3 for all other students. To book visit www.cim.co.uk/events
BAG A BAG FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
EXPO in the East Midlands is an annual event focusing on sustainability in the way the region works and lives to ensure the environment is protected for the future.
EXPO is organised by a partnership of the East Midlands Centre for the Built Environment, Government Office for the East Midlands, East Midlands Regional Assembly and the East Midlands Development Agency.
There are three main themes at this year's EXPO – Construction & Manufacturing, Saving Energy, and Food and Drink. The programme of seminars, workshops and presentations from key speakers will be available shortly on http://www.emra.gov.uk/events/index.asp - EXPO06
The event itself is trying to be as sustainable as possible through carbon offsetting, sourcing local food and by taking place at a venue very close to main public transport routes. EXPO is going one step further this year by asking organisations to donate any left over or spare carrier bags from past events which will then be recycled at Expo 06 and form the delegate packs for all visitors. By donating your spare bags you can help EXPO minimise waste and save energy and materials needed to produce new ones.
If you have any bags you would like to donate to EXPO 06 please contact Sam Gaheer on Tel: 01664 502555 or by e-mail: saminder.gaheer@emra.gov.uk
To register for Expo and to get the chance to meet buyers from major government departments and private companies in the region follow this link:www.emcbe.com/index.php?id=90,262,0,0,1,0
OPPORTUNITIES FOR EAST MIDLANDS DESIGN COMPANIES
September 18-22nd 2006
UK Trade & Investment is supporting an inward mission to London of overseas buyers and commissioners of design services in the following areas: Branding, Commercial Interiors and Industrial Design, to include specifiers or architects with a design supply chain requirement.
Delegates from China, India, Mexico, Brazil, Singapore, Czech Republic, Italy, Korea and Switzerland will be in the UKfor the London Design Festival week and East Midlands design companies have the opportunity to meet them between 18th to the 22nd September at an International VIP hub. For further details please contact Christine Johnson, Regional Creative Industries International Trade Adviser on Tel: 0116 258 7357.
USA COMMERCIAL OFFICER VISIT TO THE UK
September 25th 2006
Carlo Cavagna from the UK Trade & Investment commercial team in the USA will be visiting the East Midlands on the 25th September. Carlo is the lead for creative industries focusing on computer games, music, film/TV and design. If you would like to find out about opportunities in the USA please contact Christine Johnson on Tel: 0116 258 7357.
VISIT TO PARIS EXHIBITIONS FOR DESIGNERWEAR COMPANIES
October 4th-6th 2006
A reconnaissance visit to the Paris exhibitions in early October is being planned. This visit will enable designerwear companies to visit and assess the suitability of exhibitions. For further details please contact Suzy Bolton, UK Trade & Investment on Tel: 0116 258 7314.
HOW TO BECOME A PREFERRED SUPPLIER: THE UNITED NATIONS AND WORLD BANK
October 12th 2006
This is an excellent opportunity to find out how the UK Trade & Investment overseas network can assist in helping you to win business from the UN/World Bank. This half-day seminar will give you the opportunity to hear from commercial officers located in the markets where the UN/World Bank Headquarters are based. If you feel you have a product or service that would be of interest to the UN Agencies or World Bank and would like further information please contact Tim Jelley on Tel: 0116 258 7319.
BUILDING BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS OVERSEAS
October 25th 2006
There are number of ways to achieve success overseas without direct sales - joint ventures, manufacturing under licence, acquisition, franchising, setting up an overseas branch or company, to name but a few. This free event in Leicester will explain the pros and cons of each approach and show how UK Trade and Investment specialist support can help remove the barriers to developing strategic partnerships overseas. For further information contact John Wilson on Tel: 01332 548123.
TRADE MISSION TO CHINA
November 4th-11th 2006
UK Trade & Investment and Leicester Shire China Trade Bureau are organising a market visit to Sichuan/Chongqing in November. 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.
MARKET VISIT TO DENMARK (CLOTHING AND FASHIONWEAR)
November 12th -15th 2006
UK Trade and Investment will be taking a group of British companies to Denmark in November to explore possible clothing and fashionwear opportunities. Any companies in this sector who may be interested in joining this visit should contact Suzy Bolton on Tel: 0116 258 7314.
MARKET VISIT TO THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
February 26-28th 2007
A group market visit to Ireland is being planned for February or March 2007. For further details please contact Suzy Bolton, UKTrade & Investment on Tel: 0116 258 7314.