Thanks to you, the members, for sending in the following...keep it coming folks!

 

If you have any useful tips to share with other South Wales members contact Dai Davies at ro.southwales@fsb.org.uk. Don't forget to look at the 'About Wales' page which gives links to some key organisations in Wales and the UK.

 

Foreign and Commonwealth Office Travel Advice

In view of the increased regional tension and the risk of terrorist action the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) have upgraded their travel advice about countries in the middle east. If you are planning any business trips abroad you are strongly advised to check the FCO website or telephone 0870 6060290.

 

Energy

The Energy Information Centre has produced a handbook designed as the most comprehensive, effective tool for energy management in any organisation. Click Here for more information.

 

Following recent price increases in gas and electricity the following websites may be useful: http://www.simplyswitch.com and http://www.uswitch.com/

  

Envirowise

According to Envirowise your waste is probably costing typically 4% of turnover? Small businesses may be eligible for a free site visit from a specialist to help with a specific problem or a Fast Track visit to review your site and identify opportunities for reducing waste at source. Contact them on 0800 585794 or check them out on http://www.envirowise.gov.uk/

 

The Carbon Trust

The Carbon Trust will give advice on energy saving. They offer a free telephone advice service and on site energy reviews to help establish areas where saving can be made. They also offer interest free energy loans of between £5,000 and £50,000 repayable over four years. They reckon that the savings made could be used to pay back the loan.

 

The phone number again is 0800 585794 and the website

www.thecarbontrust.co.uk

 

How green is your business?

Unsure about your environmental obligations? The Netregs site is designed to help you make sense of environmental legislation affecting your business. The site gives clear guidance in plain langauge about the regulations that apply to YOU. It also offers advice on good environmental practice and provides links to other helpful organisations. It's completely free and anonymous. http://www.netregs.gov.uk/

  

Energywatch

Energywatch is the independent gas and electricity consumer watchdog. They provide free impartial advice to all energy consumers and act as advocate for those who haven't been able to sort out problems with their suppliers themself. If you need to make a complaint first write, phone or e-mail your supplier . Ask for a copy of the suppliers 'compliant handling standards of service' - the procedures for dealing with complaints so you know if your complaint is being dealt with effectively. If you are unable to get satisfaction then visit http://www.energywatch.org.uk/ for more information.

 

Asbestos management plans

As of May 21st 2004,  businesses are required to have Asbestos Management Plan. The management plan does not have to be expensive or time consuming. Guidance on how to compile the report is available from the Asbestos Information Centre. For further information please visit www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/asbindex.htm or Asbestos Watchdog - http://www.asbestoswatchdog.co.uk/

 

Environmental consultancy

CHERE is a collaboration between the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, and Cardiff University College of Medicine and is based on internationally known environmental consultancy at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth.  CHERE offers health & environment advice in the following areas: Asbestos management; Waste management, including waste audits; Food hygiene and HACCP assessments; management of Private Water Supplies for business use; assessment and control of the human health impact of hazardous substances used in manufacturing processes; management & control of effluent discharges and their environmental impacts. For more information contact CHERE - Centre for Health & Environment Research Expertise on nih@aber.ac.uk

 

The Rural Retail programme

The Rural Retail Programme recognises  rural input and offers support measures by the way of both Grant Aid and advice to those businesses or community groups where other sources of funding are not available.Rural Retail is available to sole village stores who can demonstrate that they are a vital rural retailer, outside a town centre and within rural wards in: Anglesey, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Monmouthshire, Powys, Pembrokeshire, Vale of Glamorgan and Wrexham. Interested? Contact your local Business Eye Centre : 0870 969798 or the local WDA contact in your area.

 

Visitwales Tourism Grants

The new name for the Wales Tourist Board since the bonfire of the quangos, Visitwales is continuing to provide grants to new and existing businesses in the tourism sector. To find out more visit http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/tourism/grants/?lang=en

 

Access Audits – A guide for appraising the accessibility of buildings

You may find the following brief guide useful. It offers guidance on the main aspects related to access together with a series of easy to use checklists. An email should get you a copy or check out the website http://www.cae.org.uk/ Contact: The Centre for Accessible Environments, Nutmeg House, 60 Gainsford Street, London SE1 2NY. Tel: 020 7357 8182 info@cae.org.uk

 

Telephone Preference Service

To opt out of unsolicited telephone calls call the free automated Telephone Preference Service (TPS) on 0800 398 893. Or register online at http://www.tps.org.uk/This service covers both business and residential phones. It takes 28 days to become fully operative.

 

Mail Preference service

To cancel junk mail, contact the Direct Marketing Association, Mail Preference Service, Freepost 22, London, W1E 7EZ.

 

Corporate Telephone Preference Service

The Corporate TPS is now available to businesses. However, this also has ramifications for those who use telephone selling. If you do not check your database against this opt out and you contact a client who complains the fine is £5000.

 

BT Callminder 1571

FSB member, MD Hunt, reports discovering that he had been paying £6 per quarter for BT's call minder service since 2001. However, the BT booklet explains that call minder is a free service. He spent an hour talking to different customer support who told hum that this had become a paying service in 2001. Mr Hunt complained bitterely that customers had not been told about this change and has now got the free "BT 1571" and is awaiting a credit backdated to 2001.

 

Business Succession

The Wales Co-operative Centre's Business Succession Project aims to help owners and employees ensure that the business survives through offering, and if appropriate, supporting the process of selling the business to the employees. There are numerous benefits to employee based succession.The Wales Co-operative Centre’s dedicated business succession advisors have a wealth of experience and can provide many services. If you would like to find out more contact Norman Watson or Geoff Jones on 029 2055 4955 or visit http://www.walescoop.com/

 

Are you up to date on Health & Safety Regulations?

Small employers can download a copy of leaflets FREE OF CHARGE from the HSE website. www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/law.pdf The cheapest way of obtaining posters or leaflets is by contacting HSE Books (Publications) Telephone 01787 881165 PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk, COl0 2WA Posters cost £7.50 including VAT. (No postage)

 

Leaflets £5 for one pack of 25. Full details of HSE publications can be found on HSE’s Web site at: www.open.gov.uk/hse/hsehome.htm