Open For Business January 2014

January 2014

OPEN FOR BUSINESSSouth Cambridgeshire

Businesses in South Cambridgeshire are being urged to register early to benefit from a new countywide scheme to help small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) afford faster broadband connections and make the most of digital technologies. DestinationDigitalwillbeofficiallylaunchedinFebruaryaspartoftheConnectingCambridgeshireprogramme,whichhaswon£4.5millionextraGovernmentandEuropeanfundingtohelpbusinessesgetbetterconnected,increaseproductivityandcreatejobs. TheschemewilloffergrantsintheformofvoucherstohelpSMEsinSouthCambridgeshirepayforhighspeedbroadbandconnections,aswellasfundingandsupporttoencouragecompaniestogodigital.DestinationDigitalrunsuntilMarch2015withfundingandsupportavailableonafirst-come,first-servedbasis. Localsuppliersofbroadbandenabledtechnologies,digitalproductsandservicescanalsoregisterforopportunitiestosecurenewbusinessthroughthescheme. Businessescanfindoutmoreandregisterearlyfortheschemeatwww.destinationdigital.infoorbycalling01223706123. Theschemeisbeingfundedwith£3.4millionfromtheGovernment’sUrbanBroadbandFundandafurther£1.1millionfromtheEuropeanRegionalDevelopmentFund(ERDF).Itcomplementstheroll-outofhigh-speedfibrebroadbandto98%ofhomesandbusinessesacrossCambridgeshireandPeterboroughbytheendof2015.

In this edition

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P4Joinourbusinessregistertoaccessevenmoresupportandinformation.www.scambs.gov.uk/businessregister

Tounsubscribefromthismailing,email‘unsubscribe’[email protected]

Business confidencehits20yearhigh

£250mfundforbusinesses

affectedbystorms

Register now for grants and free support to go digital

Find out about the broadband roll-out at www.connectingcambridgeshire.co.uk

Local businesses have until 31 January to submit their entries for the Cambridge News

Business Excellence Awards. Put yourself on the map. See page 2.

Issue 1

Newseriesof business workshopslaunched

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South Cambridgeshire - OPEN FOR BUSINESS

Welcome to the first edition of Open For Business - a new publication offering practical ideas, tailored advice, news and information to help start, grow, manage and run your business in South Cambridgeshire.

ThispublicationformspartofabiggerprogrammeofbusinesssupportthatSouthCambridgeshireDistrictCouncilisofferinginitscommitmenttoensurelocalbusinessescanthrive. Inthiseditionwe’repleasedtoannounceanewseriesofbusinessworkshops.Thisbuildsonthesuccessoflastyear’sprogramme,whichsawanextremelystrongtakeup,andaddressesavarietyoftopicsfromraisingfinanceandrecruitmenttoplanningawebsiteandimprovingprofit. Wesharethedetailsofanewschemethathelpsbusinessesaffordfasterbroadbandconnectionsandmakethemostofdigitaltechnologies. AndwehighlighttheloomingdeadlinefortheCambridgeNewsBusinessExcellenceAwardsthatcelebratetherangeoflocalenterprises,fromhightechglobalgiantstosoletraders. Pleasesharethispublicationwithcolleaguesandletusknowwhatyouthink.Yourfeedbackwillhelpshapefutureeditionsaswellasourservicestoyou.Emailourteamatopenforbusiness@scambs.gov.uk Whynotjoinourbusinessregistertoaccessevenmoresupportandinformationacrossarangeofservices,receiveemailupdatesonfinancing,tenderingandfundingopportunitiesandnotificationoffreeevents?Visit:www.scambs.gov.uk/businessregister

Cllr Nick WrightEconomicdevelopmentportfolioholderSouthCambridgeshireDistrictCouncil

WelcomeMost business owners are stretched to do the essentials at the moment, let alone enter business awards. But putting yourself forward for accolades can reap rewards, from improving brand awareness and winning new contracts to boosting staff morale and attracting new talent. Abusinessawardcanbeapowerfulwayofdifferentiatingyoufromyourcompetitorsandisasignofqualityforpotentialcustomers.Thereareeightaccoladesupforgrabsatthisyear’sCambridgeNewsBusinessExcellenceAwards:

BusinessInnovation SmallBusinessoftheYear BarclaysAward EmployeroftheYear TWIAwardforTechnologyExport BusinessPersonoftheYear BusinessoftheYear OutstandingContribution

Enteringtheawardsisquickandsimple.Entriescanbesubmittedonlineandthefullcategorycriteriacanbedownloadedfromwww.cambridge-news.co.uk WinnerswillbeannouncedduringanawardceremonyatTheGreatHall,King’sCollegeon20March. IfyouthinkyourbusinesshasachievedalevelofsuccessworthyofanawardattheCambridgeNewsBusinessExcellenceAwards,whatareyouwaitingfor?

This year’s sponsors are:

Business confidence hits 20 year highThelatestBusinessinBritainreportfromLloydsBankCommercialBankingshowscompaniesarethemostoptimisticabouttheeconomysince2007,withbusinessconfidenceatitsstrongestlevelsinceJanuary1994. Withrisingexpectationsfororders,sales,andprofitsinthenextsixmonths,businesseshaveindicatedthattheyintendtoincreasestaffnumbers.Thissuggestsemploymentcouldalsorisethisyear.Formoreinformationvisit:www.lloydsbankinggroup.com/media1/press_releases/2014_press_releases/lloyds/0601_Business.asp

Featuring guest speaker, broadcaster, Justin Webb

Barclays Hewistons Price Bailey TWI Pure Resourcing Solutions MedImmune BioMed Realty

Are you in pursuit of excellence?

South Cambridgeshire - OPEN FOR BUSINESS

Continuing the success of the South Cambridgeshire Business Support Service, the latest programme of business workshops will be launching on 19 March. DeliveredbyExemplasonbehalfofSouthCambridgeshireDistrictCouncil,the12half-dayworkshopshavebeenspecificallydesignedtomeettheneedsofsmallbusinessesinthelocalareaandcoverarangeoftopicsincludingimprovingprofit,findingandwinningnewcontractsandmaximisingmarketawareness. Thesubsidisedworkshopswillcost£10(+VAT)toattendandareavailabletoanyonerunningorthinkingofstartingabusinessinaSouthCambridgeshirepostcodearea. AftereachworkshopattendeeswillbeabletoaccessbusinesssupportprovidedbyexperiencedBusinessAdvisersbytelephone,emailoronlineviaSkypeatnoadditionalcost.Workshop programmeThefollowingworkshopsarenowavailabletobook:

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Administrations down by 11% in 2013Research from Deloitte has shown that 1,629 businesses went into administration in 2013, compared with 1,833 in 2012. Almostallofsectorstrackedintheanalysissawadeclineinthenumberofbusinessfailures,includingsomeofthosemostaffectedbytheeconomicdifficultiesofthepastfiveyears. Reflectingthere-balancingofthehighstreet,retailadministrationsdroppedby6%andasastrongsignofimprovementofthesector,therehasbeenasignificant24%decreaseofadministrationsinpropertyandconstruction.This,inturn,hashadaknock-oneffectforthehospitalityandleisuresector,whichhasseena17.5%decreaseinadministrations.

Formoreinformationvisit:www.deloitte.com/view/en_GB/uk/news/a996605e2c743410VgnVCM2000003356f70aRCRD.htm

How to find and keep customers

Explore how to find new customers and keep them coming back

Wed 19 March Fulbourn Centre

Wed 7 May Over Community Centre

How to manage money and make a profit

Take control of your business by increasing your financial awareness

Mon 7 April Cambourne Council Offices

How to recruit and employ people - the basics

An overview of the basics of finding and employing staff for the first time

Fri 28 March Cambourne Council Offices

How to improve your profit

Take a refreshed look at your business and make positive changes to your profits

Tues 3 June All Saints Community Hall, Melbourn

How to find and win new contracts

Identify new opportunities and improve your chances of winning contracts

Wed 14 May Fulbourn Centre

How to plan for success - business planning

Preparing and reviewing a business plan to help your business succeed

Wed 30 April Fulbourn Centre

Thu 12 June Cambourne Council Offices

How to maximise market awareness – via websites and social media

Understand what type of web presence is right for your business and how to use it for maximum impact

Thu 3 April Cambourne Council Offices

Thu 22 May Over Community Centre

Workshops for local firms

Two further specialist workshops focusing on the needs of small businesses based in rural areas are also being developed and will be available to book soon.

Toensurethatalldelegatesreceivethemaximumbenefitfromourworkshops,spacesarelimitedsopleasebookearlytoavoiddisappointment. Formoreinformationontheworkshopprogrammepleasevisit:www.exemplas.com/southcambsTo book your place, please call 0844 346 0755 or email:[email protected]

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South Cambridgeshire - OPEN FOR BUSINESS

Tackling the tax return

Editorial informationThisnewsletterisproducedforlocalbusinessesbySouthCambridgeshireDistrictCouncil.Editorialenquiriesshouldbeemailedtoopenforbusiness@scambs.gov.ukTheopinionsandviewsexpressedinthispublicationarenotnecessarilythoseofSouthCambridgeshireDistrictCouncil.Alldataisacceptedingoodfaithatthetimeofgoingtopress.

Small business: GREAT ambition

UK economy growing at solid paceTheBritishChambersofCommerceQuarterlyEconomicSurvey-thefirstmajoreconomicindicatoroftheyearandcloselywatchedbytheBankofEnglandandtheTreasury-hasrevealedtheUKeconomyisgrowingatasolidpace,andkeyindicatorsfortheeconomyarehigherthanbeforethe2007recession. Formoreinformationvisit:www.britishchambers.org.uk/press-office/press-releases/bcc-quarterly-economic-survey-businesses-ready-to-push-on-but-more-finance-needed.html

The deadline for filing tax returns is rapidly approaching, yet many of those in HM Revenue & Customs’ sights have yet to do it. Ifyouhaven’tfilledinyourtaxformandreturnedit,togetherwithpaymentforanytaxyouoweforthe2012-13financialyear,bymidnighton31Januaryyoucouldfaceafine. Forhelpandadviceonself-assessment,visit:www.hmrc.gov.uk/saWiththedeadlinelooming,HMRevenues&Customshasrevealedsomeofthestrangestexcusesithasreceivedforlatesubmissions:

1 Mypetgoldfishdied(self-employedbuilder) 2 Ihadarun-inwithacow(Midlandsfarmer) 3 Afterseeingavolcaniceruptiononthenews,Icouldn’tconcentrateonanythingelse(Londonwoman) 4 Mywifewon’tgivememymail(self-employedtrader) 5 Myhusbandtoldmethedeadlinewas31March,andIbelievedhim(Leicesterhairdresser) 6 I’vebeenfartoobusytouringthecountrywithmyone-manplay(Coventrywriter) 7 MybadbackmeansIcan’tgoupstairs.That’swheremytaxreturnis(aworkingtaxidriver) 8 I’vebeencruisingroundtheworldinmyyacht,andonlypickinguppostwhenI’mondryland(SouthEastman) 9 Ourbusinessdoesn’treallydoanything(Kentfinancialservicesfirm)

10 I’vebeentoobusysubmittingmyclients’taxreturns(Londonaccountant)

The Government has published its commitment to helping the UK's small businesses to grow in Small Business: Great Ambition. Thepublication,fromtheDepartmentofBusiness,Innovation&Skills,ispartoftheGovernment'scommitmenttosupportsmallandmediumsizedbusinesses(SMEs). With5millionsmallbusinessesmakingup99%oftheUKprivatesectorandgeneratingathirdofthesector'sturnover,SMEsemploy47%ofpeopleintheprivatesector. Overhalfamillionstart-upswerecreatedin2013,up4%from2012,andtheeconomyislookingtogrowatbetterratesthanoverthelastfewyearsso2014islookinglikeagoodyeartodobusiness. TherangeofnewmeasuresintroducedbythegovernmentwillmakeiteasierforSMEstofinancebusinessgrowth,hirepeople,developnewideasandbreakintonewmarkets.Formoreinformationvisit: www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/266212/bis-13-1313-small-business-great-ambition-FINAL.pdf

Natwest and RBS have announced the launch of a £250 million interest free fund to speed up the recovery of businesses affected by the recent floods and gales. TheUKStormBusinessFundwillprovideshortterminterestfreeloanstocoverthecostofrepairsandreplacementstock,andisavailabletoallviablebusinesses. Understandingthatcashflowiscriticalforbusinesses,thisadditionalsupportisbeingmadeavailablebecauseitisimportantforthelocaleconomyandcommunitiestogetthebusinessesthathavebeenhit,operationalagain.Formoreinformationvisit:www.rbs.com/news/2014/01/natwest-and-rbs-launch-250m-interest-free-loan-fund-to-support-businesses-affected-by-storms.html

£250m fund to support businesses affected by floods