Business Brief - Winter 2011

Tamworth & Lichfield

12th Quarterly Issue

Business Brief Welcome The economic climate continues to be a major concern with unemployment rising steadily and inflation on the increase. It is very likely that this will not change for the better in the foreseeable future so the outlook is not promising. With this as a background it is imperative that business use whatever tools they can to sustain their position in this difficult period.

One of these tools is the Think Local 4 Business website. This is an ideal opportunity for you as a business to enhance your web presence, publish your press releases, find other local

businesses to buy or sell to and much more. Membership is FREE and is rapidly growing and further enhancements to support and help business are being incorporated every couple of months. The Business and Economic Partnership (BEP) continues to be an active supporter of this initiative as it helps to achieve a major part of the economic strategy in supporting business especially with the loss of Business Link in November.

Finally the overall economic strategy has now been approved by the BEP following the unanimous endorsement from both the Public and Private Sectors. Implementation of this by working together as a team

will help to overcome some of the issues we have today and help build the platform we need to go forward.

Peter Farmer (Chair of the Business & Economic Partnership)

Local economic strategy next steps announced The consultation process for the Tamworth and Lichfield Economic Strategy has now been completed with both the Public and Private Sector. This has resulted in a few minor changes to the original document but the overall view from all concerned was that the strategy was focussed and concentrated on the major issues that would make a difference in the local area.

The strategy has also been endorsed by both the cabinets for Tamworth and Lichfield Councils as well as Lichfield and Tamworth Strategic Partnerships the LSP and TSP respectively. With this green light from all the main Bodies and Partnerships in the area it is also intended to send a copy of the final approved paper to both the Birmingham & Solihull and Stoke & Staffordshire LEP’s.

Following the endorsements of the strategy the Interim Board of the BEP which consists of both Public and Private Sector members has now convened and has agreed the following next steps. Each of the five themes identified as being key drivers for success have now a nominated champion from a member of the Interim Board with support from other Board members. The agreed champions are as follows;

Strategic Theme

Champion

Organisation

Business Support

Jeff Marlow

Southern Staffordshire Partnership

Place Promotion

Peter Farmer

BEP Chair

Infrastructure

Craig Jordan

Lichfield District Council

Town Centres

James Roberts

Tamworth Borough Council

Workforce Development

James Whybrow

South Staffordshire College

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Business news in brief Carpet cleaner chats for charity Lichfield carpet cleaner, Neil Weyham, is on a mission to turn his chat into cash for a good cause. For the last few years, Neil has been giving up his spare time to be a guest speaker at local voluntary organisations and donating any speaking fees to St Giles Hospice.

There’s a saying that ‘talk is cheap’, but so far Neil has raised almost £300 for St Giles hospice each year from his talks which include amusing anecdotes from his busy work and social life. As well as running Neil Weyham, Cathedral Chem-Dry in Lichfield with his wife Sarah Cathedral Chem-Dry for the last 20 years, Neil has been a Magistrate for almost 5 years and has been a qualified snooker coach since 1998. Neil says, “It doesn’t matter what size audience I talk to – I’ve talked to as few as 11, and my largest group so far has been almost 300!"

MaximITy boosts jobs and services IT training company MaximITy has employed two new staff and is expanding their services to local SMEs. Sue Green has been appointed to provide hands-on training helping businesses install and use Sage and a new role has been created in Admin Support. In January 2012 MaximITy will be opening their Sage Academy, every Wednesday morning, giving training on different aspects of Sage 50 from the basics to writing reports. MaximITy MD Tracy Pound said “I’ve never worked so hard! This is our 11th year, we’ve just gone Limited and it’s the busiest we have ever had. We’ve even out grown our premises in Albert Road, Tamworth and are now looking for somewhere larger.”

Sue Green, MaximITy

Luxury Lejaby Packaging by Boxmart

Boxmart delivers brief for briefs Lichfield-based BoxMart has been commissioned by lingerie specialist Lejaby to create a bespoke range of packaging.

Lejaby is renowned worldwide for using the finest materials to create elegant, seductive lingerie of impeccable quality. With this in mind, BoxMart’s brief was to create a gift wrap concept that was as tactile and appealing as the lingerie. The result is a new, bespoke range of Lejaby ribbon, acid-free tissue paper, gift box and label seals that have been subtly branded to deliver a sense of exclusivity that’s expected from such a quality brand.

Consequently, the seductive nature of Lejaby’s lingerie is now echoed in its gift packaging.

Dains train to gain their next generation of accountants...

Dains, chartered accountants and business advisers with offices in Lichfield are pleased to announce the appointment of four new recruits to their graduate programme. The students will be studying for the ACA or ACCA qualification and have joined the Tax, Audit and Business Recovery & Insolvency teams within the firm. Traditionally Dains has appointed mainly graduates to undertake the challenging training to become a qualified accountant, however, for the first time the firm has opened up its trainee scheme to take on 3 - 16/17 year old GCSE students as apprentices to train for a career in accountancy.

New graduates and apprentices with Dains HR Partner, Mike Castree

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Mike Castree, Partner at Dains comments: “At a time when virtually all sectors of business are keeping an eye on expenditure and perhaps putting future plans for growth on hold, we believe that fostering and retaining the region’s graduates is essential for our business development.”

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Business news in brief Tammy at Number 10, Holby City and Dragons Den

Success for Lichfield business author

Mathew Butler, a broadcast camera operator originating from Dosthill, has returned from London to his local Tamworth roots to start up in business with fellow camera operator Adam Cliff.

Mathew has worked on various shows from Dragon's Den to Holby City to Masterchef and also made a stop at Number 10 Downing Street to film an interview with Gordon Brown. Adam has himself worked at the camera department of the world famous London Studios on shows such as This Morning, The Graham Norton Show and The Lilly Allen Show to name a few. Along with making local businesses stand out from the crowd with unique videos they also aim to educate the world on the best ways to capture your own home videos. Watch their new vlog at www.makeitmedia.co.uk.

Lorna’s european union

Lorna Sheldon, CWI

Lorna Sheldon of CWI in Lichfield has been training people in Effective Communication and Presentation Skills for 20 years and has notched up 25 countries whilst running her company. She has been invited back to power giant E.ON Germany time and time again.

On her last visit she was delighted to find that not just German people were attending the 2 day course but delegates came from Italy, Spain, Poland and Turkey as well. Training in small groups ensures absolute success for all at the end of each day and this opportunity was no exception with all Feedback Sheets showing 10 out of 10 results in achievement and comments relating to the trainer.

All that glitters needs great photography Local photographer Don Hardy of Swan Photography has just completed a series of studio photographs for his client Cheshires Jewellers based in Birmingham, Solihull and Chester. Commenting on the shots he said “Photographing high quality jewellery takes time and skill and the right equipment”. Don has been working with Cheshires for the past seven years, and has photographed many hundreds of thousands of pounds of the finest jewellery producing shots for full-page adverts in Warwickshire Life, Select Magazine and even foyer posters for the launch of the Fine jewellery photographed by film Blood Diamond in Birmingham. local photographer Don Hardy

Liz Wilson of Columbus Coaching is delighted to announce the recent publication of the paperback and Kindle editions of her book Emotional Intelligence Coaching, Improving Performance for Leaders, Coaches and the Individual. The hardback edition of the book was nominated for the Goldman Sachs Business Book of the Year in 2009 and has been translated into several European languages including Lithuanian, Hungarian and Polish. As one reviewer says “as well as being a handbook for coaching professionals, it is an insightful guide to developing emotionally intelligent skills and attitudes that can be accessed by anyone.”

Liz who is based in Lichfield works with leaders and emerging leaders, helping them to get the most out of themselves and the people around them. She is an enthusiastic speaker, facilitator, coach and passionate cupcake and truffle maker!

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Ask the experts – about business insurance and the consequences of not having it Sponsored by: Prizm Solutions Limited Peter Robinson is the Managing Director of Prizm Solutions Ltd, an independent insurance brokers based in Tamworth specialising in SME business insurance. Established in 2006, they have already won two major national awards thanks to client testimonials for outstanding customer service.

We asked Peter for some advice.

Q

I own a small family business and have no staff other than family members. Do I need Employers Liability insurance and if so, how much cover should I buy?

A

The answer is yes, you do need to purchase Employers Liability insurance if your business is a ‘limited company’. The Health & Safety Executive issue a very simple guide to advise companies whether or not they need Employers Liability Insurance, see www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/hse40.pdf.

The simple rule is that if there is a master/servant relationship (in other words, if you’re telling someone what to do) then you need to arrange Employers Liability insurance to protect you and to comply with your legal requirements. The fine for not holding Employers Liability insurance can be as much as £2,500 for every day it isn’t in force.

Where small companies often fall foul of the law is that if they have two (or more) Directors then they must also hold Employers Liability insurance. Most insurers automatically issue policies with a £10 Million limit of indemnity, although sometimes for higher risk businesses they will restrict this to £5 Million. You can purchase top up cover over and above that if you have a lot of people working in one location though.

Prizm Solutions was formed in November 2006 when Peter Robinson and Tracy Pound saw an opportunity to radically change the way insurance is transacted.

They formed Prizm Solutions to provide a high value, cost effective, ethical and professional approach to handling commercial insurance.

From the start they have operated a paperless office using the specialist broker platform Acturis. Unlike the majority of brokers who are solely commission based,

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Q

My company uses a fork lift truck which isn’t registered for road use. We’ve been told we still have to insure it under a motor insurance policy. Is this true and if so, why?

A

If the fork lift truck is used in a public area e.g. a communal car park or on the pavement - then you are right, it has to be insured under a motor insurance policy, irrespective of whether or not it is registered for road use. The Motor Vehicles (Compulsory Insurance) Regulations 2000 amended the law so that any mechanically propelled vehicle used in a public place must hold motor insurance.

If you don’t hold suitable insurance, then the driver and owner/operator of the fork lift truck could face prosecution for driving and/or allowing a vehicle to be driven without insurance.

(You can’t even rely on your standard business Public Liability insurance policy because it automatically excludes any cover where the incident arises out of the use of a vehicle where insurance is required by law!)

in the majority of cases Prizm’s preference is to rebate the commission and charge a totally transparent fee instead as this represents a cost saving, and therefore better value, for their clients.

With a turnover approaching £1.5 Million, they deal with over 1,000 small businesses across the UK and from November have taken on two more staff, Wendy and Dawn, to aid and assist the existing team members, Peter, Tracy, Julie and Matt.

(Disclaimer: The Business and Economic Partnership has taken all reasonable precautions to ensure that information contained in this document is accurate but stresses that the content is not intended to be legally comprehensive. It is recommended that no action be taken on matters covered in this document without taking full advice.) If you do not wish to receive the Business Brief please contact Matt Fletcher on 01827 709 382 or email matthew-fletcher@tamworth.gov.uk

Think Local 4 Business Maximise your marketing for FREE! www.thinklocal4business.co.uk is a completely free online business networking website for all businesses based in the Staffordshire area.

“Give your business a competitive edge today and start thinking local.”

Over the last few weeks over 100 local businesses have joined the site, so sign-up today and take advantage of: 4 A detailed free web presence, effectively a mini website, with the opportunity to link to your current website 4 The ability to publish photos and videos related to your business 4 Higher search rankings on Google – the whole site is Search Engine Optimised to promote your business 4 The ability to create networks of local business contacts and regularly communicate with them 4 The ability to publish events and invite other businesses to attend free of charge 4 Opportunities to publish press releases and news stories for free

So how do I join?

There are 3 steps to joining www.thinklocal4business.co.uk

Top Tip: Fill in all the compulsory information to get registered in just a few minutes and you can go back later to input more information. BUT our top tip is its best to spend a little time and complete your registration in full in one go.

Step 1: Register as a new business The first stage is simply filling in basic information, including your business name, and email address and creating a memorable username and password. The system will prompt you to ensure your password is secure.

Once you have agreed to the terms and conditions, you will receive an email detailing your username and password, as a reminder. Keep this email safe.

Step 2: Complete all details The second stage is really important as it contains all of the information a business will see about your business on your profile and it is how you will market your business, including

contact information and a brief description of what your business does. Fill in as much information as you can about your business, but before you complete the registration you may wish to give some thought to the following three key sections: a. Business Description What does your business actually do and how is it different? Keep it concise, punchy and interesting, in order to keep the reader’s attention. b. Looking for Here you need to put what you’d like to gain from being on the site, the best example being “New Clients / Business” c. Tags Tags are one of the most important parts of the registration process. These are keywords that other businesses or potential customers would use to search for your business. So put yourself in the shoes of a customer, what would they type in when looking for your services, be as varied as possible. For example for a Plumber, people may search for the following: Plumber, plumbing, plumbing services, heating, heating engineer, boiler repairs, pipework, leak etc.

Once you have fully completed all of the necessary information you can choose several groups or categories to join. You can choose from a list such as the type of sector most associated with your business. All that remains is to add a picture or your logo then you’re almost ready to go!

Step 3: Activation and Approval After completing all of your information and uploading a company logo, you will then receive an important email. The email will contain a link, which you must click on, to activate your account. Once you have done this your profile will be live on the site but not visible. A member of the Think Local team will check your profile and then approve it, so everyone can see it!

For more information or if you have difficulties registering contact Matt Fletcher at Tamworth Borough Council. See back page for contact details.

think local business.co.uk

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Business Networking is sponsored by:

Over Half Million Pounds & Rising!

“B2B works!” asserts B2B co-chair Martin Clifford of Pickerings Solicitors, “and our impressive invoiced business figures speak for themselves. B2B Tamworth members have generated business of £205,271 from January to October 2011 and since January 2009 £557,867.”

B2B Tamworth, formed in January 2009, is owned and run by its members. The joining fee is £150 year one and £100 annually thereafter plus £40 per month to cover breakfast costs. Surplus funds are ploughed back into the group for training sessions and social events.

B2B Tamworth has a sister group B2B Walsall, both operate a one seat policy, and both are recruiting members now.

Business Networking Business networking is an effective and low-cost way to market your business and generate sales, and we have a thriving community of business networking groups in the Tamworth and Lichfield Area.

If you have not tried business networking why not give it a try? Each group and what they offer is not exactly comparable, so it’s a good idea to visit a few to find what works best for you. Here’s a quick guide to our local business networking groups.

4 Counties Networking Group Where: The Brooke Marston Farm Hotel, Dog Lane, Bodymoor Heath, Sutton Coldfield, B76 9JD When: 6.45am, the last Friday of each month Info: www.fcng.co.uk The group has generated £70,000 of business through referrals for its members.

If you would like to go along as a visitor please contact Chris Wakeman on 07957 592329

B2B Tamworth Where: The Brooke Marston Farm Hotel, Dog Lane, Bodymoor Heath, Sutton Coldfield, B76 9JD When: 6.45am every Wednesday Info: www.b2bclubnetworking.co.uk and see sponsors panel This award winning group costs £150 for the first year’s membership and £100 annually thereafter plus £40 per month. If you would like to go along as a visitor please call 0844 225 0340

Best Of Lichfield Where: Various Best of Lichfield members premises, a different venue each time When: Evenings every two months Info: www.thebestof.co.uk/lichfield Visitors can register at www.iamthebestof.co.uk/lichfield/upcoming-event

Tamworth T amworth amwort Vacancies Vacancie acancies B2B Tamworth is the leading independent business networking group in the area!

Launched in 2009 our 20+ members have generated over £550,000 of invoiced business for each other.

Winners of South Staffs Regeneration Award 2010 for Business Develo opment.

Painter & Decorator

BusinessAM Where: King George VI Leisure Centre, Lichfield When: 6.45am every other Friday Info: www.businessam.net Membership is just £25 and £10 per meeting. If you would like to go along as a visitor contact BusinessAM via the contact us section on their website.

Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Group The recent formation of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Group creates excellent opportunities for Chamber members to do more business. For information on membership and forthcoming events contact Lichfield and Tamworth Chamber of Commerce on 08450 710 191, info@lichfield-tamworth-chamber.com, www.lichfield-tamworth-chamber.com

Courier

Other business networking groups

Plumber Estate Agent Business networking is an effective low-cost way to generate sales opportunities and contacts. Visit...

www.b2bclubnetworking.co.uk or call 0844 225 034 0340 40 and come along to our next meeting.

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BNI – www.bni-europe.com/uk Business 1st – www.business-1st.org Network Local – www.network-local.co.uk Tamworth Breakfast Group – www.tamworthbusinessbreakfastclub.org.uk The Women’s Business Clubs – www.thewomensbusinessclubs.com If you know of any other local business networking groups please send the details to Matt Fletcher at Tamworth Borough Council, see contact details on back page.

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Continued from Page 6 ..

Connect Where: The Waterfront Bar, West Midlands Waterski Centre, Cliff, nr Tamworth B78 2DL When: 9.45am -12.00 noon first Friday of each month, followed by lunch Info: www.connectingwomen.co.uk If you would like to go along as a visitor please contact Pam Beale, Membership Secretary enquiries@connectingwomen.co.uk or call 01543 250953

Professionals At Cathedral House Business Breakfast Club Where: Darnford Moors Golf Club, Lichfield, WS14 9JG When: 7.15am for 7.30 breakfast on the second Tuesday of each month except January and July

Info: www.cathedral-house.co.uk There is no membership fee, just £10 entrance fee this includes the cost of breakfast. If you would llike to go along as a visitor contact Valerie Culley, Culley Lifford Hall on 01543 421 840 or valerieculley@culleyliffordhall.co.uk

Women In Rural Enterprise Network Where: At various venues in and around Lichfield When: 7.30pm – 9.30pm on the third Monday of the month Info: www.wireuk.org The cost is £10 for WiRE members and £12.50 for nonWiRE members if you would like to go along as a visitor contact julie@growingruralenterprise.co.uk or joycebullockgardendesign@gmail.com or visit Facebook page Lichfield WiRE Network

Funding for Business discussed at Business Networks Forum On 14th September the Business Networks Forum (BNF) held its 5th meeting this year. Made up of local businesses, business networking groups and other representative bodies the BNF provides a vital communications link between public bodies and local business.

Over the last few months the BNF has provided feedback into the local economic strategy, had a discussion with council officers over parking in both Lichfield and Tamworth and at the September meeting the main topic was access to funding for businesses.

Ex-banker Nick Cooper from the Black Country Reinvestment Society

gave a fact filled presentation and also provided real advice on how his organisation provides funding for firms that have been turned down by their bank. For more information about BCRS visit www.bcrs.org.uk.

The discussion for the next BNF meeting is on planning issues faced by businesses and planning officers from both Tamworth and Lichfield Councils will be taking part.

Business Networks Forum meeting in action

If you would like more information on the BNF please contact Matt Fletcher at Tamworth Borough Council. See contact details on back page.

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Local economic strategy next steps announced Using an agreed process each champion was given the task of developing each theme to determine and identify the actions needed to achieve the desired outcomes as per the strategy. At the last BEP Interim Board meeting in October the champions presented their findings and it was unanimously accepted that another great stride towards the delivery of this difficult task had been made.

However further work is now needed to ensure that duplication of

resources is minimised as each champion tackles the issues identified. It has already been established that links exist between all of the themes. There is therefore a need to understand and find the relevant information to help ensure that priorities have been correctly defined.

At the next meeting in December the Board will be discussing this as well as probably the most important aspect which is how the BEP is going to facilitate the collective

responsibility of a wide number of Organisations, Partnerships and Businesses in delivering the actions identified.

For more information about the Business & Economic Partnership or for a copy of the Economic Strategy contact Matt Fletcher at Tamworth Borough Council. See contact details on back page.

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Trainee lands national construction skills award Apprentice, Matthew Lawrence employed by Tamworth based A G Lawrence (Plastering) Ltd, scooped top prize in the Drywall Systems Category of the Skillbuild 2011 competition held at Leeds College of Building. Matthew’s training was provided by British Gypsum at their Drywall Academy in Kirkby Thore, Penrith. “It’s brilliant to have won, I’ve really enjoyed the competition and would like to thank all at British Gypsum and my employer for their support and encouragement during the last few months” said Matthew.

Patrick Dickinson, Retail Manager, PowaStation Andrew Lawrence MD - A G Lawrence, Matthew Lawrence - A G Lawrence, Nick Whittaker Area Sales Manager British Gypsum

Francesco Tamworth reach heady heights

Paul and Saranne Corbett, Francesco Group Tamworth

A local hairdressing salon has been flying the flag for Tamworth in London recently, and is also celebrating the success of one of their apprentices. Owners of the Francesco Group salon, Paul and Saranne Corbett, were invited

by GHD to represent the brand on stage at the Excel Arena for the large industry event Salon International, while on the same day Creative Director Ros Nicholls was representing Tamworth at the Royal Albert Hall for the International Visionary Awards. As if that wasn't enough, Modern Apprentice Jack Baker has just been awarded Francesco Group's Trainee of the Year Award, for which he had to beat competition from over thirty other salons and was judged by his work over the course of the last year.

PowaStation says “on yer bike” As The Office of Fair Trading and the House of Commons Transport Select Committee investigate the insurance industry’s pricing for young drivers, Lichfield electric bike specialists, PowaStation is seeing sales to under 25’s soar. Patrick Dickinson, joined PowaStation four weeks ago to support the sales boom, “We’ve seen increasing numbers of commuters effectively ditching their cars and commuting by electric bike.

PowaStation director Graham Green says: “For way less than the recurring annual cost of car insurance, youngsters can buy an electric bike with a one-off payment.

At about a penny a mile, it’s the cheapest form of powered transport you can buy, and there’s no road tax or insurance to pay for.”

Tamworth marketing consultancy, Roar Marketing Limited works in partnership with the Business & Economic Partnership to produce the Tamworth and Lichfield Business Brief four times a year. To advertise or insert leaflets contact Karen Nicholls at Roar Marketing, karen@roarmarketing.co.uk.

Matt Fletcher’s department is the central link between the public sector and local businesses, so if you have any queries on any of the articles in this issue or just don't know who to speak to on business issues please contact Matt on 01827 709 382 or email matthew-fletcher@tamworth.gov.uk Please send your news stories for the Business Brief (with pictures) to Matt Fletcher at Tamworth Borough Council.

The Business Brief is collated, written, designed and printed in Tamworth and Lichfield.

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Swinfen Hall Hotel is star struck Swinfen Hall Hotel has retained its coveted ‘red star’ status for the 5th year running. The beautiful Georgian manor house, located just south of Lichfield, has been awarded 4 red stars and named once again as an “Inspector’s Choice” hotel in the new AA Guide.

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