THE next meeting of the Late Breakfast networking group in Thame, will be on Thursday, August 20, at The Spread Eagle Hotel, 16-17 Cornmarket, Thame, OX9 2BW
Dave Webster from Webster Consulting will take the group through the challenges of mobile communication and what we can do to protect our data. More details: http://tiny.cc/ed9r1x
FOLLOWING the announcement of possible changes to Sunday trading laws, David Hawes, Thames Valley Regional Chairman, Federation of Small Businesses remains concerned about the impact of any change to Sunday trading rules on smaller retailers.
“As well as assessing the potential impact of these measures,” he said, “the Government should be taking a wider holistic view to see what else can be done to support these businesses.
“Bringing forward reforms to business rates is an immediate priority. We should also do more on liberalising licensing laws, easing planning restrictions and on improving customers’ access to parking. All are areas which are currently doing more to hold back the high street then Sunday trading.
“Under current proposals, the decision to change Sunday trading rules will be devolved to the local level. It is critical these local decision makers include small businesses in the debate. Local businesses are at the heart of our communities and the ones most likely to feel the direct impact of these proposals. Their concerns should be listened to, before any decision is made.”
THAME Town Council is to give a grant of £500 to a business group planning an ‘Open doors’ business event in the town centre, to add to a £1,000 grant from South Oxfordshire District Council.
Following a presentation by Nicky Stallwood, Careers Officer at Lord Williams’s School, Thame, the council agreed its contribution to the ‘Open Doors’ event, being planned by Thame Business Forum for July 11, outside the town hall.
A number of the larger companies in Thame such as CPM, Box Technologies, Unicarriers (Atlet), Kubota, Gregory and DAF, as well as smaller businesses have already signed up to the event. There will also be some stalls outside the town hall in the car park area and others inside in the town hall upper chamber.
The idea of the event is to build awareness of what the larger businesses in Thame do, and the employment opportunities they may offer.
More information about the ‘Open doors’ event here: https://www.thame.net/archives/20647
THIS month’s The Late Breakfast networking event in Thame is this Thursday, June 11.
Starts at 9am – 10.30am at The Spread Eagle Hotel, in the AJR Room at the rear of the Restaurant. The event will innclude a talk from Greg Lovett of Fizz Accounting, in Thame, ‘No more boom and bust! ‘
Many business owners(and non business owners) are resigned to having volatile, up and down finances. It doesn’t have to be that way, though, says Greg, who will look at some ways in which you can smooth out your business or personal finances and make them work much, much better for you.
GET three people together from any local business and join in a fun and competitive squash or racketball tournament at Racquets Fitness Centre in Thame.
The tournement will run every week from June 3 and 4, over a six week period with finals night and buffet on the seventh week. Teams of three from each business with no limit to the number of teams from any business will compete. The cost to enter is £50 per team, which includes a free, 20 minute team coaching session.
There must be at least one beginner per team who has played for less than 6 months. There will be membership, coaching and equipment prizes for the winning team.
Contact Will at Racquets on 07951721496 to enter. More information at Racquets’ website: LINK
BUSINESSES in the Thame locality are being invited to a town centre event to promote the vast diversity of businesses in the area to the general public, as well as to show off what services they might provide to one another.
On July 11, businesses are invited to exhibit at the Open Doors event, for free. Space will be limited and so an early response is recommended. Already, the event has received commitments from Kubota, Farol, Atlet, DAF Trucks, CPM among other locally based companies.
The Open Doors event aims to encourage local businesses to engage with the community, build business networks and develop a better understanding amongst local people of the range and diversity of businesses in the area.
The idea for an ‘Open Doors’ event came out of the Thame Business Forum that represents some of the larger businesses in Thame.
All businesses are welcome. Please note, the event is not an opportunity to sell to customers, rather, it is an occasion to learn about other’s businesses and to share the story of your own business.
A choice of pitches is available outside, of either 8m x 4m, 6m x 3m or 3m x 2m. It is recommended that stall-holders outside bring a gazebo or similar along with their promotional material. Trestle tables will be available on request. Inside, a trestle table and a chair will be provided.
Set-up will be from 7.30am on Saturday morning and the event will run from 9am to 3pm.
The event is FREE to take part in. If you are interested in being a part of Open Doors, please complete the attached Open Doors Registration Form or email: enquiries@thameinbusiness.org.uk
For further information, please call Nicky Stallwood on 01844 210524
COMMENTING on the result of last Thursday’s General Election, which ended with a narrow-majority win for the Conservative pary, David Hawes, Thames Valley Regional Chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses, said: “What businesses will look for from the new Government is certainty and stability, both absolutely fundamental to business planning, and getting to grips with the big economic challenges.
“That must start with continuing to secure the UK’s long-term economic stability and addressing the deficit. Businesses will then look to the new Government to provide the conditions for enterprise to continue to flourish, and help ensure the economic recovery is felt in all parts of the country.
“As we set out in our Business Manifesto, that means providing the access to finance they need; supporting job creation and improving skills; confronting the huge problem of late payments; delivering on fundamental reform of business rates; improving broadband provision; making a quick decision on increasing airport capacity; and actively pursuing policies that rebalance economic growth across all the nations and regions in the UK.
“Small business will want to see a clear plan and timetable for action on these issues, which will allow them to properly plan for the future. The FSB now looks forward to working with all parties across the UK to put in place these plans and to back small business.”
A THAME jeweller has won the Best Jeweller category by readers of a popular blog which recommends retailers, restaurants, hotels, walks and events in the Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire area.
Biagio the Jeweller, whose shop is in Greyhound Walk, Thame, said: “We are thrilled that Biagio the Jeweller has won the Best Jeweller category in the 2015 Muddy Stilettos Awards.”
Haddenham resident, Hero Brown’s blog, called ‘Muddy Stilletos’ has 20,000 followers, and it was them who voted in a poll of 140- businesses in 28 categories, including five jewellers in the area – the first time this category has been included the awards.
Biagio Patalano concluded: “We thank all those people who voted for us in forece. We are touched by your love and recognition! “
BUSINESS people throughout Thame are invited to this month’s Late Breakfast, networking meeting at The Spread Eagle, on Thursday, April 16, at 9am until 10.30am.
The speaker will be Neil Sleight of Talking Typist, and his presentation will be ‘Stop Typing , Start Living’ and learn how to increase your productivity and do more of the things you like to do!
Go to The Late Breakfast website for more details and to book your place. You can though pay on the door.
A young employer of a Thame-based Insurance Broker has won a prestigious industry award in the BPP Apprentice of the Year 2015, competition.
Thame apprentice, Corran Wood, became an apprentice with Pearsons Insurance Services after initially just taking a holiday job with them. Last week, she was presented with the Level 3 Advanced Apprentice, second place award behind an employee of RBS. Corran shared second place with another apprentice from Zurich Insurance Group.
Sandra Tomes, the Proprietor of Pearsons Insurance Services, in Swan Walk, Thame, said: “We are very proud of Corran and this is quite a victory for a little brokerage like ours! On the strength of her achievement, Corran is now planning to go to university in September, so we are looking for an equally talented and hard-working young apprentice to follow in her footsteps.
“Corran has just completed her IF1 exams too – a great achievement for one so young! ”
Through its awards, BPP Professional Education Ltd recognises apprentices and employers who go the extra mile, giving something back and actively encouraging participation in their 2015 Apprentice of the Year Awards.
The judging panel included Novelist and Labour Peer, Baroness Cohen, BPP Group CEO Carl Lygo and BPP Chief Operating Officer, Graham Gaddes. They selected winners by looking for those individuals ‘showing considerable impact with the companies they are working for whilst studying for Professional Qualifications, and employers who are increasing participation and giving unique opportunities and support to young people and their career progression’.
Baroness Cohen said: “Judging the applicants was a difficult task as I had a staggering good list of applicants, all of which were worthy winners.”