v4b spring 2007 issue 6 - Brentwood Borough · PDF filecan now tender for contracts with ... everyone’s obligations and costs. In addition to your ... v4b spring 2007 issue 6.qxp

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Designed and produced by Brentwood Borough CouncilTown HallIngrave RoadBrentwood Essex CM15 8AYwww.brentwood.gov.uk

Vision for Business is produced

quarterly. The next edition will

be Summer 2007 and is

distributed in July 2007.

Contributions and

advertisements need to be

submitted by 4th June 2007.

If you would like to

contribute, or have any

comments or enquiries

please contact:

Lisa Stroulger, CorporateCommunication & MarketingManagerT: 01277 312629Shelley King, Information OfficerF: 01277 312635E: [email protected]

Welcome

Welcome to the spring 2007 issue of

Vision for Business.

This will be another exciting year for

Brentwood as further progress is

made on the proposed mixed

retail/recreational redevelopment of

the William Hunter Way site,

including a new cinema. This is one

of the Borough’s most exciting

opportunities, not only in terms of

economic prosperity, but also

in creating a vibrant town centre for

Brentwood.

Our plans for maximising the

benefits to Brentwood of the 2012

Olympics are progressing steadily.

What’s more, Brentwood businesses

can now tender for contracts with

the Olympic Delivery Authority.

There is plenty of scope for the

Borough’s businesses to make the

most of this historic and potentially

lucrative time. For further details,

please see page 7.

In this issue, you will find details of

the new smokefree legislation that

will affect so many companies and

organisations, in Brentwood and

across England, a new landlords’

forum, new training opportunities,

plus changes in the law for

construction industries. There are

also useful communications tips

including online marketing, positive

brand recognition, cause-related

marketing and details of a marketing

plan guide.

As you will see from reading this

magazine, Vision for Business is a

platform for local companies and

organisations to share their news

and successes with the wider

commercial population. Whilst we

appreciate the support of our

regular contributors, we would be

delighted to hear from other

Brentwood businesses who would

like to share their news and

enterprise developments or to write

a feature article.

If you would like increase your

company’s profile, please email

[email protected]

Councillor Brandon Lewis,Leader of the Council

2

n e w s | v i e w s | c o m m e n t s SPRING 2007 ISSUE 6BusinessVISION FOR

Every effort is made to ensure that the content of this publication is accurate but thepublisher accepts no responsibility foreffects arising there from. We do not accept responsibility for loss or damage tounsolicited contributors. Opinions expressedby the contributors and advertisers are not necessarily those of the publisher. This publication is protected by copyright and nopart may be reproduced in whole or in partwithout the written permission of the publishers.

Please recycle this magazine carefullywhen you have finished reading.


SPRING 2007 ISSUE 6 n e w s | v i e w s | c o m m e n t s BusinessVISION FOR

3

Short lease problem

- Wortley Byers

Let your waste be our business

- Commercial waste collection service

Valet Parking

- Short term parking facilities

Olympic Update

- E- tendering

Gender Equality Duty (GED)

- Promoting Gender Equality in the workplace

Small changes make a big difference

- Carbon Trust

Smokefree

- The law changes in July

Local training - It’s a beauty!

- Enterprise Project

Ford score hat trick with budding footballers

- Thames Gateway Youth Football Project

456789

101112

Community Websites

- AboutMyArea

Shareholder power - the new regime?

- Impact of the Companies Act 2006

New Studio for Phoenix FM

- New home for local radio station

Essex Business Awards

- The best of the best

Knives or Lives you decide

- Essex FM campaign

Acting for business

- Chamber of Commerce

Marketing

- The key to your business success

Grant Net

- Funding for projects

Think - mobile phones

- Switch off before you drive off

1314151617181920

Licensing Forum

Contents4 1512

Brentwood Borough Council is to set up a Licensing

Forum for the Borough.

The Forum will have representatives from different

sectors of the hospitality and leisure industries, the

Police, Fire & Rescue Service, Environmental Health,

Planning Services, Trading Standards, Essex County

Council Safeguarding Children and other interested

parties, local community groups and the Crime and

Disorder Reduction Partnership.

The establishment of a Licensing Forum is one of the

ways in which the Council can promote the four

licensing objectives:

� The prevention of crime and disorder

� Public safety

� The prevention of public nuisance

� The protection of children from harm

The Forum will discuss a wide range of issues,

including licensing laws, trading hours, noise

pollution, under age sales & proof of age schemes,

alcohol related disorder, antisocial behaviour orders,

health & safety and arrangements for special events.

For further information about the Licensing Forum,

please contact Carol Davis on 01277 312503 or

email [email protected]


4


Many flat owners are now beginning to experience

the difficulties of selling their flat with an unexpired

term of less than 70 years. There are statutory

provisions available but these attract cost and often

delay. Check your lease before you sell to avoid

losing time negotiating either a lease extension or,

with other tenants, the purchase of the freehold.

www.lease-advice.org provides a basic guide to

leasehold enfranchisement (buying the freehold) and

lease extension. It is possible to negotiate with the

landlord but it is essential to seek specialist legal

advice. Where acting with other owners, it is

essential to have a participation agreement to clarify

everyone’s obligations and costs. In addition to your

own costs, it will be necessary to pay the landlord’s

legal and surveyor’s costs.

Tenants can exercise a right to manage if they are

unhappy with the nature of the management that is

provided. Almost all residential tenants have a right to

be offered the freehold before it is offered elsewhere.

Immediately on receipt of any such documentation

the tenants should seek to protect their position. The

strict time limits imposed must be observed

otherwise rights may be postponed.

The rights can be exercised by non-owner/occupiers

so make sure your current address is registered with

both the Land Registry and the landlord so that any

notices are properly served on your current address.

For further advice please contact Albert Barrett orAnne Elliss at Wortley Byers LLP, Cathedral Place,

Brentwood, Essex. Tel: 01277 268 368

Short Lease Problem


5


Stansted airlines, Air Berlin and

Eos Airlines, proudly displayed

coveted awards at the Business

Travel Show after being voted

“Best Short Haul” and “Best Long

Haul” Business Airlines at the

recent Business Travel World

Awards ceremony.

Air Berlin, awarded ‘Best Short

Haul Business Airline’ jointly with

British Airways, was commended

for offering a business class serv-

ice at low cost fares, whilst Eos

Airlines unseated British Airways

and Virgin Atlantic from the title

‘Best Long Haul Business Airline’,

a category they had shared a

stranglehold on for years.

Stansted became the UK hub for

both airlines towards the end of

2005 and they have enjoyed great

success with the growth and

development of their businesses

since; growth and success that is

now officially recognised by the

business industry through

these coveted awards.

Best Short and

Long Haul

Brentwood Borough Council offers a competitive and reliable service for

collection of commercial waste and cardboard.

All businesses in the UK must comply with Section 34 of the Duty of Care

provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The Act requires that

businesses take reasonable measures to store and dispose of their waste.

Records must be retained for a minimum of 2 years.

Business Rates do not include any provision for the collection or disposal

of waste.

Let your waste be our business…

� We already collect from over 700 local businesses

� We only operate in the Borough, so we can respond to customers’

needs quickly and efficiently

� Our prices are competitive and there are no hidden charges

� We offer a choice of containers from bags to bins

� A recycling collection for cardboard is available for a nominal fee. This

could reduce your waste costs considerably and contribute to your

environmental policy

� We give free advice on all your recycling needs and can arrange for

the disposal of bulky items for a reasonable fee.

The Streetcare and Waste Management Service is committed to providing

a quality service for all. We put the needs of the trade first and also respect

and protect the environment, ensuring local sustainable development.

For further information or to arrange a visit to discuss your requirements,please call 01277 312669 or visit www.brentwood.gov.uk

Let Your WasteBe Our Business

Come and talk through your idea.

The Mid Essex Enterprise Agency

is here to help you, we provide

advice and guidance from experi-

enced advisers, all given in total

confidence.

Our qualified Business Advisers

can provide advice on

� How to raise finance

� How to market your product or

service

� What you need to know about

employing people

� Taxation, NI and VAT matters

� Training to equip you with key

business skills

We will continue to give you

advice and support through the

start-up period and during those

first critical months. An adviser is

on hand weekly at The Old House,

Wilson’s Corner on Shenfield

Road.

For more details contact: T: 01245 496712

E: [email protected]

W: www.midessexenter-priseagency.co.uk

Starting a new

business?


The FSB has already referred an advert by Her

Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) that

showed a plumber hiding under a

sink to avoid paying tax. We felt

that this attacked the honest small

business community, which is the

vast majority, in its move against

dishonest traders.

The FSB can’t condone any indi-

vidual not paying the

correct amount of taxation but

most people who run a small

business don’t deliberately evade

the obligation, so a government agency shouldn’t

imply they do.

If you are a retailer, shoplifting may be a problem but

you wouldn’t frisk each and every customer as they

go out of your premises and make an assumption

they are a thief. A few businesses may not pay the

correct amount of tax but the whole business

community shouldn’t be branded as crooks.

How many individuals who are not in business play a

game with the revenue to pay as

little tax as they can? I don’t

know, but there isn’t an ad cam-

paign to brand every member of

the population a tax dodger. The

HMRC has recently started

another advert campaign asking

employees to ‘shop your boss’

but it is a lazy way for a

governmentdepartment to do its

job – effectively outsourcing its

role to the workforce. But a hotline such as this will

have to be staffed, with an office provided, when

those resources and people could be much better

employed targeting rogue employers in the field.

Terry Taber FSB Essex Regional OrganiserTel: 01702 554242, Email: [email protected],

Web site: www.fsb.org.uk/essex

6


So who’s avoiding paying tax

How green is your business?Businesses have a major role to play in helping

protect and enhance the environment.

There are many ways in which businesses can

contribute to the global campaign to preserve the

planet and at the same time save money and build a

reputation as a socially responsible business.

With this in mind, Brentwood Council is to host a free

conference for local businesses covering

environmental issues and legislation affecting

businesses today.

The conference will be held in the morning of

Wednesday 24th May from 9.30am finishing with

lunch at approximately 12.30.

Suggested topics to be covered by keynote speakers

range from:

Environmental Law – how current environmental

legislation relates to your business

The New Smoking Ban – legislation taking effect

from 1st July 2007

Energy Efficiency for Business – save money and

combat climate change

Reducing your Carbon Footprint

To book your free place at the conference or to

suggest a topic that you would like to see covered

please telephone The Corporate Communication and

Marketing Unit on: 01277 312629/312693/312630 or

email [email protected]

According to research from the Carbon Trust, an

average office-based business wastes £6,000 per

year by leaving equipment on at weekends and bank

holidays. The message is clear - being more 'green'

brings many business benefits.You don’t need to

make major alterations to see the difference. The

right combination of small changes, many costing

nothing, can reduce your energy bill by thousands of

pounds. Becoming more environmentally conscious

will also improve your reputation as a socially

responsible business, and could help you attract

customers, employees and investors.


7


As its preferred method of procurement, the Olympic Delivery Authority

has unveiled two key websites for e-tendering. One provides

information on contracts available and the other is designed for

tendering.

www.london2012.com/futureopportunities gives advance notice of

major tier one contracts, ranging from work designing sports venues

and landscaping to providing occupational health services and support

to construction projects.

You can register on this site to receive email alerts for particular

contracts as they go live. When live, businesses must visit

www.etenders.london2012.com to submit a bid.

All ODA contracts will be let through this secure site. The major

contractors in charge of the major venues will set up micro-sites,

through which they will advertise sub-contracting opportunities.

From April/May a third site, the Business Network, will be established

for tier two contractors and below.

For more information, please visit www.london2012.com

OlympicUpdate

The final of the Ford-backed FIRST

LEGO League took place in

Birmingham in January, following

regional heats at Ford's Dunton

technical centre.

The annual FIRST LEGO League

provides 9 to 16-year-olds with a

challenge and LEGO equipment to

use for set tasks. They had to explore

breakthroughs in the innovative area

of microscopic-sized nanotechnology

and demonstrate their new-found

knowledge by designing, building and

programming robots.

The league is the result of an alliance

between education group FIRST (For

Inspiration and Recognition of

Science and Technology) and LEGO

the global toy brand. Ford's UK

product development centre in

Dunton and BP, Ford's partner on

fuels, lubricants and future

technologies, both sponsor FIRST

LEGO League.

David Cayton, Ford Dunton's

education outreach and community

manager, explained that the FIRST

LEGO League was an ideal way for

tomorrow's engineers to learn

engineering concepts: "The skills and

techniques learnt by participants are

the same as those used daily by Ford

engineers. Supporting the League,

demonstrates the importance Ford

places on stimulating interest in

youngsters as early as possible in

the challenging subject of

electronics engineering and

encouraging them to consider

the profession as a

career."

Budding engineers

helped by Ford

Train for Your Future Fully funded training is now available for young employees aged 16 and

17 through ‘Train for Your Future’, a government pilot aimed at

employers and young people in Essex.

Train for Your Future offers assistance to businesses in Essex who have

young employees aged 16 and 17. A wide range of fully funded

accredited training is on offer to improve the skills of young workers,

increasing their effectiveness and productivity in the work place.

A Training Adviser will visit at your convenience to discuss your

requirements and meet the young employee/s. Where ever possible

they will arrange suitable training courses and continue to mentor the

young person for the duration of the training period.

Many of the training courses being offered can be delivered in the work

place; others will require day release at local colleges and training

centres.

If you are interested in improving the skills of your young employeesplease contact: 0808 143 1617 or Business Development at

Havering College on 01708 462828.


8


The Gender Equality Duty [GED] comes into force in

April 2007 and it requires public authorities to

promote gender equality and eliminate sex

discrimination. Instead of depending on individuals

making complaints about sex discrimination, the duty

places the legal responsibility on public authorities to

demonstrate that they treat men and women fairly.

30 years after the introduction of the Sex

Discrimination Act, there is still discrimination. The

rights of individuals do not oblige organisations to

promote equality. The GED will bring about real

change in the culture of organisations, as the onus

will be on organisations to promote equality, rather

than on individuals to highlight discrimination.

All public authorities, such as health providers,

education, local government and the police have to

comply. The duty will also apply to charities,

voluntary and private sector organisations that are

providing a public service. Services provided by

organisations under contract will also be covered by

the duty. This means that any business providing

goods or services to the public sector, such as

stationery, room hire or catering, could be required to

look at their own employment practices and how they

provide services to men and women.

By taking gender into consideration you could:

� Understand what women and men really need

from your services

� Improve customer satisfaction by tailoring

services to actual needs

� Offer better quality and more cost effective

services

� Provide more effective targeting of resources

� Improve service which means fewer complaints

and potentially more profit

� Spend less time dealing with complaints leaves

staff more time to deal with core responsibilities

� Improve recruitment. Considering gender could

help you fill the skill gaps you may have

� Offer flexible working. Improving the work-life

balance means happier staff and higher staff

retention

� Provide equal pay for like jobs. This will prevent

costly tribunal cases

� Make more efficient use of talent in the workforce.

By complying as a private sector business or

voluntary/charity organisation, you will be able to

tender for contracts with public sector authorities.

Visit www.eoc.org.uk

The Gender EqualityDuty (GED)


9


Vacant commercial

property register

Air Berlin is the most family-

oriented airline. German travel-

magazine “Urlaub Perfekt”

(Perfect Holiday) came to this

conclusion in its latest edition.

Eight holiday airlines and low-

cost carriers were compared in

the categories prices, service,

comfort, catering and entertainment. Air Berlin was the only airline to be

given the rating “very good”, as it offers altogether the best and most

reasonably priced services for children.

Air Berlin: best for kids

Small changes makea big difference

You don’t need to invest in

expensive new technologies

to reduce your energy

consumption and lower your

bills. Here are some things

you and your employees

can do today, that could

reduce your overall energy costs by 10%. And the best bit is, they won’t

cost you a penny.

Combine these with other changes that need only minimum

investment, and you could cut your bills by a fifth, or more.

General tips for saving energy

Measure how much energy you’re using. Unless you know what you’re

paying, you won’t know what impact the changes make. Keep track of

your bills, and how they change when you introduce our energy-saving

tips.

Switch off equipment when you’re not using it

On average offices waste £6,000 each year by leaving equipment on

over weekends and bank holidays. Just getting your employees to turn

off their monitors when they go home can make a big difference.

Speak to your colleagues about saving energy

You need to lead by example, but it’s also important to make it a team

effort. Ask employees where they think energy is being wasted, and

encourage them to think about how they can all use less.

For more practical advice on how to be more energy efficient, pleasecall the Carbon Trust on 0800 085 2005

Brentwood Borough Council’s

Planning Services department

produces a register of vacant

commercial properties.

Whilst the Council does not own the

properties listed, the register

provides brief details of each

property together with the estate

agents dealing with them.

All specific enquiries on properties in

the register should be directed to the

estate agent concerned.

General enquiries should be

directed to Phil Drane at the Town Hall

on 01277 312610 or by emailing:

[email protected].

Currently, agents contributing to

the register include:

Douglas Duff 01277 226222

Glenny 01268 540771

Hilbery Chaplin 01708 745000

Kelmsley Whiteley & Ferris 01245

358988

Mass & Co 01277 201300

Walkers 01277 210011

Promoting Vacant Properties

Individuals looking to promote their

vacant commercial premises in Essex

can register available units with

EGPropertyLink. The premises will not

only be promoted on EGPL’s

website but will also automatically

appear on the Commercial Property

Search on ExDRA’s website.

ht tp : / /www.essex . inves t .org.uk/property.html

Responding to consumer patterns,

large companies like Boots and Tesco

are restricting the use and acceptance

of cheques – and according to new

research, smaller, independent

businesses ought to consider following

suit! 61% of adults no longer use

cheques to pay for regular monthly

commitments, according to the survey

by BACS Payments Schemes Limited.

There has also been a decrease in the

number of organisations using

cheques to make their own

business-related payments.

By embracing automated payment

methods for regular business

transactions, British companies could

reap significant rewards including

strengthened business and employee

relationships and importantly,

increased cash flow control.

www.bacs.co.uk

Stop Cheque!


10


A smokefree England will protect everyone from the harmful effects of

secondhand smoke in enclosed public places and workplaces.

The evidence against secondhand smoke is clear. It causes lung

cancer, heart disease and other illnesses, and triggers asthma attacks.

The good news is that it is estimated that smokefree places will save

thousands of lives over the next decade. Smokefree will help the 7 out

of 10 smokers who want to quit, too. Most of all, it will help create a

cleaner and healthier environment for everyone to visit or work in.

Nearly all enclosed and substantially enclosed public places and

workplaces in the country will become smokefree. These will include

offices, factories, shops, pubs, bars, public transport and work vehicles

that are used by more than one person.

The law will also mean that indoor smoking rooms will no longer be

allowed. Therefore, anyone wishing to smoke will have to go outside

instead.

From 1 July, when businesses go smokefree, they will need to display

the legally required signs at entrances to their premises. Company

vehicles used by more than one person will be required to have no

smoking signs.

Smokefree will benefit everyone by providing protection from harmful

secondhand smoke. While most people will comply, those who don’t

may be liable to a fine or prosecution for the following offences:

� smoking in a smokefree place or vehicle

� failing to display a no smoking sign

� allowing smoking in a smokefree place or vehicle.

To register to receive further information visit www.smokefreeengland.co.uk or call the Smokefree England

Information Line on 0800 169 169 7

Smokefree

Mind your own

business

Have you considered joining

Brentwood Chamber of Commerce?

We are an association of local

businesses which offers a strong

lobbying voice for members (locally

and nationally) and provides a range

of key services – regular newsletters

with useful information, networking

events, a platform for publicising

members’ business activities and a

broad range of relevant contacts.

Brentwood Chamber of Commerce(Mike Hawkins, Executive Secretary)Pepperell House, 44 High Street,Brentwood, Essex CM14 4AJT/F: 01277 214814 E: [email protected]: www.brentwoodchambers.co.uk

A new initiative 'Action on Stigma'

encourages employers to improve

the way they deal with mental health

in the workplace. Employers who

have made their workplace culture

more 'mental health friendly' have

reported reduced staff turnover and

sickness absences. Despite this:

� Only about 20% of people with

severe mental health problems are

employed, compared to 65% of

people with physical health problems

and 75% for the whole adult population

� Even for people with more common

types of mental illness, such as

depression, only about half are

competitively employed

� However, people with mental

health problems have the highest

'want to work rate' with up to 90%

wanting to work, compared to 52%

for disabled people generally.

One in four of us will suffer from a

mental health problem at some point

in our lives and the cost to business

and society is substantial. Employers

can help by raising awareness of

mental health issues amongst staff,

supporting those affected and

combating discrimination against

staff and customers. This is good

for staff and good for employers,

who will benefit from reduced

staff turnover and sickness

absences.

For more information visitwww.shift.org.uk/employment

Why not join us!


11


From 6 April 2007, the current scheme

is due to be replaced by new

Construction Industry Scheme (CIS).

The new scheme will remove some of

the administrative burden of the current

scheme and provide alternatives to the

paper-based processes of CIS.

The main changes are:

� There will no longer be any need for

CIS cards, certificates or vouchers.

� Contractors must check or 'verify'

new subcontractors with HM

Revenue & Customs.

� Subcontractors will still be paid

either net or gross, depending on

their own circumstances.

� There will also be a higher rate tax

deduction if a subcontractor cannot

be 'matched' on the system.

� There will no longer be CIS annual

returns.

� Contractors must make a return

every month to HM Revenue and

Customs, showing payments made

to all subcontractors. Contractors

must declare on their return that

none of the workers listed on the

return are employees.

� Nil returns must be made when

there are no payments in any

month. These can be made over

the telephone as well as via the

internet or on paper, but they must

be made - there will be financial

penalties for failure to submit a

return.

� The vast majority of subcontractors

registered under the existing CIS

rules will be transferred over to the

new system and will not have to

re-register.

� New subcontractors, and those

that formerly held only temporary

registration cards that expired

before new CIS starts, will be

required to register with HM

Revenue and Customs.

For more information visitwww.new-cis.com

New

Construction

Industry SchemeLocal Training-It’s a Beauty!

Gwyneth Calvert-Painter, a businesswoman from Shenfield, is one of

the first beneficiaries of the Enterprise Project currently running in

Brentwood.

Aimed at small to medium-sized enterprises in the retail, finance,

leisure and hospitality sectors, the project offers funding for employee

training, tailored to individual business needs.

Owner of Neroli Health and Beauty in Shenfield, Gwyneth employs

four fully qualified beauty therapists and has recently invested in

equipment which only trained clinicians are authorised to use. One

therapist had been trained in how to use the equipment but Gwyneth

had hoped to train all of her employees to get the most from her

investment.

Brentwood Borough Council, Brentwood Town Centre Partnership and

the Brentwood Chamber of Commerce brought the Enterprise Project

to Brentwood through a joint bid to the Association of Town Centre

Management, the Learning and Skills Council and skills broker

Primum.

After fulfilling the basic eligibility criteria for the scheme, obtaining

funding for the course of her choice was straightforward and enabled

Gwyneth’s employees to proceed almost immediately with training.

Gwyneth was offered 100% funding for her training requirement.

For further information about the project, please telephone Jane Ponder, Corporate Projects Manager on 01277 264575

or email [email protected]


12


Ford score hat trick with budding footballers

Budding east London footballers are benefiting from

Ford support, which has reached £210,000, for the

Thames Gateway Youth Football Project.

West Ham is one of four London soccer clubs

providing professional coaching and guidance to the

5 to 24 year olds helped by the Thames Gateway

Youth Football Project. Other clubs are Charlton,

Millwall and Dagenham & Redbridge.

The project uses football as a major influence to

raise the standards, life skills and expectations of

participants taking part from 13 London boroughs.

They benefit from the project's educational and

sporting opportunities such as drop-in football

sessions on east London estates, courses leading to

Football Association-recognised coaching

qualifications and after-school soccer clubs.

In partnership with Ford, the project organises

summer football coaching at the company's sports

and social club to reward young people from Barking

and Dagenham whose grades, behaviour and

attendance have improved.

Andy Taylor, Ford corporate citizenship director

based at Warley Central Office, who presented this

year's £20,000 contribution, said: "It is tremendous to

have this innovative football project focused on areas

local to our Ford Dagenham site. By using the

universal appeal of football, real changes for the

better can be made – which all help to establish a

greater sense of community across east London and

have a long term benefit for the region's regeneration."

(left to right): Andy Taylor, Ford corporate citizenship director; Derek Saxby, Ford Dagenham manager;Ophelia Soares, Thames Gateway Youth Football Project manager; Roger Sambridge and Rob Chisholm,both retired Ford Dagenham employees; and Eric Sorensen, Thames Gateway chief executive


Every successful business will recognise the

importance of reaching people on a local level – this

creates genuine commitment & loyalty.

Advertising and accountability are two words you

rarely see together but with the internet’s ability to

capture viewing figures, it has become the only mass

media able to deliver measurable results.

More and more businesses are choosing the internet

as their advertising medium in order to keep pace with

an ever-changing market. The logic is obvious, the

internet reaches into people’s lives via choice - it isn’t

the skimmed newspaper, the discarded flyer, the rain

damaged poster or the remote-flicked TV ad.

Consumers actively search for information

24/7 and, in doing so, provide the opportunity

for businesses to reach people in their own

homes with their wholly targeted message.

Focused, local marketing has arrived,

courtesy of the internet and one of the fastest

growing franchises in the UK -

AboutMyArea.co.uk.

AboutMyArea community websites are

unique environments where local contact can

be made with the market in a cost effective

and accountable way and now postcodes

CM12 for Billericay and CM13 for Brentwood

have launched right on our doorstep.

The underpinning ethos of AboutMyArea is to

create a community website within the area

that really makes a local connection.

Brentwood site editor Carole Smith spent

several months establishing community

contacts before launching. That way, she

says, she can truly identify with the

community and engage local sponsors who

are like-minded in caring about their area.

AboutMyArea.co.uk websites provide local

information in a friendly, connected and informed way

and as such are an essential buy for any business,

whether it is the local plumber, the regional tourist

attraction or the national brand truly looking to

establish grass roots, cost effective marketing.

Whilst ministers play lip service to citizenship and

struggle with how to re-kindle pride in the community,

the answer is staring them in the face – use the new

technology to create a dynamic and instant

connection with the community.

Alternatively, they could just log onto

www.aboutmyarea.co.uk where commercial meets

community and everybody wins.

13


CommunityWebsites


14


Shareholder Power -The New Regime?Minority shareholders in private companies are often

surprised to discover how few legal rights they enjoy.

Voting is often limited to the annual general meeting

ritual of re-electing long established board members

appointed by large shareholder groups. Access to

information is limited to annual accounts, and only in

extreme circumstances, will there be legal support for

complaints about the board's conduct of the

company's affairs. Even then, the costs of mounting

an action would deter all but the most hardy.

This is about to change with the Companies Act

2006, which is due to come into force (in stages)

during 2007 and 2008, with full implementation by

October 2008. Amongst many innovations is a more

US-style approach to shareholder rights, especially

shareholder derivative actions.

A derivative action is a shareholder right to bring legal

proceedings on behalf of the relevant company,

usually against one of more of its directors, where

there is an alleged loss suffered by the company

rather than the shareholder personally. The cost of

bringing such a claim is borne by the company, the

rationale being that the company should do so

because it is the party benefiting from the success of

the claim.

The new Act will increase the scope of what is

actionable and allow shareholders to bring actions,

through a more streamlined statutory process.

Shareholders will be permitted to bring derivative

actions on behalf of the company against directors for

breach of duties, negligence or default by a director.

This will apply even if the director has not benefited

personally from the breach, and shareholders will no

longer need to show that the wrongdoing was carried

out by majority shareholding directors.

A flurry of test cases is expected because the courts

will have discretion in permitting such actions;

enough to tempt shareholders and lawyers into

finding out how far they can go. Will this amount to a

revolution? Probably not, since the claimants will

need to jump significant hurdles to progress beyond

the initial stages of an action. Underpinning this will

be the need for court permission to go beyond the

first stages, as well as stringent guidelines for the

courts to follow when considering whether to allow an

action to proceed.

Will this increase minority shareholder rights?

English law has always applied a "majority rule"

approach to company governance. Shareholders

elect a board which is expected to manage the

company’s business and there are existing stringent

rules governing directors' duties. This basic principle

is not changing, but under the new law, a court will

consider whether the company (that is, its

shareholders) is likely to ratify the breach and it is

expected that courts will adjourn hearings to see if

ratification does take place. Crucially, those with an

interest will be disqualified from voting and this may

represent the greatest prospect of an increase in

minority shareholder rights.

The new law will not be a route by which unhappy

shareholders will be able to make retrospective

attacks on directors (through the company) because

of deemed misjudgements or mistakes made in good

faith. However, the mere prospect of later action

(particularly as the border between misjudgement or

honest mistake and negligence or breach of

director's duties can be somewhat blurred) is certain

to lead to a new decision making culture within

boards of directors themselves, not to mention

increased insurance premiums to cover possible

actions. For the courts, it will be a busy time until the

law settles down.

For advice on the matters in this article or any ofyour corporate or commercial needs,

contact Karl Taylor of Wollastons on 01245 211327.


15


Phoenix FM has exchanged

contracts on its new home in the

Baytree Centre.

The new Baytree Centre address,

between New Road and Coptfold

Road, car park offers Phoenix FM

modern accommodation in a

central location from which to

broadcast permanently on 98FM.

The unit, next to the shopping

centre's entrance nearest the

library, will house Phoenix FM's

main studio, a second studio and

office/reception area – also to be

used for live on air performances by

bands and other musical groups.

Paul Golder, chairman of Phoenix

FM, said: "Brentwood's Baytree

Centre offers newly built studio

space just off the town's High Street

– perfect for guests, presenters and

the rest of the Phoenix FM team."

Phoenix won its permanent licence

to broadcast on 98FM after staging

ten successful 28-day broadcasts

between 1996 and last year.

Anyone interested in helping at the

station as a volunteer, either

working at the studio or out in

Brentwood and Billericay, should go

to www.phoenixfm.com to make

contact.

New Studiofor PhoenixFM in Baytree

To help make this publication

useful, informative and interesting

for Brentwood’s businesses,

Vision for Business is looking for

new contributors. If you have any

business news to share, please let

us know.

If you issue regular press releases, please add Vision for

Business to your media contacts vision4business@

brentwood.gov.uk or call01277 312629/312630

Pera is an international network of

technology development and

industry support centres that help

firms to develop innovative new

products, improve business

performance and enhance

management and leadership skills.

The East of England Development

Agency, together with Pera,

introduce an exciting new

programme aimed at Small and

Medium Enterprises (SMEs)

based in the East of England

Regional Development Area.

Focusing on innovation, the

Market Readiness Programme will

leave a legacy of improved

capability for capitalising on new

ideas, whilst also providing SMEs

with long term coaching. It will also

help SMEs to create and develop

links to regional, national and

international support programmes

to receive the help they need,

where they need it most.

To apply, companies must have

the required managerial,

organisational and technological

capabilities to take up the

challenge, make decisions and

stay the course. They will be

typically in the range of 20-50

employees but it is intended to

allow some applications to the

early stages of the programme

from small companies with

innovative ideas, allowing

exceptional candidates through to

later stages.

Contact John Dodgson,Tel: 07920 563549, Email:

[email protected] www.mrprogramme.com

Tell us your news!

MarketReadiness


16


Brentwood Town Centre Partnership is once again

very proud to be championing the Essex Business

Awards 2007, which is now in its tenth year.

The Brentwood Town Centre Partnership Directors

come into contact on a daily basis with local

businesses and local businessmen and women who

exemplify the best of the county’s entrepreneurial

spirit.

The Directors would like to see more Brentwood

based companies receive the wider recognition that

they deserve.

Director Nick Abbott, Vice President of Keystone

Delivery at BT, and Director of the Partnership: “For

some companies, appearing on a “Watch Dog” type

of programme certainly widens brand recognition, but

winning a prestigious award is a much more positive

and potentially lucrative method of marketing one’s

company and brand.”

Jane Bennett, Managing Director of Bennetts

Funerals and Town Centre Partnership Director: “My

company and staff received a tremendous boost

when we won the award for Customer Care. It is of

the utmost importance that our customers feel that

their feelings and needs will be carefully attended to,

at a time when they are most vulnerable and

distressed. We have been fortunate that Bennett

Funerals Brentwood historically had a great

reputation for customer care and we work very hard

now to ensure that we retain our reputation. The

award provided proof positive that this is the case.”

The Essex Business Awards 2007 categories are as

follows:

Best Business in the Community

Sponsored by BAA StanstedBusiness Hero/Heroine

Sponsored by Essex & Suffolk Water Best Business Turnaround Sponsored by VantisCustomer Care and Service

Sponsored by Bird Luckin Best Company Training Programme

Sponsored by PursuitEnvironmental Awareness Sponsored by Barratt Best Growing Business Sponsored by Natwest Outstanding Business Person

Sponsored by Shingles Hall ahrBest Use of E Commerce Technology

Sponsored by mouse2house.co.ukInnovation Sponsored by BAE SystemsEssex Business of the Year

Sponsored by Bird Luckin & WollastonsBusinesses can enter the Essex Business Awards by

visiting www.totalessex.co.uk/businessawards The

closing date for entries is Friday June 22nd 2007.

For further information or help and guidance contact Brentwood Town Centre Partnership

on 01277 264575.

Essex Business Awards

Towards 2010The East of England Development Agency (EEDA)

and the European Social Fund have provided over

£4M to deliver Towards 2010, the biggest ever

investment in business skills training in the region.

The programme gives businesses the flexibility to

choose:

� The type of training they need for their business

� The specific training organisation they want to

work with

� The timing they want to fit in with their business

cycle

It's not too late for businesses to apply for support

towards the cost of training through the programme,

which will run until December 2007.

For further information about Towards 2010 andhow your business could benefit please contact Matt

Willis, Tel: 01245 702411, Email:[email protected]


Cause-Related Marketing -If You Have A Heart, Show It

17


In today's competitive market place, increasingly

cynical consumers make it hard to build affinity and

long-term relationship with your customers. The

ultimate way to achieve this bond is to build the

equivalent of a friendship between your business and

its customers. The type of loyalty that a friendship

offers can see you through the nastiest of market

events. Just as in real life, any friendship is based on

somebody seeing something in your character that

they like. Altruism, generosity, philanthropy, kindness

- all good, endearing qualities that attract friends in

real life. The same is true in business.

With technology advances, it is more and more

difficult to offer a dramatically different product than

your competitors. So, with other things being equal

(price and quality, etc), many consumers would

rather do business with a company that stands for

something beyond profits. Cause-related marketing

can positively differentiate your company from your

competitors and provide an edge. Quite often, for

little or no extra cost, the resources that already exist

within a company can be utilised to support a cause

that the business is genuinely passionate about. If

this can be done, it should.

This sort of outlook can appear manipulative and

opportunistic, so consumers may be forgiven for

becoming cynical in the first place. Contrived passion

is obvious to everyone, but genuine passion is

unmistakable... and it's very attractive. The key factor

is sincerity. You need to believe genuinely in the

cause you throw your company behind.

Essex FM has recently spearheaded a campaign

called "Knives or Lives". We want the government to

introduce tougher sentences for knife crime. This

came about after the radio station was approached

by a number of mothers whose families have been

affected by knife crime. Their stories genuinely

moved the people at Essex FM and we absolutely

believe in the cause.

There is another aspect of cause-related marketing

that is often over looked. Choosing a cause you are

passionate about, is emotionally fulfilling. Even the

coldest heart will be surprised what impact it has on

them. It's a way to merge your profit centre with your

"passion centre" and build a business that mirrors

your personal values, beliefs and integrity. This can

lift the mood, drive and sense of purpose that fuels

the employees of a company. It's a 'good shot of

vitamins for a company's sense of worth'.

If your cause also resonates with your target market,

your activities will generate

tremendous goodwill and

media attention can

be its side effect.

Cause-related

marketing is

as close to the

commercial

equivalent of

'karma' that

you'll find.


18


A couple of months before Christmas we wrote to

over 1,000 local businesses to encourage them to

join Brentwood Chamber of Commerce and a

number of them subsequently joined. One of the

arguments in favour of Chamber membership which

appealed to them was that a collective voice is often

more effective than individual ones.

A good example of how this can work to the benefit

of our members occurred just recently. Many people

still vividly remember the power cuts suffered over

the Christmas and New Year Sales periods, which

had damaging effects for traders.

We asked for a meeting with energy supplier, EDF, to

establish what they intended to do to avoid any

recurrence of this power failure. We held that

meeting in February and it turned out to be very

positive. EDF agreed to act urgently to completely

replace all the old cabling in the High Street,

investing £40,000 in the process. The work started in

early March and is being done over several

weekends to try and minimise disruption.

By taking this action, EDF hope to try and ensure, as

much as is possible, that no further power cuts will

occur to make life miserable for traders and public

alike. This has been a good response to a crisis by

EDF. We like to think that Chamber of Commerce

played a part, too, in prompting this speedy action.

The more businesses that join us, the more effective

we can be. If you are a local business, please get in

touch at [email protected] or call us

on 01277 214814.

The Chamber doesn’t only act to promote the

interests of business. We also try to make a

contribution to the local community and recently ran

a very successful Creative Writing Competition for

primary school children. We were delighted with the

high levels of entry that the competition attracted. It

is heartening to recognise the talent of today’s

youngsters. Have a look for yourself on our website

at www.brentwoodchambers.co.uk

Mike HawkinsExecutive Secretary

Chamber ofCommerce acting for business


19


Carbon

Monoxide

dangersThe Health and Safety Executive

(HSE) is reminding people on

construction sites of the dangers

of using equipment powered by

internal combustion engines in

confined or poorly ventilated

spaces.

Carbon monoxide is the silent

killer. It is a colourless, odourless,

poisonous gas, and if detected

too late, it may not be possible to

escape from danger. It can take a

matter of minutes for dangerous

levels of carbon monoxide to be

produced inside a confined

space.

Construction sites should also

beware that open flame heaters

fuelled by natural gas or Liquid

Petroleum Gas (LPG), require an

adequate supply of fresh air

to prevent formation of high

concentrations of carbon

monoxide.

www.hse.gov.uk

A new radio campaign is urging

workers who suspect their

employer isn't paying tax and

National Insurance for them to

ring the Tax Evasion Hotline and

report them to HM Revenue &

Customs (HMRC).

National Insurance contributions

are used to calculate benefits,

including State Pension,

incapacity benefits, contribution-

based Jobseekers Allowance

and bereavement allowances.

Workers who believe they are not

being treated fairly can call

HMRC's confidential hotline:

0800 788 887

Are you

paying the right

tax ?

This is the belief of Bob Clark, director of local

Marketing & Communications agency Greenhouse

Marketing.

“Most businesses want to find ways to market

themselves better, get more sales and grow. In our

experience, most business owners and managers

spend many hours working IN their business but very few hours working

ON their business. It’s hardly surprising as there’s always so much to do

just to keep things going day-to-day.

“We work with all types of businesses from start-ups and sole traders to

larger local organisations. Often it is the manager’s skills, knowledge and

shear enthusiasm that drives a business initially but they struggle to

consolidate their growth by failing to plan their marketing. However big or

small your business, if you want it to grow you must have a plan. Get it right

and it will set your business on the path for increased growth and

profitability for years to come.

“You don’t need a massive budget, you don’t

need a stunning, unique product or service. And

believe it or not it’s not rocket science either. All

it takes is a little effort, setting clear, realistic

objectives, an effective communications plan

and the willingness to follow the plan and make

it a reality. To help local businesses we’ve

produced Your Marketing Plan Guide, a simple

step-by-step guide that will help them prepare a plan.”

Bob explains how Greenhouse Marketing helps companies grow, “We work

with clients in many ways, for some we become their marketing department

enabling them to focus on the business, with others we are there to provide

advice ad-hoc and for some we work on a project-by-project basis. Most

of our clients use our creative services where we provide everything from

branding, literature and advertising design through to photography,

copywriting, printing and promotions. What they really like is that we don’t

just deal in strategy or just in communications but integrate both to provide

effective solutions that deliver results. Results are what matters in our book.

If it doesn’t sell it’s not creative.”

If you would like a copy of Greenhouse Marketing’s free Your MarketingPlan Guide or would like to talk to them about your business call

Bob Clark on 07702 379 538 or e-mail him on [email protected]

Marketing - is key to your

business success


Writtle CollegeLordship Road, WrittleChelmsford, Essex CM1 3RRT: 01245 424112E: [email protected]: www.ader.org.uk

Corporate Communiations & MarketingDepartmentTown Hall, Ingrave RoadBrentwood, Essex CM15 8AYT: 01277 312629F: 01277 312635E: [email protected]: www.brentwood.gov.uk

Pepperell House, 44 High StreetBrentwood, Essex CM14 4AJT: 01277 214814F: 01277 214814E: [email protected]: www.brentwoodchambers.co.uk

Redwing House, Hedgerows BusinessPark, Colchester Rd, Chelmsford EssexT: 0845 7171615F: 01245 241500E: [email protected]: www.BL4E.co.uk

The Business CentreStation Road, HistonCambridgeshire CB4 9LQT: 01223 713900E: [email protected]: www.eeda.org.uk

Aquila HouseWaterloo RoadChelmsford, Essex CM1 1BDT: 01245 702400E: [email protected]: www.exdra.co.uk

T: 01253 336000F: 01253 348046E: [email protected]: www.fsb.org.uk

8 Brockley RoadChelmsford, Essex CM2 6HQT: 01245 496712E: [email protected]: www.midessexenterpriseagency.co.uk

T: 0207 215 5000E: [email protected]: www.sbs.gov.uk

Useful numbers, contacts & websites:

Agrilcultural Development in the

Eastern Region (ADER)

Brentwood Borough Council

Brentwood Chamber of Commerce

Business Link for Essex

Federation of Small Businesses

Mid Essex Enterprise Agency (MEEA)

Small Business Service

East of England Development

Agency (EEDA)

Essex Development and

Regeneration Agency (EXDRA)

n e w s | v i e w s | c o m m e n t sBusinessVISION FOR

20

Loking for Funding forYour Project?

THINK! - mobile phones: switch off before you drive off

See if Grantnet can help.

Grantnet is a free service, devised

to assist organisations such as

small to medium-sized enterprises,

social enterprises or community groups in identifying the funding streams

that may be available to specific projects via a single source database.

Accessible via Brentwood Borough Council’s website, Grantnet contains

the most comprehensive and up-to-date database of grants, loans and

other initiatives operating in the UK.

The database currently holds details on over 4,000 initiatives, including

grants from the European Commission, UK Government, local

government, corporate sponsors and charitable trusts.

For more information visit Brentwood Borough Council’s website at www.brentwood.gov.uk

New legislation to increase the penalty for using a hand-held phone

whilst driving came into force in February. The £30 fine increased to £60

and three penalty points on your licence. If the case goes to court, you

could risk a maximum fine of £1,000, which rises to £2,500 for the driver

of a bus, coach, or heavy goods vehicle.

A driver can also be prosecuted for using a hands-free device if you are

not in proper control of your vehicle when using the device. The

penalties are the same - £60 fine and three points on your licence.

Research has shown that if you are using a mobile phone whilst driving,

you are four times more likely to have a crash.

If you use any type of mobile be it hands free or hands held, your

reaction times are worse than if you were driving under the influence of

alcohol. Tests have shown that reaction times for drivers using a

hand-held phone slows reactions by 50% when compared to normal

driving and by 30% when compared to being drunk.

Exceptions are:

A driver may call 999 or 112 in response to a genuine emergency.

Two-way radios are not covered by this offence but other devices for

sending or receiving data are included if they are held while driving, i.e a

PDA, Blackberry or similar device.


Documents

v4b spring 2007 issue 6 - Brentwood Borough · PDF filecan now tender for contracts with ... everyone’s obligations and costs. In addition to your ... v4b spring 2007 issue 6.qxp