Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce

Issue: July 2008

Business Crime Fraud Forum
Free IT Workshops
Speakers Announced For Top Local Business Event
London 2012 Tender Opportunities
Businesses Invited To Apply For Grants
HR Focus: Cut Business Costs
Business Link Update
ICA Expo 2008
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

Almost all businesses are affected by fraud in one way or another and, as statistics show, a downturn in economic growth, such as that which could be ahead for 2008, often leads to an increase in fraudulent activity. Leicestershire Chamber is organising a fraud forum event in August which will provide an excellent way to bring together all the relevant agencies to tackle fraud and identify the benefit of the public and private sectors joining together.

Leicestershire Police are keen to work closely with the private sector in their efforts to reduce the impact of fraud in the region and to prosecute those who offend. The aim of the Midlands Fraud Forum is to provide an industry led initiative involving public and private sectors to reduce fraud.

Organised by Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with Leicestershire Constabulary, this seminar is free of charge to attend and will take place on Thursday 21st August between 6pm – 8pm at the Leicestershire Constabulary Force Headquarters, St Johns, Enderby.

For more details contact Kam Atker at Leicestershire Chamber on Tel:0116 204 6614, email: atker.k@chamberofcommerce.co.uk or visit www.chamberofcommerce.co.uk and select what’s on/events

A series of free IT workshops, designed for SMEs and supported by Business Link, are scheduled for the coming months. Details are as follows:

Date: Breakfast Briefings:

24 July Breakfast Briefing – ebusiness Law
18 Aug Breakfast Briefing – Google at Work

Date: Workshops:

10 July     ICT & Information Security (AM) half day
12 Aug     Lets Start Blogging (AM)
12 Aug     Understanding Microsoft VISTA (PM)
26 Aug     Successful Search Engine Optimisation

In addition a number of web academy clinics, funded by Leicester Shire Economic Partnership, will be running at the Beauchamp College Training Centre. The clinics will run one day a week over a 3 week period and you will need to commit to all three dates. The clinics are free for delegates to attend but only companies based within Leicestershire, with a Leicestershire postcode, will be eligible to book. Details are as follows:

WebAcademyClinics – Online Marketing

Date: 20 Oct / 24 Oct / 4 Nov
Time: 8.30am – 5pm

WebAcademyClinics - Online Marketing

Date: 11 Nov/ 17 Nov / 25 Nov
Time: 8.30am – 5pm

For more details contact Kam Atker at Leicestershire Chamber on Tel: 0116 204 6614, Email: atker.k@chamberofcommerce.co.uk or visit the Ebusiness website at: www.ebusinessclub.biz

OTHER NEWS

Leicester Business Event (LBE) 2008, the premier event for small and medium businesses in the Leicestershire region, will provide all the expertise entrepreneurs need to help increase their business potential.

The free conference will feature a number of high profile keynote speakers, well-known business owners and experts on the issues that entrepreneurs face while developing their business.

Speakers include Alastair Campbell entrepreneur behind the award-winning Ideal Marketing Company who will present the seminar entitled Marketing Breakthrough – the 17 key marketing areas to put your time, money and effort into. Learn how to gain more media coverage, improve direct mail response rates and convert more prospects as well as a host of other important marketing topics in this informative and fast moving seminar.

The conference will also feature an investor presentation showcasing a selection of businesses looking for investment to take their business forward, aimed at young, fast-growing companies. This session is a must attend for investors and funding providers. Any companies wishing to present should call 0116 240 2330.

The exhibition will feature leading specialists in small business management with superb solutions to help businesses increase their efficiency and improve their profitability and develop sustainable growth. Professionals including accountants, lawyers and small business support services will be on hand to advise visitors on all aspects of developing their business.

LBE also wants to address a number of issues and practicalities that affect business owners, ranging from tax and law matters to financial advice, and so anyone who would like to take part should contact Elaine Vandelli on 07802 492348.

To find out more information about speakers and exhibitors at LBE visit www.leicesterbusinessevents.co.uk

The Leicester Business Event is open from 9am on Wednesday 1st October 2008. For tickets call the hotline on 0116 240 2330 or email: info@hi2events.co.uk

Two of London 2012’s tier one contractors are currently advertising supply chain opportunities on the construction of the Olympic Park. These include the provision of scaffolding services, electrical and plumbing works and the supply of aggregates and concrete for the Athletes’ Village.

All of these opportunities are advertised on CompeteFor, the website supported byemda,which matches London 2012 opportunities to relevant suppliers. To be automatically matched to opportunities businesses must register and publish their profile. To find out more visit www.london2012.com/business

East Midlands Tourism (EMT), East Midlands Development Agency’s (emda) tourism arm is offering £2.4million of grant funding to support projects that will improve the quality of tourism in theEast Midlands and provide a boost to the region’s visitor economy.

Investment in the tourism infrastructure has been identified as a priority in EMT’s 2008 -2011 strategic plan. The provision of grant funding will help deliver a stronger tourism offer for both domestic and international markets. Projects that will be considered for funding need to be innovative, sustainable (environmentally, economically and socially) and should demonstrate the potential to give the region a competitive edge over other UK tourist destinations. The aim is to fund projects that inspire visitors and challenge perceptions of the region, encouraging new visits and lengthening stays.

Businesses in Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire and Rutland are all eligible to apply and have until 25 July 2008 to make a formal expression of interest, the first stage in the application process.

Full details of the application timetable are available online alongside a number of other application support documents. Further information on how to apply and eligibility can be found on www.eastmidlandstourism.com or by contacting tourism@emd.org.uk

We all have a duty to help in reducing carbon emissions as well as encouraging good work place practices that reduce waste and extravagance. The HR function in a company should help lead the way by pro-actively encouraging the business and the workforce to adopt some simple measures to make reductions.

Here are some simple ways in which the business and the environment can benefit:

Switch it off- Switch off unnecessary lighting. Where lights are not needed for productive work or for health and safety reasons then make sure they are turned off.

Reducing monitor waste- Is that computer turned off? Don’t just let your laptop hibernate or your work station tick over, turn it off. At night when you leave the office do you check to make sure that both the hard drive and the monitor are switched off? The number of monitors that hum along on stand by eating up power all night is colossal. Turn it off!

Is that journey necessary? -Think before making a business journey, could it be done in a better way? Is it necessary at this time? Can it be combined with another journey? Can video/telephone conferencing be used instead?

Is that printed copy needed? -Why do we seem to have to print every thing that is sent when an electronic copy and back up would almost certainly suffice.

Is that printer necessary? -A good way to help reduce printing costs is to cut the number of network printers and stop buying individual desk printers. Undertake an audit of the staff who really need a printer, they should be only the ones who have to print confidential information and even then only those who need to do it on a regular substantial basis.

These are just a few of the hints and tips that are available all across the business network. HR needs to help business cut costs and maintain margins as the credit crunch hardens. Prepare a policy and send it electronically to your staff.

For more information and assistance visit the ChamberHR website www.chamberhr.co.uk or telephone the ChamberHR advice line on Tel: 02920 349614

Alan Hunt – Qdos Consulting Limited providers of ChamberHR

BUSINESS LINK UPDATE

Whatever trading challenges the summer may bring, planning ahead will help to keep things on track. Summer can be the busiest time of year for some companies, for others there may be a severe drop in trade. So if your staff, suppliers or customers take a holiday make sure you can cope with the impact on your business and its cashflow.

"Planning puts you in a much better position to cope with the fluctuations of trade," explains David Polkey, spokesman for Business Link. "When things get really busy, it's easy to overlook simple things like asking staff when they want to take their holidays."

To read the full article visit:

http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/layer?r.l1=5000617867&topicId=5001072999&site=140

Use Business Link East Midlands tools and guides to get advice that could help your business combat the effects of the credit crunch.

The potential impact of the credit crunch may be a worry for some businesses. Business Link have a range of resources that can help organisations take steps to protect themselves and prepare for the adverse business conditions. The business health check tool can help identify areas that could help improve performance and your chances of survival. It is also important to think about managing risk in order to prevent crises that can be foreseen.

To read the full article visit:

http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/eastmidlands/creditcrunch

Many businesses do the majority of their trading during a short period each year. Examples include retailers selling Christmas accessories and businesses in the tourist and farming sectors. The challenges faced by seasonal businesses are unique.

This guide from Business Link East Midlands outlines a range of advice for seasonal businesses. It starts with cashflow planning - a concern for every business, but a particular problem for seasonal businesses managing a short burst of revenue which must meet their liabilities throughout the year.

To read the full article visit:

http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/layer?topicId=1073981161&site=140

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

The British Portuguese Chamber of Commerce has asked us to promote ICA Expo 2008 ICA International Co-operative Alliance, the first official fair of the co-operative business, organized by ICA International Co-operative Alliance.

This World Co-operatives Exhibition will be held in Lisbon, from 23rd to 25th October 2008,
and is a real opportunity to show the values, achievements, growth, importance and, most of all, to highlight how much of a player the Co-operative movement is, in the Global Economy and is the biggest world co-operative exhibition, aiming to increase business opportunities to a global level.

The event is directed at suppliers or buyers of the following products and services:

Industrialized food
Drinks, juices and coffee
Frozen food
Canned food, preserves and oil
Seafood
Milk and derivates
Diet and organic products
Bread making products
Ice-creams, chocolates and sweets
Fruits and vegetables
Gifts and handicrafts
Floriculture
Commodities
Services and labour
Technology
Other industrialized products

There are several ways to be a part of ICA EXPO 2008, either as a buyer or suppliers. More information can be found on the website of the organization http://www.icaexpo.coop .

CHAMBER EVENTS

Sponsored by The Business Booster
Date:19 August
Venue: Highpoint Conference Centre, Leicester
Time: 12 noon - 2pm
Cost: £20 includes glass of wine or juice and BBQ food

The Chamber's Summer Networking Luncheon provides a wonderful opportunity to enjoy an informal summer barbeque in the inspiring setting of Highpoint, who are kindly hosting this event. Attendees will be able to network and exchange company literature over a glass of wine and a buffet barbeque

Date:21 August
Venue: Leicestershire Constabulary HQ, Enderby
Time: 6 – 8pm
Cost: Free

Almost all businesses are affected by fraud in one way or another and as statistics show, a downturn in economic growth, such as that which could be ahead for 2008, often leads to an increase in fraudulent activity. The fraud forum will provide an excellent way to bring together all the relevant agencies to tackle fraud and identify the benefit of the public and private sectors joining together.

Date: 9 September
Venue: Leicester Tigers Ground,Leicester
Time: 7:30am - 9am
Cost: Chamber Members £25 / Standard £35

Join us for this highly informative seminar, one in a series of seminars by Julian Middleton MA LLM, Managing Partner in Commercial Litigation at Freeth Cartwright Solicitors.

Date: 7 October
Venue: Spice ofIndia, Syston
Time: 6pm – 8.30pm
Cost: Chamber Members £25 / Standard £35

Leicestershire Chamber invites you to a networking evening with an Indian touch at one of Leicestershire's well-known Indian restaurants. The Spice of India 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: 7 October
Venue: The National Space Centre, Leicester
Time: 8am – 10.30am
Cost: Free

This short presentation will give you tips on how to grow your business and deal with those every day challenges. This educational, informative & inspirational seminar will also show businesses that there is another way of doing business. Everything around us has changed, computers, cars, phones, yet we are still doing business in the same way as we would have 10 years ago. The market places are changing and the way a consumer buys has changed, this seminar will show businesses how to combat all of these challenges.

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