IN THE SEPTEMBER GOOD MORNING LEICESTERSHIRE
- Chamber Launches New Website
- Winter Festivity at the Leicester Marriott with 10% Discount
- Free Event For Local Businesses
- Corporation Tax Alert For Agents And Businesses
- Tigers Invite To See The Caterpillar
- Literacy Problems Could Be Deadly For Business
- Airport Wants Your Views
- Cooper Parry Finance News
- Samworth Academy Business & Enterprise Event
- Growth Investment Event
- Building Community Partnerships Day
- Philharmonia Update
- Business Link Help & Advice
- 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.
CHAMBER LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE
The Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce has just launched a new version of its website – www.chamberofcommerce.co.uk to help its members and other local businesses.
Sharon Jeffrey, Commercial Manager at the Chamber, commented: "We wanted our new website to be much more interactive and easier for people to navigate around and we’ve been working closely with local company and Chamber member Netready Limited in order to achieve this. There’s a huge variety of useful information that can be viewed on the site and we’re keen to make it one of the first ports of call for local businesses."
One aspect of the revamped site that will be of particular interest to local companies is the Business Support section where invaluable fact sheets such as "How To Boost Sales & Increase Profits", "How To Network", "Survival In A Recession" plus many others, can all be downloaded free of charge.
Those accessing the new site will also discover an improved search ability on the front screen making it quick and easy to find exactly what you’re looking for. Via some easy-to-access drop down menus you can search for a particular chamber product, such as credit reports, marketing lists or meeting room hire, as well as details of Chamber services, like member to member discounts. There’s also the latest news relevant to the business community and a listing of training courses and the Chamber’s upcoming events as well as all the details of the matches in the 2009 Football Networking Club.
For those who aren’t members of the Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce the website includes all the information on the many benefits of membership. For those who are members, there are separate members-only sections and pages which can be accessed after logging in, giving lots more useful help, advice and information.
WINTER FESTIVITY AT THE LEICESTER MARRIOTT WITH 10% DISCOUNT
This Christmas the Leicester Marriott Hotel is offering a fantastic range of festive events. Gather your friends, family or colleagues together for one of our party nights, dine in the Mixx Restaurant on Christmas day or welcome in the New Year in style at our Gala Dinner Dance. Whatever the occasion, we guarantee fabulous food and the warmest of Christmas welcomes.
*Special Chamber of Commerce offer – for every 9 guests booked the 10th is free! Quote CHAMBER when booking.
Cut costs this Christmas with a 20% discount on a selection of premium brand drinks at all Christmas events to help your party go with a swing!
Party Nights:
- Restaurant Carvery party – 3 course buffet with disco - £27.50 per person
- ‘Join In Tribute’ party night – 4 course dinner, band and disco (Abba, Take That, Wham, Queen & Robbie Williams) - £39.00 per person
Festive Occasions:
- Christmas Day Lunch – sumptuous 5 course lunch in Mixx Restaurant plus a visit from Father Christmas himself! - £59.00 per person
- New Year’s Black Tie Gala Dinner - 5 course meal with champagne reception and entertainment - £68.00 per person. Or treat yourself to a night away for £115 - dinner, bed & breakfast.
A preferential accommodation rate of £82 is available for party night guests (subject to availability)To make your booking please contact Soraya Coles on 0116 282 0110 or by e-mail at soraya.coles@marriotthotels.com
Merry Christmas!
FREE EVENT FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES
North West Leicestershire District Council is teaming up with Stephenson College to host its first Business Advice Day on 22nd October at Stephenson College, Coalville from 12 noon to 8pm. The event will bring local businesses together to access free advice and support on almost every aspect of running and managing a business.
The event will help businesses in North West Leicestershire trade in a fair, safe, environmentally friendly, efficient and cost effective way, as well as encouraging good health and wellbeing in the workplace. It aims to encourage and nurture businesses to develop good practice, management and regulatory compliance to avoid enforcement action.
Who should attend? Business owners, managers, supervisors, the self-employed, sole traders and those offering a voluntary service are all welcome, those businesses part of a large chain or organisation are encouraged to send a manager, supervisor or person responsible for employees to come along to pick up tips and sound advice for them to put to good use in the day to day running of the business.
What is happening? On the day regulatory partners, partnering agencies and organisations (including the Leicestershire Chamber) and third party exhibitors will be joining the district council to make the event informative and enjoyable. There will be specific seminars scheduled throughout the afternoon, including:
• risk assessments, both generic and fire
• what to expect when an environmental health officer calls
• big returns from your marketing budget
• setting-up and doing business online
• trade waste disposal
The café at the college will host a networking area and will also be open for lunch and refreshments. For more information and a detailed plan of the day, visit: www.nwleics.gov.uk, or contact Jayne Black on: 01530 454568 or e-mail: jayne.black@nwleicestershire.gov.uk
CORPORATION TAX ALERT FOR AGENTS AND BUSINESSES
HMRC is writing to half a million companies and tax agents to alert them to important changes to Corporation Tax (CT) filing. The mailshot contains a new HMRC leaflet on the changes, which will require all company tax returns delivered after 31st March 2011 to be filed online, for accounting periods ending after 31st March 2010.
The leaflet explains how, after 31st March 2011, CT returns must be filed online in a specified data format (known as Inline XBRL or iXBRL). Companies will be able to file online either through commercially available software or by using HMRC’s own CT filing software, which is aimed at companies with less complex tax affairs.
As the leaflet explains, there is no need for companies to re-engineer their accounting processes to comply with the requirement to file online using iXBRL, as either HMRC’s CT filing software or their commercial software will do this for them.
Mark Holden, Director of HMRC’s Carter Programme, said: “While March 2011 might seem a long way away, agents and businesses need to be thinking about these changes now, as they will affect accounting periods ending after 31 March next year.
“HMRC is hoping to release its CT filing software towards the end of this year. We’re also working closely with software developers, and a number of commercial products will be available to support the iXBRL standard from November 2009, with more to follow. This will mean the majority of companies who wish to familiarise themselves with filing online before it becomes compulsory will have the opportunity to do so.”
TIGERS INVITE TO SEE THE CATERPILLAR
Leicester Tigers, in association with The Best of & Applause, would like to give you the opportunity to attend the opening event in the new Caterpillar Stand on Monday 5th October between 12 noon and 3.30pm.
This is a great opportunity to meet some of the Leicester Tigers directors and to view the superb new conference facilities and network with local businesses. You will also be entertained by acts from the Leicester Applause events and receive an insightful view of life and business from Richard Wilkins. A portion of the £65 ticket price will be donated to charities in and around the Leicestershire area.
To book or for further information please contact Jo Neville, Head of Conference & Events Sales, Leicester Tigers Rugby Club, Tel: 0116 2171 200 or email: jo.neville@tigers.co.uk
LITERACY PROBLEMS COULD BE DEADLY FOR BUSINESS
Over a million people in England don’t have the reading age expected of seven-year-olds – and that could pose big problems for employers, says the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) which is urging businesses not to assume that written down health and safety instructions will be understood by all. The key is to always make sure employees understand before letting them get on with work, and to encourage workers to not be embarrassed to ask questions if they don’t understand.
“Being able to read is something many of us take for granted. But there are many people in the workplace with low levels of literacy, which means we must not just rely on written information or even verbal instructions. There’s also been a huge increase in workers who don’t speak English as their first language, and we have to make sure we are able to communicate, particularly on health and safety, with these members of staff,” said Nattasha Freeman, the president of IOSH.
“Just because some employees have low levels of literacy doesn’t mean they can’t understand though. Employers need to make sure they put plenty of effort into their communications with staff on health and safety – pictures can often tell a thousand words, demonstrations can really help aid understanding. Failing to get health and safety messages across could be deadly - for your employees, for others who come into contact with your business and, given the current economic climate, for your firm.”
AIRPORT WANTS YOUR VIEWS
East Midland’s Airport wants to know where you want to fly to and has asked the Chamber to pose the businesses of Leicestershire the following question:
Which destinations not currently served from East Midlands Airport would help you and your business and how frequently would you use these destinations each month?
To contribute your destinations click here
COOPER PARRY FINANCE NEWS
VAT Rules On Cross Border Services To Change - On 1st January 2010 changes to the cross border VAT rules will be introduced and the following will be affected:-
• Businesses that supply services to overseas businesses
• Businesses receiving services from overseas businesses
• Businesses supplying goods to other EC countries
• Businesses wanting to reclaim VAT incurred in other EC countries
The main change concerns the so called place of supply rules that determines if VAT is chargeable by the supplier or if the customer is responsible for accounting for VAT under the reverse charge rules.
At present the basic rule is that VAT is charged in accordance with where the supplier belongs. With effect from 1st January 2010 this general rule changes and the VAT will instead be charged where the customer belongs. This will be better for some businesses that will no longer have to charge VAT but potentially costly for those businesses that buy in certain services from overseas but are not able to recover all of their VAT. The rules for supplies to non business customers will not change and as always there will be exceptions to the basic rule e.g. land related services.
Overseas VAT Refunds - Some better news is that the current system for obtaining a refund of VAT incurred in another EC country is at long last being simplified and improved. UK businesses will be able to submit claims on-line via the Government Gateway web site. Assuming that the claim is in order member states will have to repay the VAT within 4 months and if they fail to do so interest will be due to the claimant.
If you require any further information or would like to discuss the changes please contact Steve Taylor at stevet@cooperparry.com
SAMWORTH ACADEMY BUSINESS AND ENTERPRISE EVENT
A showcase event will be held on the 8th October to inform the business community about the progress which has been made in the first two years since the launch of the Samworth Enterprise Academy which opened its doors to the Saffron and Eyres Monsell Communities in September 2007. Their third year will see the new focus on a longer term plans and they are keen to open their doors to the Leicestershire Business Community.
The Showcase Event will be hosted by David Samworth and Chair of Governors Richard Brucciani and will be an excellent opportunity to be a part of the future development of this exciting venture. You will be able to view the facilities and meet some of the pupils and staff as well as hear from a local business that is already experiencing the mutual benefits of schools and businesses working together .
For more information or to book to come to this event contact John Simpson on 0116 2780232 or email john.simpson@samworthenterpriseacademy.org
GROWTH INVESTMENT EVENT
How do you raise finance? Growth Investment have been set up to champion growth investment and guide entrepreneurs to sources of further support and funding. They are organising the next in their series of free events in Leicestershire with the guest speaker Imran Hakim who is best known as one of the most successful individuals to gain investment from BBC’s Dragon’s Den after he pitched his innovative iTeddy product. After securing investment, Imran has gone on to work with both Theo Paphitis and Peter Jones to successfully launch the award-winning iTeddy.
Nowadays, as well as the iTeddy business, Imran controls a diverse portfolio which includes a lens laboratory, spectacle frame distribution business, optical retail outlets, as well as management and recruitment companies.
Hear Imran's entrepreneurial story and his lessons on raising finance and meet our network members who can help you do the same.
Venue: National Space Centre, Exploration Drive, Leicester, LE4 5NS.
Time: 5.30pm - 8.30pm, Wednesday 23rd September, 2009
Format: Reception, presentations, food, wine and networking with the regions entrepreneurs, investors and support organisations
For more details or to book onto this event contact Sarah Crennell on sarah@ginem.co.uk or call 0115 9476676
BUILDING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS DAY
This Outreach Building Community Partnerships Day has been organised by Leicester Arts and Museum Service to bring together different community groups to work together in partnership to promote the diverse cultures and heritages of Leicester. There will also be workshops by the Big Lottery Fund focussing on accessing Lottery Funding.
The event will be held on Wednesday 30 September at de Montfort Hall from 9.00am to 3.00pm. Anyone interested in more information or attending should contact arts&museumsoutreach@leicester.gov.uk or call 0116 2527373
PHILHARMONIA UPDATE
Talented violinist Nicola Benedetti will join the Philharmonia Orchestra to perform the hugely romantic Violin Concerto by Glazunov at De Montfort Hall, Leicester on Wednesday 14th October at 7.30 pm. Led by the legendary Finnish conductor Leif Segerstam, the evening will also include the famous overture from Glinka’s magical opera Russlan and Ludmilla and Dvorák’s New World Symphony.
Click here for more information and booking details.
Click here for information on Corporate Partnerships with the Philharmonia.
The Philharmonia Orchestra is proud to be a member of Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce.
BUSINESS LINK HELP & ADVICE
Learn How To Win New Business From Public Sector
East Midlands Development Agency’s (emda’s) has re-launched a key project to help local companies win more business from the £175bn UK public procurement market.
Winning Public Sector Business, delivered through the regional Business Link service, will extend emda’s support and advice to SMEs, helping them work out if this market is for them, and compete successfully within public sector supply chains locally, nationally or beyond.
The programme incorporates a range of specific events tailored to SMEs,
guiding them through every stage of how to work alongside the public sector.
The programme is designed to introduce potential suppliers to working with the public sector.
Taking place across the East Midlands, events and advisory sessions will give an excellent overview of the public sector and will feature procurement experts, as well as presentations by region-specific public sector bodies.
For more information visit: www.procurementem.co.uk Alternatively, please contact Business Link on 0845 058 6644
Melton & Rutland Area Luncheon With Alan Duncan MP
Date: 16 October
Venue: Scalford Hall, Nr Melton Mowbray
Time: 12 noon – 2pm
Cost: £25 includes buffet meal.
As part of the Chamber’s ongoing series of luncheons around the county, Alan Duncan MP will be the guest speaker at this Rutland & Melton Area Luncheon. This event provides an excellent networking opportunity and gives business people the chance to raise issues of concern with their local MP.
Football Networking Club
Come and watch a great game of football with fellow footie fans from the world of local business, thanks to the Chamber’s Football Networking Club, in association with Leicester City Football Club. The Fusions Restaurant at LCFC is the perfect place to enjoy good food before watching the match from luxury padded seats. Why not entertain your valued or prospective clients and use this as a corporate hospitality opportunity? Tickets are priced at £35 per person, per game and include food, interval tea and coffee and complimentary parking dependent on the number of tickets purchased.
Football Networking Club events for the next few months include the following matches:
Tues 20 Oct Crystal Palace
Sat 21 Nov Plymouth Argyle
Tues 8 Dec Bristol City
Sat 9 Jan Ipswich Town
Tues 9 Feb Doncaster Rovers
Regeneration Update Seminar
Date: 21 October
Venue: Express By Holiday Inn, Leicester
Time: 7:30am - 9:30am
Cost: Chamber Members £25 / Standard £35
Includes full English breakfast
With work progressing well on many regeneration sites around Leicester this is your chance to get up to date with what’s going on for 2009 and 2010. David Hughes, CEO of Prospect Leicestershire, which has recently taken over from the Leicester Regeneration Company, is your speaker for this highly informative seminar.
Tapas Networking Evening
Date: 28 October
Venue: Canas Y Tapas Bar, Leicester
Time: 6pm - 8.30pm
Cost: Chamber Members £25 / Standard £35. Includes tapas and glass of wine
A wonderful, and unusual, networking opportunity at which you can enjoy the Spanish tradition of Tapas at the popular Canas y Tapas Bar in Leicester's newly developed Highcross Centre. Network and exchange company literature over a glass of wine or Spanish beer and enjoy a selection of the 70 top quality Spanish dishes on offer!
Integra Monthly Networking Luncheon
Sponsored by The Phoenix Partners Limited
Date: 16 November
Venue: The Hilton Hotel, Junction 21 Approach, Leicester
Time: 12:30 – 2pm
Cost: £15 plus vat per person
Integra, officially launched in November 1995, is Leicestershire Chamber’s Association of Women in Business and invites you to a wonderful monthly networking opportunity with these lunch meetings, each sponsored by The Phoenix Partners Limited.
Chamber Annual Luncheon
Sponsored by Charles Street Buildings (Leicester) Ltd and Freeth Cartwright Solicitors
Date: 4 December
Venue: Walkers Stadium, Leicester
Time: 11:30am AGM. Luncheon 12:15pm – 4pm.
Cost: Chamber Members £55 / Standard £65
Table of 10 Chamber Members £520 / Standard £570
The Christmas season begins with the Leicestershire Chamber's popular Annual Luncheon - a great meal, superb entertainment and the chance to network with up to 600 fellow guests at this wonderful event. The guest speaker this year will be the comedian, author and radio and TV presenter Sandi Toksvig.
Integra Monthly Networking Luncheon
Sponsored by The Phoenix Partners Limited
Date: 14 December
Venue: The Hilton Hotel, Junction 21 Approach, Leicester
Time: 12:30 – 2pm
Cost: £15 plus vat per person
Integra, officially launched in November 1995, is Leicestershire Chamber’s Association of Women in Business and invites you to a wonderful monthly networking opportunity with these lunch meetings, each sponsored by The Phoenix Partners Limited.
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