Updated 4/11/08
South Holland District Council in partnership with the Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Focus in South Holland Project present:
Speed Networking - Trading in Difficult Times:
Thursday 4th December 2008 9am - 3.30pm
Broad Street Business Centre, Spalding
In these uncertain economic times, there are regular reports of companies becoming insolvent. We know business can be tough, that's why we have put on an event to bring experts together to provide you with specialist advice. The day will provide you with tips and advice on how to run a successful business.
Plus, you can build valuable new contacts through Speed Networking, and talk one-to-one with 50 or more other businesses.
If you have not been Speed Networking before, it's fun, it works, it's free.
9.00 - 9.30 Registration
9.30 - 12.00 Introduction and Speed Networking (Including break)
12.00 - 12.30 Get more sales
12.30 - 1.30 Lunch and more networking
1.30 - 2.00 Cash control and avoiding debts - Accounting Company
2.00 - 2.30 Making the most of Tax management and Investment
2.30 - 3.00 Reality Check - Hot tips to survive and prosper
3.00 - 3.30 What the Chamber can do for you - followed by questions
To book your free place, please email Chris Brown on chris.brown@lincs-chamber.co.uk
3/11/08
Economic Climate doesn't dampen entrepreneurial spirit in the East Midlands
Entrepreneurial spirit is alive and kicking in the East Midlands with over 200 individuals attending a series of local 'Is it for you' events - which form part of the East Midlands Development Agency (emda) Campaign to promote access to the Regional Business Link Start-up.
The campaign aims to significantly increase the number of new business start-ups in the region. A range of activities have been employed to attract budding entrepreneurs from all backgrounds and industry sectors.
An engaging advertising campaign has been running across local media online and on buses across the region, as well as a direct marketing campaign targeting over 600,000 households, encouraging those interested in taking the self employment route to think of Business Link as the main access point to get the right information and advice in order to avoid the common pitfalls involved in setting up a new business.
Business Link advisors have also reported an increase in the numbers of local people attending the second series of the popular 'Is it for you' events that returned due to high demand.
Stephen Smith on behalf of the Regional Business Link Service said: "The positive side of the current downturn is that redundancy and unemployment can actually offer people the finances and opportunity to pursue a long held ambition to run their own business. In order to succeed, particularly in the current economic climate, it is vital that as well as having a sound business proposition entrepreneurs research all areas of running their own business. The Regional Business Link Start-up Service provides access to a range of free information and advice that is designed to help all types of business. Bt raising the profile of the services we hope more people will use them in order to give their businesses the best possible start."
The next phase of the campaign is underway with the launch of a dedicated microsite in November and the roll out of further marketing activity. More events are also planned across the region throughout 2009.
The Business Link Start-up Service offers free advice for people starting their own business or those currently running their own business who may need extra help and advice to grow and develop. Such support includes comprehensive training on:
- Deciding to start
- The business plan
- Financial planning
- ICT for your business
- Managing the money
- Managing the risk
- Sales and marketing
Once training is completed, people will have access to their own business advisor who will help them through making the leap into self-employment and will be on hand to advise them through their first year in business. The business Link Start-up Service can also offer ongoing one to one business support with access to dedicated advisors.
For more information on starting your own business, contact Business Link on 0845 058 6644 or visit www.thinkbusiness.org.uk
30/10/08
Darling pledges business support:
Alistair Darling has said it is vital to provide funds to small businesses after unveiling a package of loans for British firms worth up to £4bn.
The Chancellor says the funding from the European Investment Bank will be made available to small and medium sized firms through High Street Banks. Mr Darling said it was in the interest of banks to support business customers in difficult as well as good times.
But the Conservatives said Labour was increasing taxes for small businesses.
Difficult period
In the House of Commons, shadow chancellor George Osbourne called on the Government to abandon a phased increase in the rate of corporation tax paid by small business, announced in March 2007.
He accepted that banks did have to act responsibly regarding business lending but said what small firms really wanted was a "sustained reduction" in interest rates.
Traditional lending by the banks has dried up due to the credit crisis.
There are fears that thousands of firms could go out of business in the coming months as the economic downturn worsens and banks, hit by the credit crisis, continue to be reluctant to lend money.
The Government has made its multi-billion pound bailout of three of the UK's largest banks conditional on them restoring the availability of funds available to small businesses to 2007 levels.
However, there has been little sign of this happening yet and the government has said that the European money - lent to banks so that they can pass it on to their customers - will be vital to supporting many businesses.
At a meeting with the head of the European Investment Bank - the lending arm of the European Union - Mr Darling said up to £4bn in additional funds could be available to the UK for the next three to four years.
Mr Darling said small firms were the lifeblood of UK business and access to regular and predictable funding was "crucial to their survival".
"Our economy needs these strong small businesses and strengthening them will need our help".
Banks have already applied for £1bn of funding, Mr Darling said, and urged more banks to "seize the opportunity" to get involved with the EIB's scheme.
It is intended that firms will be able to use the money for a range of purposes, to provide working capital, or to fund specific projects.
Business Secretary Lord Mandelson, who also attended the meeting, said there was "real anxiety" among small firms about to access bank funding and said the needs of small business were "top of our agenda" in dealing with the economic downturn.
He said that the initiative would not encourage a return to "irresponsible lending" but would support strong, creditworthy firms.
While admitting that not every business would be able to receive funds, Mr Darling said it was essential the "pool of money" available to firms returned to levels seen before the credit crunch.
"If you have got a good business in front of you and if your prospects are good, the pool of money available is the same as it was in 2007.
"What I can't guarantee is that anyone who walks in the front door of the bank will get what they want. It would be daft to claim that. What you can say is the pool of money will be the same.
Employers groups welcomed the funding measure but said it was essential that small businesses, no matter who they banked with, were able to get hold of the money should they need it.
" We need to be assured that this money will actually filter down to small businesses" said John Wright, chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses.
"The government and the EIB must do much more to promote this availability of funds".
'Financial mess'
Mr Darling also defended the governments new approach to fiscal policy, outlined in a speech on Wednesday.
The chancellor paved the way for the government to relax its fiscal rules on borrowing at debt level by stating it would be "perverse" to apply them rigidly at the moment and it was "sensible" to raise borrowing to maintain investment in crucial areas.
"History tells us when the economy slows down if the government stops spending money we make a difficult position worse" he said.
He added that "only the government was big enough to support the economy" as the downturn forced private firms to cut back activity.
The opposition has warned ministers against a "spending splurge", saying it will cause further damage to the public finances.
Mr Osborne challenged the chancellor to come up with a "clear plan to get the public finances back under control"
In the commons, he argued that the government was set to leave the largest budget deficit of any Labour administration in history.
"Once again it will have to be the Conservatives that have to clear up the mess", he said.
29/10/08
Lincolnshire and Rutland Employment and Skills Board.
Following the publication of the Leitch report and the regionalisation of the Learning and Skills Council, the key partners with an interest in developing the skills of the workforce agreed to establish a Lincolnshire and Rutland Employment Skills Board. The employer-led Employment and Skills Board will give strategic direction and co-ordinate existing funding to increase the level of skills and employability of people in Lincolnshire and Rutland.
The new board will take into account changing business skills' priorities and proactively address these in evolving strategies and policies. it will ensure that the existing and future needs of the Lincolnshire and Rutland employers are clearly identified so that the right training and skills are easily accessed to maximise the potential of individuals and the competitiveness of businesses.
Board Structure.
There will be a maximum of 15 members including the chair, comprising:
11 members from employers, being:
- 6 members from the private sector and employer representative bodies
- 1 member from the third sector
- 4 members from the public sector
3 members from learning and skills suppliers
1 representative from the Trade Unions
The Chair will be drawn from a member of the employers board.
An executive group will serve the board with representation from:
Learning and Skills Council
Lincolnshire Local Authority
Rutland Local Authority
Lincolnshire Enterprise
Jobcentre Plus
District Authorities of Lincolnshire
Members of the executive group will be invited to the Board as observers.
Role
To shape and influence the delivery of an integrated employment and skills approach that meets the needs of employers in Lincolnshire and Rutland.
Aspirations
To increase the Gross Value Added of the Lincolnshire and Rutland Economies
To increase skilled employment opportunities in Lincolnshire and Rutland
To increase the level of skills in Lincolnshire and Rutland.
Remit
To champion learning, skills and employment in Lincolnshire and Rutland locally and across the region.
To influence the prioritisation and investment in skills supply and the shape of delivery.
To contribute to the Local area agreements (LAA's) by aligning with LAA priorities.
To use experience and knowledge to help shape strategy and policy on learning and skills development.
The board would be likely to need to establish Task and Finish sub-groups to achieve some of its ambitions and would need to develop clear and strong working relationships with existing partnerships and structures at county and local level.
How the Board will work towards achieving its objectives:
By championing to influence and lead by example
By being delivery focused
By providing enterprising solutions that are creative
By working in partnership across the private, public and the third sector
By sharing best practice
By being inclusive of each locality and community in Lincolnshire and Rutland
Administration
The board will be supported by a professional secretariat hosted by Lincolnshire Enterprise
Commitment required
The Board will meet quarterly, and each meeting will require a day's preparation and attendance time
Board members will be appointed for a three year term
Board members will not receive any remuneration although reasonable out of pocket expenses will be paid.
Relationships
The board will operate as an independent partnership but will have strong links with the partner organisations represented on the Executive Group.
The secretariat will be funded by a grant from Lincolnshire Enterprise.
If you are interested in becoming a member of the Skills Board, please get in touch with the Economic Development team on 01775 761161 for further information.
27/10/08
East Midlands Development Agency (emda) has welcomed the launch of the Governments 'Solutions for business' package and is particularly pleased that the key recommendations of the Regional Development Agencies (RDA's), specifically regarding streamlining business support services, have been adopted.
Lord Mandelson, Secretary of State for Business, speaking at the Northern Regeneration and Renewal Summit today revealed the 30 advice, loan and grant products and services that make up the portfolio, alongside the branding proposals that will create their own look and feel.
The Government has confirmed that Business Link will continue to be the primary support facilitator to business: providing access to a range of pertinent public funded business support products and simplifying the process for those seeking help.
The East Midlands wide regional Business Link service, established by emda in 2007, assisted 63,140 clients last year, and achieved an independently verified customer satisfaction level of 90%. This regional Business Link service has developed rapidly during 2007/8 and now employs significantly more front line staff than the previous five county based Business Links.
Emda, in its leadership role as 'Chair of Chairs' for the RDA's, has worked closely with the Government throughout the development of the business support package and has already developed a simplified product range that is easy for business to understand and access. This approach is outlined in emda's recently published regional Business Support Strategy: Encouraging Business Success.
Most products in the range map directly onto the new national Business Support Simplification Programme (BSSP) portfolio. As current products come to the end of their contracts they will, were appropriate, be re-contracted to align with the new national portfolio and will incorporate the new branding guidelines, in time for the April 2010 deadlines for all products to be nationally available. From this time it is expected that no publically funded business support will be offered outside the scope of the new product portfolio.
Emda will work in partnership with the Local Authorities, business organisations and other key stakeholders to ensure that the portfolio of support is implemented to the optimum benefit of the region's businesses. These groups will have a major role in ensuring future flexibility through overseeing simplification of support within the region as well as advising key stakeholders, influencing regional priorities and sharing good practice.
In keeping with this, emda has wholeheartedly welcomed the Government's recent commitment to pay businesses within 10 working days and, earlier this week, agreed to match this commitment when paying their own suppliers. This announcement came through just days after the Government and RDA's, led by emda, unveiled plans to offer, through Business Link, free 'health checks' to businesses, priority training advice for small and medium sized enterprises, and financial information to help firms maintain a steady cash flow.
Jeff Moore, Chief Executive of East Midlands Development Agency (emda) said: "emda is working closely with the Government to ensure swift support for businesses in this difficult period. As a business-led organisation we are delighted they have acted upon our contribution to the proposals to streamline business support. We believe that these initiatives will be a major contribution towards helping SMEs through these troubled economic times"
For further information about the Business Support Simplification Programme and the objectives of the BSSP, please visit the emda website www.emda.org.uk/bssp
To download the business Support Strategy document, visit www.emda.org.uk/businesssupport
Updated 23/10/08
"Planning a Successful Website - Action Planning Workshop" to be held on 12th November at Broad Street Business Centre, Spalding.
Getting the right mix for your website is a tricky task - it has to say the right things about your company, deliver the information visitors are looking for, work properly on all the different systems it might be viewed on and get a high ranking in the search engines. Meanwhile, it must be accessible to people with disabilities and easy for you to manage and maintain.
The key to a successful website is to plan ahead, armed with the knowledge of best practice in web design and the pitfalls to avoid. Whether you are looking to develop a full online eBusiness or simply wishing to market your products and services on the internet this one-day workshop covers an extensive array of web design topics and gives you the tools to tackle your existing site or provide a detailed brief to the web designer.
The planning a successful website programme in detail:
Graphic design and page structure:
What makes a good looking website that sells?
Web standards and technologies:
The benefits of adhering to standards
Getting the right content:
What your visitors will respond to
Site structure, navigation design and usability:
Organise your site and make it easy to use
Content management and databases:
Take control of your website
Accessibility for users with disabilities:
Complying with the Disability Discrimination Act
Search engine requirements:
Make sure your site is search engine friendly
Using multimedia:
How to use audio and video on your site
Creating a brief for web designers:
Make sure you get what you want!
Who should attend?
This action planning workshop is aimed at business owners, managers or marketing professionals responsible for their companies website. Any business looking to develop their existing website or build a new website will benefit from attending this workshop.
Individuals that wish to develop a Search Engine Optimisation campaign may benefit from attending the SEO: Beginners Workshop or the Advanced SEO & Web 2.0 workshop.
For further information or to book your place please ring the eBusiness programme team on 0845 6038320
10/10/08
The second annual Free Press Business Business awards took place last night at the South Holland Centre and was attended by more than 25 businesses, their guests, and sponsors.
The winners were:
Business Start-up sponsored by Brown & Co
Winner - If Salons, Holbeach
Runner-up - Eco Plumbing, Moulton Chapel
Runner-up - Safe-T-Solutions, Langtoft
Growing Business sponsored by Business Link
Winner - Bettaland Products, Crowland
Runner-up - Integrity Plus, Donington
Runner-up - Food 4 Thought, Spalding
Customer Care sponsored by Roythornes
Winner - The Ship Inn, Surfleet Seas end
Runner-up - Electric Tracks, Weston Hills
Runner-up - Image International, Spalding
Best use of Technology sponsored by South Holland District Council
Winner - www.winegifts4u.co.uk
Runner-up - Coleman Builders, Spalding
Runner-up - Integrity Plus, Gosberton
Service with a Smile sponsored by Lincolnshire Free Press
Winner - Nikki Wilkinson, Strands of Spalding
Runner-up - Dr Mike England, Suttons Medical Group
Runner-up - Michelle Barnett, Central Fish Bar, Holbeach
Business Person of the Year sponsored by Nat West
Winner - Matt Clark, West End Leisure, Spalding
Runner-up - Sharon Talbot, If Salons, Holbeach
Runner-up - Georgina Sneath, by George Catering, West Pinchbeck
Business of the Year sponsored by Duncan and Toplis
Winner - Infotel Solutions, Gosberton
Runner-up - Belmont, Pinchbeck
Runner-up - West End Leisure, Spalding
East Midlands launches response to current economic challenges and boost to funding for local businesses.
On Thursday 21st August, Angela Eagle MP, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, and Phil Hope MP, Regional Minister for the East Midlands, visited the region to explain how Government and the East Midlands Development agency (emda) are supporting businesses and households through current economic challenges.
During the visit, Ministers and emda Chairman, Dr Bryan Jackson, launched 'The East Midlands economy - a joint response to changing economic circumstances' - outlining the collective approach that HM Treasury, the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) and emda are taking to help companies and individuals affected by problems of tighter credit conditions and increasing commodity costs.
As part of the response, emda announced its intention to make an immediate injection of a further £12 million over the next 12 months to supplement its Business Transformation Grant (BTG) currently available through Business Link for investment in plant and equipment to support resource efficiency.
During the visit, both ministers met with regional businesses and other stakeholders to provide them with the opportunity to share their experiences and highlight the issues they are facing.
Angela Eagle, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, commented:'"I am aware of the difficulties businesses and households in the region are facing due to the global economic uncertainty here in the East Midlands, we are determined that the Government, along with regional and local agencies will all work together to ensure that businesses and households get the support that they need."
Bryan Jackson said: "Our regional response document demonstrates that helping businesses is the primary role undertaken by emda. The first port of call for companies wanting support is Business Link and over the past two years, we have developed a professional independent advice service tailored to respond to the challenges and queries raised by businesses.
"More recently, since the effects of the credit crunch and downturn in the property markets became apparent, we have re-focused our Business Link advisers to ensure they give smaller businesses practical advice to survive in an economic downturn. By supplementing our BTG as announced today, we want to encourage businesses to invest in plant and equipment which will enable them to manage their resources more efficiently and improve their cost base".
From a national perspective, the joint response also outlines the range of measures that Government is implementing to respond to these economic changes. These include activities to help stimulate the housing market such as additional investment to improve the provision of affordable housing in the East Midlands; an increase of £60m in the amount of lending that banks can approve under the Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme, bringing the total to £360m this financial year, and developing schemes to boost skill levels to ensure a dynamic and flexible workforce.
Speaking at the event, Phil Hope, Minister for the East Midlands said: "With help from emda, I will be taking action to ensure companies across the region use the Government's Train to Gain cash to improve the skills they need to meet the challenges posed by changes in the global economy.
"The whole world is feeling the effects of the credit crunch and the East Midlands is no exception. During these difficult times businesses need to be innovative and invest in skills in order to thrive, we can't compete with emerging economies in terms of price, but we can beat them when it comes to the quality of our workforce."
Further examples of financial support available to help businesses through these tough times were also outlined in the document. These include:
£3.5m of Selective Finance for Investment (SFIE) grant funding available to companies this financial year.
Between £3,000 and £20,000 available to small businesses that are unable to obtain bank finance through the Enterprise Loans East Midlands programme.
£4.1m of Grant for Research and Development (GRD) programme funding available to companies during 2008-09.
Bryan Jackson added: "This is just the start of the process. We very much welcome inputs on what more can be done to support our economy over the coming weeks and months.
We will continue to listen to regional businesses and stakeholders in order to further inform our understanding of what is happening in the economy."
He also encouraged partnership and cross agency working, and a continued focus on the Regional Economic strategy (RES) which outlines the region's priorities over the next decade. Dr Jackson highlighted the importance of not losing sight of the long term goal of making the East Midlands a flourishing region by 2020.
Mentoring for all East Midlands.
Access expertise to help your business grow.
Almost everyone has a mentor, although you may not recognise them as such. Your mentors are people you turn to when you need a sounding board or are unsure about which direction to take - friends, family, solicitors, accountants or people you have met through business or social networks. People you know and trust.
However, sometimes it's good to get a fresh perspective on your business related issues and this is where a business mentor can help.
Mentoringforall East Midlands is designed to help East Midlands business owners access the knowledge and expertise of another business leader to develop their own skills and competencies.
Mentoring can provide you with:
Help to focus on your longer term needs and those of your business.
The chance to evaluate and address your development needs, and identify different learning methods.
An opportunity to unlock creativity to solve problems and unlock creativity.
Awareness of resources, business networks and other support for your business.
Increased motivation.
For further information, ring 0115 970 5550
email mentor@nbv.co.uk
Please note eligibility criteria apply and State Aid rules apply to this programme.
Businesses in Rural Parts of England do less well than those in urban areas and are failing to reach their full potential, a report has said.
The chairman of the Commission for Rural Communities, which wrote the report, said rural areas had up to £347 billion a year of untapped potential.
But Stuart Burgess said some villages could become commuter ghettos, empty of local wealth if action was not taken.
The study was launched after the floods and and foot and mouth crises last summer.
Mr Burgess, who is the Rural Advocate, told BBC Radio 5 Live: "The rural economy actually contributes over £300 billion into the general economy already."
He said he did not think the government had been ignoring rural areas, and that he had actually seen a steady growth in rural economies over the past 10 years.
But he said much more could be made of rural economies and that "regrettably, too often rural issues are given little recognition in keynote speeches." And he says too often business councils in rural areas have problems with affordable housing and transport.
Mr Burgess is calling on the government to take four key steps to safeguard rural economies.
He said there needed to be an economic minister to oversee support of rural economies; a "rural" summit to pursue local businesses; a "rural finance forum" to tap into private and public money; and a "rural innovation initiative" to encourage entrepreneurs and ensure access to resources such as broadband.
Mr Burgess said the aim for the future should be to reinstate rural villages to their past function which was in "a very real sense that the village used to be an economic hub."
"I don't think the countryside can be left alone," he said.
A New Funding opportunity in the Creative Industries Sector.
The Technology Strategy Board has allocated an indicative amount of £7 million to invest in highly innovative collaborative research in the application of digital technologies - for creation, preservation, interaction, personalisation and increasing the competitive advantage of creative industry products, services and experiences.
The Technology Strategy Board is interested in innovative, multi-disciplinary projects that will exploit digital technologies to increase the competitiveness of the UK creative industries sector. The result could be the development of new tools, techniques, processes, technologies or underlying capabilities that can be widely deployed across a market sector or sectors and will lead directly to or underpin wealth creation. Proposals to exploit well established existing technologies in innovative ways are welcomed alongside the truly novel inventions.
For more information about this and other events and details on how to register and apply, visit;
www.technologyprogramme.org.uk or phone 01793 442700
