Meet our local businesses

GROW GROW GROWdo you have exporting potential?

Grants and loan news

Have your say! Major Hart business survey launched

How Hart for BUSINESS can help!

Win an award in 2014

ISSUE 2MARCH 2014

What’s happening in your town?

Hart businesses celebrate at the Inspire Business Awards

Hart for Business celebrates success…

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elcome to the second issue of the Hart for Business magazine.

Success! Since the launch of Hart for Business in July 2013, we have been delighted with the welcome from local companies for the new business support service. Our

Economic Development Officer has been busy working with local companies and leading business support organisations to ensure that Hart for Business provides a professional service to all businesses in the district.

And we’re celebrating! In the Autumn the council was delighted to win the Federation of Small Business award for ‘Best All Round Small Business Friendliness’ in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Over the past six months, we have sponsored the high profile Inspire Business Awards and the new North Hampshire Meet the Buyer event, enabling our local businesses to get face-to-face with major local suppliers. We were delighted to celebrate four Hart based wins at the Inspire Business Awards, including Business of the Year. Congratulations to everyone who took part!

There have been huge successes in the village of Odiham, with the creation of a village retail team and the launch of a pop-up shop. After a year of hard work, Fleet Future has produced a new town plan and is currently putting it into action. It’s great to see that Fleet is continuing to attract independent retailers, with three new exciting shops opening recently. Hart for Business is delighted to be supporting both initiatives with practical skills, advice and financial support.

We also took part in the national Small Business Saturday on 7 December, which encouraged people to shop locally by providing free parking across Hart. We hope you used the day to discover somewhere new and support your fellow businesses.

TO THe FuTuRe…In this edition, Hart for Business is launching a new online business survey. We are inviting 2500 local businesses to give us their views about the challenges they face in the current economic climate.

Finally, we are pleased to announce that we are joining Southern entrepreneurs, an organisation offering training, events and support to small businesses throughout Hampshire. This means that Hart based businesses can join the network for free to access this support.

As always we are working for your business so do get in contact with our Economic Development Officer. Councillor Ken Crookes, Leader of Hart District Council

HART FOR BuSINeSS

Southern Entrepreneurs North Hampshire Launch & Speed Networking Event

BReAKING NeWS BReAKING NeWS BReAKING NeWS BReAKING NeWS BReAKING NeWS

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Join us for free at the Lismoyne Hotel in Fleet on Tuesday 29 April 2014 from 6 - 8pm for the launch of our new free business support service and speed networking event.

From April 14, Hart District Council will be offering a free new service to support small businesses throughout the district by joining Southern entrepreneurs.

We will be launching this new service at a speed networking event where you’ll also be able to find out more about our future free networking, subsidised training, online forum and business directory with Southern entrepreneurs.

Speed networking can increase your business contacts, raise your profile among like-minded business people – and its great fun too!

Hart is working in partnership with Rushmoor Borough Council and Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council to expand the Southern entrepreneurs service throughout the north of the county. Businesses can become members for free and access a range of services.

With over 100 businesses from throughout the three districts expected at the launch, this promises to be a fantastic event!

This event is being generously sponsored by the Lismoyne Hotel www.lismoynehotel.com

Don’t miss out - book your place at www.southernentrepreneurs.com.

ContentWelcomeSpeed Networking EventCalling all BusinessesHart for Business updateMeet our Local BusinessesLate Payment GuideexportingFinance Loans and GrantsBusiness Opportunities and SupportTwitter Feel the Google LoveWin an Award 2014How Much Does Your Lighting Cost?General Business NewsLocal Business NewsLocal Town and Village NewsSpotlight on Source SuppliesBusiness events

Hart District Council has launched a major local Business Survey and is asking businesses within the district to tell us about the challenges they face in the current economic climate.

The Council aims to receive detailed feedback from hundreds of businesses and individuals in a bid to build a comprehensive picture of their needs in the current economic climate. The Council wants to understand the current issues in a bid to remove hurdles to economic success.

The survey addresses pivotal issues such access to finance and business support, skills, infrastructure and planning and broadband provision. The survey results will help shape

Calling all businesses - major Hart business survey launched

the council’s plans to support the growth of the local economy and funding.

Geoff Bonner, Chief executive of the Council said: “Helping businesses thrive within our district is a key priority, and a strong response in this important survey will help us to do so. Our business community plays a hugely important role in keeping Hart somewhere we like to live and work and we should be doing all we can to support business and to help them thrive”.

Leader of Hart District Council, Cllr Crookes said “The District Council has committed to engaging with business over the past year with the launch of Hart for Business. One of our priorities is to engage with businesses so

that we can better understand the state of business in the District and the needs of the business community. It is crucial that we listen to what employers are saying and ensure that everything is being done to support businesses locally as well as understanding the impact of national issues on the ground”.

Access the survey at www.hart.gov.uk/businesses. The survey is now open. For more information on the survey or for a hard copy, please contact the council’s Economic Development Officer, Jenny Atherton via email jennifer.atherton@hart.gov.uk.

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editor :Jennifer Atherton Economic Development Officerjennifer.atherton@hart.gov.uk

Designed by:Thrive Studioswww.thrivestudios.co.uk01252 819354

Hart District CouncilCivic OfficesHarlington WayFleetHampshire Gu51 4Ae

Tel: 01252 622122Fax: 01252 626886email: enquiries@hart.gov.uk

HART FOR BuSINeSS uPDATe

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Hart for Business -website resourcesThe Hart District Council website has been extensively updated to provide a wealth of resources for local businesses. Information is split into two sections. The Council Business Services section provides information on business rates, economic development, fair trade, health and safety, licencing and permits, planning, procurement, trade refuse and the new Workplace Wellbeing Charter. The business support section provides resources on apprenticeships, broadband, mentoring, start-up advice, searching for commercial property, employing people, exporting, innovation, skills and training, trade associations and local business networking. www.hart.gov.uk/businesses.

Hart for Business Update

Hart District Council is delighted to be recognised for its’ new economic development service ‘Hart for Business’, by winning the ‘Best All Round Small Business Friendliness’ award for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight from the Federation of Small Business.

Tim Colman, Chair of the FSB for the area said “we were so impressed with the increase and commitment to economic development activities in Hart this year, with the recruitment of a dedicated officer to support local businesses, the launch of the Hart for Business magazine, a ‘meet the council’ event and investment in a new business database.”

The Awards identified the best small business friendly initiatives undertaken by the region’s local authorities, and also highlighted the benefits for the region’s small businesses.

Hart District Council on Facebook & Twitter To keep up-to-date with business news and events, join our Facebook pages www.facebook.com/hartforbusiness and www.facebook.com/HartDistrictCouncil or follow us on Twitter @HartCouncil. You can contact Jennifer Atherton, economic Development Officer for advice and support via jennifer.atherton@hart.gov.uk

In July 2013, over 100 local businesses joined us at an event to launch Hart for Business, the new economic development initiative at Hart District Council. Our economic Development Officer has been busy over the last twelve months and Hart for Business has some exciting projects in the pipeline.

As part of the Council’s wider remit, the Economic Development Officer provides advice, support and signposting to businesses located in Hart and also organises specific business and networking events.

The Economic Development Officer sits on a number of steering groups including the North Hampshire Chamber of Commerce,

First Partnership eBP, Inspire Business Awards, Green Deal, Sustainable Business Network, Leader Programme and Dementia Friendly High Streets. We work closely with the enterprise M3 LeP, Hampshire County Council’s economy Team, Fleet Future, InOdiham, local training providers, the employment Service and enterprise First.

By keeping in close contact with these organisations we can be sure that we are keeping our fingers on the pulse, and providing a vital role which builds on and develops linkages leading to the economic success of all our companies.

environmental Health Team - Free support for business Did you know that our friendly environmental health team can support businesses with food safety, gas and electrical safety, asbestos advice, workplace wellbeing and general health and safety? For more information and support please contact the team on 01252 622122 or email eh@hart.gov.uk

HART FOR BuSINeSS

From April 14, Hart District Council will be supporting a new support service to small businesses through the district by joining Southern entrepreneurs, which provides practical support to businesses throughout Hampshire. Hart is working in partnership with Rushmoor Borough Council and Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council to expand the Southern entrepreneurs service throughout the North of the county. Business can become members for free and access a range of services.

Set up to support and nurture small businesses in South Hampshire, Southern entrepreneurs has been growing since it launched in 2004 and this new partnership will allow all businesses based in North Hampshire to access the scheme free of charge. Southern entrepreneurs Business Support Manager Anne Dawson said “It is great to be able to welcome new businesses. All three councils have been keen to ensure that access to this excellent support system comes at no cost to its local businesses. With monthly events and subsidised training running across the South of the county, we’re delighted that a new range of activities can be developed in the North and that new members can access existing events in the South”.

Southern entrepreneurs offers eligible businesses highly subsidised practical training in subjects based on their needs, along with free monthly networking opportunities, enabling them to meet other members and the wider business community. Members are able to access a Business Support Manager, along with other forms of help, with just one phone call.

Cllr Crookes, Leader of Hart District Council said “we are delighted to be joining Southern entrepreneurs to ensure that this excellent business support service stretches into north Hampshire. We will be running monthly events and training across the three districts to ensure that businesses have the chance to connect with a range of new businesses and opportunities and to access invaluable training at very low cost.”

The Southern entrepreneurs website enables members to advertise their own events and training, and members can contribute to a monthly newsletter to showcase their business to fellow members and with a readership of 5000. The website contains useful information on other initiatives and invaluable articles written with small businesses in mind. A business directory can be accessed through the website and is a valuable resource allowing

member businesses to be contacted by potential customers.

You can sign up immediately and start accessing services from April. To sign up for membership and for more information, please visit www.southernentrepreneurs.com or email anne.dawson@eastleigh.gov.uk

Access free business support, events & training – Southern Entrepreneurs

What training would you like?Southern entrepreneurs will be running regular training sessions throughout Hart, Basingstoke and Rushmoor, based entirely on your needs. We are also keen to use local business speakers at our new networking events – a fantastic way to expand you contacts and customers. Please let us know what training you need and let us know if you would like to speak at a future event!jennifer.atherton@hart.gov.uk.

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Hart District Council Rewarded for Small Business Support

Do you have a conference room or meeting space? We are always looking for suitable spaces to run small training sessions and meetings around the district, as well as interesting local companies who would be interested in show-ing other businesses around their workplaces. From April, we will be running networking events and training sessions in partnership with Southern Entrepreneurs and are keen to hear from you if you’d like to get involved. email jennifer.atherton@hart.gov.uk for more information.

As the world’s most recognised ethical label, Fairtrade is good for business. As a licensee, stockist, trader or even by having Fairtrade coffee in your office, your business can make an impact to make global trade fairer. In 2012 sales of Fairtrade certified goods reached £1.3 billion, a 12% increase on the previous year, proving people still want ethically produced goods. Being a Fairtrade business can help you stand out from the competition, increase customer loyalty and boost your public relations.

The Hart Fairtrade Group at Hart District Council is working towards achieving Fairtrade Status for the District and we would like businesses to get involved. We can support you with sourcing Fairtrade ingredients for your supply chain, and if you are a stockist or distributor, where to get hold of finished packaged Fairtrade products. You may also wish to source Fairtrade products for your workplace. Businesses are encouraged to join the Fairtrade group and can find out more by emailing fairtrade@hart.gov.uk

Support Fairtrade status for the district

Is your business dementia friendly?Hart District Council has been working with Dementia Friendly Hampshire to ensure that Fleet is now a Dementia Friendly high street. Given the expected increase in the numbers of

people with dementia over the next twenty years, Hart District Council has an important role in helping to develop dementia friendly communities that will support people in their homes and neighbourhoods. Hampshire

County Council has produced a free Dementia Friendly Toolkit for businesses which contains information on becoming more dementia friendly, a help-pack for customer-facing staff and a checklist for dementia friendly environments. Access the toolkit here www.hants.gov.uk/adult-services/adultservices-professionals/dementia/dementia-friendly-toolkit.htm

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In 2011, again in 2012 and then again in 2013, an annual study conducted by the Halifax bank named Hart as the uK’s most desirable place to live for quality of life. The study took into account jobs, housing, health, crime, weather, traffic and broadband access. It found that 95% of people in the local authority area were in good health, and tended to have incomes 40% above the national average.

Hart has managed to retain its position at the top of the Quality of Life Survey by scoring consistently highly across almost all categories: Hart residents are the healthiest in the uK, with 97.4% reporting being in good or fairly good health. They also live the longest in the

uK, with an average male life expectancy of 82.9 years compared to the national average of 79 years. The 80% employment rate is significantly higher than the national average (71%), while gross average weekly earnings of £843 are £226 (or 37%) higher than the UK average of £616. New ONS figures indicate the adult population is among the most happy, satisfied and content in the UK. The cost of living in Hart, however, is high; the average house price in Hart is 7.0 times the average annual pre-tax local income – higher than the uK average of 5.8.

HART FOR BuSINeSS

7 December 2013 saw the inaugural Small Business Saturday in the uK. The campaign captured the imagination of small businesses and consumers across the country. In October 2013, the Forum of Private Business wrote to every local authority in the UK asking them to waive car parking charges on the 7th December 2013 in support of Small Business Saturday. Many councils, including Hart District Council responded positively and over 40 confirmed they would have a free parking offer in place on Small Business Saturday.

The day boosted the UK economy by £468m, exceeding all expectations. Statistics from an American express poll revealed 48% of uK consumers were aware of the day. Of those consumers aware of the campaign 45% said they spent more than usual, and 19% reported they had spent at least double the amount they would usually spend on a Saturday.

As the first event of its kind in the UK these figures reveal a positive picture. Small Business Saturday 2013 has set the bar for the coming years. It is important we learn from the campaign this year and build upon this success next year and in the future.

Hart District Council would like local businesses to start considering what they could do next year to help grow Small Business Saturday in the area and ensure that Small Business Saturday 2014 is even more successful than last years event.

Hart best place to live – again!

HART FOR BuSINeSS

Showcase your business through Hart for Business If you have an interesting story to tell, we’d like to publish it in a future Hart for Business issue! You can share a success story, celebrate team members or write an article that shares your expertise with other businesses. We are always looking for speakers for events too. Email jennifer.atherton@hart.gov.uk to get involved.

Parking in Hart Have you ever found yourself short of change in a district car park? Did you know that there are a couple of solutions? The Hart District Council Smart Parking Card is a rechargeable card that can be used in any council car park and where on-street charges apply. It can be loaded with any amount from £5 to £500. So what’s stopping you? If you would like to sign up, download an application form from the Council’s website. Did you know that you can also pay for parking by telephone? More information can be found on the parking information pages at www.hart.gov.uk/parking

Hart for Business has recently commissioned a feasibility study for converting a part of the Civic Offices into a professional business cen-tre with flexible office and drop-in space, plus business support and advice. The space would be for local start-ups and growing businesses and based in Fleet Town centre. If you would like to tell us what you need, express an inter-est in renting some space or get involved in the research, please contact Jennifer Atherton, Economic Development Officer, jennifer.atherton@hart.gov.uk

Business centre feasibility study – get involved

Free bite-size health and safety training for Hart businessesStaff from the Golden Triangle in Fleet have received free health and safety training by officers from Hart District Council. The free training has been offered by Hart District Council environmental Health team as part of a district wide campaign to deliver bite-sized health and safety training to any local businesses within the District.

Cllr John Kennett, portfolio holder for licensing and environmental health, said: “We are delighted to offer free training for businesses across Hart. It is our intention to support businesses and by offering them training in a number of areas such as, gas safety in kitchens, manual handling and slips and trips; we hope that they will continue to stay up to date with legal requirements. These sessions are tailored to the needs of individual businesses so we can deliver the relevant information that the business requires.”

Hart District Council is offering the training to all businesses. If you own or know of a business that could benefit from additional training please contact the environmental Health team on eh@hart.gov.uk or call 01252 774421.

Staff from the Golden Triangle Fleet

PDid you know that you can access economic profiles and business intelligence from several sources for free? On the NOMIS website, you can view labour market profile of local authorities, including Hart. The information includes data on population, employment, unemployment, qualifications, earnings, benefit claimants and businesses. Nomis is a service provided by the Office for National Statistics, ONS, to give you free access to the most detailed and up-to-date UK labour market statistics from official sources. www.nomisweb.co.uk.

Hart for Business works closely with the economy Team’s research and intelligence group at Hampshire County Council, who provide a range of updated local economic

Free business intelligence resourcesinformation and intelligence covering the economy, labour markets and socio-economics statistics. Visit www.hants.gov.uk/planning/factsandfigures and click on ‘economic Statistics’.

Hart District Council is delighted to be working in partnership with Rushmoor and Basingstoke and Deane to deliver a high profile business expo this Autumn. There will several ways for local businesses to exhibit and get involved, including subsidised stand space for local sole traders. More details will follow - please send an email to register your interest to jennifer.atherton@hart.gov.uk

Business expo in Autumn 2014

£2000 Vouchers for Growth The Growth Vouchers programme was officially launched on 27 January 2014. It will help small businesses access expert advice to help them grow. Vouchers worth up to £2,000 will be given to a majority of the businesses who sign up for the programme to help them pay for strategic private sector advice in the following areas:

• Raising finance and managing cash flow

• Marketing, attracting and keeping customers

• Making the most of digital technology

• Improving leadership and management skills

• Recruiting and developing your staff

Businesses need to match the amount of subsidy with their own funds.

Private sector suppliers can also register to be listed on the enterprise Nation online marketplace, through which businesses can redeem their vouchers. Small businesses will pay the supplier and then claim back up to £2,000 from the government. Potential suppliers to voucher holders can sign up via enterprise Nation at https://marketplace.enterprisenation.com

Local business support provider Enterprise First is working in partnership with the Department of Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) and Enterprise Nation to deliver this new support programme for small businesses in the South east. Visit www.gov.uk/apply-growth-vouchers to find out more and to apply for a Growth Voucher.

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HART FOR BuSINeSS

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If you are planning to expand your business premises, build new premises, or change the use of an existing premises you may need to apply for planning permission.

Businesses seeking to develop their premises need to apply to the council for planning permission, which may be required when building new premises, changing the use of existing premises, or extending existing buildings. Decisions are made in line with district planning policies and government guidance.

Hart’s planning and development team considers planning proposals from property

owners and developers. They also deal with planning issues arising from the consideration of planning applications, associated legislation applications and determine building regulation applications.

We are keen to work with businesses throughout the planning process. We encourage businesses to discuss their proposals in advance of a planning application. Businesses can also check informally with planning services whether a proposed development needs planning permission.

Contact the Planning Team on 01252 774419 or email planningadmin@hart.gov.uk

Planning Permission Advice

Our guide to how small businesses can manage late payment

Being tough on late payment will work wonders for cash flow. Late payment is the most common cause of cash flow crises. If one big company falls behind on paying its suppliers, the devastating effect can ripple down the supply chain and put companies out of business. Here are some pointers to dealing with the issue and saving your cash flow.

Get to know your customer – Knowing your customer is critical when it comes to credit management. Check the exact name and legal status of each of your customers and credit check new customers where you can. However, do not simply rely on credit ratings, ask for references from other suppliers and make your own assessments on the customer’s propensity to pay.

Set out payment terms – Once you decide to take on a new customer, define your credit policy. Agree payment terms at the order stage and make them very clear. Do not assume that you will be paid on 30 days or end of month following, instead set out payment terms in writing and try to obtain written acceptance, ensuring your customer’s order does not suggest different payment terms.

encouraging timely payment – Printing the payment terms on easy-to-understand invoices that go out on time can also help prompt debtors to pay, as will clearly setting out the penalties if a payment is late. Another way of encouraging your customers to pay quickly and on time is by offering discounts for prompt payment.

Get your invoices right – A disputed invoice will not be paid so do not give the customer any excuse to contest their invoice. This requires being on the ball in terms of accuracy such as clearly specifying the goods or services being paid for and being sure to quote the customer order number.

Manage your debtors – Once an invoice has been issued, make sure to keep an eye on your debtors. For large or important amounts, telephone before the due date to make sure the payment is still on track. If a payment hasn’t arrived, don’t be afraid to ask for it and outline to them the consequences of non-payment. Some basic financial management software can go a long way towards helping you manage your debtors as you can not only use it as a central resource to create and send invoices from but also list and track the invoices that are overdue and monitor your performance in getting paid.

Cover yourself against bad debts –Trade credit insurance covers against the risk of non-payment due to your customers’ insolvency so can be invaluable in protecting your business.

Chasing payment – If contacting the debtor to try and resolve the issue has not worked then there are various ways you can retrieve payment. Firstly, consider exercising your legal rights under late payment legislation to charge penalty interest or add debt recovery costs. If that doesn’t prompt the debtor to pay, then you can hire a specialist debt collector to help you. They have the expertise and time to focus on retrieving the debt. If all else fails, then you can always consider taking court action but this should be seen as the last resort as it can cost you time and money.

Business Supportaround the Council

From the high quality high tech office developments at Hook and Blackwater, to the large industrial estates at Bartley Point and Fleet’s Osborne Way, as well as smaller rural developments around Church Crookham, Hartley Wintney and Odiham, the opportunities in Hart are as varied as the businesses already located here. Our website details the range of different workspace options available in Hart at nearly 30 locations at www.hart.gov.uk/businesses

Looking for a new workplace? Hart’s environmental Health Team’s aim is to

save you time and provide you with relevant information and guidance at the start, and by putting you in touch with the right people from the very beginning. The officers are available to visit your business or proposed premises and will provide a written copy of any advice, so that you can incorporate it into a work plan and if necessary they will help

to prioritise the advice so that you can act accordingly.

The officer will also provide you with other potential information sources which we believe may be relevant to you and your business including information from Trading Standards, the Food Standards Agency and the Fire Authority.

environmental Health Business Support

Talk to the team about reducing potential cost by minimising the need for consultants, buying unnecessary equipment or having to make changes to your premises layout after you’ve opened.Call the Environmental Health Team now.

01252 774421eh@hart.gov.ukwww.hart.gov.uk

Food Hygiene & Safety

Health & Safety

Licensing

Odour

Pest Control

Most businesses pay business rates – it is how they contribute towards the cost of local authority services such as the police and fire fighters. If you use a building or part of a building for business, you will probably have to pay business rates.

Businesses are given a ‘Rateable Value’ which, in conjunction with a multiplier, produces the business rates liability. Rates are set by the government for each county in the uK. Hart District Council collects the rates and returns the income to the national government, who then return a small percentage back to each local council. In england, rateable values are assessed by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA). Exactly how much your business pays depends on the location of property, the size of property, the nature of your business and how the property is to be used.

Demystifying Business RatesThere are a number of Rate Reliefs that you and your business could be entitled to, which can be found on our website www.hart.gov.uk/business. To speak to Hart about your rates, contact the Revenues Team via www.hart.gov.uk/businesses tel: 01252 774444. Don’t forget you can always pay your rates online. You can also find useful information on the government’s website www.gov.uk/introduction-to-business-rates/overview

If you are unhappy with your business rates, you can make an appeal to the Valuation Office. If you decide to make an appeal, you must continue to pay your business rates while your appeal is outstanding. The VOA will compare your rateable value with similar properties in the area and consider any other reasons you have given. Contact the VOA on 03000 501 501.

4 June 2014 - 8-11.30amLangstone Technology Park, Havant

BIS and HMRC are running free innovation workshops to ensure small and medium sized high-tech companies have all the information they need regarding investments in R&D and innovation in order to grow their business and remain competitive. The workshops cover support provided by HMRC, the Technology Strategy Board, eu programmes, Intellectual Property Office (formerly the Patent Office) and the Design Council.

The workshop will cover HMRC (R&D tax credits, Patent Box), the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) grants, knowledge transfer, networking, procurement opportunities and more); EU funding for business research and development and innovation; Intellectual Property Office patents, how to optimise the value of your intellectual property): and Design Council help to strengthen the potential of your innovation, identify opportunities to commercialise your technology and then realise those opportunities through design projects. www.business-events.org.uk

Free workshopsfor SMe’s about Government support for R&D and Innovation

The government has produced a guide to the planning system for businesses in england. It provides guidance on when planning permission is required, how to make a planning application, and what happens afterwards. However, it is not an authoritative interpretation of the law.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/planning-permission-a-guide-for-business If after reading this booklet you are still unclear how to proceed, contact Hart District Council.

Planning Permission - a guide for business

Late Payment Guide

Exporting

The concept of expanding internationally is one that is often deemed to be out of reach for small businesses. However, it is often the case that trading abroad is the best course of action for a modest-sized company. There might be a greater potential market in another country, not to mention such perks as favourable exchange rates and no language barriers.

But how can small businesses crack international markets?

UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) exists to help your business grow internationally. They provide expert trade advice and practical support to uK-based companies wishing to grow their business overseas. The Government has recently provided £13 million in new funding to help uK Trade and Investment (UKTI) to achieve its aim of doubling UK exports to £1 trillion by 2020. Approximately £9 million of the total investment is likely to be channelled into boosting trade opportunities for small and medium sized businesses – which is great news for Hart.

SO HOW CAN UKTI HELP YOUR BUSINESS?International Trade Advisers An adviser will provide professional advice on a range of UKTI services, including financial subsidies, export documentation, contacts in overseas markets, overseas visits, e-commerce, export training and market research.

Overseas Market Introduction Service (OMIS) A flexible business tool, letting you use the services of trade teams, located in embassies, high commissions and consulates across the world. OMIS can provide help at any stage - from initial research, to arranging a market visit, to using our contacts and impressive facilities to help close a major deal.

GROW, GROW, GROW - Do you have export potential?Sales Leads Over 400 Business Opportunities are published across all sectors and in over 100 markets each month and range from market pointers, to private sector opportunities, multilateral aid agency tenders to public sector leads. When you register with the uKTI website they can put you in contact with the companies who’ve posted these opportunities.

UKTI Export Communications Review The review provides companies with impartial and objective advice on language and cultural issues to help them improve their competitiveness in existing and future export markets.

Passport to export An assessment and skills-based programme that provides new and inexperienced exporters with the training, planning and ongoing support they need to succeed overseas.

Gateway to Global Growth A service for experienced exporters which offers a 12 month programme of strategic support tailored to your needs to help grow your company’s business overseas.

Export Marketing Research Scheme (EMRS) The eMRS provides independent advice, at no charge, on carrying out marketing research; whether you’re looking at new markets or re-evaluating an existing one. In addition companies may be eligible for a grant of up to 50% of the cost of conducting market research.

Events and Trade Fairs & the Tradeshow Access Programme Taking part in overseas exhibitions is an effective way for you to test markets, attract customers, appoint agents or distributors and make sales. UKTI’s Tradeshow Access Programme (TAP) provides grant support for eligible SME firms to attend trade shows overseas.

Webinars uKTI Webinars aim to deliver high quality advice and support at no cost to you wherever you happen to be – in the office, at home or on the move. Information is provided on specific markets and countries covering topics such as entry to market, legality, opportunities, current climate, socio-economic trends, risks and benefits, competitors and related statistics.

For more information about exporting and all of the services that uKTI offer to businesses, visit www.ukti.gov.uk

Although your business may have an established UK market, there’s often no reason why it couldn’t successfully compete overseas too, growing your revenue and profit. SMEs may think that exporting requires physically setting up overseas, but the e-commerce opportunities are vast. An increasing number of small businesses are turning to the internet and their e-commerce websites to sell their products overseas, bypassing traditional and expensive routes to export.

Before you start, you need to have sound knowledge of your would-be markets. You also need to consider whether your products are right for each target market and whether you have the necessary resources to start exporting.

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A survey by Freelancer.co.uk of 2,200 small businesses in the uK reveals there has been a 42% increase in the number of small businesses selling their products online. Significantly, there has been a 36% rise in the number of small businesses selling their products overseas via their ecommerce sites.

The survey found the major costs for start ups and small businesses trading mostly online were for website and e-commerce design and localization services for exporting their products overseas. 42% said that their main investment was in an e-commerce site, while 36% said they invested in localisation services to help them export overseas.

Workplace Wellbeing Charter

Do you want to improve the skills of your workforce?Skills Support for the Workforce is a new fully subsidised programme now available to business in Hart through enterprise M3.

Do you want to improve the skills of your workforce and thereby make both your employees, and your business, more productive and effective? If so, there is a new programme in your area offering fully subsidised skills training to help upskill your workforce.

Skills Support for the Workforce is aimed at supporting lesser-skilled individuals so as to improve their career opportunities and their existing skills and knowledge through work-based learning. It is funded by the european Social Fund (ESF) and co-financed by the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) so training is free to both you and your employees

What can the scheme offer you?Skills Support for the Workforce offers a range of unitised programmes tailored to meet the needs of you, the employer, to overcome skills gaps and shortages within your workforce. Your training provider will work with you to analyse your business needs and identify training programmes/qualifications specifically for any identified individual employee, to improve their skills and competency, and the

training can be delivered in the work place to minimise time off the job.

Is my business eligible?You must be a small and medium sized businesses, employing up to 250 employees and be based within the enterprise M3 area.

Anyone aged 19+ years or over, individuals who have no formal qualifications or who have achieved GSCes at grades D-G, individuals currently employed by a SMe based within the Enterprise M3 area, working an average of 8 hours or more per week are eligible for support.

For more informationTo find out more about the Skills Support for the Workforce programme visit www.chichester.ac.uk/employers Alternatively contact Marian Sexton at Chichester College on 01243 786321 (ext 2625) or at marian.sexton@chichester.ac.uk

If you haven’t yet signed up to the Hampshire Workplace Wellbeing Charter, what’s stopping you? employers across Hart are being encouraged to improve the health of their staff by applying.

In the South East, 4 million working days are lost to workplace ill-health and injury every year. Organisations signing up to the Charter are encouraged to consider issues such as the working environment, work-life balance, healthy living and good communication, which are proven to improve workforce wellbeing and productivity. Hart District Council’s environmental Health team is offering free support, advisory visits and mentoring as part of an initiative to improve employee health and wellbeing. employers who can demonstrate a commitment to workplace health and wellbeing are also encouraged to apply for Charter status as part of the scheme.

The Charter recently won a grant to appoint a workplace advisor who will help employers make workplaces a supportive and productive environment where employees can feel valued and flourish. The Charter has been launched by Eastleigh, Basingstoke, Hart, Rushmoor and Winchester Councils to help support businesses to improve employee health and wellbeing, which in turn is proven to boost productivity, reduce sickness absence and support economic growth.

The Hampshire Workplace Wellbeing Charter website, www.workplacewellbeinghampshire.org provides businesses with the resources and information to support employee wellbeing, introduce health improvement programmes at work and information on how to apply for Charter status. Businesses within the District of Hart can register their interest or get more information from either visiting the website or contacting environmental Health on 01252 774421.

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Have you considered exporting your goods and service online?

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Finance, Loansand Grants

HART FOR BuSINeSS

Smarta Start-up Loans Smarta Start-up Loans are aimed at new start-up companies or those in their first 12 months of trading. The programme provides start-ups with loans based on their business needs, as well as ongoing support through Smarta’s mentoring system and access to products and services provided by their corporate partners, including PayPal and eBay. Loans of up to £9,950 can be given, and the average loan size is £5,400. Anybody living in england over the age of 18 at the time of application can apply for a start-up loan. Applications can be made at any time. https://startuploans.smarta.com

£3,000 Manufacturing Advisory Service Grants The Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) Scheme has funding available for suitable projects. Grants of up to 50% of the project cost to a maximum of £3,000 are available to support manufacturers improve their business. MAS funding can support the development of ISO 9001 quality management systems, ISO 14001 environmental management systems and procurement activities including supplier development and sourcing. www.mymas.org/resources/grants-funding

Small and medium-sized employers looking to offer apprenticeships in england have been given a boost, as the National Apprenticeship Service has announced an extension to its employment scheme. The Government has confirmed an extension of the Apprenticeship Grant for employers of 16-24 year olds (AGe 16-24) to March 2014. The £1,500 grant is available to help businesses with fewer than 1,000 employees take on an apprentice.

£1,000 Sustainable Routes Grants Sustainable Routes offer a 50% grant (ERDF) of up to £1,000 to established small and medium-sized businesses who are looking to cut travel costs by adopting new ways of working. Businesses have to have been trading more than 12 months and have turnover higher than £40,000. Franchises are not included. Businesses who register can receive a personalised travel efficiency plan and a match funded grant of up to £1,000. Examples of funded projects include laptops for employees to work remotely; server upgrade to support remote working; bicycles, storage and showers to encourage use; LPG conversions. Register online at www.sustainableroutes.co.uk.

18 – 30 years old? Start your own business with a loan!unemployed? Facing redundancy? Leaving education? Fancy a new job? Start up loans are available – anything from £500 to £5,000 at a fantastic rate of just 6%, with the option to defer repayments by up to one year. Plus you will benefit from a quality ‘business mentor’ who will work with you offering help and support. You can use your loan for anything connected to running a business and have up to 5 years to pay the loan back. Loans are available to 18 – 30 year olds only who are considering setting up a business or have

been trading for up to one year. The start up loans scheme is a government funded initiative, designed to provide financial and expert support to young entrepreneurs in the uK. www.wsxentreprise.co.uk/start-up-loans

The uK’s Technology Strategy Board provide funding for a range of research, development and demonstration projects ranging from small proof-of-concept grants and feasibility studies through to large multi-partner collaborative R&D and demonstration projects. The businesses they support range from pre start-up, start-up and early stage micro businesses, to large multi-nationals. For micro and small and medium sized companies the main funding route is via the TSB Smart grants. Smart (previously known as Grant for Research and Development) offers funding to enable SMEs to engage in R&D projects. Any UK SME working in any sector can apply. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. The full range of funding provided by the TSB can be found: www.innovateuk.org/deliveringinnovation.ashx

Grant for Innovation

The new Childcare Business Grants Scheme has been introduced to boost the provision of childcare in england and to incentivise entrepreneurship. The scheme has been funded for one year with a fixed budget of £2 million. Flat rate start-up grants are available of £250-£500. If you want to start a childcare business visit www.childcarebusinessgrants.dcms.gov.uk.

£500 Childcare Business Grants Scheme

Sign up to our new regular Hart for Business e-bulletin. email

business@hart.gov.uk and stay up to date with all the local business

news, advice and events.

Fredericks Foundation Loans The Fredericks Foundation will consider clients for a loan and business support if they can demonstrate that they have made a genuine application for funds to their bank or a mainstream lender and have been turned down. The business can be at any stage including start-up, needing capital to expand, or funds to bridge a gap. The client could be a sole trader, in a partnership or have a limited company. The maximum loan for start-up businesses is £10,000, though the average loan is less than £5,000. For established businesses with a financial track record the maximum loan is £20,000. Loans are not available to support training. www.fredericksfoundation.org/south-east

£1500 Apprenticeship Grant for employers

Creative england, the national agency that supports the film, TV, games and digital media industries, is looking for companies who have new and innovative ideas for ways to help the film sector to grow and develop outside London. The fund offers companies the opportunity to work with Creative England on original projects related to the film industry. These could support a wide range of areas from development, production and distribution to business growth, innovation, and inward investment. Grants of between £10,000 and

Innovations and Partnerships Film Fund Grants

£50,000 per project are available. Applications can be made at any time. www.creativeengland.co.uk/index.php/portfolio/film/#innovations

The Carbon Trust provides specialist support to business and the public sector to help cut carbon emissions. The Fast Track Programme, which brings together the Carbon Trusts Applied Research Programme and its Business Incubation schemes aims to support the most commercially viable and innovative carbon saving technologies. under this programme, the Carbon Trust will offer a customised

Carbon Trust entrepreneur Fast Track Grants

package of support to companies and organisations that may include research and development grants up to £500,000, expert commercialisation advice (up to a value of £70,000), investor and business network opportunities. Applications to the programme can be made at any time. www.carbontrust.co.uk/emerging-technologies

eligible employers can claim the grant for up to ten apprentices. www.apprenticeships.org.uk/employers/steps-to-make-it-happen/incentive

The Materials Science Venture Prize is an annual competition provided by the Worshipful Company of Armourers and Brasiers. The aim of the programme is to reward and celebrate the best in the field of materials science. The contest will offer a £25,000 first prize to help the winning entrant commercialise and exploit innovative early-

£25k Materials Science Venture competition

stage research. The competition is open to all uK-based materials scientists, whether they are linked to a major university department or private business. Interested scientists are asked to submit an entry form and a business plan outlining their idea. The competition deadline is 15 March 2014. www.armourershall.co.uk/venture-prize

enter the Dragon’s Den If you’ve got a great business idea to put to the Den’s venture capitalists, applications are now open. The TV show sees entrepreneurs and inventors from around the country pitch investment ready ideas to some of the uK’s top business leaders. Whether you are operating a successful business and want to take it to the next level, a small start-up operation with big dreams, or if you have a lucrative business idea but are looking for the ideal partner to take you in the right direction, then it’s time to enter the Den. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006vq92/features/dd-apply

£2275 Youth unemployment Wage Incentive Until April 2015 employers are able to take advantage of 160,000 wage incentives. These are worth up to £2,275 each where they employ an eligible 18 to 24 year old through Jobcentre Plus or from the Work Programme. In addition, a wage incentive scheme is available to employers who recruit a young disabled person from Work Choice – a specialist disability employment programme that provides tailored support to help disabled people who have the most complex support needs. Contact Jobcentre Plus for further information, advice on the eligibility conditions and support to identify the right person via https://www.gov.uk/contact-jobcentre-plus

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Business Opportunities & Support

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES & SUPPORT

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Calling inspiring business volunteersfor young people!First Partnership EBP works in partnership with business, schools, colleges and the wider community in North and east Hampshire. They broker relationships and facilitate learning programmes that help young people to develop their employment skills and understanding about the workplace – and they need you!

The education Business Partnership’s aim is to work with schools to deliver effective activities that give young people the tools they need in today’s global economy. By working with businesses, they are able to offer activities that develop the students’ awareness of the world of work, develop the skills they’ll need and raise aspirations.

Businesses play an important part in the development of our young people and

contribute greatly to their future success. Many local businesses volunteer their expertise during school based activities, which are inspiring, fun and practical. It’s not all one way though - businesses benefit from supporting young people through employee development, attracting young people from different backgrounds and being viewed more favourably by clients through community engagement. And inspiring the next generation can be extremely rewarding!

Contact First Partnership about the different ways you and your business can get involved. www.firstpartnershipebp.co.uk/employers.aspx

Free one-to-one business advice enterprise First has been providing free impartial advice, information and support to start-ups, new and existing businesses since 1981. They offer a range of free support including free confidential advice sessions with experienced business mentors for eligible businesses. An advisor is available to meet on Fridays in Fleet at the Hart District Council Offices. Enterprise First also run practical workshops in book-keeping, marketing and getting ready for business, which are a snip at just £35 and held in Farnborough and Aldershot. www.enterprisefirst.co.uk

Traineeshipopportunities at Basingstoke College of Technology BCoT is offering learners the opportunity to work directly with your business on a flexible work placement to suit your company, at no cost. BCoT the college can offer you someone who is interested in your sector and who is willing to gain as much experience of the world of work as possible. www.bcot.ac.uk/courses/traineeships

Growth acceleratorGrowthAccelerator exclusively targets high growth businesses who want to enter their next growth phase and have the potential and determination to get there. Working with an experienced coach, qualifying businesses receive a focused growth plan, masterclasses,

networking and peer to peer support from a high growth community. SMes can also benefit from developing their leadership and management capability. www.growthaccelerator.com

Business is GReATFor the past 18 months, Business in You has been helping entrepreneurs to start and run their businesses. Nearly 20,000 companies have signed up to receive the monthly newsletters and over half a million unique visitors have come to the website. But now, as part of a move to make it simpler and easier for small businesses to access help, Business in You is joining the GReAT Britain campaign. Website content has been revised to cover a wider range of information for businesses at all stages of growth at www.greatbusiness.gov.uk.

Mentors needed for new entrepreneurs and growing businesses WSX enterprise, part of Hampshire Business Alliance, need more business mentors to meet start up and established businesses who either require general business advice, or specialist knowledge. Mentoring significantly helps businesses to survive and grow and WSX enterprise need to expand their mentoring team. The work is voluntary but expenses are met. Mentoring gives you an opportunity to give back something of what you have learnt during your own career. It also keeps your knowledge current and broadens your network. If you would like to know more please contact sue.gray@wsxententerprise.co.uk.

Free fire safety trainingHampshire Fire and Rescue Service run free workshops to help businesses comply with current fire safety law. The workshops cover the business’s legal and moral obligations in the workplace, how this legislation affects you, what you need to do, what to expect if a fire safety inspector comes to visit you, common shortfalls experienced during an inspection, any issues you may have relevant to your situation, protecting your business and staff to ensure business continuity and access to Fire Safety Officer advice during the workshop.

On 1 October 2006 a new piece of legislation was introduced into the uK to help safeguard all workplace premises from fire. This fire safety law is called the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. It replaces numerous other pieces of legislation and means now

you have one set of rules to comply with, regarding fire safety. Many employers across the county still do not fully understand their responsibilities where failure to comply can lead to hefty fines and/or a two year prison sentence.

Workshops are run at a wide range of venues across the county and are regularly scheduled in Basingstoke, but may be able to be held in Hart depending on demand. Please visit www.hantsfire.gov.uk/businesscourses.htm for more information.

Free NHS stop smoking service for your staff Smoking is the biggest cause of preventable illness and death in the uK, responsible for over 100,000 deaths each year from smok-ing-related diseases. 50% of smokers die before they reach retirement age and surveys suggest that the cost to a business of em-ploying ONE smoker can be over £1500 per year due to increased sick leave and smoking breaks. The good news is that 3 out of 4 smok-ers want to quit. However, many try to stop on their own and fail, often because they lack support and use over-the-counter medication ineffectively. Businesses now have the opportunity to offer their staff workplace based stop smoking sup-port at no charge. These sessions are popular, successful and run by trained NHS profes-sionals with medication supplied. Quit4Life, your local NHS Stop Smoking Service will help with administration and promotion to set up the sessions, hold around 8 one-hour sessions on-site at times flexible to your needs and provide effective medication as appropriate. For more information email quit4life@nhs.net or call 0845 602 4663 or visit www.quit4life.nhs.uk

The Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) is funded by BIS (Government Department for Business, Innovation and Skills) and they provide manufacturing business support for companies based in england, helping them to improve and grow. MAS is designed to help you, the manufacturer, streamline your processes, reduce waste, become more energy efficient and generally improve and grow your business.

Regardless of the size of your business, experienced and highly skilled advisors can help you. They will work with you and your workforce to ensure that your business is

What is the Manufacturing Advisory Service?

run in the best way possible and if you’re a small or medium sized manufacturer in england, many of the services are free and supplemented by appropriate grant funding.

MAS has been a huge success since its launch in 2002. Working with thousands of companies it now plays a vital role in helping manufacturers in England to share knowledge, improve productivity and achieve success in an increasing competitive global economy. If you’re a manufacturing SMe based in england, you’re able to sign-up for a free review of your business today by visiting www.mymas.org/contact. Find out more at www.mymas.org

Ready forbusiness programme Ready for Business is a new enterprise start-up programme that aims to create 6,000 new businesses and up to 10,000 jobs across England, specifically targeting the transfer of public sector employment to the private sector. The programme offers new start-ups a preparation plan for success via expert support, advice and training. Start up and pre start-up businesses in england can apply. Applicants get an introductory free Barclays Get Ready for Business seminar, followed by an in depth assessment process, one-to-one advice, guidance and on-going mentoring. The programme also includes a business planning phase, access to finance support and early stage growth aspiration building. Applications can be submitted at any time. www.startupedge.co.uk

Join the LocalInternational Trade Forum Following its successful networking events last year, which focused on approaching new markets and on identifying and evaluating potential partners in those markets, our local International Trade Forum will be running events in 2014 which concentrate on the practical side of exporting and questions raised by local companies. Details are being finalised and will be sent to businesses on their database. If you would like your business to be added to the ITF’s circulation list, please e-mail your contact details (name, company name and e-mail address) to info@eiscltd.eu with ‘ITF info’ in the heading.

Want to know yourcarbon footprint? Micro-businesses can now download a free report of their self-assessed Carbon Footprint results. The on-line Business Carbon Footprint calculator for micro-businesses is used by over 20,000 users every year to self-assess their green-house gas emissions. As uK businesses move forward to make carbon reporting part of normal annual reporting, this provides even the smallest of organisations with the opportunity to take their first steps in carbon management. To use the tool visit www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator1.html

Are you a Chamber member? Hampshire Chamber of Commerce represents businesses of all sizes and sectors from

across the County of Hampshire and beyond, delivering the very best products and services, business

information and advice, to help your business to grow and prosper. In North Hampshire, the Chamber runs a variety of regular business events including free ‘Meet the Chamber’ sessions. www.hampshirechamber.co.uk

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) is a uK-wide programme that helps businesses and organisations improve their competitiveness and/or productivity through the use of the knowledge, technology and skills that reside within universities.

KTP is a business support product run by the Technology Strategy Board, a non-departmental public body. Knowledge Transfer Partnerships involve a partnership between an organisation (a company, local authority, NHS Trust, charity, etc), and the university, enabling the partner organisation to access and embed skills and expertise.

To help facilitate this, a graduate or postgraduate, known as the KTP Associate, is appointed to work at the business location, supported by the academic. each KTP project lasts between 12 and 36 months, depending upon the time required to deliver real outcomes. Projects need to develop new capabilities within the company and are often based on the development and implementation of new products, processes and systems.

Outputs vary between projects but the latest reports from the Technology Strategy Board show that on average the company benefits

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES & SUPPORT

A Work Trial is a way of trying out a potential employee before offering them a job. Once agreed with Jobcentre Plus, you can offer a work trial if the job is for 16 hours or more a week and lasts at least 13 weeks. The work trial can last up to 30 days. The scheme is risk free - you can try the person out before making a final decision. The person is

Procurement The South east Business Portal This procurement portal shares information about existing contracts and forthcoming tendering opportunities across the 74 councils and 9 fire & rescue services of the south east region. The councils collectively spend between £4bn and £4.5bn each year on bought in goods and services. You are free to browse and use the information without registering or logging-in to the Portal. www.businessportal.southeastiep.gov.uk

Fleet Food Festival launched in 2014 Fleet’s first food festival is currently being planned back at the new committee’s HQ. If you run a food business, would like to volunteer as a speaker or demonstrator, are interested in sponsoring the event or would like to get involved on the day, please get in touch with sue.tilley@fleet-tc.gov.uk

Want to collaborate with universities?

which can be expected from a single KTP project are an increase of over £220,000 in annual profits before tax, the creation of three genuine new jobs and an increase in skills of existing staff.

Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) receive a grant worth approximately 67% of the programme value. Large companies receive a grant worth approximately 50% of the programme value. In both cases the company’s contributions may be eligible for R&D tax relief.

For more information on KTPs, go to www.ktponline.org.uk, where you can also search for participating universities.

If your company is interested in working with a university, the SeTsquared partnership is a collaboration between the universities of Bath, Bristol, exeter, Southampton and Surrey. They partner in enterprise activities and collectively support the growth and success of new business opportunities through spin-outs, licensing and incubation. The Partnership also works with industry through research collaboration and consultancy. For more information about the types of projects, visit www.setsquared.co.uk

Struggling to recruit? Try a work trialcommitted because they’re volunteering to do it and there are no wage costs - people continue to get their benefits. Perhaps best of all, there’s very little paperwork and it’s fuss-free. Contact your local Jobcentre Plus to find out more at https://www.gov.uk/contact-jobcentre-plus

TwitterA Tweet is a powerful tool. Every week billions of Tweets flow through Twitter about every imaginable subject. A wide variety of people, organizations, businesses — big and small, local and international — all use Twitter to make their presence known. A free guide is available to help small business owners understand how to use Twitter better. Twitter can help your

Free small business guide to Twittercompany connect with customers, amplify your message, and ultimately, grow your business.

For further information go tohttps://g.twimg.com/business/pdfs/Twitter_Smallbiz_Guide.pdf

As Managing Director of KMS Marketing based in Hook, Kara Stanford has over 15 years of experience in marketing. Kara and her team provide valuable marketing and PR services to businesses that don’t want the overheads of an employed team but want the flexibility of different marketing and PR roles. KMS Marketing has a blog full of marketing tips and tricks and in this issue we invited them to share their secrets about Twitter… We often meet companies who have a Twitter account, LinkedIn company page, and Facebook page with not much on them. When we gently challenge them, they often reply, ‘But we’ve nothing to say!’ So here are KMS’s top tips for businesses to generate excellent social media content…

What’s happening in your business?Have you won a big contract recently? Successfully completed a client project? Attending an event or presenting at a show? Tell us about it! ‘Our MD is presenting at the Portsmouth Business expo. For more info visit @Portsmouthexpo’ …and by mentioning another organisation, they should share your update with their followers, spreading your company’s name even further (in the case of @Portsmouthexpo, to over 1,100 followers, most of whom are businesses in Hampshire).

What are your staff up to?Pete just got a letter of thanks from a customer? Share it! Darcy raised £200 for a local charity? Tell people! Not only are you sharing some of your company’s personal moments but you are publicly praising your team-members, which is great for morale.

What have your customers been doing?Did someone visit your restaurant for a special meal and take a photo of it? Ask if you can post it on your company’s Facebook page. Received a compliment? Tweet it!

Got nothing to tweet about?think again!

What’s happening in your market-place?Was there an item on the news that affects your customers? Mention it, bringing it to their attention, then add your own message about it: ‘Did you know that car-parks across Hart are going to be free this Sunday? use the opportunity to come and browse in our shop on Fleet High Street, without worrying about getting back before your ticket runs out.’ This approach sets your business up as being a useful source of information. In turn, this creates the impression of you being a business who knows what they are talking about - a good reputation to have in any business setting.

We all love a good statisticFound a stat that’s relevant to your business? Use it as a hook: ‘20% of working time is wasted waiting for PCs to start-up, unfreeze and reload. Our business technology package reduces this, saving your business time, money and stress.’

Share other people’s contentSeen a great article on LinkedIn that you think other businesses will benefit from reading? Then share it and say what you think people will gain from it: ‘Read this useful article on how to write a great marketing plan’. Again, you are positioning yourself as useful, interesting, and a company who knows what they are talking about? Or, if you are short on time, just retweet and like. It’s a quick way to say, ‘I’m reading, I’m engaging and I’m sharing.’Once you start looking at your business, its staff, clients and marketplace in this way, you will never be short of useful, interesting material which will raise your company’s profile and reputation.

For more useful articles and blogs on how to use marketing successfully in your business, please visit www.kmsmarketing.co.uk and for more information on KMS Marketing’s services, please email info@kmsmarketing.co.uk.

Twitter Facts

How to decide who to follow

69%47%44%31%

Suggested by Friends

Online Search

Suggested by Twitter

Promotions

Watching twitter grow11 Twitter accounts created every second

There are over 465 million accounts

175 million tweets a day

1 million accounts are added to Twitter everyday

How do you access it?

Twitter Client

Mobile Application

Twitter.com (web)64%

10%

16%64%

What makes you retweet?

Interesting Content

Personal Connection

Humour

92%

84%66%

32%

26%21%

Incentive

Retweet Requests

Celebrity Status

Do you have an IT project?The university of Portsmouth’s school of computing is looking for clients who have IT development projects suitable for MSc students to carry about between May and September. The School of Computing is looking for clients who have project ideas suitable for MSc students.

If you have a problem that could be solved by IT development work, carried out between May and September this year, they would

Opportunitiesbe interested to hear from you. In the past, students have completed work for several departments, and contributed to many aspects of teaching, research and administration.

Students are expected to choose their projects by mid-March. So if you would like to attract the best students, please submit ideas as soon as possible. For more details please see: www.pums.cam.port.ac.uk/projects/ideas/2014 or email Dr Bryan Carpenter Bryan.Carpenter@port.ac.uk

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eCOLIGHT

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Feel the Google LoveGeoff Roy is a Search engine Optimisation specialist based in Fleet and helps local businesses to make more money from their online presence through his company Leapfrog Internet Marketing. Here, Geoff shares some practical top tips to ensure you and your website get the most from the Google search engine…

Who doesn’t get frustrated with Google? You’ve followed all the guidelines, written some posts on your blog, yet you just don’t seem to show up in Google’s search results. So what’s stopping your website getting some Google love?

Here are 3 common errors I find on websites. Fixing them will significantly increase the chances of your website getting ranked on Google searches…

1. Add an XML SitemapA sitemap lists all of your webpages or posts in an easy list and an XML Sitemap gives Google a list of all the pages on your website that you want to be ranked in its searches. Google

recommends you have an XML rather than an HTML version - and without it, there are no guarantees that Google will find all of your webpages. You can find out more at www.leapfrogim.co.uk/map which tells you how to create an XML version and how to find out if you already have one.

2. www RedirectA www.redirect makes sure that www.leapfrogim.co.uk redirects to http://leapfrogim.co.uk. Or vice versa. If not, Google thinks 1 page is 2 pages – the www and non-www version of the same page. And Google doesn’t like duplicate content, even on the same website. All you need is a little bit of extra code.

3. robots.txtThe robots.txt file is the first thing that Google looks for on your website. The file will let you specify which pages Google search can or cannot access. By adding the file, you help Google to find the content you want it to find and Google might return the favour and rank

those pages on their searches. Read more about adding a robots.txt file here: www.leapfrogim.co.uk/robots

If you want to easily check if your website has these 3 things in place, you can use a free tool like www.woorank.com Taking these steps will let Google love your website that little bit more.

If you want a website that works better for you, Geoff offers free website audits for businesses. Contact Geoff at geoff@leapfrogim.co.uk. 07771 778850. www.leapfrogim.co.uk

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Win An Award 2014NATIONAL STARTUPS AWARdS Get your start-up company noticed! After celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2013, the Startups Awards scheme is now in its 11th year and they are on the hunt for the best of British businesses. To be eligible to enter all companies must have started to trade no earlier than 1 August 2011 and no later than 31 July 2014, be independently owned and uK based. You can register your interest now and entries open 15th July 2014. Deadline for entries 27th September 2014. Register at www.startups.co.uk/startups-awards.

THE dIGITAL AWARdS Are you breaking the rules? Changing the game? Generally being brilliant? Then you may be one of the trailblazers who are evolving, transforming and innovating brands within the digital space. This is your opportunity for global recognition. The awards are open for entry from June 2014 and you can register your interest to receive a notification via www.thedigitalsawards.com/enter.

NATWEST EvERYWOMAN AWARdS The NatWest everywoman Awards have raised the profile of hundreds of women of all ages across every imaginable sector, demonstrating the impact of female owned enterprises, which contribute a staggering £130 billion to the UK economy each year. The achievements of previous winners and finalists, who have often successfully overcome obstacles to achieve their success, have played a huge role in encouraging other women to start and grow a business. Nominations open in early April 2014. Find out more here www.everywoman.com/ewawards.

IT SERvICE & SUPPORT AWARdS The IT Service & Support Awards are now in their 19th year and are the most coveted awards in the IT service and support management industry. They recognise, promote and acclaim excellence, professionalism and innovation, and celebrate the

outstanding achievements of both individuals and teams for the contribution they make. Awards carry cash prizes and there are three categories. For more information visit www.servicedeskinstitute.com/events/it-service-excellence-awards

INSPIRE BUSINESS AWARdS The Inspire Business Awards celebrate the success of local businesses in north Hampshire. The awards are open to businesses in the Hart district and will ensure leading local businesses (both large and small) gain the recognition they deserve for themselves and for the dedication and commitment of their staff. Inspire 14 will showcase regional businesses and will centre around an outstanding awards ceremony to promote the continued success of the region’s businesses and growth of the local economy. Applications open later in the year. www.inspirebusinessawards.co.uk

HART FOR BuSINeSS

How much does your lighting cost?Local business ecolight are an energy Management Solutions company based in Fleet. They specialise in providing efficient lighting solutions. Here they explain the benefits of improving your workplace energy efficiency and give you some quick tips for reducing your energy consumption...

Did you know that up to 40% of a building’s electricity use is accounted for by lighting, while the right level and quality of light improves the alertness and accuracy of those working in it? This means that significant cost savings can be achieved with energy-efficiency improvements, and due to continually improving equipment, lighting usually provides the highest return-on-investment of major upgrades.

existing lighting systems are often old and out of date, and in some cases fail to meet the Health and Safety executive standards for lighting in the workplace. Old lighting systems are often expensive to run and maintain. exciting new technologies enable businesses to have a huge range of more efficient lighting options which are great for employee wellbeing and your carbon footprint - and with an average of 70% reduction in energy consumption through improved lighting, essentially - your bottom line!

Recent client, edge Hill university, approached ecolight to improve the energy consumption and maintenance costs in their 3 story purpose built library. By overhauling the lighting systems, the university saved £14,232 and more than halved their energy consumption in the first 9 months.

Here’s are tips for some quick wins

Flick the switch - turn off lights if you are away from a room for more than ten minutes. No work, no light. Ensure your employees turn off all lights after business hours and on weekends.

For more information visit: www.ecolight-ltd.com

Only use necessary light - it may be best to utilise a lamp (with compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) that provides you with the light you require, rather than turning on a light system that illuminates entire areas).

Turn off display lights after hours - remember to turn off your show room or display lighting after hours. Leaving lights on overnight, simply adds to your electricity bill.

Dust your lights - believe it or not, up to 50% of light reduction on fixtures and lamps can be caused by dust. establish a cleaning schedule of lights to ensure that all lights operate at an optimum level.

Optimise available light - ensure all light coloured surfaces are regularly cleaned and paint dark walls and ceilings with lighter colours to reflect and maximise available light.

6 Make the switch from incandescent to compact fluorescent light (CFL) globes - a typical CFL uses around 75-80% less electricity and lasts between eight and fifteen times.

7 Take advantage of natural light - remove objects that are blocking windows to ensure you maximise optimal lighting. Why not open the blinds and curtains and let the sunlight shine?

8 Let there be light - uncovering an old skylight can provide your workplace with natural light and if installed properly, an energy-efficient skylight can help minimise your heating and cooling too.

9 exchange exit sign lighting - replace incandescent exit lighting with light emitting diode (LED) lamps. LED models use approximately 70% less energy than conventional units and can provide significant energy and cost savings.

If you run a business or are an academic brimming with innovative ideas you can now take advantage of Horizon 2020 - the largest ever eu Research and Innovation funding programme with an available budget of €79bn, launched in the UK today. Open to everyone, with a simpler structure than previous programmes, Horizon 2020 aims to ensure europe produces world-class science, removes barriers to innovation and makes it easier for the public and private sectors to

Horizon 2020 launched in the uKwork together in delivering innovation. Thanks to its healthy budget Horizon 2020 offers uK businesses and researchers important opportunities to find finance, networks and partnerships for innovation. The programme has a particular focus on small businesses, with 20% of the programme’s budget allocated for SMes. www.h2020uk.org.

National Business NewsMedium sized businesses are economy’s real heroesNew research from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) shows that the medium-sized businesses are the unsung heroes of the uK economy. Business group the CBI has new research to show that, whilst they may not be household names, the uK’s medium-sized businesses (MSBs) are the ones that have done a lot of the “heavy lifting” during the economic recovery.

employing between 50 and 499 people, medium-sized firms have contributed significantly to job creation and growth across the united Kingdom.

The data from the CBI shows that between March 2010 and March 2013, the uK’s MSBs created 185,000 jobs, a 4.1% increase and better than smaller firms (1-49 employees) with a 2.8% increase and the biggest companies only increasing jobs by 1.9%

Whilst they only make up just 1.8% of the UK private sector, the nation’s medium-sized firms

employ 4.7 million people which is 16% of the UK’s total workforce.

Turnover for the country’s unsung heroes equates to between £10 million and £100 million per firm meaning that MSBs have contributed over £300 billion gross added value to the uK economy. This equates to 23% of total private sector revenue.

As well as contributing to the economy, the nation’s medium-sized businesses are particularly upbeat about the next 12 months with 82% of firms expecting the economic outlook to improve whilst 88% anticipate their own business growth.

The CBI’s full findings can be seen in their local champions campaign pages, and in their report Future Champions - Unlocking growth in the uK’s medium-sized businesses. www.cbi.org.uk/campaigns/future-champions/local-champions

energy Conservation Grant Schemes Ngage Solutions have announced two new grant schemes which support energy conservation, and will help qualifying organisations in the South east of england save and even make money. Low Carbon Workspaces is match funded grant, worth up to £5,000 and is aimed at SMEs who own or rent their premises on a long lease.

For more information visit www.lowcarbonworkspaces.co.uk Grants for eco Innovation is offering grants of up to £3,000 to help businesses who already have an environmentally friendly product or service and need help getting it to market. For more information visit www.grantsforecoinnovation.co.uk

Many SMes not ready for auto enrolment pensionsThe latest research shows a worrying number of uK SMes are still not ready for the onset of auto enrolment pensions. With the law changing a few years ago, employers are now required to automatically enrol their employees in a workplace pension scheme if they meet three simple criteria: Workers must work in the UK, earn more than £9,440 a year and be aged between 22 and the state pension age.

understanding the size of different businesses, staging dates have been introduced where businesses of particular sizes are required to comply with the new law.

The first staging date was the 1st February 2014 for firms with between 249 and 349 employees. Small and Medium-sized

Enterprises (SMEs), usually considered to have between 1 and 249 employees, will start to be affected from the 1st April 2014.

Concern from the pension advisory industry is that not enough small and medium-sized firms are either aware or even prepared for the onset of auto enrolment pensions and they are expecting what has been called a “tsunami” of businesses suddenly seeking guidance.

The Pensions Regulator offers guidance on workplace pensions including tools for employers to work out their staging date from their P35 and advice on creating an auto enrolment plan for employees. www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) and NeST (National employment Savings Trust) have also created a business guide to auto-enrolment, designed to help employers plan for legal changes to workplace pensions. To download the guide, go to http://www.hampshirechamber.co.uk/information_advice

South east most valuable region in uK for business dealsThe South east has topped the charts for the value of business deals being done, new research shows. According to experian Corpfin’s latest report, £105,445 million worth of deals took place in the region in 2013, the highest value in the uK by far. The closest competitor was greater London, where £79,078m worth of deals was done.

It’s positive news for the South east’s economy and yet another sign of the continuing economic recovery, according to financial experts at Grant Thornton’s Southampton office.

Partner Norman Armstrong said: “The increase in deal volumes we’re experiencing across most of our sectors is further evidence that the nascent recovery in the uK is more broad-

based than previously thought. Mid-market companies are continuing to drive this growth and remain attractive targets for mergers and acquisitions – especially for those companies looking for a safe and accessible entry point to europe.”

The fact that the South east has had the highest value of deals comes not long after it was revealed that the region is one of the most positive in the uK when it comes to business optimism. The latest ICAEW/Grant Thornton UK Business Confidence Monitor (BCM) found that business confidence in the region has been on an upward trend over the past year and now stands at +35.9, well above the UK national average of +31.7.

Survey reveals low awareness of tax incentives among SMesA recent survey has revealed there is low awareness and usage of tax incentives for research and development among small and medium-sized businesses which could be hampering their prospects for growth. The survey showed that only 15 per cent of the 750 SMEs surveyed knew about research and development tax credits, despite the Government launching the scheme nearly 14 years ago.

Other tax incentive schemes also appeared to have a low profile, with only eight per cent knowing about the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) and four per cent aware of the Patent Box.

Research and Development tax credits were first introduced in 2000-2001 to encourage greater R&D investment. Since then, the available tax breaks have become more generous and HMRC has expanded the way it interprets and applies the rules in order to provide greater stimulus for innovation in the economy.

The latest figures from HMRC show that most of the R&D tax relief claimed in 2011-12 was by large companies (£780m) rather than SMEs (£420m). According to the survey, only one tax incentive – Capital Allowances – was recognised by more than half of respondents surveyed. For more information visit www.gov.uk/research-development-tax-credit-smes

Tech|start coming soon…First Wessex, Rushmoor Borough Council, Rushmoor Schools Plus and Future Workforce have joined forces to create Tech|start, a new not for profit enterprise, specifically set up to help the local community get online. Tech|start will help those who can’t afford to purchase equipment at typical high street prices and offer advice and training into the bargain.

As well as computer sales and repairs, Tech|start will also act as a one stop digital shop for employment and training advice. In partnership with Samuel Cody Specialist Sports College, they will be offering a range of

free courses to help people develop new skills and return to work.

In order to help people get online and live in this digital age, Tech|start is relying on donations of equipment from local businesses and educational establishments. The project has already been supported and received around 250 computers from CSC, Farnborough Sixth Form College, Newport Junior School, Farnborough Tech College and Marks and Spencers. Donations could be a one off or a regular arrangement.

If you are planning to renew or upgrade your IT equipment in the next year or two, Tech|start would love to hear from you and discuss the possibility of your organisation donating some computers or laptops to a great social cause. In return for any donations received, your organisation’s details will be added to the website and list of supporters and mentioned in any press and publicity. For more information about Tech|start or to find out how you or your organisation can support us, please contact Mark Loudon on 07590 470007 www.techstart.org.uk

Hampshire Chamber of Commerce appoints new CeOThe board of Hampshire Chamber of Commerce has appointed Stewart Dunn to the position of CeO with effect from February 2014. This follows the announcement earlier this year that current CeO Jimmy Chestnutt was stepping down to take retirement after being in position for nine years.

Dunn is currently managing director of Carswell Gould, an award-winning integrated marketing communications agency in Southampton. His previous roles in the newspaper industry included managing director of Newsquest Hampshire where he was responsible for the publishing of the award-winning Southern Daily echo and Hampshire Chronicle as well as the development of digital publishing.

He commented: “I am really looking forward to taking up my appointment as CEO at this very exciting time for the organisation as government recognises, through the Heseltine report, that the Chamber is the first choice for helping to deliver business growth for the region.”

Outgoing former CeO Jimmy Chestnutt said: “I fully support this appointment. Stewart will bring a wealth of business and media experience to the Chamber which will be invaluable in supporting the Chamber’s initiatives for business growth in the months ahead.”

Dunn is well known to the Chamber having been a former president of Southampton and Fareham and a director of Hampshire Chamber. He was awarded an honorary doctorate in 2011 by Southampton Solent university for his contribution to the media industry. www.hampshirechamber.co.uk

NATIONAL BuSINeSS NeWS

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Hampshire broadband rollout: phase oneCommercial investment across Hampshire will see 80% of properties given access to superfast broadband services. Hampshire County Council has awarded a contract to BT Openreach to extend this coverage to 90% of properties by the end of 2015. The County Council understands how important access to better broadband is for residents in rural areas, and they are working on plans to extend coverage to at least 95% of premises by the end of 2017.

Two maps are available. The first map ‘The Big Picture’ shows a high level view, or forecast, of the 90% coverage area by the end of 2015. Detailed maps will be published for each phase as they enter deployment. Delivery will be broken down into 7 phases and we will

publish details for each phase as they become available. The ‘Phase One’ map shows the Hampshire Superfast Broadband Programme due to be completed by the end of March 2014 and will enable 6,000 premises to have access to superfast broadband services. Work began in October 2013 and the first customers will be able to ‘switch on’ to superfast broadband services from January 2014. To see the maps visit http://www3.hants.gov.uk/broadband-maps

GeNeRAL BuSINeSS NeWS

Quarter of SMes to make sustainability a top priority in 2014One in four small businesses in the uK plan to make sustainable business practices a priority in 2014, according to a survey by Lloyds Commercial Banking. The survey also reveals a third of small businesses expect to increase investment in sustainable business practices over the next five years. It was carried out by Gusto Research on behalf of Lloyds Bank and drew on responses from more than 1000 small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with a turnover of up to £25 million.

The findings suggest 2014 could be a turning point for sustainability in the SMe sector as small businesses begin to recognise the value of green businesses practices in growing their business. The report found that over half (54 per cent) believe business sustainability helps reduce their costs and just under a third (30 per cent) believe it increases their profitability.

If you’d like to know more about sustainable business, you can join the North Hampshire Sustainable Business Network for free. Email jennifer.atherton@hart.gov.uk to find out more.

New eu LeADeR grants to boost rural economy - coming soon!Over the last 5 years the european strand of rural funding known as LEADER has provided many businesses, farmers, forest managers/owners and communities with a number of grants ranging from £1,000 to £50,000. In north Hampshire, projects have been diverse, funding anything from a milk pasteuriser to a marketing plan for a maize maze. Several projects have been funded across the Hart District and the council is keen to see more investment through the programme.

LeADeR is now preparing for the next round of grants and they need your input. This is your chance to help shape the next programme and open up new opportunities for funding. What they learn from this survey will provide

the core details for the next strategy and lead the funding guidelines.

To be eligible for a grant, your business should either be located in a rural area, or if not, have a beneficial effect on the areas rural economy and/or community. This could be directly such as creating job opportunities and providing goods/services for locals, or indirectly such as using local suppliers and rural facilities/services.

Help us to help you! Please take the LEADER online survey now and influence how and where the new grants will be allocated in the north of Hampshire. The survey is open online until the end March 2014. The survey will also be used as a means of finding out if you are interested in applying for a grant in the next round.

Please visit www.survey.hants.gov.uk/leaderproject.htm to take the survey.

For more information contact the LeADeR Programme Manager for north Hampshire, emily Preston on 01962 845560 or email emily.preston@hants.gov.uk.

LEADER is also looking for new members for the North Hampshire LeADeR Action Group. If you are interested in getting involved in helping to shape the rural economy of North Hampshire and think you could spare a few days a year, please contact emily.

LeADeR case study - Nextdoor Bistro, Odiham‘Nextdoor’ is a popular bistro on Odiham High Street. Formerly part of The George Hotel, the owners faced closure due to a lease ending with the adjacent premises and had an idea – a new bistro in the thriving local community.

After hearing about the LeADeR grants and a successful application, the funding enabled them to refurbish and separate the freehold part of the building, providing a means to continue to trade but under a new name, rebranding as a restaurant and bar. The grant paid for a brand new kitchen, equipment and

installation, enabling the new bistro to cook food on the premises.

Since its launch in October 2012, the bar has gone from strength to strength, it has provided an informal meeting place within Odiham for locals and has become quite a hub within the community. Rachel, owner of the business tells us how successful the project has been, “Our customers have given us fantastic feedback, they love the buzz and atmosphere of the restaurant. We are also now attracting people popping in for a lunch meeting as the place

offers an informal setting with a variety of food choices. Our business has thrived and without the grant it would have been difficult for us to take on this new challenge”.

If you’d like to know more about the next round of funding, contact emily Preston via emily.preston@hants.gov.uk and don’t forget to complete the survey to influence how and where the money will be spent.

Local Business NewsCongratulations to Tylney HallRotherwick’s Tylney Hall Hotel and its Oak Room Restaurant, have both been awarded Tripadvisor’s Certificate of Excellence. The Certificate of Excellence is awarded to businesses that rank in the top 10 per cent worldwide for traveller feedback. General manager Mark Ashton, at Tylney Hall, said: ‘We are delighted to have received this award. It is a reflection of Tylney Hall Hotel’s faultless service and continued dedication to provide our guests with the best hotel and dining experience possible.’ The hotel has also made a splash by recently been chosen by The Telegraph as one of Britain’s best hotels with an outdoor pool.

Staff are also being rewarded for going the extra mile. The hotel runs an employee reward scheme designed to provide instant

recognition for members of staff, helping guests or their own colleagues. each month, a ceremony is held and nominees are rewarded with a Champagne Afternoon Tea. Staff who receive five or 10 nominations can pick up a voucher worth £50 or £100. General manager Mark Robinson said ‘The scheme has proved to be a fantastic initiative to reward, recognise and motivate our staff, who continue to deliver outstanding service in an unrivalled working environment.’

LOCAL BuSINeSS NeWS

Local business stars on screen - twice!Dignity Pet Crematorium, based between Odiham and Winchfield, has recently featured in two TV programmes.

The business appeared in Channel 4’s 4Thought morality series, a programme questioning whether pets deserve funerals. Partner in the business, Kevin Spurgeon, also appeared on Farm Fixer, a BBC programme in Northern Ireland about farms wanting to diversify. Kevin explains ‘The producer wanted me to give the owners of Pets Farewell Crematorium, based near Belfast, the benefit of my experience of running an award winning pet cremation service. Like us they found that many vets don’t offer a more personal service and only offer clients a basic ‘ashes back’ option provided by the weekly firm they contract to. I gave them lots of pointers and suggested they looked at letting owners know they could choose their more local service instead of just leaving their pet at the vet.’

Kevin says ‘Hopefully the programmes will show off all the hard work we’ve put in to try and make both our service and our facilities the best in the country!’

Dignity Pet Crematorium is part of the Trading Standards ‘Buy with Confidence’ scheme and they were recently shortlisted in the final 3 for the Home Business Innovation Category of the Guardian Small Business Showcase competition. The local service started by Barry & Carole Spurgeon in 1992 previously gained national recognition after being named “Best Pet Crematorium” at the Cemetery of the Year Awards and hopes to add to their growing list of accolades.

There are many opportunities for businesses to appear on TV, with specific websites such as www.beonscreen.com as well as the BBC, Channel 4 and ITV listing opportunities on their websites. Why not give it a go?

Raise a glass!The Phoenix Inn in Phoenix Green, Hartley Wintney, has won several awards over the last year including Les Routiers ‘Inn of the Year 2013’, British Roast Dinner Week’s ‘Best Roast Dinner in the uK 2012’ and Tripadvisor’s ‘Certificate of Excellence 2013’. More recently, the pub won acclaim for its array of wines on offer and been named as joint winner of the title ‘Best Wine Pub 2013’ for the South West region in the BT Sport Great British Pub Awards 2013. The awards are organised by leading pub industry magazine, the Publican’s Morning Advertiser. Congratulations!

Andwells Breweryrelaunches the Derby InnHart based business Andwell Brewery are investing, expanding and diversifying – great news for the local area. Andwell Brewing Company owners Adam and Helen Komrower, have expanded the Andwell’s brand to include a pub, having teamed up with Savoy trained chef Brian Ahearn, who runs the Willow Tree in Winchester.

Adam, who initially set up the brewery business with his wife Helen in 2008 at nearby Lodge Farm, in North Warnborough, was not only a patron of the pub but he also supplied it with beer. He’d been looking at pubs for a while. He said: ‘It was the best pub in the area to eat, and it was one of those places that I thought, ‘actually, this is an ideal pub’. It’s a good size, it has a nice outdoor space, and it has a nice-sized bar.’

What a great excuse to book a business meeting, try a local beer and support a local business!

Have you recently secured new contracts? Taken on new staff? Or just have a good news story you would like to share with other local companies through our new regular Hart for Business e-bulletin? Please send them to business@hart.gov.uk.

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There are thousands of talented mothers in North Hampshire with fantastic professional skills and experience who want to work part-time. There are many companies in our local business community who would love to employ experienced professional people but can’t afford (or don’t need) someone on full-time hours. Launched in January, Fleet based Ten2Two work to bring these two groups together, enabling local small and medium businesses to gain huge benefits by finding talented and committed employees living just around the corner at an affordable cost.

Karen Wylie and Louise Boardman-Rule, friends – and now colleagues – have launched at a time when local businesses are playing a vital role in turning the economy around. ‘As we were thinking about returning to work, we started to notice the wealth of talented mothers in the playground every morning and realised this is the same in every school’ says Karen. ‘At the same time we were looking at local companies across the county who are striving to grow and improve. They’re held back because they can’t always afford the best people and are rightly cautious about taking

Drop kids off. Have a career. Pick kids up

on big salary overheads. We aim to fix that problem for them’.

Karen and Louise are aiming to build an unrivalled local community of professional people seeking flexible work, give them the practical support they need when switching to part-time work and personally connect them with local businesses. We’ll also give our local employers hands-on support to take advantage of flexible working”.

For further information contact:Louise Boardman-Rulelouise@ten2two.org tel: 0776 9340475or Karen Wylie karen@2ten2two.org tel: 01252 856862www.ten2two.org

Surface Technology International expandsOn Friday 27th January Surface Technology International (STI) was delighted to host a factory tour for the Rt Hon James Arbuthnot, local Conservative MP for North east Hampshire and Chairman of the Defence Select Committee. In the past few years, the site has recently seen substantial growth, moving from c.21,000sq metres to c.60,000sq metres and now employs over 450 people in the local area. Simon Best, Group Managing Director, is committed to keeping the business local and the opportunity to develop further on the current site has been an important part of the expansion plans.

STI has ambitious revenue growth of more than 15 per cent next year after securing a new £11.5m financing package from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, which will support their growth strategy in the commercial aerospace and defence, medical, oil and gas and industrial sectors. Simon Best, STI’s founder and managing director, said the new funding arrangement gives it the headroom and flexibility to invest and grow its proposition.

Scott Kenward, business development director at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking added: ‘During the challenging economic conditions of the last few years STI’s management team has continued to deliver growth. The new funding will help them to capitalise on new opportunities, particularly in overseas markets. They are typical of the innovative mid-market businesses which are helping to sustain the uK’s economic revival.’

Double joy for Jargon PRJARGON PR, based at eversley Cross, near Hook, has been named as Small Consultancy of the Year in the 2013 Thames and Chiltern Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) PRide Awards. The agency also received a Silver Award for Corporate & Business Communications. Managing director Simon Corbett said: “The awards are a timely reminder of the brilliant work that we do for clients both in the uK and internationally.”

Fleet Business Network launched!Local business women Caroline ellison and emily Graham have recently launched the new Fleet Business Network.

Caroline recognised the need for a specific business directory after facilitating the Fleet Parents Facebook group, which has over 3,000 members. With these members posting every 3 minutes and around 70% of posts requesting business recommendations, Caroline jumped at the chance to develop a new website focussing specifically on businesses with Emily, who runs local web design business SilkiSkills. In its first month, Fleet Business Network had over 4,500 visits and 19,000 page views.

Emily said ‘Facebook is notoriously difficult to search on, requests for recommendations are often missed and many requests are repeated regularly. The Fleet Business Network provides a simple directory of local businesses, categorised by service and rated by recommendations from local people.’

From the start, the two entrepreneurs focussed on a unique business rating system. Rather than ratings based on a company’s own opinion, ratings are based on recommendations from local people and are checked by local people. The 300 businesses who have already signed up are encouraging their clients to submit recommendations and the website is growing fast.

Caroline said ‘It is so important for all businesses to have an online presence. The Fleet Business Network provides a web presence that gets them to the top of search engine results’.

You can visit the Fleet Business Network via www.fleetbusinessnetwork.co.uk

LOCAL BuSINeSS NeWS

Local Town & Village UpdatesBusinesses join forces to celebrate Odiham Village High StreetBusinesses in Odiham have joined forces in a bid to transform the fortunes of the village’s High Street. Taking inspiration from retail guru Mary Portas, the group, called InOdiham, includes some 43 shops and cafes despite only starting at the end of May 2013.

Activities have already started taking place. InOdiham has paid for hanging baskets to be hung from the High Street lamp posts and has introduced a popular market selling vegetables, homemade bread and other delicacies every Friday. It also ran a highly successful Italian market on August Bank Holiday Monday 2013, which featured an Italian car rally. In December,

the group expanded the Odiham extravaganza – the village’s annual Christmas shopping event to thousands of visitors.

Jan Baker, who runs The Frame gallery said ‘I honestly believe that if we had not done this, I would have been out of business. Trade has definitely picked up and already the market is bringing in people and it has made retailers feel better. The enthusiasm from the village has just been outstanding.’

Following on from their activities last year, inOdiham ran an open day in January for local people to give their ideas on the future of the

village. Over 150 people attended and we look forward to seeing the results!

Hart District Council is delighted that the local businesses themselves have initiated this group and have already put in place successful activities to bring new footfall into the village. Hart will be supporting InOdiham over the forthcoming months and we are looking forward to see how the group develops. Join the Facebook group at www.facebook.com/inodiham.

Fleet’s Town Plan is launchedFleet Future launched their Town Plan on 27th November 2013, after the Fleet community embraced the concept of developing a community-led plan for Fleet.

The town plan has come about as a result of enormous energy from volunteers gathering information about the town, analysing facts and trends, preparing recommendations, consulting the community and shaping an action plan to help inform plans for Fleet in the future.

This completed town plan for Fleet is based on all the evidence and results of the community consultation between July to September last year. The Town Plan also includes Fleet Future’s Action Programme

describing how they will move ahead on the recommendations in the report.

17 recommendations were consulted on, covering the economy, transport and community matters. The vision for Fleet, which was supported by over 95% of respondents to the community survey, is to ‘create a bustling, attractive, sustainable, leafy green town which is easy to get about in and has an active community’. With 1335 respondents, the survey gives Fleet Future a clear mandate to secure support to put them into action.

Fleet Future is an independent, apolitical, community led group, formed in early 2013 and made up entirely of volunteers. Initiated

and supported by local Councils, the group has developed an evidence based town plan in partnership with the local community to bring about improvements in the town.

Many exciting recommendations are already being put into action and volunteer action teams are currently being formed. If youwould like to be involved, please email chair@fleetfuture.com for more information. To read the Town Plan please visit www.fleetfuture.com

enterprise M3 – driving prosperity in the M3 corridor Kathy Slack, Director of the enterprise M3 LeP shares an update on their new funds, events and recent activities… enterprise M3 is the Local enterprise Partnership for an area which covers the New Forest through Hampshire up to the M25, including the towns and villages that are served by Hart District Council.

We a business-led partnership that is working with public sector organisations such as Hart District Council and other local partners, including business, to provide the vision, knowledge and strategic leadership needed to drive sustainable private sector growth and job creation in the enterprise M3 area.

We have set out our vision for growth in a Strategic economic Plan and are negotiating with government for substantial funds to improve transport links, housing, skills and business support. This spring enterprise M3 is

launching three exciting projects which will be of interest to Hart businesses.

New investment funds for SMEs At our Annual Conference (see below), enterprise M3 will be launching two new investment funds for SMes in the area. These funds, worth £5.5 million in total, are aimed at SMEs who are looking to grow and need funding in order to do so. The first fund is an equity investment fund aimed at early stage

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SMes and the second will deliver loan funding to innovative businesses that, having proven the concept and clearly established the market

need for a new product, now require funding to scale up the business.

For more information about the funds, email info@enterprisem3.org.uk

For more information, please email events@enterprisem3.org.uk or call

02380 682520. For future events for business go to www.enterprisem3.org.uk/events.

For more details about enterprise M3 Local enterprise Partnership, go to www.enterprisem3.org.uk or follow us @enterprisem3 on Twitter.

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BuSINeSS SPOTLIGHT

From Little Acorns ...Spotlight on local business

Source SuppliesWe recently met Ollie Rastell from Source Supplies at the Inspire Awards and we ourselves were inspired by his story of how Source Supplies have grown their business so successfully and rapidly over the past 7 years. Source Supplies provide cleaning, hygiene and janitorial products to trade, consumers, small businesses and large scale corporate businesses and through their unique and fun company ethos, they now sell right across the country. Ollie shares his story of entrepreneurship with us…

I never thought I’d sell toilet roll for a living, that’s for sure. It wasn’t high on the list (or even on it) of jobs at the careers fair whilst at school. However, a string of P45s throughout my twenties, a few failed attempts at entrepreneurship and several leaps of faith later, Source Supplies is a successful fully functioning business that my business partner, Dave Piper, and I are very proud of.

I was fortunate to join a micro business (one-man-band) in 2010 that already had a small base of customers. The product set didn’t really bother me, what appealed was the challenge of developing a business from an acorn to something that would fill a gap in

a market that I thought (from research) needed an injection of life. This for me is one of the golden rules of starting a business; is there a need?

Of course, there was a risk associated with the decision to leave a salary to turn my hand to something I had no experience in - but then that’s the risk and reward scenario that each entrepreneur is always calculating. Living off savings (and credit cards) was the only option as there wasn’t enough business to pay both myself and Dave. Faced with no option but to make it work (going back to paid employment with my tail between my legs again was not happening!), I cold called businesses within a profitable radius of our storage unit at the same time as rebranding the business to stand out from the crowd.

The rebranding helped with the success of the cold calling. Not being afraid to be different enabled us to get the attention of our prospects and that is another pillar of business that I stand by; try to be different to every other business in your sector.

In the early days, we often sold on price just to pick up business. It’s a trap lots of fledgling businesses fall into because it’s an easy win. However, this model quickly evolved when we realised that our service was said to be superior to our competitors and so we became proud of our price. After all, if you win a customer on price, be prepared to lose them on price.

Once we had a business model that we were happy with, we identified our perfect type of customer. This helped focus our prospecting to give us the best chance of maximizing profit and delivering a top drawer service. Walking away from opportunities that aren’t quite right takes a lot of strength, but the health of your business has to the primary concern.Today, we are a team of 13 local people, a turnover £2m per year and are growing by 50% annually. We have a reputation in the industry for our award-winning customer service and have a company profile that stands out from the crowd and stretches across half the country. All this aside, we are still only just beginning…

Ollie RastallDirectorSource Supplieswww.sourcesupplies.co.uk

Free Business Eventsdigital design Agency - Free Web Workshops

Join the team of experts at the Digital Design Agency for a free web workshop session. Topics include Facebook for Beginners and Search engine Optimisation. There are limited spaces so please book quickly via www.ddawebdesign.com/dda-web-workshops

Energy Conservation Grant SchemesBasingstoke27 Mar 2014

Pro-actions will provide a free seminar on 27 March 2014, from 9am to 12pm, at the Basingstoke and Deane Civic Offices, Basingstoke. This briefing will help you understand the importance of each stage of your sales process and the critical success factors that will help you to increase your sales and improve your results.To book your free place please visit www.pro-actions.com

Get Ready for Businessevents throughout Hampshire Apri-May 2014

If you are thinking of starting a business then this seminar is for you.

It will give you the tools you need to take your business idea from the drawing board to the real world. You will get expert advice, help and encouragement in a number of area.

This seminar is for you is for you if you if you have a business idea and want to take it to the next step, want support to complete your business or marketing plans or think you are ready to start but want to ensure you have done everything necessary to get off on the right foot.Topics covered include writing a good business plan, sourcing finance, managing cash flow, meeting your legal obligations, taxation and VAT, marketing and finding the right banking solutions. Book your place at www.enterprisefirst.co.uk

Meet the Chamber and Business Exhibition31 March 20144.30 – 6.30pmPrinces Hall, AldershotFree

Your chance to forge new business contacts, meet Chamber members and discover how your business can grow and prosper with the Hampshire Chamber of Commerce. View the business exhibition in a friendly relaxed atmosphere over a cup of tea and enjoy excellent networking opportunities. To book exhibition tables please contact katie.crow@hampshirechamber.co.uk Attendance is FRee but registration is essential.

Pure Networking at Tylney Hall19 May 2014Tylney Hall, Rotherwick4.30 – 6.30pmFree

‘Pure Networking’ a series of complimentary networking events for Hampshire Chamber of Commerce members. Your opportunity to network and make new business contacts in an informal atmosphere over a tea or coffee with fellow members and staff. Stay for the whole event or just drop in for half an hour if time is tight. Remember to bring plenty of Business Cards! To secure a place on this event please click on the ‘Book and pay online’ icon below or email katie.crow@hampshirechamber.co.uk

Local networking groups and eventsThe majority of local networks don’t require membership fees and you pay per event – visit their websites to find out more. This is just some of the network groups available.

4NetworkingRegular networking meetings. Membership required. www.4networking.bizBasingstoke 4 BusinessWeekly business networking in Basingstokewww.basingstoke4business.co.uk

Basingstoke Business ClubWeekly morning business networking events at Basingstoke College of Technology.www.basingstokebusinessclub.org.uk

BNIWeekly breakfast meetings. Membership required. www.bni.eu

Blackwater valley NetworkingWeekly networking meetings in Farnborough.www.bvnetworking.co.uk

Business BiscottiRegular networking events.www.businessbiscotti.co.uk

Business Over BreakfastRegular networking www.bobclubs.com

Coffee & ConnectFleet’s monthly morning and evening network events in Fleet. www.coffeeandconnect.co.uk

Connecting BizMonthly networking events around Hart and Basingstoke. www.connectingbiz.co.uk

Fabulous Women & Marvellous MenMonthly networking eventswww.fabulous-women.co.uk

Farnham Business ClubWeekly breakfast meetings in Farnham.www.farnhambusinessclub.org.uk

Hampshire Chamber of CommerceRegular networking events www.hampshirechamber.co.uk/events

Ladies Who LatteMonthly networking events www.ladieswholatte.com

Surrey ChambersRegular networking events across Surrey.www.surrey-chambers.co.uk

Surrey Heath Business NetworkWeekly networking meetings in Camberley. www.shbn.co.uk

Women in Business GroupRegular networking meetings www.wibg.org.uk

Hart District CouncilCivic OfficesHarlington WayFleetHampshire Gu51 4Ae

Tel: 01252 622122Fax: 01252 626886email: enquiries@hart.gov.uk

For an alternative format please contact contact Jennifer Atherton, economic Development Officer business@hart.gov.uk

www.facebook.com/HartDistrictCouncil @HartCouncilwww.hart.gov.uk