IN THE FEBRUARY GOOD MORNING LEICESTERSHIRE
- Latest Chamber Member Benefit – Private Health Care gives you Half Price Membership
- Chamber Supports Enterprise Expo
- HMRC Helps Businesses With Time To Pay
- Showcase Market & Sell - Combat the Recession and Find New Markets
- Your Profit Boost
- Being An Employer Of Choice
- Funding For Directors Development Programme
- Three Universities for Business - major market sector focus
- Are You Up For The Challenge?
- Celebrate Women of Achievement 2009
- Declare War On Waste And Meet Your CSR Targets Free
- Don’t Miss The Great Daffodil
- The Musical Interlude
- Business Link Update
- Bulgaria Opportunities
- Forthcoming Chamber Events
GET INVOLVED
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 on 0116 204 6618 to discuss sponsorship opportunities, preferential rates are available for Chamber Members.
LATEST CHAMBER MEMBER BENEFIT ? PRIVATE HEALTH CARE GIVES YOU HALF PRICE MEMBERSHIP
AXA PPP Healthcare have teamed up with Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce to offer members affordable private medical insurance with the Chamber Business Choice Healthcare package, to help small businesses such as yours.
Chamber members get access to a flexible and innovative package which includes:
- 50% discount on your Chamber renewal fees for three years for new direct customers.
- Telephone employee assistance programme (exclusive to Chamber members).
- No claims discounts.
- A wide range of options to suit your budget.
Within a small business time off work due to sickness can be very costly.
The Chamber Business Choice Healthcare package could help to reduce sickness absence by providing early access to investigation and, where necessary, treatment to help your employees make an early recovery and return to health – and back to work.
Medical insurance is also a highly valued employee benefit and should help you both recruit – and retain – good people.
More than just health insurance
Whilst medical insurance can drive down sickness absence by helping employees to return to work quickly, employers estimate that approximately 12% of absence is used to deal with personal, home and family responsibilities. Therefore a more holistic, proactive approach could be more beneficial to support your employees’ wellbeing such as offering Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs).
But how can small businesses afford expert employee support?
AXA PPP healthcare offers a telephone based Employee Assistance Programme to help employees to deal more effectively with the pressures in their lives – whatever their cause, from difficulty with debts to problems with personal relationships.
Up until now offering access to an EAP for a small team may have seemed like an expensive luxury but we've included it as standard within our Chamber BusinessChoice Healthcare package.
For more information call: 0800 38 77 54 quoting ref LEI
(Lines are open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, calls may be recorded).
Note that this service is one of our extensive list of Membership Benefits and is only available to current members of the Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce
CHAMBER SUPPORTS ENTERPRISE EXPO
Around 50 companies from Leicestershire and neighbouring counties will exhibit and stage workshops at a new event being held at Mallory Park race circuit on the 24th March 2009.
The Leicestershire Enterprise Expo 2009, of which the Leicestershire Chamber is a supporter, will take place over three floors in Mallory Park’s corporate hospitality suite, with additional external marquees and exhibition space.The major objectives of the event are to stimulate trade via the exhibition, enhance skills through the workshops and generate awareness for exhibitors through networking.
Exhibitors will use the most direct form of marketing – face to face – to promote products and services to a targeted audience. There will be themed zones to the event including:
- Business Issues (legal, finance, business advice)
- Perpetual Motion (logistics, storage, vehicles)
- Living Connections (PR and marketing, graphic design, technology and innovation)
- Sphere of Influence (training and development, recruitment, HR advice)
- Green Shoots (environmental, energy efficiency, waste reduction)
- Powerful Promotions (media, conferencing, corporate hospitality, promotional gifts)
- Healthy Living (fitness clubs, corporate activities, tourist venues, small hotels and guest houses)
Exhibitors will be invited to offer exclusive promotions only available on the day to visitors. It’s planned for many of these promotions to be featured in pre-event publicity.
For more information, contact Sue Langley of BDI consultants on Tel: 0845 450 0448, email: suelangley@bdiconsultants.co.uk or visit: www.leics-enterprise-expo.co.uk
HMRC HELPS BUSINESSES WITH TIME TO PAY
Over 205 businesses in Leicestershire have delayed paying more than £4.3 million of tax after contacting HMRC’s Business Payment Support Service (BPSS) in the last six weeks.
The new service, announced at the Pre Budget Report (PBR), gives businesses the opportunity to pay all their HMRC taxes, including PAYE, National Insurance contributions and VAT through payment timetables which they can afford.
Financial Secretary to the Treasury Stephen Timms MP said: “This is providing real help to business across the whole country. I am delighted that HMRC has been able to help more than 205 businesses in Leicestershire so far. This new scheme is helping businesses to stay open and keep their staff in jobs.
“I urge any business facing financial difficulty in these challenging economic times to pick up the phone and speak to an HMRC adviser. A short phone call could save hard working businesses time and money.”
Time to pay was launched by the Chancellor of the Exchequer at the PBR in November 2008. The service is designed to assist all businesses that will be unable to pay their tax and in the majority of cases, HMRC will be able to make a decision in around 10 minutes.
The BPSS can be contacted on 0845 302 1435 from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday and from 8 am to 4pm at weekends.
Further information is available at: www.hmrc.gov.uk/pbr2008/business-payment.htm
SHOWCASE MARKET AND SELL - COMBAT THE RECESSION AND FIND NEW MARKETS
A great opportunity in these uncertain times for you to showcase, market and sell your business through these FREE events held by the Chamber and funded by East Midlands Development Agency(emda). The chance to network, make new contacts, find out new information, as well as Meet the Buyer and local supply opportunities.
This event will take place at the Walkers Stadium, Leicester from 09:00 to 15:30 on Monday 23 March
You can benefit from :-
- FREE event to Showcase, Market and Sell your business
- Reach a wide audience of businesses from across the region
- Make new contacts and get new customers
- FREE information sessions:
- 5 hot tips to increase sales with Mike Kingston's Master Class
- How to compete for public contracts
- How to break into international markets
- Practical advice to grow your business
- Visit the brochure swap area
- Local supply opportunities
- Opportunities to meet key buyers from the Ministry of Defence and others
Please pre register for the breakout sessions and meet the buyer appointments in advance. Meet the buyer appointments will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
To book now call: 01332 851281 or email:showcase@dncc.co.uk
YOUR PROFIT BOOST
The Carbon Trust calculates that businesses waste an average 20% of all the energy they buy and that this can equate to a loss of 5% in sales value. In today's climate that is money you can't afford to lose. Put the profit back in your business now by booking your free Chamber Utilities™ review.
Chamber Utilities™ helps members convert energy wastage into bottom line profit and to purchase utilities at a more competitive price.
- Cut lighting costs by 35 to 50%
- Eliminate 'estimated' bills
- Stop paying for energy you don’t use.
- Make sure you buy energy at the right time and price.
- Control your heating and cooling for cost and comfort control
- Flush out spiralling water costs
- Free Carbon Trust energy efficiency surveys for qualifying sites
To book your free utilities review call 0845 120 2423, info@chamberutilities.co.uk,www.chamberutilities.co.uk Chamber Utilities™ is delivered by Utility Auditing Ltd - part of sustainable power company ENER-G PLC.
BEING AN EMPLOYER OF CHOICE
The Acas East Midlands Conference 2009, supported by the Derbys/ Notts and Leicestershire branches of CIPD, will take place on 19th March 2009 at the Pride Park Football Stadium, Derby.
Acknowledging the economic downturn this Acas conference will explore the 'Employer of Choice' concept from a practical perspective. You will hear from employers who have done it, ones who have built great workforces, established their brand and created an environment in which their employees willingly give of their discretionary effort.
The key-note speakers for the event include Richard Reeves, European Business Speaker of the Year and Judith Leary-Joyce who worked on the production of the "100 Best Companies to Work For" and is the author of the best-selling book, "Becoming an Employer of Choice"
In the afternoon of the conference delegates will benefit from a choice of two from five practical workshops hosted by Acas operators including:
- Achieving Employer of Choice Status, led by Domestic & General
- Skills For Life: supporting business through change and restructuring, hosted by Boots PLC & USDAW
- Green HR: sustainability in the workforce, with HH Consulting and NottinghamCity Council
- Conflict & Dispute Resolution: the new approach from Acas
- Investing In Employee Commitment, presented by Greene, Tweed
Throughout the day there will be time for questions and discussion as well as networking. For conference information call 01332 224502. The delegate fee is £175 + VAT (3 or more places for people from one organisation will be charged at £150 per person + VAT). You can book online at www.kc-jones.co.uk/acas
FUNDING FOR DIRECTORS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
To successfully develop your business you need to develop yourself and ensure that as a director you are equipped with the latest skills, knowledge and understanding to be a leader in your field. The Chamber Training Director's Development Programme will not only ensure that you are aware of your legal responsibilities but also provide you with the essential skills to develop your business in the direction you want. A further bonus is the opportunity this presents to network with like-minded individuals.
The course below is part of the suite of seminars specifically designed for directors.
Inspirational Leadership - 1 Day
Date: 5 March 2009
Fee: Chamber Members £205 / Non Members £240
Key objectives:
- Recognise the difference between leadership and management
- Identify alternative leadership styles
- Understand what motivates people
Business Link funding could be available for those interested in attending Director Development Training courses which are held at the Bosworth Hall Hotel, Market Bosworth.
To book a place or for more information please contact Fay Brown, Business Development Team, on Tel: 024 7623 1122 or e-mail: brown.f@cwtcov.co.uk
Chamber Training is a wholly owned subsidiary of Coventry & Warwickshire Chambers of Commerce.www.cwtcov.co.uk
THREE UNIVERSITIES FOR BUSINESS - MAJOR MARKET SECTOR FOCUS
There are around 3,000 companies in the Business and Financial Services sector in Leicestershire. To showcase how De Montfort University, Loughborough University and the University of Leicester can support businesses in this key sector, senior representatives from all three institutions will be teaming up to hold a free breakfast briefing at the Marriott Hotel, Leicester from 7.30 – 10.30am on Tuesday 17 March 2009.
The ‘Three Universities for Business’ event is supported by the universities, Invest Leicestershire and the Leicester Shire Economic Partnership. For more details or to register your interest, call 0845 058 0491 or email: threeuniversitiesforbusiness@headstorm.co.uk
ARE YOU UP FOR THE CHALLENGE?
Vantis' Leicester office is throwing down the gauntlet to all Leicester-based businesses by running the Vantis Corporate Challenge for a second year. The challenge is to make as much money as possible with an initial £50 investment provided by Vantis, the UK top 13 accountancy, tax and business advisory group.
All proceeds go to two deserving Leicestershire charities; Rainbows Children’s Hospice and Loros Hospice. Rainbows Children’s Hospice cares for children and young people with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions in the East Midlands, and Loros Hospice provides care and support to adults across Leicestershire and Rutland.
Last year witnessed the best of Leicestershire's businesses raising £50,066 for the two charities, and this year Vantis is hoping to double the amount of money raised. The Challenge, which is running from March to June, has already got most of those who competed last year signed up to take part. Now is the time to enter your company and see what you can do as a team. Winners will be awarded a trophy at an awards ceremony in June, and the accolade of raising the most money for the two local charities.
Fundraising ideas can be as weird and wonderful as you like, provided that they are ethical and legal! If you are struggling, contact Vantis who can provide you with a fundraising pack full of ideas and helpful tips. Vantis is also providing mentors who will be on hand to help you every step of the way.
If you feel that your business is up to the Challenge, please register your interest at www.vantisplc.com/leicester or contact Melanie Rippin on 0116 272 8200 or Malvika Lehal on 01509 815026.
CELEBRATE WOA 2009
The successes and achievements of local women will be celebrated at a prestigious gala dinner to be held on 20th March when the winners will be announced for the Women of Achievement Awards 2009. Award category sponsors include Business Link, Leicester Mercury, Leicestershire County Council and Fosse Shopping Park.
The Women of Achievement Awards 2009 Gala Dinner will be held at Leicester City Football Club, The Walkers Stadium, Leicester. The evening will be hosted by BBC news anchorwoman Kay Alexander and the guest speaker will be Cheryl Baker of Bucks Fizz fame. Tickets are priced at £50 per person or £470 per table of ten and include a four course meal. Discounted rates are available for finalists, their guests and local community groups.
For more information or to reserve your place please call Headstorm Marketing onTel: 0870 170 9697, Fax: 0870 199 1464 or email: woaawards@headstorm.co.uk
DECLARE WAR ON WASTE AND MEET YOUR CSR TARGETS FREE
Leicestercharity Konnect9 has created an ingenious win-win website that helps you to declare war on waste and meet your CSR targets for free. Businesses with unwanted surplus stock can now save money and help people in need with just a few clicks of a mouse. The website www.givingworldonline.com works by businesses with surplus stock advertising this on Giving World Online free. Charities register, search the database and receive items free of charge, but pay any transport costs.
The benefits to the corporate sector include:
- Save money on storage and disposal costs
- Achieve corporate social responsibility goals
- Reduce waste to landfill
- Improve green credentials
- Help change people’s lives for the better
- Improved opportunities for publicity
Giving World Online will take end-of-the-line goods, samples, odd batches, surplus stock, last season's ranges – anything and everything, basically, that someone, somewhere might be able to put to use.
DON?T MISS THE GREAT DAFFODIL
Marie Curie Cancer Care has launched the 12th Great Daffodil Run which will take place on Sunday May 10th 2009 at Kelmarsh Hall near Market Harborough on the Northamptonshire/ Leicestershire border. This year's event promises to be bigger and better than ever offering something for everyone. In addition to the 15 mile and 10km runs there will also be a new 1.5km family run where all ages are welcome. For those wanting some retail therapy there will be the Daffodil Village with various stalls and attractions so it promises to be a fantastic day out for all the family.
If you are a local business and would like to get involved and offer sponsorship, advertising or maybe even gather a few volunteers to support this event, the organisers would be delighted to hear from you.
Registrations are now open. For further information please contact Midlands & Anglia Event Team on 01604 442313, email midlandsanglia-events@mariecurie.org.uk or visit www.mariecurie.org.uk/events
THE MUSICAL INTERLUDE
Join Juraj Valucha and the Philharmonia Orchestra in celebrating the bi-centenary anniversaries of Mendelssohn and Haydn (the 200th anniversary of Haydn's death and Mendelssohn's birth) at De Montfort Hall, Leicester on Sunday 8 March 2009, 7.30pm.
Click here for more information and booking details.
The Philharmonia Orchestra is proud to be a member of Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce.
REAL HELP FOR BUSINESS
East Midlands businesses are set to benefit from the Government's new package to help them through the current economic downturn. The national "Real Help for Business" initiative which was launched recently includes a finance programme that provides:
- Up to £1.3bn of additional lending through an Enterprise Finance Guarantee
- Up to £10bn Working Capital Guarantee, securing up to £20bn of lending
- £75m capital fund to invest in businesses that need equity or quasi equity
Stephen Smith, Chief Executive of EMB Ltd, the organisation that delivers the regional Business Link service on behalf of East Midlands Development Agency, says: "This initiative should provide valuable assistance for many businesses and complements the work of emda, Business Link and our partners in supporting the region's businesses through these difficult times."
In addition to the finance initiatives, a new, dedicated Business Payment Support Servicewill provide a fast and streamlined service for businesses to arrange payment of their HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) tax bill to a timetable they can afford.
Business Link has set up a website page containing information on the initiative at www.businesslink.gov.uk/eastmidlands/realhelp/finance.
The Business Link website offers information on a wide range of business issues aimed at helping organisations to remain competitive and robust in the current economic climate. Online tools are available to check the health and energy efficiency of a business along with information and factsheets on managing cash flow, training, restructuring, recruitment and redundancy.
Eric Carveth, Leicestershire Area Manager for the regional Business Link service, adds: "I would encourage any business that is looking for advice, information and support for their enterprise to contact us as soon as possible so that we can help them to access the appropriate help quickly."
To improve your bottom line or find out more about the local events taking place to help you 'survive and thrive' during this economic downturn contact Business Link on 0845 058 6644 or email info@businesslinkem.co.uk
EMDA ANNOUNCES LOAN FUND TO HELP BUSINESSES
East Midlands Development Agency (emda) has announced a further step to support small businesses during the economic downturn.
A new fund, known as the East Midlands Transition Loan Fund (TLF) is making £5m available to businesses across the region. This will help to address some of the problems that businesses are currently facing in obtaining credit through banks and other traditional routes.
The TLF, which was first announced in the Government’s Pre-Budget Report, will provide individual loans of between £50k to £250k for up to three years. The TLF will be made available to small and medium sized (SME) businesses that have been trading for at least six months and which have good management and viable business plans.
The loans will focus on supporting businesses through the economic downturn rather than providing development capital, and applicants will need to demonstrate a positive impact on job creation or safeguarding.
The East Midlands Transition Loan Fund is being run on a commercial basis and loans will be subject to variable interest rates, reflecting the nature of risk undertaken, and fees. The loans will be secured against assets in the business and the fund manager will be required to assess the viability of the applicant business.
As part of this, businesses will need to provide a business plan including a summary of the business activity, the latest accounts and financial projections.Due to EU regulations, some activities, such as retail and property development, will not be eligible for funding but the majority of East Midlands businesses could potentially qualify.
For more details about the TLF, contact Business Link on 0845 058 6644 or visit www.businesslink.gov.uk/eastmidlands/tlf
EMPLOYMENT LAW SEMINAR
In Association With Freeth Cartwright Solicitors
Date: 24 February
Venue: Leicester Tigers, Aylestone Road, Leicester
Time: 7.30am - 9.15am
Cost: Chamber Members £25 / Standard £35
Join us for one of our regular seminars which are brought to you in association with Freeth Cartwright Solicitors to help to keep you up to date with the latest legislation changes and how they affect your business.
LEICESTER SOUTH AREA LUNCHEON
Date: 27 February
Venue: Holiday Inn Leicester, St Nicholas Circle, Leicester
Time: 12 noon - 2:30pm
Cost: Chamber Members £25
One in a series of area luncheons with local MPs, this event will give you the chance to speak to Sir Peter Soulsby MP about local issues. Peter has lived in Leicester South for over 30 years and throughout his public life he has campaigned for the very best for all our communities. He was knighted by the Queen in 1999 for Services to the City of Leicester.
CURRY NETWORKING EVENING
Sponsored by The Business Booster
Date: 3 March
Venue: The Tamarind Restaurant, The Peepul Centre, Belgrave, Leicester
Time: 6pm - 8:30pm
Cost: ChamberMembers £25 / Standard £35
Leicestershire Chamber invites you to join us for a networking evening with an Indian touch at the Tamarind Restaurant. Situated inside the Peepul Centre this quality restaurant 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. So why not join us for this networking evening, sponsored by The Business Booster?
DATA PROTECTION SEMINAR
In Association With Howes Percival LLP
Date: 18 March
Venue: Howes Percival, Bede Island Business Park , Leicester
Time: 8am - 10am
Cost: Chamber Members £25 / Standard £35
Price includes breakfast.
Join us for an informative and instructive seminar brought to you in association with Howes Percival. Alex Payton will explain how the Data Protection Act impacts on employment relationships and Sophia Smith will then consider certain aspects of the Data Protection Act from a commercial perspective, including corporate transactions, marketing and the company website.
WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS 2009
Date: 20 March
Venue: Leicester City Football Club, The Walkers Stadium, Leicester
Time: 7pm - midnight
Cost: £50 per person or £470 per table of ten. Includes a four course meal. Discounted rates are available for finalists, their guests and local community groups.
This unique celebration is designed to capture the achievement of almost any woman in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. The success of women in our society often goes unrecognised, be that in business, the community or at home. Women are a crucial part of our social fabric and this prestigious gala dinner seeks to bring local women together and award them for their achievements.
INTEGRA GALA DINNER
Date: 23 April
Venue: Barcello Hinckley Island Hotel,Hinckley
Time: 7pm - 11:30pm
Cost:
Chamber Members £45 / Standard £55
Table of Ten: Chamber Members £430 / Standard £530
Join us for our bi-annual Integra Gala Dinner and enjoy good food, entertainment and good company. The guest speaker for this special event will be Julie Peasgood, a television presenter and one of the country's most popular and sought-after actresses. Julie spent five years with the Royal Shakespeare Company and has made many appearances in theWest End.
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.chamberofcommerce.co.uk and select What’s On/events