Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce

Issue: April 2007

Chance to have your say - BCC launches national travel survey
Discover business opportunities in the Libyan market
Countdown to a smoke free workplace – are you ready?
Don’t eat and drive – the new legislation
University appeal to business leaders – could you be a judge?
Invite to Leicester Shire Day: “Our future is your business”
Boost your company profile by providing auction prizes
Olympic business opportunities – register for the latest tenders
Raising money for Rainbows
Science & Innovation Saturday - find out how the University of Leicester could work with your company
Forthcoming Chamber events

If your company would like to help the Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce continue to provide this informative e-newsletter Good Morning Leicestershire and raise the profile of your own business at the same time then please talk toSharon Jeffreyon 0116 204 6618 to discuss sponsorship opportunities, preferential rates are available for Chamber Members.

CHAMBER NEWS

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is launching a new survey… in collaboration with the RAC Foundation to look into the travel businesses make during the normal working day.

The survey will run for 4 weeks. Once the results of each have been analysed they will be studied by an expert panel, which will feed into the final report expected to be published in October.

BCC and the RAC Foundation are seeking to understand how and by what method businesses travel during the day and what might be done to reduce this need.

Technology is changing fast and already it is possible to use video or teleconferencing facilities that negate the need to travel. There are also many company initiatives designed to reduce car travel and to encourage the use of public transport. However, there are many barriers that currently exist such as the availability of broadband or access to bus routes, which make car travel necessary.

the survey link is: http://www.chamberonline.co.uk/YfE5qnpohOhB8A.html

The survey will end on Friday 11thMay

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

The Libyan market re-opened to foreign investors in 1999…following the restoration of diplomatic relations and the suspension of sanctions.

Arab-British Export Club

25th April 2007 at 3.30pm - 6.00pm
43 Upper Grosvenor Street, London W1K 2NJ

Economic reform is a top priority for Libya and there are ambitious plans to diversify the economy with the development of sectors such as tourism. Business relations with the UK are developing rapidly with numerous co-operative ventures opening up. Now is the time to explore this exciting new market.

What are the opportunities? At this event a range of speakers familiar with the market will address current opportunities for UK companies in construction, education, skills and leisure, financial and legal services, healthcare, oil and gas, mass transport (airports, ports and logistics) and telecommunications.

Attendance is free of charge but please register by contacting Layla Derraz on Tel: 020 7659 4860 or email:layla.derraz@abcc.org.uk

LEGISLATIVE NEWS

Friday 23rd March marked the start of the 100-day countdown to implementation of the smoke free legislation in England on 1 July 2007.

The Department of Health has produced comprehensive guidance for businesses, detailing all elements of the legislation and making clear to employers what they need to do between now and 1 July to ensure they are compliant. Copies are available to download from the Smokefree England website at www.smokefreeengland.co.uk/resources . The guidance is being mailed to all registered employing businesses inEngland(1.7m) during April along with free copies of the no-smoking signs.

If you have any queries on the guidance please email campaign@smokefreeengland.co.uk, or call the campaign line on 020 7492 0980.

The recent fine and penalty points awarded to a Manchester salesman for driving whilst eating a sandwich….has sent a warning shot to businesses around the country, according to leading fleet and fuel management company Arval.

Under the extension of the Road Safety Act, which came into force on 27th February, eating behind the wheel is also punishable with the same severity as using a mobile phone. However explanation of this consequence to the public has been somewhat limited.

Reading a map, businesses documents or drinking whilst driving are all included under the Road Safety Act penalty system, which dictates a mandatory 3 points and £60 fine.

Mike Waters, Head of Market Analysis at Arval, said: “It is still unclear how police in each region will enforce the new legislation but the determining factor of punishment across the board is the inability of drivers to maintain control of their vehicle whilst undertaking these activities. The only way to prevent drivers receiving multiple penalties is for businesses and fleet managers to encourage an overall ban on eating, drinking and reading whilst behind the wheel. Hopefully this will encourage habitual driver behaviour to take more frequent breaks and reduce the temptation to multi-task when driving on company business.”

OTHER NEWS

An appeal is going out to local business leaders…and professionals to act as judges at an event aimed at showcasing the best of student research at theUniversity of Leicester.

The university is ranked as a top 20 research university and is planning to stage a festival showcasing exciting and innovative postgraduate research to businesses and members of the public.

The Festival of Postgraduate Research on 29 June introduces employers to the next generation of innovators and cutting-edge researchers, and gives postgraduate researchers the opportunity to explain the real world implications of their research to a wide-ranging audience.

The university is seeking local professionals and business representatives to act as judges at the festival. Judges will be required to assess the poster presentations given by researchers from disciplines across the university including the biological sciences, business, science, engineering, education, social science and the arts.

Aimée Wildsmith, Employer Liaison Manager, said: "Volunteering to act as a judge at the festival represents a time commitment of around 4 hours from 10am onwards. No academic background or specialist knowledge is required to take part and full briefing and judging criteria will be provided on the day. A complimentary lunch is included during which you will have the opportunity to speak to researchers and senior university staff."

Anyone interested in being a judge at this year's Festival of Postgraduate Research should contact Aimée Wildsmith by 8thJune. Tel: 0116 252 5117 or email:aw130@le.ac.uk

Leicester Shire Economic Partnership (LSEP) would like to invite you to LeicesterShire Day 2007:"Our Future is Your Business" at the Leicester Marriott Hotel on Tuesday 15th May 8.00am – 1.00pm.

LSEP is about to begin the process of developing a new economic strategy for Leicester and Leicestershire. The ambition is to make the strategy visionary and robust by the active participation of the business community in defining and shaping it. LSEP need your opinions on key issues as to what direction this strategy should take and what issues are important to you. This strategy will be a blueprint for growth for at least the next ten years and will directly influence the delivery of public services. If Leicester Shire businesses are to be increasingly successful then a clear focus is required and businesses must input in to the Economic Strategy so that it is right for them.Through your involvement, you will be creating an environment where your business can flourish.

LSEP would like you to come along and find out how you can make this work for you and for the future economic prosperity of Leicester and Leicestershire.

For more information about Leicester Shire Day or to register to attend you can go online at www.leicestershireday.co.uk.

A Star Wars anniversary dinner is seeking local business support.

Ever had the urge to pick up a Lightsaber or meet Darth Vader face to face?

The National Space Centre and the UK Garrison are hosting a special Star Wars 30th Anniversary dinner with stars from the films on 4th May to raise money for three major UK charities - Kalpana Chawla Foundation, Medicinema and Make-a-Wish Foundation.

The event needs your help - can you provide an auction prize? Your details will be included in the auction programme and on any bidding information by way of thanks. If you can help in any way please let call 0116 258 2103 or email: malikaa@spacecentre.co.uk

All money raised by this event will go to charity so this is your opportunity to make a difference and have a great night out at the National Space Centre. Stars attending the event to date include Kenny Baker (R2D2), Paul Blake (Greedo), Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett), Scott Capurro (Fode), Garrick Hagon (Biggs Darklighter) and Ian Liston (Wes Janson).

Tickets are priced at £40 including 3-course dinner with coffee, champagne on arrival, wine with the meal and all entertainment. If you would like to help by joining the event and hosting a table call 0116 261 0261 (select opt. 7).

The Olympic Delivery Authority has announced a new tender…for the construction of structures, bridges and highways in the Olympic Park.

A number of tenders have been announced recently, so it would be worth companies registering directly for these email alerts. They can do so by going to www.london2012.com/business.

A local company MD is hoping to raise around £10,000 for a local charity.

Graham Clarkson, Managing Director of growing independent financial advisers Clarkson Wayman Ball based in Market Harborough, will be running the London Marathon on Sunday April 22nd and hopes to raise around £10,000 for the Rainbows children's hospice in Loughborough.

Graham put his name forward to Rainbows a few months ago, along with several other potential runners, and his name was pulled out of the hat to fill the one place that Rainbows have been allocated for the London Marathon in the last five years. Graham says: "I feel very honoured to have been selected and am determined to train hard, complete the run of over 26 miles in a good time and, most of all, try to raise lots of money for Rainbows".

Graham has never run a marathon before, but has been a fun runner for many years and has completed a few half marathons. Graham hopes that family, friends and business colleagues will all support his run. All you have to do to support Graham and Rainbows is log on to www.justgiving.com/grahamclarkson where you can sponsor him with a credit or debit card.

Clarkson Wayman Ball was short-listed for the `Success through People` award in the Leicestershire Business awards in 2006 and was recently granted the prestigious and internationally renowned ISO 9001 accreditation, one of very few companies in their business sector to be given this recognition in the UK.

Science and Innovation Saturday is a free event…for you to meet with University of Leicester scientists and engineers and find out how your business can get an 'innovation injection'!

12th May 2007 @ University of Leicester

10.00 am to 1.00 pm

Discover how the university could work with your company by providing winning solutions tailored to your needs including: joint ventures, contract research, studentships, consultancy, training, and use of university equipment.

There will be guided tours of the university and local business support organisations on hand to give advice on funding opportunities, intellectual property issues and technology transfer. There will be plenty of chances to network plusentertainment for the whole family!

The University of Leicesteris a leading teaching and research university. One of only 21 British Universities in the world’s top 200, it is ranked 18th(out of 110) by the Times Good University Guide.

The event is being organised as part of the first region-wide Innovation Festival taking place across theEast Midlandsfrom March to May. Supported by Innovation East Midlands and emda, the iFestival will be the largest collective celebration of innovation the region has seen.

For further details contact Linda Mee, Business Development Manager, on Tel: 0116 252 5926, or email: ljm18@le.ac.uk

CHAMBER EVENTS

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.

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

Vanessa Feltz is a British television and radio personality. In the early 90s, Vanessa presented an eponymous ITV daytime television chat show in theUK, she then moved to the BBC to host a similar show in 1996 and has presented a show on Talk RadioUK. She currently presents a three-hour radio show on BBC London 94.9 from9am to noon Monday to Saturday.