Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce

Issue: April 2008

50,000 Reason To Enter Chamber Awards
Information Is Good For Business
Don’t Be Branded An Energy Waster
Business Protection and Web Academy Clinics
Chamber Supports Premier Business Event
Lord Lawson Event In Aid Of Charity
Targeting Investors
Regeneration Site Tour
Government To Target Employers
GradToBusiness
Business Link Update
The Musical Interlude
New Opportunities in UAE
Sichuan-Leicestershire Business Matchmaking Event
Explore Motorsports Market in China
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 to Sharon Jeffrey on 0116 204 6618 to discuss sponsorship opportunities, preferential rates are available for Chamber Members.

CHAMBER NEWS

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is encouraging UK businesses to enter this year's Chamber Awards, for the chance to win £50,000 courtesy of the RBS Group. Now in its fifth year, the Chamber Awards 2008 sets out to identify outstanding business achievement within the UK business community. There are eight different categories of awards and companies can enter as many as they wish. The categories comprise:

Most Promising New Business
Award for Innovation Through Technology
The Green Award
Entrepreneur of The Year
Achievement in International Business
Award for Excellence in People Development
Business of the Year
Award for Excellence in Customer service

The top prize of £50,000 will be awarded to the company that the judges agree should win the overall Award for Outstanding Business Achievement and will be announced along with the national winners at the gala dinner and award ceremony on 27th November 2008 at the Natural History Museum in London.

The Chamber Awards will be judged in two stages at both a regional and national level. The closing date for entries is 27th June 2008. Those businesses that enter by May 30th 2008 will be entered in a draw to receive a £200 voucher from a selection of high street retailers.

Entry forms and judging criteria can be obtained by visiting: www.chamberawards.co.uk. All entry forms must be completed and submitted electronically. The awards are open to all businesses

Let the Chamber of Commerce protect your business. Using our position as part of a nationwide organisation containing approximately 100,000 UK businesses the Chamber has access to the best credit-checking facilities to help your company.

Our comprehensive status reports have proved very popular with many of our members and contain a wide range of information to give you a better idea of who you are dealing with. Recent changes see the inclusion of a written precis of the accounts for easier understanding by non-accountants. If you are unsure about the creditworthiness of a potential client or supplier it definitely makes sound business sense to find out as much as you can before signing up to any deal. Our status reports on all limited and many non-limited companies, both in the UK and abroad, can be emailed straight to you for your convenience.

For more details call Danny Whitehead on Tel: 0116 204 6613 or email: leics@chamberofcommerce.co.uk.

Owners of public and commercial buildings should go on a carbon cutting diet now if they don't want to be named and shamed once energy performance certification becomes compulsory this year.

“No building owner wants to carry the public embarrassment of an abysmal rating for their building’s energy performance,” said Liam McDonagh, Operations Manager for Utility Auditing, which provides the Chamber Utilities™ service.

Liam, who is a Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) qualified low carbon consultant, added: “If they want to avoid being labelled as an energy waster, they need to take urgent steps to improve their energy efficiency now. Buildings are likely to be rated from A-G and so for the first time, there will be real transparency of a building’s energy performance. Certification will affect property values, with the more efficient buildings attracting a market premium, so there is a powerful business case to start preparing immediately.”

The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) requires owners of public buildings over 1,000m square metres to have a display energy certificate (DEC) by 1 October 2008. The DEC will have to be displayed in a prominent place to enable the public to easily interpret how well the building performs. Other non-domestic buildings that are constructed, sold or rented will need to have an energy performance certificate (EPC), which are being phased in by building size:

6 April 2008 Buildings with floor areas greater than 10,000m square metres
1 July 2008 Buildings with floor areas greater than 2,500 square metres
1 October 2008 All remaining non-domestic buildings

“The good news is that businesses can use the Chamber Utilities™ service to take some quick and simple, low cost steps to reduce their carbon emissions, while cutting their gas and electricity bills at the same time,” added Liam.

He continued: “Building owners can take advantage of professional support available through Chamber Utilities™, including funded carbon trust surveys for eligible organisations, which will identify the waste within your business and make fully costed recommendations for improving efficiency and saving money. The Carbon Trust also offers interest free loans to offset the cost of investing in energy efficiency.”

Energy use in buildings accounts for 47% of total UK energy consumption. Government research has shown that organisations can reduce energy consumption by up to 20% by applying cost effective measures.

For help and advice in preparing for energy performance certification, or for access to Carbon Trust services, contact Chamber Utilities™ on Tel: 0845 120 2423 or visit: www.chamberutilities.co.uk

With more and more press coverage of organisations that lose or misuse personal data now is the time to get a head start on how you can take steps to protect the information that is the life blood of your business.

Take advantage of the chance to attend one of the free events listed below for a short presentation designed to give you the information and awareness you need about information security. Whether you are worried about virus attacks, losing personal data or just want to know what is happening in the world of e-crime, this is the event for you!

The morning will start with a light breakfast, registration and networking at 8.30 am, and the presentation will begin at 9am, ending at 10.30 am with an opportunity to ask some questions and carry on networking with the experts, other delegates and Business Link business support advisers.

Leicestershire Events:

23 May 2008 Three Swans Hotel, Market Harborough
27 June 2008 Highpoint Conference Centre, Leicester

We have also scheduled some Web Academy Clinics to run from May 2008 – February 2009 at Beauchamp College Training Centre. The Web Academy Clinics are funded by Leicester Shire Economic Partnership.

The Web Academy Clinics covering the topic of Online Marketing will run one day a week over 3 weeks and you will need to commit to all three dates.

The Web Academy Clinics are free for delegates to attend and will be available to SME’s.

Please note that only companies with a Leicestershire postcode will be eligible to book onto these Clinics.

Web Academy Clinics covering Online Marketing over three weeks
Time: 8.30am – 5.00pm

9th May 2008
22nd May 2008
28th May 2008

For more information call Kam Atker on Tel: 0116 2046614 or visit: www.ebusinessclub.biz

OTHER NEWS

The aim of the Leicester Business Event (LBE) is to provide local and regional businesses with a showcase which will enable them to take a proactive role in their own promotion. Following on from the success of the 2007 launch, this year's event will be the biggest business to business event in the Leicester area and is set to become a very successful annual event, which will help businesses gain new clients and retain existing customers.

By keeping the costs as low as possible, LBE has brought exhibiting within the reach of the smaller organisation to give them a wider exposure to businesses that other marketing and advertising mediums simply cannot give for the same money. Businesses can exhibit at LBE for just £400 plus VAT for a 3m X 2m space, to include refreshments and after show exhibitor networking.

In order to add value to the Leicester Business Event, as well as a Networking Area, which will provide the chance to meet new customers and gain new business in a relaxed atmosphere, LBE are arranging a series of free business seminars of interest to both exhibitors and visitors, details of which will be available shortly.

With free admission and free parking for visitors, LBE are confident that the Leicester BusinessEvent 2008, to be held at the Walkers Stadium, Leicester on 1stOctober, will be the most successful event of its kind in the area.

You canraise the profile of your company by becoming a sponsor of the Leicester Business Event, for more information email: elaine@hi2events.co.uk or visit: www.leicesterbusinessevents.co.uk

The Rotary Club of Blaby is hosting an event with guest speaker Lord Nigel Lawson in aid of local charity LOROS. On the evening of the 22nd April
Lord Lawson of Blaby will talk about Global Warming: An Alternative View. This event will be held at the Ramada Jarvis Hotel in Leicester and tickets (which include an evening meal and coffee) cost £37.50 per person or £350 per table of ten. For more details call the Rotary Club of Blaby on Tel: 0116 277 5577

Invest Leicestershire is offering an exclusive opportunity to encourage potential investors to bring their families to experience Leicester and Leicestershire. The ‘Experience Leicestershire’ package offers guided trips around the city and county to help new recruits, potential investors and relocating businesses to familiarise themselves with what the destination has to offer.

The ‘Stay Play Explore’ family-oriented promotion has now been added to this offer – allowing people to bring the family on their visit with tickets to the leading family fun visitor attractions in Leicestershire – National Space Centre, Conkers, Twycross Zoo, Twinlakes and Snibston. For more information call: 0116 225 4071 or email: invest@l-p-l.com

Leicester City Council and other partner organisations are investing £3 billion in the regeneration of the city, making it a better place in which to live, work, shop and to visit. In partnership with Invest Leicestershire at Leicester Shire Promotions RICS are inviting local business people to tour the regeneration sites around Leicester on a guided open top bus and enjoy a networking reception at the National Space Centre.

For more details visit:http://www.rics.org/ricsweb/actions/areyouamember.aspx?eventid=6483

or contact RICS East Midlands on Tel: 01636 677184 or email: EMEvents@rics.org

With the Government facing heavy criticism in 2007 regarding the amount of illegal workers currently being employed throughout the UK, February 2008 saw a turning point in the Government's strategy to tackle employers that knowingly hire illegal workers.

The Government has increased the maximum financial penalty for employers that are found to have hired an illegal worker from £5,000 to £10,000 along with the possibility of a two year prison sentence. In essence, the principal of financial penalties and custodial sentences are not ground breaking, as these have been operating to a lesser degree since before 1996. However, not one case of the previous fine of £5,000 has ever been bought. It is important for employers to note that the penalties would be implemented for each illegal worker found, not per employer.

The twist comes in that the Government have launched the new regulations through a multi thousand pound media campaign and have dedicated money, resource and time in policing employers; it is believed that they are looking to make an example of unethical employers.

In the event of 'unknowingly' hiring a worker that does not have the right to work in the UK, employers will need to be able to provide evidence that they did carry out checks to establish their belief that the worker had the legal right to work in theUK. The easiest way to establish this and certainly the most common is to view the original passport or travel document, upon checking this, employers should review (and take a copy of):

The holder’s personal details, including nationality
The holder’s photograph
The holder’s signature
The date of expiry
A visa or entitlement to enter or remain in the UK and undertake the work in question

Employers will also be responsible for:

Verifying that employees are the rightful owner of the documents they have presented
Checking the photograph against the workers appearance
Retaining a copy or copies securely for a period of not less that two years after termination of the employment

For employees with time-limited leave to be in the UK, employers are guided to carry out repeat checks at least once a year.

Qdos would remind employers that in order to avoid claims of discrimination, the identity checks should be carried out for all new workers, rather than solely targeting foreign nationals.

For more information on avoiding illegal workers, you should contact the advice line on Tel: 02920 349614 or visit: www.chamberhr.co.uk

Gradtobusiness works for businesses in the East Midlands, helping them find the brightest most promising students in the UK for practical work placements. It brings to businesses a fresh perspective, new skills and enthusiasm, and helps students to develop their skills in a business environment.

The graddtobusiness summer programme 2008 is specifically designed to match small and medium sized businesses with talented undergraduates for 8 week placements over the summer. Operating from July to September, the programme gives businesses full access to highly skilled undergraduates for any outstanding specialist project e.g. compilation of marketing strategies, new product design and market development.

Costs are £2000 + VAT payable before the placement begins and graddtobusiness will deal with all of the paperwork, which includes payment of the undergraduate's training allowance.

Visit www.graddtobusiness.org.uk to view case studies, news articles and find out more about the programme.

The Philharmonia Orchestra's concert on Friday 23 May 2008 at 7.30pm will mark part of a special Vaughan Williams anniversary celebration, marking the 50th anniversary of the composer's death.

Click here for more information and booking details.

The Philharmonia Orchestra is proud to be a member of Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce

BUSINESS LINK UPDATE

Although it was a Budget containing few surprises, Chancellor Alistair Darling unveiled plans to reduce red tape, improve access to finance and simplify the tax system in the 2008 Budget.

Darling also attempted to reassure businesses about the economic outlook, predicting that while UK GDP is forecast to slow from three per cent in 2007, to between 1.75 per cent and 2.25 per cent in 2008, it will pick up to between 2.25 per cent and 2.75 per cent in 2009.

“We will do everything in our power to maintain stability; keeping inflation and interest rates low, and maintaining our record of growth,” he said.

The Chancellor went on to pledge that the Budget would provide stability and certainty for businesses, as well as new opportunities for entrepreneurs.

For more information visit: http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/eastmidlands/budget

Businesses are increasingly told they must use Web 2.0 technology to build their customer base online. But what is it and how can it help your business, if at all?

Research by IT consultancy Capgemini has found that one pound in every seven spent in theUKlast year on consumer goods, such as electricals and clothing, was spent online - a 50 per cent rise on 2006. The potential to generate revenue online is massive but many small businesses have yet to fully tap into the online marketplace.

For more information visit: http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/layer?r.l1=5000617867&topicId=5001005010&site=140

Debbie set up Debbie Bryan Ltd in February 2007. She has turned her passion, collecting textile treasures and nostalgic keepsakes of bygone eras, into a successful business producing innovative, handmade fashion accessories.

In addition to the established collections Debbie works closely with retailers and galleries to produce special limited edition collections. Debbie explains how Business Link helped her to grow and develop an international business.

For more information visit:

http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?type=CASE%20STUDIES&site=140&itemId=5000707959

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Date: 30th April 2008
Venue: The Arab-British Chamber of Commerce
43 Upper Grosvenor St
London
Time: 3.30 pm – 6.00 pm

The Arab Export club event will be focusing on the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The UAE economy is booming , and its programme of investment and privatisation offers huge opportunities for UK businesses.

Trade between the two countries is growing at a fast pace and UK business are increasingly participating in the UAE property and construction services.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of twinning links between Leicestershire and Sichuan Province, China, Mr Huang Xiaoxiang, Vice Governor of Sichuan, is bringing a trade delegation of up to 50 businesses to Leicester to seek business partners, distributors and investment opportunities.

The date is currently scheduled as June 17th in Leicester and the East Midlands China Business Bureau is working with partners to organise the business matchmaking event on the day.

For further details or register your interest please email: CherylCranness@emd.org.uk or Tel: 0116 257 5611

Date: 19- 23 May

Significant business opportunities exist in Shanghai as a result of a shift in commercial policies by the Jiushi Corporation. This visit offers a unique opportunity to have face-to-face meetings with the Shanghai International Circuit (SIC) management to discuss how you could be involved in the future development of the circuit - an excellent opportunity to meet some of the key players in Chinese motorsport.

For more information contact Claire McQuillan on Tel: 01332 826433, email: Claire.mcquillan@uktiem.co.uk or visit: http://www.emids.uktradeinvest.gov.uk/events/viewevent.asp?viewEvent=516

CHAMBER EVENTS

Date: 22 April
Venue: Stanford Hall, nr Lutterworth
Time: 6pm - 8:30pm
Cost: Chamber members £25/ Standard £30

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 Stanford Hall this event gives members an opportunity to network and exchange company literature with fellow attendees over a glass of wine as well as participating in tours of this wonderful venue.

Date: 13 May
Venue: Westfield House Hotel, Blaby
Time: 8am - 9:30am
Cost: Chamber members £25 / Standard £35

Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce has organised another of its popular breakfast speed networking events sponsored by The Business Booster. Looking for new contacts? Want to raise your business profile? Then bring along your business cards and join us for this event, which aims to bring together the business community to enjoy networking opportunities with a full English breakfast in the comfortable surroundings of the Westfield House Hotel.

Date: 16 May
Venue: Kibworth Golf Club, Kibworth Beauchamp
Time: 8:30am – 4pm
Cost: Chamber Members £49.50 / Standard £59.50

This year's corporate hospitality golf day will take place at Kibworth Golf Club and includes 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, with Sturgess kindly sponsoring a car for a lucky hole in one winner; all other prizes are sponsored by QDOS Consulting.

Date: 20 May
Venue: The Gliding Centre, Husbands Bosworth
Time: 9.30am – 2pm
Cost: Winch Package £45 /Aerotow Package £65

Experience the spectacular views of south Leicestershire in silent flight from the cockpit of a modern glider - an exclusive, discounted opportunity for Chamber members to take the ‘Gliding Experience.’

Date: 16 June
Venue: Barcelo, Hinckley Island Hotel, Hinckley
Time: 12 noon – 2pm
Cost: Chamber members £25 + VAT
Limited exhibition stand space @ £20 + VAT
Price includes a buffet meal and drink on arrival

Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce are pleased to bring you “Networking with the Neighbours” a new event, sponsored by Parkes Office and Event Solutions Limited, which will give you an opportunity to speed network with members of Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber - raising your profile across a whole new region, making business acquaintances and increasing potential business opportunities.

Date: 17 June
Venue: Kilworth House Hotel Open Air Theatre, South Leics
Time: 6pm - 10pm
Cost: £48 to include show ticket and refreshments.

For many years now Integra has been hosting an annual corporate hospitality evening and this year, at the open-air theatre set amidst the magnificent surroundings of the Kilworth House Hotel in south Leicestershire, the show will be the ever-popular musical "Oklahoma".

Networking events organised by the Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce are sponsored by The Business Booster.

For more information on these Chamber events please call Kam Atker on Tel: 0116 204 6614, email: atker.k@chamberofcommerce.co.uk or alternatively you can visit the Chamber website at: www.chamberofcommmerce.co.uk and select What’s On/events