Do you have customers who could benefit from the funding and support offered by the Leadership and Management Advisory Service?
New applications will cease on 17th February 2012. Do you offer flexible training solutions to small and medium sized businesses that will develop their leadership and management skills to help their business grow by engaging their whole workforce?
Solutions can be:-
Coaching/mentoring - Workshops - Peer Learning - Action Learning - Bespoke training - Qualification based.
Up to £1,000 in grant funding to help your customers – this grant will pay for 50% of the fees excluding VAT up to the maximum amount of £1,000. Eligibility Criteria. This offer is available to private sector businesses or social enterprises that:-
• Have between 2 and 250 full time equivalent staff • Have the potential for high or fast growth
Your customers can: contact info@skillssoutheast.co.uk or call 0845 026 4298 today where our Customer Service
Executives are waiting to help or find an application form by going to www.skillssoutheast.co.uk and sending it to
info@skillssoutheast.co.uk. If you have any queries regarding our service, please email sue.sharpe@skillssoutheast.co.uk Skills South East will undertake an assessment to determine eligibility. All training must have started and grants (exclusive of VAT) claimed by 31st March 2012. Providers of Leadership &
Management Training – You only have 4 WEEKS to support your customers with LMAS funding
You can now read 'Regional Voice' Magazine online
Read it here
For the latest London 2012 supply chain opportunities register now. It has all London 2012 specific contracts listed.
The Queen's Award for Enterprise Promotion Apply Here
HSE's new free online resource that provides simple guidance on health and safety law and how businesses should comply with it.
If you think health and safety has to be complicated - it doesn't. This site will make it easier for you to comply with the law and manage health and safety in your business.
For many businesses, all that's required is a basic series of tasks.
The site will take you through the steps and help you make sure you have done what you need to - and no more.
Download the FSB Logo
The FSB has 210,000 members nationwide, you are joining a well respected organisation of fellow business owners and many members are keen to download the FSB logo for use on their websites or letter heads. The FSB provides fantastic protection for members facing Full Tax Investigations. Statistics have proven that 45% OF members using the FSB's professional services pay nothing or get a rebate! Incredible when usually 85% of those who are investigated pay in excess of £7,000! Not surprisingly, the Inland Revenue may think twice before investigating FSB members. We know the IR check websites - make sure you've downloaded the FSB logo - it could help you avoid an 18 month tax investigation. Download the FSB logo, let other businesses know that you are active in the business community. Here's how to do it.
HSE introduces new arrangements for reporting of injuries and incidents
From 12 September 2011, statutory reporting to HSE of work-related injuries and incidents under RIDDOR (the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995) will move to a predominantly online system.
Revised online forms will make the reporting process quick and easy. Fatal and major injuries and incidents can still be reported to HSE's Incident Contact Centre by telephone, as at present. In addition, HSE's Infoline telephone information service will end on 30 September 2011. Businesses seeking information on health and safety can use HSE's website – a huge knowledge bank where people can access and download information on all aspects of work-related health and safety, as well as HSE's official guidance, completely free of charge. The website receives 26 million visits every year and is already overwhelmingly the most popular option for accessing health and safety information, with 100 times more visitors than Infoline has callers. www.hse.gov.uk is continually enhanced and has recently been updated with a suite of new resources including:
- Interactive risk assessment tools for low-risk businesses
- Health and Safety Made Simple – straightforward step-by-step guidance on what small and low risk businesses need to do to achieve a basic level of compliance
- Expanded Frequently Asked Questions to answer common queries.
HSE continues to provide information and guidance in a range of other ways: through direct work with organisations and trade associations, face-to-face at workshops and safety training days and via guidance literature and e-bulletins. A comprehensive suite of health and safety advice is also available via the Government's website for businesses "Businesslink.gov".
These changes to HSE's RIDDOR reporting and basic telephone information service are in line with the public sector-wide drive to deliver services more efficiently. A gas safety advice telephone line will continue to be available to the public and new arrangements for the provision of this are currently being developed.
Reading & West Berkshire's Longest Serving Member
Few can claim to have been such a loyal member of the FSB - or to have seen firsthand the benefits that membership can bring - however, West Berkshire electrician Paul House has been a member since 1974, the year the FSB was founded.
Paul and his wife Annaliese were guests of honour at a recent Business Connections event held at Porsche by the local branch and were presented with a bottle of Champagne by branch chair, Nicky Goringe-Larkin.
Paul House founded his business in Thatcham, West Berkshire in 1972 and joined the FSB two years later after his accountact recommended he join to benefit from the legal cover which Paul has since used many times.
Paul says "The FSB has given me peace of mind over the last 38 years and when I retired in 2006 I remained a "retired member" to enable me to continue to use the benefits.
Since setting up his business almost 40 years ago Paul has seen many changes. He said "The biggest change for small businesses has been the increase in legislation. As a small business it is very hard to keep up with when you are working hard to run your business". " My tip for a long and successful business would be look after your customers, listen to their needs and offer a quality service they can trust and rely on".
What our members say about the FSB
"As Kearleys, my new coffee bar was about to open making contact with the FSB was a big priority for me.
Several of my friends had told me to contact the FSB and I haven't been disappointed.
I met with Alison, membership advisor last week and we had an informal chat about my business.
Within a week I now have free banking for life with the Co Op, advice and a great quote from Towergate Insurance and a saving of over £300 in set up fees for a credit card terminal from Streamline. I've also had some really usefull introductions to other FSB members who are helping me with services I needed".
Carole Armley, Kearleys, Reading
"As an established business, I wasn't convinced that the FSB would be able to help me but when I met with the membership advisor I was pleasantly surprised.
I thought the service I was receiving for my HR support was good value until I realised that the FSB offered a more comprehensive service as part of my membership!
It's not just the money - we've had more business support from the FSB during the 4 months we've been members than
we had from our previous provider in 4 years!
The Streamline preferential rates with credit and debit card processing can also make a huge difference - we are saving
over £1000 this year!.
I'm more than happy to suggest to other businesses that they should join the FSB. So far we've tapped into around half
of the benefits and the savings and support have been amazing. Insurance is next.
Carole Noyes, FDS Printing
Who better to spread the word about the benefits of membership than our members. To reward members for helping to grow the organisation the FSB is offering £10 for each new member referred. To qualify you must first register as a lead generator.
The FSB is already a big voice for small businesses - help us to help even more small businesses.
Apprenticeship Grant for Employers - Factsheet, watch video clip
Would you like to play an active role in the FSB?
The FSB is always looking for members to get involved To find out more
Useful Downloads For Small Businesses
Support Agency Contacts
Guide for SME - Selling to Government
Guide to Small Business Rates Relief