e-FM Network shortlisted for award
The e-FM Network of Finance Directors & Specialists have been shortlisted in the FSB Business Awards 2013. The company which provides flexible financial management resource to SMEs up to Finance Director/ Non Executive Director levels will be celebrating this achievement with stakeholders and other successful companies at a prestigious awards dinner on the 6th of June at the Luton Hoo Luxury Hotel.
The e-FM Network was chosen as a finalist in the Enterprising Business Category amidst fierce competition. This award recognises businesses that have shown outstanding initiative, boldness, imagination in the enterprise as well as sound management practices. Read more...Charity Spin-a-thon aims to raise money for homeless charity NOAH
Local fitness instructor Jackie Neufville and her fitness company Fittville UK Ltd are organising a charity Spin-a-thon consisting of 6 hours of spinning on bikes to raise money for Luton’s Homelessness Charity NOAH Enterprise. Participants will be spinning for between one hour and potentially the whole day!
Chamber bursary supports third Luton student
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A student from Luton is making a great start in the world of engineering, thanks to the generosity of a local company. Parth Bihai is the third student to win an annual engineering bursary awarded by Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by engineering company Veruth Holdings. The £15,000 bursary will support Parth through his studies for a degree in chemical engineering.
Further boost for conference and training facilities at Wyboston Lakes
Having recently completed a £3.5 million facility investment across its two specialist venues, Wyboston Lakes has announced a significant new space for training events, the Willows Conference Suite.
Located in the Wyboston Lakes Training Centre, the new suite provides 264 sq. m (2842 sq. ft.) of floor space with a capacity for 260 delegates seated theatre style. Features include high definition laptop input, wireless technology using Apple AirPlay and iPad-controlled sound and lighting.
“The Willows Conference Suite is a great space, incorporating the best technology in a stylish, seamless way that will inspire and impress,” said Mark Jones, Managing Director of Wyboston Lakes.
Rising unemployment reinforces need for bold policies to drive growth, says BCC
Commenting on the labour market statistics, published today by the ONS, David Kern, Chief Economist at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said:
“The labour market figures are disappointing, but unsurprising. Despite the fairly large rise in unemployment, the number of those in jobs has remained almost unchanged. The level of inactivity fell by 57,000 in the three months to February as more people returned to the workforce, and this contributed to the increase in unemployment. Although the UK labour market remains surprisingly robust, overall the outlook is uncertain. It is realistic to expect further increases in the jobless total if the private sector is able to only absorb some of the expected reductions in public sector employment. In our recent forecast, we predicted that unemployment would increase to 2.6 million in 2014.
“The challenging circumstances facing the economy make it doubly important to develop a more effective growth strategy. The government should switch priorities to boost growth within the existing spending envelope, and make greater use of its own fiscal mandate, which gives it more latitude than it has so far used in increasing infrastructure investment.”
Share your views on apprenticeships and enter draw to win i-Pad mini
The Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire Provider Network are keen to hear views from employers across Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire about 16-24 Youth Unemployment and how you feel about Apprenticeships.
The network have put together a 5 minute survey to gauge opinion and respondents will be entered into a prize draw to win an i-Pad mini
BCC: Scale of National Minimum Wage increase adds to cost pressures on business
Commenting on the government’s decisions today on National Minimum Wage rates from 1 October 2013, Dr Adam Marshall, Director of Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:
On the adult National Minimum Wage rate:
“We are disappointed that the government has chosen to raise the adult National Minimum Wage rate by 1.9%, an increase that is over 50% higher than current average pay growth. While the pressures of inflation are affecting many people, including the lowest-paid, the scale of this rise adds significantly to business costs, most of all by contributing to broader pay inflation. It will also make some employers less inclined to hire additional members of staff.”
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Ultravision poised for growth
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UltraVision CLPL is taking the manufacture of contact lenses to the next level and in support of this has employed Clinical Director, Lynn White MSc FCOptom and Engineering Manager, Nick Stonehouse. With a strong clinical and manufacturing team, UltraVision is poised for growth and ready to ensure the future development of the next generation of contact lens technology.
It’s all in the name for i-fuelcards Ltd
What does singer Adele have in common with Flitwick based fuel card business i-fuelcards Ltd? The answer is they’ve both trademarked their names. Nigel Webb, Business Development Manager at i-fuelcards Ltd, knew that in a competitive market it was essential to protect a brand that was establishing a great reputation. Following a discussion with the Intellectual Property Office at a trade exhibition, Nigel decided to go through the process of trade marking the name and all associated web domains.
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Changes to empty property rates for newly built commercial buildings
From October 2013 all newly built commercial property completed between 1st October 2013 and 30th September 2016 will be exempt from empty property rates for the first 18 months (up to the state aids limit).
Simon Patrick, Partner & Head of Commercial Property comments: “I am delighted that the government has introduced this relief as hopefully it will stimulate speculative new buildings and help get Britain building again”.
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Health Check
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