Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce

Issue: March 2007

CHAMBER NEWS

The success and accomplishments of local women was recognised in front of hundreds of people recently at the 2007 Leicestershire Women of Achievement Awards.

Rock legend Suzi Quatro, TV presenter Kay Alexander and the Secretary of State for Health The Rt. Hon. Patricia Hewitt MP were the guest speakers at the sparkling awards ceremony at which local fitness guru Rosemary Conley was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award sponsored bythe Leicestherday Trust.

The winners in each award category were:

BUSINESS WOMAN OF THE YEAR, sponsored by Leicester Mercury

Penny Coates - East Midlands Airport

RURAL BUSINESS WOMAN OF THE YEAR, sponsored by Leicestershire County Council

Kerry Flavell - Medbourne Village Store & Post Office

WOMEN WITH DETERMINATION, sponsored by Jobcentre Plus

Louise Westley – Freedom Link

WOMAN IN THE COMMUNITY, sponsored by LL&R Community Foundation

Saroj Bala Seth

YOUNG ACHIEVER OF THE YEAR, sponsored by Connexions

Kim Mace – Tailor Made Weddings

WOMAN OF THE YEAR, sponsored by O2

Reverend Gill Jackson

Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce would like to thank all those who kindly supported the 2007 awards including Business Link Leicestershire, Headstorm Marketing & Event Management, Redbrand, Leicester City Football Club and Maz Photography.

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.

The latest QDOS news update covered:

The annual changes in compensation limits.
How employers regularly call the QDOS advice service when faced with the problem of whether to accept a resignation during disciplinary action.
The commencement of the new provisions for maternity and adoption pay.
A case review looking at a recent decision of the Employment Appeal Tribunal on the question of changing terms and conditions following a transfer.
The proposed changes to holiday entitlement.

For more information visit www.chamberhr.co.uk

Members who wish to download Word or PDF templates from this website will need their username and password to access this resource. You can obtain this by calling Leicestershire Chamber on Tel: 0116 247 1800.

The move by British gas to reduce domestic bills by 17% signals better times ahead for the business market too according to Utility Auditing Ltd, which supplies the Chamber Utilities service.

February's commercial wholesale gas prices (around 34 pence per therm) have dropped almost 100% since the April 2006 peak when they reached 60 pence per therm and the downward trend looks set to continue.

Jeff Wealands, Technical Director for Utility Auditing, said: "With the availability of new gas pipelines from the Netherlands and Norway, the re-opening of the Rough Gas Storage Field in the North Sea, plus Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) sources now starting to produce, the indications are that the UK currently has a plentiful supply of gas.

"Last year's huge price increases were caused by gas storage problems and fear for security of future. With these fears now diminished, plus the recent spell of warm weather (January 07 was the 2nd warmest on record), prices have returned to levels last seen in August 2004."

Because 40% of electricity is generated from gas, wholesale electricity prices have also followed suit.

"While prices have stabilised and cheaper forward prices are available, the energy market remains highly volatile," added Jeff Wealands. "Energy pricing is firmly tied to global events and weather patterns so there are no guarantees of lower prices remaining. For those businesses who are currently under contract, but want to ensure they find a better future deal, it is possible to lock into cheaper fixed contract rates now."

For further information contact Chamber Utilities on 0845 120 2423, www.chamberutilities.co.uk

LEGISLATIVE NEWS

The Legislation

The use of a hand-held phone, or similar hand-held devices, while driving has been prohibited since 1 December 2003.
From 27th February 2007 the fixed penalty notice increased to £60 and three penalty points on your licence.
If a case goes to court, in addition to the points, discretionary disqualification is added. The existing maximum fine of £1000 (£2500 in the case of a bus/coach or goods vehicle) remains unchanged.
Drivers can be prosecuted for careless driving and more serious offences if they crash because they were distracted by a phone call.
Commercial vehicle drivers using phones can be reported to the Traffic Commissioners.

Hands-free Mobile Phones

Drivers can be prosecuted for using a hands-free mobile phone if they are not in proper control of their vehicle.This is an offence under Regulation 104 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986. The penalties are exactly the same as for the hand-held phone offence.

Employers/Callers

Employers may be prosecuted if:

They cause or permit an employee to drive while using a phone or to not have proper control of the vehicle.
They require an employee to make/receive calls whilst driving.
An employee drives dangerously because they are using a phone installed by the employer.
Callers can be prosecuted for causing or permitting a driver to use a hand held phone or to not have proper control of their vehicle.

Exemptions

There is an exception for calls to 999 or 112 in a genuine emergency, provided it is unsafe or impractical to stop.
Two-way radios are exempt, but not other devices for sending and receiving data i.e. Personal Digital Assistants.

For more information visit www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk.

CHAMBER EVENTS

Date: 20 March
Venue: The Curry Pot, Belgrave Road, Leicester
Time: 6pm – 8.30pm
Cost: £25.00 Members /£35.00 Standard

Leicestershire Chamber invites you to join us for a networking evening with an Indian touch at one of Leicestershire's well-known Indian restaurants.The Curry Pot will be providing a delicious buffet banquet with several Indian starters and main courses, you can eat as much as you like and go back for more as many times as you want.

Date: 19 April
Venue: Campus Centre, De Montfort University, Leicester
Time: 6pm – 8.30pm
Cost: Members £25 / Standard £35 Place only, no display stand (inc. VAT)
Members £55 / Standard £65 Place & Space for display stand (inc. VAT)

Leicestershire Chamber is keen to encourage members to network, linking business of all sizes and sectors together to enable them to meet, exchange views and identify potential new business. 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: 15 May
Venue: Husbands Bosworth Airfield
Time: 10am – 1.30pm or 12.30pm - 4pm
Cost: £45.00 Winch Package or £65.00 Aerotow Package

Experience the spectacular views of south Leicestershire in silent flight from the cockpit of a modern glider with this exclusive discounted opportunity for Chamber members to take the 'Gliding Experience'. Choose from either a flight behind one of the centre's 'tug' aircraft on an aero tow or a 'winch' launch, which gives rapid ascent to 1200 ft or more in less than a minute.

Sponsored by Nelsons
Date: 17 May 2007
Venue: The Boundary Marquee @ County Cricket Ground, Grace Road, Leicester
Time: 6.30pm –10.30pm
Cost: £39.50 Chamber Members / £49.50 Standard
Table of 10: £370.00 Includes three-course dinner with wine and live music.

Vanessa Feltz is a British television and radio personality. In the early 90s, Vanessa presented an eponymous ITV daytime television chat show in the UK, she then moved to the BBC to host a similar show in 1996 and has presented a show on Talk Radio UK. She currently presents a three-hour radio show on BBC London 94.9 from 9am to noon Monday to Saturday.

Date: 22 May
Venue: Parkhill Golf and Leisure Club, Seagrave, near Loughborough
Time: Tee off from 8.30am - 18 Holes
Cost: Members: £49.50 / Standard: £59.50

This event will include a superb day's golf along with breakfast and lunch. Players will be arranged into teams of 4 with a chance to win both individual and team prizes.

Sturgess Volvo is kindly sponsoring a car for a lucky hole in one winner; all other prizes on the day are sponsored by QDOS Consulting.

For more information on these events please call Kam Atker on Tel: 0116 204 6614 or alternatively visit the Chamber website for details of other forthcoming events at: www.chamberofcommmerce.co.uk and select What's On/events

OTHER NEWS

Each year UK packaging production could be generating a carbon footprint equal to London's entire annual CO₂emissions, and it is not only the supermarkets and big name brands which need to take action on packaging says Envirowise. There is huge potential for businesses of all sizes and sectors to reduce the amount of raw material going to waste. For example, more than a third of all waste in the construction sector is made up of unnecessary packaging - some 30 million tonnes each year.

Free support with developing 'cleaner' packaging designs is currently available at www.envirowise.gov.uk/howmuchair where businesses are invited to enter some initial data on their packaging format and usage. They will then receive valuable, free guidance from Envirowise within ten working days, outlining opportunities to innovate and cut waste.

Construction firms can visit www.envirowise.gov.uk/GG606 for industry-specific packaging advice.

East Midlands Development Agency (emda) is pleased to announce changes to the Selective Finance for Investment in England (SFIE) grant scheme which will see more of the region's small businesses - particularly in manufacturing sectors - benefiting from funding.

SFIE is a discretionary scheme delivered by the regional development agencies on behalf of the Department for Trade and Industry (DTI). The scheme is aimed at businesses which need financial help to invest in land and buildings or plant and machinery in order to expand and modernise.

Following a decision by emda's board last month, £8 million of funding is now available to small and medium-sized businesses across the whole of the East Midlandsover the next four years. The scheme was previously only available in certain, more deprived, areas of the region.

emda is particularly looking for applications that demonstrate how companies will improve business productivity and skills levels; develop new products and processes; maximise potential opportunities in niche, fast growing or export markets; or meet the priority sectors and technologies set outin the East Midlands' Regional Economic Strategy.

Grants of up to £140,000 are available to the region's small businesses. Larger grants can still be awarded to larger businesses, but only in certain, more deprived, areas of theEast Midlands that are eligible to receive this type of support.

Mike Carr,emda's Executive Director of Business Services, said: "The SFIE scheme is one of a number of financial support packages that we offer to help more businesses access appropriate funding as they grow. By expanding this particular scheme, we envisage that real benefits will be generated for both the businesses themselves and for the wider economy. We are keen to hear from companies considering investment projects that fall in line with the Regional Economic Strategy priorities, which outline how we aim to secure long-term improvements in competitiveness, employment, productivity and skills to ensure a flourishing region by 2020."

The SFIE scheme criteria are straightforward and relate to location, need, the size and type of the business, the nature and size of the investment, viability, and the quality of the project. To find out if your business is eligible to apply visit www.emda.org.uk/sfi for full details and to download an initial application form.

If you have any enquiries about the SFIE scheme or application process please contact Lewis Stringer,emda’s Business Investment Team Manager on Tel: 0115 988 8305 or email:lewisstringer@emd.org.uk

The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has launched an online eTendering and planning package to help companies compete for up to 2000 contracts throughout the delivery of the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. It is the first time eTendering has been used on a procurement programme of this nature and the ODA is also breaking new ground by enabling main venue contractors to advertise supply chain contracts through the site.

Companies can look ahead at large-scale and direct contracts the ODA intends to sign in the new 'Future Opportunities' www.london2012.com/futureopportunities section of the London 2012 website, they can then tender for them online when the procurement process begins and the contracts go live at: https://etenders.london2012.com .

The search is on to find the most enterprising place in the East Midlands as the regional heat of 'Enterprising Britain 2007' has just been launched and East Midlands Development Agency (emda) is now looking for the place that best demonstrates the entrepreneurial spirit for 2007.

The East Midland's winner will be announced in May and will go forward to compete in the national finals of Enterprising Britain 2007, where the overall UKwinner will be selected.

Alison Bingham, Enterprise Development Manager for emda, said: "This competition is an excellent opportunity to showcase those places with entrepreneurial spirit and with the energy and enthusiasm to drive forward change through enterprise. The competition is open to all, including towns, cities and communities, as well as social enterprises, innovation centres, educational programmes and business organisations. We're happy to advise where people are unsure so please get in touch."

Entries for the regional competition must be received by 17th May.

TheInstituteofDirector’s (IoD) flexible development programmes are designed by directors for directors, senior executives, entrepreneurs and owner managers. They will equip you with the essential strategic skills, knowledge and understanding to direct your organisation. Comprising a series of individual modules, the Certificate and Diploma in Company Direction provides the route to Chartered Director status. IoD programmes use highly focussed material delivered through interactive group work. Contemporary case studies are supported by e-learning. Modules of two and three days provide immediate benefits of readily applicable skills with minimal work disruption and a vital network of like-minded people.

Fror more details contact Liz Taylor at Loughborough University on:e.taylor@lboro.ac.uk

Jems Events, in conjunction with the Prostaid, are organising a dinner dance at the Ramada Hotel, Leicester on March 30th to help raise money and awareness of this local prostate cancer charity. Join Jems for an evening with scrumptious food and unique entertainment. Donations for the auction have been extremely generous, including special items from the David Beckham Academy in Los Angeles!

Tickets are £40, which includes a free raffle entry, drinks reception and a 3-course meal, followed by the chance to play the casino tables and dance the night away.

Contact Jems Events on Tel: 0116 262 7144 for more information.

Work Wise Week this year will run from Wednesday May 16 to Tuesday May 22, and will include National Work from Home Day on Friday May 18.

Work Wise UK is a national not-for-profit initiative to promote smarter working practices such as flexible, remote and mobile working, and working from home. It is supported by a number of leading organisations including the British Chambers of Commerce, CBI, TUC and BT. The objective is for half the working population, some 14 million workers, to have had the opportunity to work smarter by 2011.

In 2006, Work Wise Week, including National Work from Home Day, was a huge success, prompting over 85 television and radio interviews and upwards of 500 articles and news stories. This year media interest is expected to be even stronger.

Work Wise Week 2007 will start with a summit at the QEII Conference Centre in London where Ministers and business leaders will review the progress of the first year of the campaign. The following days will include separate focuses upon the impacts of smarter working on the environment, on transport, on staff welfare, and on the employer through achieving higher productivity. There will also be several regional events around the country following the same themes.

Further information about Work Wise UK can be found on the website: www.workwiseuk.org

Would you like to participate in shaping the future of council housing in Charnwood? Do you want to be part of a new venture, breaking new ground and doing things differently? Would you get satisfaction from improving the quality of life for Charnwood people living in the council's 6000 homes?

Charnwood Borough Council are recruiting five independent shadow board members to their Arms Length Management Organisation which will be responsible for management of council homes in the borough. It will also be tasked with meeting Government's proposals to achieve the decent homes standard to raise the quality of the accommodation.

If successful you and your fellow board members will be managing a multimillion-pound company, making a real difference to the quality of tenants' homes and be involved with shaping the future of housing within the Charnwood Borough.

For a recruitment pack or to find out more about this position please visit the website at: www.charnwood.gov.uk. Closing date 28 March 2007.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

EXPO Pakistan, an annual extravaganza of goods and services produced by Pakistan is coming up once again in 2007. From 29th March to 1st April, the EXPO Center Karachi will be home to an exhibition of the diversity and quality of Pakistan's merchandise and trade related services.

In 2005 Pakistan set up an exhibition for the first time with an international audience in mind. More than 400 local companies, representing all major sectors of industry, manufacturers, retailers, trade associations and commercial service providers, set up stalls in one venue, i.e. the Karachi Expo Centre.

EXPO Pakistan 2005 received an overwhelming response and has since become an annual feature providing a one stop opportunity for the international trader, manufacturer, businessperson and investor to see for themselves the quality and variety which Pakistan's industry and SME's have to offer. With a GDP growth rate averaging at 6% during the last years, Pakistan is one of the fastest growing economies of Asia. With its competitive costs of production, excellent infrastructure, easy availability of raw material and literate human resource, it is now a highly industrious market to reckon with.

One of the largest delegations to visit EXPO 2005 and 2006 were from the UK. They represented retailers, chain stores representatives, buying houses, representatives of the trade and industries associations and private businesses. This reflects the interest of the UK business in Pakistan's market. This would be an excellent sourcing opportunity to explore businesses and investments in Pakistan.

For more information on EXPO Pakistan, visit http://epb.magsnet.net/expo07/ or

email to saira.ahmed@phclondon.org/ or phone: +44 20 7664 9215

Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce has announced that it will be running the following one-day export courses this month:

21st March Export Letter of Credit Course

28th March Import Foundation Course

29th March Enlargement of the EU (Half-day course)

For more details or to make a booking contact Kam Atker, Events Liaison Officer at Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce, on Tel: 0116 204 6614 or email: atker.k@chamberofcommerce.co.uk Alternatively you can visit our website at www.chamberofcommerce.co.uk and select What’s On /Events.