Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce

Issue: April 2009

Latest Chamber Member Benefit: Private Health Care Gives You Half Price Membership
Chamber Awards – get Fifty Thousand Reasons to Enter
Employers Urged File Online And Get £75 Bonus
£5m Loan Fund Open For Business
Discounts On Exhibiting At Graduate Fair 2009
Vacancy For Chairman of Operating Company
Shell Step: Bringing Together Students & Business
Workshops for Financial Directors and Controllers
Young Enterprise Innovations
Free Training
TV Opportunity For Entrepreneurs
QDOS Comment: Death By Many Cuts
The Great Daffodil Run
Step Out With Your Colleagues
Business Link Update
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 on 0116 204 6618 to discuss sponsorship opportunities, preferential rates are available for Chamber Members.

CHAMBER NEWS

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, designed to help small businesses.

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. For more information call 0800 38 77 54 quoting ref LEI(Lines are open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, calls may be recorded).

Please 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.

The prestigious 2009 Chamber Awards Ceremony will be celebrated at the National Maritime Museum in London on the 26th November. The Awards provide businesses with the recognition they deserve for their hard work and contribution to innovation and business excellence in the UK.

The categories this year are: -

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

Entries are free of charge and exclusive to members of Accredited Chambers of Commerce. Download your entry form at www.chamberawards.co.uk . Apply before the 29th May 2009 and you will automatically go through to a free prize draw for £250 worth of gift vouchers.

Closing Date: 26th June 2009

For more information go online, email or speak to the Chamber Awards team: Tel: 02476 472 593 Email: awards@chamberawards.co.uk

OTHER NEWS

Thousands of small employers in the East Midlands are being urged to file their Employer Annual Return online this year and get a £75 tax-free payment in the process.

There are an estimated 85,000 employers with fewer than 50 employees in theEast Midlands. They can file on paper or online, but only those filing a valid online return will qualify for the £75 payment. Those employers with 50 or more employees must file their 2008/09 return online or face a penalty.

To file online, employers must first register with HMRC's "PAYE Online for Employers" service. It can take up to a week to get the activation PIN after registering, so employers should not leave it until the last minute.

Agents, tax advisers or payroll bureaux can also file on behalf of employers and small employers will still qualify for the £75 tax-free payment, even if an intermediary files online for them. Employer Annual Returns are due by 19 May or late-filing penalties will apply.

Support and advice is available from HMRC's employers helpline on 08457 143 143 or online at www.hmrc.gov.uk/paye . There is also a free video podcast available to view or download from HMRC's podcast pages at www.hmrc.gov.uk/podcasts.

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 to help address some of the problems that businesses are currently facing in obtaining credit through banks and other traditional routes.

The TLF will provide individual loans of between £50k and £250k for up to three years. It will be made available to SMEs 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

The University of Leicester and De Montfort University will be jointly running the Leicestershire Student and Graduate Fair again this year on 11th November from 11am – 3.30pm.

The fair, the largest in the East Midlands, is a very economical and efficient way of recruiting staff and raising your company profile amongst the Leicestershire student and graduate population Over half of the employers attending last year spoke to more than 150 visitors each. A widely publicised event, it is anticipated that over 100 employers will participate and more than 3,000 students and graduates will attend. Over 90% of the employers who attended last year’s fair rated it as good or excellent.

The University of Leicester and De Montfort University are proud to support local organisations and are offering 10% off exhibition costs for all Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce members. You need to quote “Chamber of Commerce” at the time of booking (in the promotional code box on the booking form) to automatically receive the discount.

As well as exhibiting, you may wish to select one of the excellent sponsorship packages to maximise your attendance and help raise awareness of your brand prior to the fair. Details can be found at the website at:

http://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/ssds/careers/info-for-employers/events/careers-fairs/lsgf/ad

To reserve your exhibition space please fill out the online booking form which can be found at: http://go.le.ac.uk/emp-lsgf by 29th May 2009.

The National Space Centre is a high quality visitor attraction, education provider and research facility. A not-for-profit education charity, it presents all aspects of space in an exciting, authoritative way and encourages young people to consider becoming the scientists and engineers of the future.

The Trustees wish to appoint a Chairman of the Operating Company (part time) with responsibility for overseeing the development and implementation of strategy for the operation of the National Space Centre.

The Chairman should have a successful track record in business and knowledge of the local business and political community. He/she should have enthusiasm for the role that a science centre can play in inspiring young people to become the scientists and engineers of the future.

The Chairman is required to attend monthly Board meetings (11 per year), to have regular meetings / contact with the Chief Executive in-between these meetings and to attend Trustees meetings (4 per year). In addition attendance at occasional special events and activities, including evenings and weekends, will be required. Salary - to be agreed with Trustees.

Informal enquiries may be directed to Sarah Bird, Personnel Manager by email: sarahb@spacecentre.co.uk or telephone: 0116 258 2108

Closing date for this role is 12 noon Monday 11 May 2009.

Need an injection of fresh new skills and innovative thinking in your business?
Then take on one of the UK's brightest undergraduates for an eight-week summer placement in your company thanks to Shell Step.

Shell Step is a nationwide project-based work placement programme that places second and penultimate year undergraduates into small and medium-sized enterprises and community organisations. Shell Step gives you the opportunity to have a key project completed, even if you don’t have the time or resources to do it yourself. Every year over 600 Shell Step students take on these challenges for small and medium-sized enterprises throughout the UK and achieve outstanding results. Shell Step gives companies like yours the chance to:

Identify any issues you are facing and turn them into a definable and structured project.
Research and develop new products.
Launch e-commerce websites.
Build bespoke software.

To join the dynamic and progressive companies involved in a long-standingUKproject-based work placement programme, apply for Shell Step today by contacting

Richard Mendez, work-related learning and employability officer at the University of Leicester, on Tel: 0116 252 5232 or email: rm205@leicester.ac.uk

A series of workshops have been announced by Cooper Parry, the latest Patron of the Leicestershire Chamber, to keep Financial Directors and Financial Controllers appraised of the new issues and changing legislation which impact upon their role and business in these challenging times.

This workshop will focus on the following:

Tax and VAT Update including an overview of the Chancellors Budget on 22 April 09
Employment Law Update
An Insolvency Practitioners view, practical tips and potential pitfalls
Overview of the Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme
Cost effective remuneration planning including salary sacrifice and employee benefit platforms

Aimed specifically at private businesses, the courses will provide practical solutions as well as offering the opportunity for you to share experiences with likeminded people.

At a cost of £45 + VAT, the first session will start at 9.30am and finish around midday with refreshments and lunch. By the end of the workshop we will have guided you through the above issues and show you how to deal with them in practice.

Spaces are limited so please respond at your earliest convenience by clicking here to book your place.

Should you have any queries about the event, please do not hesitate to contact Melanie Campbell on melaniec@cooperparry.com.

Members of the Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce are warmly invited to attend the Leicestershire Young Enterprise Innovations County Final to be held at The Samworth Enterprise Academy on the evening of May 7th.

The event will include buffet tea, opening remarks by guest of honour Rosemary Conley, company presentations, a keynote speaker and announcement of winners with presentation of trophies.

If you would like to attend this event please contact Rob Haylock on 07794 478933 (email: rob.haylock@yeem.org) or Ria Tunnicliffe on 07794 478932 (email: ria.tunnicliffe@yeem.org)

South Leicestershire College has project funding to provide free Equality and Diversity training to Leicestershire SMEs until July 2009. The training aims to raise awareness of the 6 equality strands covered by the Equality and Human Rights Commission and enable employers to better support disabled staff.

Project Manager, Jan Meredith, said: “Many people feel uneasy about how to support disabled colleagues. If you have not had experience of disability it can be hard to find appropriate language and actions to show you understand the barriers people face. This half-day session will give you practical tips to take away.”

For more information contact Jan on 0116 288 5051 or email: Jan.Meredith@slcollege.ac.uk

Ricochet, an independent TV company, is developing a series about the increasing trend among people who, having been laid off, are using their redundancy money to fund their own business venture. In particular they want to hear from couples who have decided to go into business together - preferably with a venture that is new territory to both of them. They'd like to hear from couples who are planning a new business, just about to launch or are in the early stages of trading. Ideally the kind of businesses they'd be interested in featuring would be service or produce based, rather than IT or finance driven.

Anyone interested should call either Sue Dulay or Marc Lewis on 01273 224828 or email them with details of the enterprise and the circumstance that led up to its inception to: ournewbusiness@ricochet.co.uk

For more information about Ricochet and the kind of programming the company makes please visit: www.ricochet.co.uk

It seems as if almost every news bulletin brings more gloomy news, job cuts, pay freezes, pay reductions. How many people do you know personally who have lost their job or fear for their job?

Hard times require hard judgments and companies need to position themselves to survive the storm, most ship captains will ensure that the sails are not only trimmed but frequently stowed away in gale force winds and point resolutely into the storm. Captains of industry need to be brave people, to take firm decisive decisions. The survivors of one round of cuts can usually be brought round by good steady management but cut again and the mentality changes. Your staff begin to think “it’s only a matter of time - next time me”. Morale drops, work output declines and the business will continue its slide.

The simple fact of being made redundant is extremely hard for most staff, one moment you are a valued, valuable member of the team, then almost overnight you are out, the chill sets in the minute you are put “at risk” of redundancy. Have you noticed how people look slightly differently at you? Somehow the e-mails slow down, you are no longer in the thick of the business. Remember though, it can be just as tough for the boss, particularly in a small firm where everyone is a “friend”.

The crucial factor is certainty. Where a business is suffering most staff now will appreciate that a slimming down exercise can be expected. When it comes make sure that you act fairly but decisively in taking that crucial decision on redundancy. The worst case scenario for staff is the slow inevitable drip, drip of lost jobs, waiting for the “chop” to come. In those circumstances staff lose interest and the redundancies inevitably become self defeating. With each round of redundancy they feel it is only a matter of time, imagine how your work rate would decline. Most of us would be scanning the vacancies (if there were any) rather than focussing on our own work.

So if you have to slim it is better to act decisively and ensure that an effective redundancy exercise is completed. When completed, act decisively to quickly rebuild the morale of the survivors. The sooner they feel confident about the company’s future the sooner they will feel confident that it was worthwhile to be a survivor and think positively about the future.

Alan Hunt, Employment Services Manager, Qdos Consulting Ltd

For further advice and information please telephone 01455 850000 or email qed@qdosconsulting.com

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 Villag ewith 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 the Midlands & Anglia Event Team on 01604 442313, email midlandsanglia-events@mariecurie.org.uk or visit www.mariecurie.org.uk/events

Local businesses are invited to do the Menphys Walk on Sunday 10th May and help raise funds to celebrate 40 years of caring for children with mental and physical disabilities and supporting their families in Leicester and Leicestershire.

There are three route options for the walk this year:3.5 miles which is family, pushchair, wheelchair and dog friendly; 7 miles- family, big dog friendly and scenic; 14 mile half marathon through the lovely Leicestershire countryside.

Menphys would welcome all members of the Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce to enter a team from their company or organisation to support this important fundraiser.

For more details or to register for the event visit: www.menphys.org.uk , call 0116 282 7225 or e-mail:info@menphys.org.uk

BUSINESS LINK UPDATE

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 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 Service will 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 fact sheets on managing cash flow, training, restructuring, recruitment and redundancy.

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

Business Link is urging businesses across Leicestershire to be aware of the rule changes being applied to business rates and empty property relief from April 2009.

Details of the changes can be found on the regional Business Link website at www.businesslink.gov.uk/eastmidlands/rates

Business rates in England will be revised for the financial year 2009-2010 and calculated using the following non-domestic rating multipliers:

48.5p for the standard multiplier
48.1p for the small business multiplier

The multiplier used is shown on the business rate bill and businesses can check their eligibility for small business rate relief with their local authority. As part of the changes there will be an increase in the threshold at which an empty property becomes liable for business rates to a rateable value of £15,000. This exemption is set to expire in 2009-2010.

Another change is that, subject to meeting certain criteria and the agreement of your billing authority, businesses may be able to extend payment terms to settle debts. The change would allow eligible businesses to spread payments over up to eight years to settle all or part of a significant debt for backdated business rates from a new assessment rated by the Valuation Office Agency.

Eric Carveth, Leicestershire Area Manager for the regional Business Link service, said: “We have put information about the changes on our website and our local team of Business Support Brokers are on hand to help businesses to understand their business rates bill and how the changes will apply to them.”

To access information and advice to help you start, maintain or grow any aspect of your business, contact Business Link on 0845 058 6644 email: info@businesslinkem.co.uk or visit the award winning website: www.businesslink.gov.uk/eastmidlands

CHAMBER EVENTS

Date:12 May
Venue: Entropy Bar and Restaurant, Leicester
Time: 6pm - 8.30pm
Cost:£32 one price.

Integra presents a fantastic networking event at the top-quality Entropy Restaurant and Bar on Hinckley Road, complete with a cookery demonstration and pasta workshop from head chef Tom Cockerill.

Tom Cockerill apprenticed at the Michelin starred Hambleton Hall in Rutland and has since spent time in some of the best restaurants in the country, one of many being an internship at the 3 Michelin starred Fat Duck in Bray with Heston Blumental.

This event will offer all guests the opportunity to network whilst enjoying canapés, followed by the chance to make, cook and taste vegetarian ravioli and tortellini in a pasta workshop hosted by Tom Cockerill - and for you chocolate lovers, there will be chocolate fondant preparation, cooking and tasting!

Date:   Tuesday 9th June 2009
Time:   12.00 - 2.30
Venue: Leicester Stage Hotel
Cost:    Members £25.00 Non member £35.00
Includes buffet lunch and a welcome drink

This networking lunch is offering a unique insight into military life with guest speaker Brigadier Jim Richardson MBE.

Prior to his operational task in Iraq, Brigadier Jim Richardson attended the Royal College of Defence Studies and completed an MA in International Studies with King's College, London. His military service has taken him to USA, Canada, Norway, Denmark, Australia, Italy, Greece, Germany, Poland, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, the Balkans and Germany.

Brigadier Jim Richardson MBE, the Commander 49(East) Brigade, will give a short presentation on the training, mobilisation and use of Territorial Army Reservists who may well be employed in their civilian careers by Chamber of Commerce members. He will also cover the main operational theatres and be prepared to answer questions on any aspect of military life.

Date:10 June
Venue: Sturgess Volvo, Almond Road, Leicester
Time: 6pm – 8.30pm
Cost:
Place only, no display stand (inc. VAT) Chamber Members £25 / Standard £35
Place & Space for display stand (inc. VAT) Chamber Members £55 / Standard £65

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 Sturgess Volvo 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. During the evening delegates will be invited to place their business cards into a hat and after a buffet meal several will be selected at random, allowing the card holders to give a short presentation on their business.

Date: 25 June
Venue: To be confirmed
Time: 7pm - 11:30pm
Cost: £32.50

Join us for our Integra evening 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 the West End.

Date: 8 July
Venue: Beedles Lake Golf Club, East Goscote
Time: 8.30 am – 2pm approx.
Cost: £40

Are you a novice golfer? Would you like to learn? Then why not join Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce and Integra, the chamber's association of women in business, on the Golf Day For Beginners event to find out the fundamentals of golf? This great day will include breakfast and a light lunch, practical tuition by the club’s golf professionals, golf tips & techniques and excellent networking.

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