THAME business, Abbotts Office Solutions, are offering a free printer cartridge recycling service to local businesses. Instead of throwing away your empty cartridges, next time call Abbotts on 01844 268360 and they will collect them when their delivery vehicles are passing.
They will responsibly recycle the cartridges and all monies made will be donated to Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research.
THE Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) – which represents 7,500 small firms in the Thames Valley – has called on the Government to offer more insurance protection for businesses when floods strike.
Many small businesses in the county have been severely damaged in the current floods sweeping through England and with the potential of more flooding to come in future years the FSB has called on the Government to provide better insurance safeguards to flood-threatened firms.
The FSB is urging MPs to include businesses in a new scheme currently going through Parliament designed to protect homeowners in high flood risk areas from excessive insurance premiums.
The scheme – called Flood Re – aims to ensure people living in flood-affected part of the UK can continue to find affordable flood insurance by placing a cap on the total cost they have to pay.
The scheme is a key component of the Water Bill currently being discussed by MPs but business properties have not been included in the plan – and the FSB says this must change.
David Knowles Leak, the Maidenhead based Regional Chairman of the Thames Valley Region of the FSB said: “We feel is it vital that the Government has a rethink and includes small businesses in its Flood Re scheme. And it would obviously be a very timely and welcome thing for the Government to do at the moment.
“FSB research shows one in five small firms were affected by flooding last year alone and obviously this year threatens to be even higher.
“If the Government doesn’t add small businesses in areas at risk to this scheme many will be forced to pay exorbitantly high costs to be insured against this threat and some may struggle to do so.
“We therefore urge the Government to think again on this issue at this particularly sensitive time and we urge MPs to table amendments to the forthcoming Water Bill to make it happen.”
TWO pub managers from Thame are just back from Kenya after doing their bit to help save the frontiers of the Maasai Mara Reserve, one of the natural wonders of the world. Evelin Rae, manager of The Thatch, and her number two, Serena Toh, visited the country as part of a 12-strong team sent by their parent company Peach to help conserve this increasingly fragile part of Africa.
Evelin and Serena flew to Kenya on January 25, and drove out to the Maasai Mara, reaching the remote Enonkishu Conservancy on the northern boundary of the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem. Here they planted 20,000, two inch trees, together with a fence around them to protect the conservancy, and help create what’s been termed the ‘Last Line of Defence’ for an area of land under growing threat.
As well as planting a forest in a week, they also went to a cattle market to buy a cow as part of a project, to promote sustainable farming, and lived under canvas, hiking and spending time exploring this amazingly beautiful and unspoilt region.
“All in all I think it was one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences and one that will stay with me forever,” said Evelin, manager of The Thatch. “There were just 12 of us, in Landrovers, making our own way, and sometimes getting lost, heading for the greatest adventure of our lives.
“Meeting the people was I think the high point for me. The friendliness and serenity of Kenyans is amazing. Even when we went to a cattle market to buy a cow, the reaction we got from the people there was exactly the same as if they were selling a cow to their neighbour – we were treated as friends.
“Also it was fantastic to hear from the Maasai people the difference they are trying to make in their way of life and why they are working with the conservancy on projects that protect their land and their heritage. We planted three fields of trees to help and I wish we could have done more, but I think us coming back and talking about it in our pubs will make the biggest difference. I know Serena and I will both be telling people in the pub about it for a long time, in the hope of opening their eyes too to part of the world that really needs our support.”
Locals and pub guests can still support Evelin and Serena, the Last Line of Defence and the Enonkishu Conservancy by contributing via www.peachfoundation.co.uk. They can also get involved simply by ordering the pub’s Caesar Salad when they visit The Thatch; for every salad ordered, the pub donates 25p to The Peach Foundation to help fund education, sport and conservation in Africa.
The Thatch is at 29-30 Lower High Street, Thame, Oxon, OX9 2AA. Tel: 01844 214340
http://www.thethatchthame.co.uk/
SOURCE: Contributed
…… is the title of this month’s presentation at The Late Breakfast event, at The Spread Eagle, Thame, on February 13.
The presentation and open discussion on Marketing in the 21st Century will be given by Christine Rayner of marketing consultants, Tangram Ltd.
How does contact with 1.4 billion people really work? How does global access help you to stay local? Has the clarity come after the revolution?
These are some of the questions that Christine will tackle at the meeting. More information and booking details HERE
http://www.thelatebreakfast.co.uk/thame.html
A Thame-based mechanical machinery manufacturer has celebrated its 35th year in the UK market, by donating one of its best selling utility vehicles to the town council.
Kubota UK employ over 100 staff at its Thame HQ in Dormer Road, and the donation of an RTV900, which will help council workers keep the town looking its best, is just one of many initiatives planned as part of the company’s year-long celebration.
“Thame has been our UK home for many years, and we’re extremely proud to continue to play a role in this thriving community,” said Dave Roberts, Kubota UK Managing Director, who has worked at the company for 22 of its 35 years in the UK.
“The Kubota brand has gone from strength to strength since 1979, with many of our staff born and raised in the area. Building links with local business is vital to us, and we’re delighted to be able to show our gratitude to the town council, who have long been a valued and key customer of ours.”
Town Mayor, Cllr Peter Lambert was at the presentation and congratulated Kubota. “This generosity is greatly appreciated and I’m sure the RTV900 will prove to be extremely useful in helping the council maintain our beautiful town,” he said.
FOLLOWING the government’s recent employment pretection law changes around collective redundancy and transferring one business to another, local solicitors, Parrott & Coales has produced a useful guide to the changes for business owners.
Many businesses may have been left disappointed by the changes to the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) – TUPE – legislation announced last week, due to come into force on 31 January 2014. The reforms followed a period of consultation after which the Government published the final version of The Collective Redundancies and Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Amendment Regulations 2014 (“The Amendment Regulations”); legislation to protect employee rights when the business or undertaking that employs them is transferred to a new employer.
The reforms to TUPE aimed to simplify the legislation, increase flexibility and reduce bureaucracy by bringing an end to the UK’s ‘gold plating’ of EU legislation. Yet, recent reports suggest the new legislation is unlikely to satisfy all employers who were hoping for a more liberalised TUPE.
According to the employment law team at Aylesbury based solicitors, Parrott & Coales, the most significant change for businesses is an amendment to Service Provision Change transfers, which confirms that a service must be fundamentally the same before and after the transfer for TUPE to apply.
Alison Lythgoe, employment solicitor at Parrott & Coales, commented: “This gives the buyer and seller greater flexibility to argue that TUPE is not relevant to their situation, which in turn could cause issues for all parties.
“If TUPE does apply then the seller of the business or outgoing sub-contractors will now need to provide information to the buyer about the transferring employees including their identity, age, particulars of employment and details of any disciplinary and grievance procedures by an earlier deadline of 28 days of the transfer. Failure to provide this information on time could leave the seller liable to legal proceedings by the buyer for compensation.”
The main changes to TUPE that will come into force on 31 January 2014 include:
*Clarification that, for TUPE to apply, the service provision must be “fundamentally or essentially the same” after the transfer as it was before the transfer;
*Allowing microbusinesses (10 or fewer employees) to inform and consult directly with employees where there are no trade union representatives or existing employee representatives;
A CHANGE in the place of employment will now be a justifiable reason for dismissal, even where this change in the place of employment was because of the transfer.
*Employers are allowed to re-negotiate collectively agreed terms of employment one year after the transfer, providing the changes are no less favourable to the employee; and
*Confirming that TUPE consultation can also satisfy collective redundancy consultation rules
*Current employers have to provide employee liability information to the new employer by an earlier deadline of 28 days before the transfer, unless it is not reasonably practicable to do so and then the information is to be given as soon as reasonably practicable.
The new TUPE Regulations will not:
*remove the service provision change definition of a transfer in its entirety
*allow the seller to rely on the buyer’s Economic Technical or Organisational reason, which will apply after the transfer, to dismiss employees before the transfer; or remove the seller’s obligation to provide employee liability information to the buyer.
THE voice of the Thames Valley business sector will be heard at a major conference in London next Monday, January 27, when Senior Cabinet Ministers, a former advisor on small business issues to American President Obama, Karen Mills, and leading entrepreneurs, will come together at the Federation of Small Businesses’ (FSB) first Policy Conference.
The event will shape not only the future of small businesses in the Thames Valley but across the UK, helping to influence the agenda for enterprise, growth and educational skills. The FSB, as a leading voice of business, has said that it believes small firms will form a vital part of the economic and political debate in 2014 and beyond.
Recent FSB research has shown that confidence is on the rise among Thames Valley small businesses, with many looking to grow in 2014, and the Federation believes that for this growth to be achieved and small firms to fulfill their role in the economy,” hurdles such as access to finance, burdensome regulation, and the gap between skills and employability must be overcome.”
In the US, the Small Business Administration, formerly headed by Karen Mills, spearheaded efforts to remove barriers to growth for small firms and acted as a powerful voice in the heart of government on behalf of those businesses. Discussions on the day will be framed by the question of whether a similar institution could work in the UK, with David Knowles Leak, Regional Chair, presenting the concerns and issues of Thames Valley businesses.
The FSB will be streaming the conference live to a global audience. Register at www.fsb-policy-conference.co.uk to join the debate and on Twitter by following and using #FSBGrowth and #FSBSkills
David Knowles Leak himself said: “The role of small firms has never been more important, and we are proud to have been invited to an event where we can voice the issues that our members are concerned about. We need to make sure businesses can access finance and the support they need to grow, and that they have confidence the education system will deliver school leavers with the skills they need in business. Whilst we already work with our MP, local councils and schools, this event is an exciting opportunity for senior cabinet members, smart and influential economists and dynamic entrepreneurs to hear the Thames Valley’s questions and for us to shape future UK policy.”
SOURCE: FSB Thames Valley
THE first Late Breakfast of 2014, will be at the Eden Suite, The Spread Eagle Hotel , Thame, on Thursday, January 16, at 9 – 10.30am.
Sarah Fletcher of Mushroom Souffle will be helping to create a bit of ‘Social Media Magic,’ so if you want to give your business motivation a boost and increase your productivity and business strategy by improving your use of social media……this is the presentation to start 2014 !
Book on www.thelatebreakfast.co.uk by 12.00 on Wednesday, January 15, to appear on the guest list or just turn up on the day. The entry fee of £10 (including light refreshments) is payable at the door by cash or cheque.
THE UK’s small firms are showing increasing optimism about the economic outlook for 2014. Latest research suggests that small businesses want to grow and are finding access to finance a little easier, according to the Federation of Small Businesses’ (FSB) Small Business Index.
For the fourth consecutive quarter, the Small Business Index measure of confidence among small firms has grown year-on-year, up 27.2 points from -5.6 in Q4 2012 to +21.6 in Q4 2013. Encouragingly, this optimism is also replicated in every region of the UK and in each business sector.
This increased confidence means more small firms are planning to invest in and explore the global trade market. New data shows businesses expect to see rapid or moderate expansion in the next 12 months. Alongside this, one in 10 businesses report running above capacity while a third are running at full capacity – both the highest figures since the Small Business Index began in 2010.
Feeding into expansion plans, capital investment intentions continue to rise with almost a quarter (23.1%) expecting to invest in the next year. Businesses also want to take on more staff – perhaps ahead of the Employment Allowance which comes into force in April 2014. And, with FSB members polled prior to the Autumn Statement, where a further incentive to take on young people was provided, more could be set to invest in new staff.
Encouragingly, the number of firms refused their credit application is the joint lowest share since the start of 2012. While only 16 per cent of respondents had applied for credit in the quarter, reported rises in turnover and profitability, as well as stronger growth aspirations, means businesses could be paying for investment out of existing sources of capital.
Those businesses accepted for finance continue to report cheaper interest rates being charged, a direct result of Funding for Lending (FLS). The FSB hopes the re-allocation of FLS funds to SME lending will mean the banks make finance available to more small firms.
David Knowles Leak, Thames Valley Regional Chairman, Federation of Small Businesses, said:
“Confidence has been in positive territory for a full year, giving economic growth solid foundations moving into 2014. Small firms are creating more jobs and investing in their business and there are encouraging results behind the headline figures, with promising trends evident across the main areas of expansion, investment and employment.
“Government must not be complacent – helpful initiatives were announced in the Autumn Statement, particularly on business rates. This, alongside the refocusing of Funding for Lending should continue to keep small firms in the spotlight. However a sustained recovery is perhaps some way off as the worldwide economy remains uncertain.”
DESPITE seeing improvement in the economy, industry in the region is facing a recruitment shortage of skilled managers because potential candidates are still nervous about leaving steady jobs that have kept them secure during the uncertain economic climate according to Thame HR specialists SYLO Associates.
Having a bank of talented candidates is the solution to halting a recruitment shortage of skilled managers, according to Thame-based leadership and management specialists, SYLO Associates. Managing Partner Sally White says: “Many companies in Oxfordshire are finding there is an absence of managerial applicants or,that they have trouble finding technical specialists because potentially talented people are only just starting to put themselves forward again on LinkedIn and contacting recruitment companies. What is needed during a time of recession and forever onwards is a ‘talent bank’ to avoid a candidate shortage crisis.
“By harnessing and developing the skills of current ‘talent’ over time, we can help identify future employees and talent in the external market, against appropriately profiled roles, enabling businesses to meet future workforce plan requirements as soon as they are needed.”
SYLO Associates believe that the biggest current recruitment problem is businesses not having immediate access to, and the knowledge of where key people are in the workforce. “Businesses have had to once again learn that future-proofing during a recession is key. Not only financially do we need to keep something to one side but we also need to keep an eye on who is where, and where their talents lie for when the time comes to start employing. You need the right people at the right time,” adds Sally.
She concludes: “SYLO Associates operates a Talent Solutions service which focuses on leadership and management talent tools and banking talent. Individuals who are considered talented to a business (internal or external) not only need to be managed and supported, they first need to be identified. Current employees’ skills and competencies are mapped to see where any gaps or similarities exist. This allows future planning for the business and its operations in a more proactive and strategic way.
“Identified individuals may not wish to leave their current environment – yet – so that’s where the nurturing and engagement of candidates is key. The simplest way to do this is to have talent pipelines in place, which allow regular communication that’s aligned to consistent and relevant brand messaging. This process ultimately leads to cost effective resourcing.”
www.sylo-associates.co.uk