Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce

Issue: December 2009

• Merry Christmas from the Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce
• Get On Board The New Park And Ride
• 15% VAT Rate Extended For New Year’s Eve Traders
• Ways To Work
• Applications For 2010 Local Awards Strongest Ever
• Managing Strategically In Turbulent Times
• Can Sideways Be The New Forward?
• Christmas Charity Auction
• Office Space Available At LEBC
• Scam Emails Offer Tax Refunds
• Celebrate With Leicester Cathedral
• Christmas At Ulverscroft Manor
• Cooper Parry Finance News
• Philharmonia Update
• Business Link Help & Advice
• Bulgaria Market Visit Opportunity
• 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

First of all we would like to wish all of our members a very merry festive season and a prosperous New Year. The past year has been one of the most challenging we have had to endure for a long time – yet the endurance of members has been remarkable, and emerging results from the Quarterly Economic Survey indicate that the fundamental business strengths needed to resume growth, such as cashflow and skilled staff are recovering better than expected, despite fragile confidence.

The Chancellor’s Pre-Budget Report had a few Christmas presents for the short-term, notably continued relief for (most) empty business property, the extension of “Time to Pay” for VAT, PAYE and corporation tax, and deferral of corporation tax increases. However, the announced increase in National Insurance was very unwelcome.

Looming over all of this is the certainty of a General Election – the Chamber will ensure that the next government, whatever its persuasion, has no doubt that what it takes to secure recovery rests with growing businesses that add real value and rebuild wealth, and to enable all parts of the UK to succeed and grow.

We would also like to inform you all that the Chamber offices, including the International Trade documentation team will be open on 24 December 9.00am to 12.00pm and then closed until 30th December. The office will be open on 31 December from 9.00am till 2.00pm and then closed on Friday 1st January 2010.

Note that the Arab Chamber will be closed from Thursday 24 December to Friday 1 January inclusive and so for Arab Certificates of Origin please ensure all Arab documents are submitted before Monday 21 December.

OTHER NEWS

Commuters can now have an easier journey into Leicester city centre, thanks to a new £9 million park and ride. The award winning Enderby scheme, a joint Leicester City Council and Leicestershire County Council project, offers parking for 1000 cars and operates low emission buses running every 10 minutes between Enderby and Leicester city centre. The service will operate between 7am and 7pm from Monday to Saturday. Regular day tickets are priced at £3 with one-weekly tickets priced at £14. The service uses existing bus lanes, helping you to take a more environmentally friendly journey and avoid traffic queues into the city during busy periods. Free WiFi is available onboard so passengers can use the internet or check emails. For more details visit www.leics.gov.uk/enderby_park_ride or call 0116 305 8777.

Pubs, clubs, restaurants and other retail businesses remaining open past midnight on New Year’s Eve will be allowed to continue charging VAT at 15% on their sales until they close or until 6am on 1st January 2010, whichever is the earlier, the Financial Secretary to the Treasury has confirmed. Similar arrangements will apply to telecommunications companies in respect of calls and texts made up to 6am on 1st January 2010.

Financial Secretary to the Treasury, the Rt Hon Stephen Timms MP, said: “New Year’s Eve celebrations are a vital source of income for many in the service sector. The Government recognises that it would be very difficult for them to make the necessary changes to account for VAT at 17.5% immediately after midnight. To make the transition as easy as possible retail and telecommunication businesses will be able to charge VAT at the old rate into the early hours of New Years Day.”

The ‘period of grace’ is restricted to those businesses that account for VAT at the point of sale such as businesses on a retail scheme – pubs, shops, restaurants etc and to the cost of calls or texts made and billed in the early hours of 1st January. It will not apply to businesses that account for VAT on the basis of VAT invoices issued or to mail order or on-line retail sales.

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) will publish a Revenue & Customs Brief on the HMRC website (www.hmrc.gov.uk) explaining the extent of the concession in more detail.

Leicestershire’s business managers will be interested to see the benefits gained by some of the county’s leading employers by ‘greening’ their staff’s travel. Not only have their parking pressures been eased, but the increased access options have opened up a wider labour market and the reduced car miles have helped with their carbon reduction strategies and business costs.

All these benefits are shown on Leicestershire County Council’s new “Ways to Work” newsletter. (Click here to open it). The first edition focuses on the achievements of some larger employers but in future editions it will share the bright ideas and successes of the county’s successful SMEs. So, if you have an interesting way to encourage walking, cycling, bus use, car-sharing, flexible/remote working or business miles reduction – they want to hear from you!

If your organisation would like free help to explore green travel options for your enterprise or your staff, just email Leicestershire’s Employer Travel Advice Line on: www.travelawareness@leics.gov.uk

Leicestershire’s Business TravelWise Advisor can be contacted at: travelawareness@leics.gov.uk

Businesses from the region have stepped forward once again to make applications for the 2010 Leicestershire Business Awards one of the strongest ever. Despite predictions that turnout might have been affected by recession, it seems that Leicestershire’s business leaders have highlighted the value of awards recognition with applications from diverse sectors and companies of all sizes.

With applications for the 2010 awards now closed it is down to the 32 companies across eight categories to make their mark on the judges. Finalists will be announced at the end of January with the winners announced at the gala dinner in April. Competition will be hotter than ever to win the prestigious title of Leicestershire Business of the Year 2010, sponsored by Business Link.

For information on sponsorship opportunities or to book tickets for the Leicestershire Business Awards gala dinner, sponsored by Freeth Cartwright Solicitors, Tenon and Prospect Leicestershire, please contact Wow Effect Ltd on 0845 130 2866, email info@bizawards.co.uk. or visit: www.bizawards.co.uk.

The Leading Edge Expert Masterclass Series provide tailored work related courses that are flexibly delivered and can result in increased staff satisfaction and commitment and improved business performance.

Managing Strategically in Turbulent Times is a one day masterclass designed for aspiring strategic managers and those who have recently embarked on a career in strategic management. The recent global economic downturn has challenged many of our traditional ways of thinking. How do we plan strategically when we face an unforeseeable future? Evidence suggests that organisations that survive the turbulence of a recession have a strong culture of thinking strategically and are able to adapt to changing conditions. By attending this masterclass you will be in a stronger position to create more value for your own organisation; provide better value for money for your customers; and lift business performance to a higher and sustainable level.

Using practical examples and group activities the masterclass will focus on value based management and strategies designed to enhance and create value and will cover the following:
• Thinking strategically
• Evaluating the external environment
• Evaluating an organisation’s capabilities
• Strategy formulation
• Strategy and performance

This workshop will be led by Peter Jackson, Professor of Economics and Strategy at the University of Leicester, who has carried out extensive research on the subject of strategy and has worked with many organisations that seek to improve their performance through strategic thinking.

Managing Strategically in Turbulent Times will take place on 12 January at the University of Leicester at a fee of £175 per delegate (includes all refreshments and any course materials).

For further details and to book your place visit www.le.ac.uk/leadingedge

Training budget running low? No room to promote your employees who are exceeding your expectations? Think laterally!

Retaining talent can be a serious problem for any organisation but particularly if you are a small or medium size business. Have you ever thought of moving some of your employees sideways in order to develop their skill base?

Not only does the employee benefit from this strategy, a company often benefits from this approach, as positions that are sometimes difficult to recruit for can be solved internally with a little bit of imagination. For example a marketing manager can often be transferred to an operational manager or a HR consultant could be moved to a business development manager given the right core skills and company support. This not only fulfils the company requirements but also gives the employee another “string to their bow” and enhances their long term career prospects.

In the interest of retaining talent, giving employees a new opportunity and encouraging them to transfer their skills can often re-energise a company, department and employee.

If you are interested in learning more about talent retention or if you would like Qdos to devise a talent retention strategy for your company, please contact Ivan Spibey on 01455 850000.

Qdos Consulting provide the ChamberHR human resource solution as part of your Chamber membership benefits package. For more information contact Qdos Consulting on Tel: 01455 852028 or email: chamber@qdosconsulting.com

The Laura Centre (TLC) are holding their first ever Christmas Auction and you’re invited to bid on 5 auction lots that, in the main, can’t normally be bought. The lots have been donated by supporters of TLC in an effort to help them raise much needed funds for the charity. TLC specialise in providing support for when a child dies or is bereaved and the charity is finding that their services are in greater demand than ever before which, of course, adds additional stress to their finances. By bidding in the auction you will be helping to fund this wonderful organisation and ensure that the help and support they offer will still be around for future clients.

The auction lots on offer are: 1) A Flight in a Cessna – 2) A Leicester Tigers shirt signed by members of the squad – 3) A tour of The House of Lords and lunch with Lord Janner (for up to 4 people) – 4) A round of golf with Willie Thorne (for up to 3 people) at Kilworth Springs Golf Club – 5) A pamper day at Ragdale Hall

These are prestigious lots and will make the ideal special Christmas present for that someone in your life. So, how do you bid? Firstly you need to be aware that the only way to get to the auction site is by clicking on this link http://www.thelauracentre.org.uk/auction/auction_home.html The site is not open to the general public, only to those invited by email or by e newsletter making you one of a select number. When you get to the home page of the site choose the item in which you have an interest and make your bid. As the bids come in the current highest bid will be shown at the top of the page. You can check out the rules of the auction there also. The auction is only open until noon on the 21st December 2009 so you don’t have long to get bidding.

If you have been struggling with the question “what can I buy her/him/them for Christmas?” then you need ponder no longer. Click on the link and secure a gift that will both surprise and delight the recipient.

If you need to contact TLC directly please email tony@thelauracentre.org.uk or call 0116 255 6676.

Leicestershire Education Business Company (LEBC) currently has office space available from January 2010 for rent. The office is located at Ashcroft House, Meridian Business Park, Leicester. Details are as follows:
• The office space is approximately 520 sq ft in size, is fully carpeted and fitted with suspended ceilings, incorporating Category II lighting and fully raised access floors.
• The office space is air conditioned and heating is provided by way of radiators fed from a gas central heating boiler.
• Reception area and male, female and disabled W.C. facilities are provided within the common parts. Kitchen facilities are also provided.
• Car parking is available.
• Rent is £11-12,000 pa. excluding business rates.

If you are interested in having a look around this office space then please contact Yvonne Chambers on 0116 240 7000 to arrange an appointment.

A record 83,000 scam emails offering fake tax refunds were reported to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) in September. The online attacks, known as ‘phishing’, have since continued with an unprecedented 10,000 reports of the fraud made to HMRC on one day alone.
The scam email tells the recipient they are due a tax refund and then asks for bank account or credit card details. John Harrison, Head of HMRC Customer Contact Online, said: “We only contact customers who are due a refund in writing by post. We never use emails, telephone calls or external companies in these circumstances. I would strongly encourage anyone receiving such an email not to open it, send it to us for investigation at phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk and then delete it from their computer.”
HMRC is taking action to disrupt these attacks and through co-operation with other law enforcement agencies in the UK and overseas a number of scam networks have been shut down.

Advent is the four week season leading up to Christmas during which Christians reflect on their values and priorities. During Advent the Sunday morning services at Leicester Cathedral will focus on the theme of Judgement - God’s and ours.

Sunday 20th December 10.30 Fourth Sunday in Advent
Preacher: Revd Dr Fiona Stewart-Darling
The Bishop of London’s Chaplain in the Docklands, London working especially with financial institutions.

Leicester cathedral will also be hosting the following festive services:

Thursday 24th December – Christmas Eve
17.00 Nine Lessons and Carols
A traditional service of reading and carols with choir

23.30 Midnight Eucharist Preacher: Bishop of Leicester
A service of Holy Communion in the presence of the Christ Child and the Crib
Readings and Holy Communion.

Friday 25th December – Christmas Day
07.40 Morning Prayer 08.00 Holy Communion
10.30 Festal Eucharist Preacher The Dean of Leicester

Cards for Good Causes will be selling cards throughout this period. Please consider buying your cards this way as charities receive a greater percentage of profit than with shop bought cards.

To make a donation towards the work and ministry of Leicester Cathedral please go to www.cafonline.org and search for Leicester Cathedral. All donations most gratefully received.

www.cathedral.leicester.anglican.org

Chamber member and local registered charity the Shuttlewood Clarke Foundation will be hosting a special fund raising Christmas event on Monday 21st December. The venue is Ulverscroft Manor, Priory Lane, Ulverscroft and the house will be open between 10am and 3pm for you to come along and enjoy a selection of stalls and Christmas music whilst supporting the Shuttlewood Clarke Foundation, a wonderful and unique Leicestershire charity that offers support, care and friendship to the elderly, adults of all ages with disabilities and young people.

Admission will be £2.50, with children under 5 free of charge. Refreshments, including hot turkey and stuffing rolls and mini hotdogs for children, will be available to purchase. Santa will be making a special appearance at 2pm and all children will receive a small Christmas gift. There will be a selection of craft stalls, with restricted access via steep stairs.

Fundraising income is extremely important to the long term development of the foundation. For more information and tickets call 01530 244914 or email: admin@shuttlewood-clarke.org

For more information on the foundation please visit: www.shuttlewood-clarke.org

Upside Of Share Value Downturn

Leicester business advisers Cooper Parry say that the Government run Enterprise Management Incentive scheme (EMI) could be a useful tax efficient way to motivate employees during the course of the recession.

An option is granted to key employees to allow them to buy shares at some future point at the current market value. However, the employees do not pay anything until they exercise their option.

In the present economic climate the company’s share value may have dipped and could be fairly low. When the economy recovers from the current recession the value should improve, but employees will have benefitted from the current downturn as they will still pay a low price for their shares when exercising the option.

Simon Baines, Tax Director at Cooper Parry, says: “There are a number of qualifying conditions that both the company and the relevant individual(s) would need to meet before introducing an EMI scheme. These include the level of gross assets, independence requirements, employee numbers, trading status and working hours. However, a large proportion of small and medium sized companies are likely to qualify.”

Maestro Vladimir Ashkenazy and the Philharmonia Orchestra will return to the De Montfort Hall, Leicester in 2010 to conduct two pieces by Elgar on Saturday 23rd January. Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto will also be performed by the sincerely expressive James Ehnes. You can also attend the popular annual Family Music Day on the same day at 12pm with percussion and craft workshops preceding a special live concert.

Click here for more information and booking details.
Click here for more information on the Family Music Day.
The Philharmonia Orchestra is proud to be a member of Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce.

BUSINESS LINK HELP AND ADVICE

The regional Business Link service has published an online summary of the implications of the pre-budget report for Leicestershire businesses and their employees. The summary can be found on www.businesslink.gov.uk/eastmidlands/prebudget
Eric Carveth, Leicestershire Area Manager for the regional Business Link service explains, “It helps businesses to have all the information they need in one place. By producing an online summary of the key points with links to further information, we aim to make life simpler for business.”

Key points for business from the Pre-Budget Report 2009:
• The economy is forecast to shrink by 4.75% during 2009, and growth of between 1% and 1.5% is expected in 2010. Further growth of 3.5% is expected in 2011 and 2012.
• The rate of VAT will revert back to 17.5% from 1 January 2010 and there will be no further changes to the rate.
• All National Insurance rates will rise by 0.5% from April 2011, although anyone earning less than £20,000 will be exempt from the increase.
• The increase in Corporation Tax for small firms will be deferred, while HM Revenue & Customs' (HMRC) Business Payment Support Service, which allows firms to spread their tax payments, will be extended for as long as it is needed.
• There will be an increase to the threshold for empty property relief, so that for 2010/11 commercial properties in England and Wales with a rateable value below £18,000 will be exempt from business rates.
• The Enterprise Finance Guarantee scheme will be extended for another 12 months, guaranteeing £500 million worth of loans for small firms.
• Funding worth £5 million has been allocated to help ex-services personnel to set up their own business.
• Green measures announced include a 100% first year capital allowance for electric vans and a five-year exemption from company car tax for electric cars.
• A 10% Corporation Tax will be introduced on income that comes from patents in the UK, in order to help the science and technology industries.
• Around £5 billion will be saved from cutbacks in public sector IT and outsourcing projects. There are also plans to give older people more support to stay in their own homes in order to cut back on residential care.

Stephen Smith, Chief Executive of EMB Ltd, the organisation responsible for delivering the regional Business Link service adds, “In addition to an overview of the 2009 Pre-Budget Report , the award-winning Business Link website offers a wealth of guidance and information that can help make running a business easier, especially in the current touch economic climate.”

Business Link is encouraging businesses across Leicestershire to ensure they are doing all they can to reduce the risk of becoming a victim of crime.

Eric Carveth, Leicestershire Area Manager for the regional Business Link service, says: “While business related crime is not significantly higher in the East Midlands than elsewhere in the UK, all businesses need to be aware of the risks and to put appropriate measures in place to reduce them.”

Often the crimes reported could have been averted by implementation of appropriate security measures and Business Link continues to work with its partners to raise awareness of the issues and what positive steps can be taken.

“Often businesses in industrial and business parks can work together to reduce crime,” continues Eric. “Our advisers can help businesses to access information on crime reduction and on how working together can bring mutual benefits and reduce costs. We can help businesses to set up secure networks and gain access to the information and support them need to increase security and reduce crime.”

Business Link can also provide access to a range of crime reduction factsheets and information guides for businesses. These documents cover a comprehensive set of crime reduction topics to help protect businesses against crimes such as theft, fraud in international trade, internet crime, intellectual property theft, road-freight crime and credit card fraud.

All the information can be found on the dedicated crime section on the award winning website www.businesslink.gov.uk/eastmidlands/crime or you can call Business Link on 0845 058 6644 or email info@businesslinkem.co.uk for more details.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Bulgaria's creative industries sector has grown rapidly following EU accession in 2007. Developments along Bulgaria's Black Sea Coast and the construction of industrial parks and shopping centres in Sofia and other major cities present opportunities for UK design companies.

UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) East Midlands are running a market visit to Bulgaria in February 2010 to explore the opportunities that exist for British companies engaged in Design for the Built Environment, enabling them to experience the market, meet the people, build contacts and potentially win new business.

Companies on the market visit are provided with a comprehensive market overview and a minimum of five warmed up leads / appointments with companies actually interested in what they have to offer. For more details visit: www.emids.uktradeinvest.gov.uk

CHAMBER EVENTS

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:

Sun 10 Jan Ipswich Town
Tues 9 Feb Doncaster Rovers
Sat 13 Feb Scunthorpe United

Sponsored by Ruth Ingman Limited
Date: 18 January
Venue: Express by Holiday Inn, Leicester
Time: 12:30pm – 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 participate in a wonderful networking opportunity with these regular lunchtime meetings

Date: 21 January
Venue: Spice of India restaurant, Syston, Leicester
Time: 6pm – 8.30pm
Cost: Chamber Members £25 / Standard £35

Leicestershire Chamber invites you to join us for a networking evening with an Indian touch at one of Leicestershire's well known Indian restaurants. 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.

Later in the evening, business cards will be put into a hat and taken out at random, giving at least six guests a chance to give a short presentation on their business.
So why not join us, come and have a great meal and network with people from other local businesses.

Date: 10 February
Venue: Devonshire Place, London Road, Leicester
Time: 12pm - 2.30pm
Cost: Chamber Members £32.50 / Standard £42.50
Includes a two course meal with coffee and a welcome drink.

Come and join us at the latest Integra presentation which will feature a talk by Catherine Mason a solicitor, qualified nurse and coroner for Leicester and South Leicestershire. The coroner's office, based at Leicester’s Town Hall, is responsible for investigating and establishing the causes of deaths, especially where there are any unusual circumstances.

Sponsored by Ruth Ingman Limited
Date: 15 February
Venue: Express by Holiday Inn, Leicester
Time: 12:30pm – 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 participate in a wonderful networking opportunity with these regular lunchtime meetings.

Date: 18 February
Venue: Best Western Three Swans Hotel, Market Harborough
Time: 8am- 9:30am
Cost: Chamber Members only at £22.00.

Looking for new contacts? Want to raise your business profile? Come and network over breakfast with fellow Chamber members. Bring along your business cards and join us for this speed networking event, which aims to bring together the business community to enjoy networking opportunities with a full English breakfast in the comfortable surroundings of the Three Swans Hotel.

Date: 4 March
Venue: Holiday Inn Rugby, Junction 18 off of M1
Time: 11.45am – 2.30pm
Cost: Chamber Members only, £25 plus vat
Price includes a 3 course meal.

This joint event is being hosted by Leicestershire and Northamptonshire Chambers of Commerce and will give businesses from both counties an excellent opportunity to network and exchange company literature with fellow attendees over a 3 course lunchtime meal. Looking for new contacts? Wanting to raise your business profile? Need to identify new, competitive, suppliers? Then don’t miss this event.

This lunch is specifically designed to encourage inter-trading amongst members. If you are keen to promote your organisation in Leicestershire and Northamptonshire then come along and tell your fellow diners about your products or services in this organised but relaxed environment.

Sponsored by Ruth Ingman Limited
Date: 15 March
Venue: Express by Holiday Inn, Leicester
Time: 12:30pm – 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 participate in a wonderful networking opportunity with these regular lunchtime meetings.