Chamber News

Norwich For Jobs today provides its first campaign update, covering progress made in the first month of operation.

Aims

Norwich For Jobs seeks to halve Norwich youth unemployment in two years.

Launched on 25th January 2013, we believe that we can encourage the creation of 1,000 new jobs and good economic opportunities for young people in our city.

There are currently around 2,000 young people, aged 18-24, registered as unemployed in the Norwich area. Our aims are:

• Investment- Encourage local businesses to invest in young people
• Opportunities- Connect young people with opportunities to gain skills and employment
• Community- Focus the collective efforts of the community to get young Norwich working.

First Month’s Progress

During February 2013, Norwich For Jobs has achieved the following:

• 20 employers formally backing campaign so far. You can see these updated regularly on our website, www.norwichforjobs.org.uk. All are willing to be interviewed by media
• Dozens more have indicated their interest and are in discussion with the campaign
• 101 jobs have been pledged
• 36 apprenticeships have been pledged
• 78 work experience opportunities have been pledged

Quotes

Chloe Smith, leader of Norwich For Jobs, said:

“We are delighted by the reaction to the launch of the Norwich for Jobs Campaign. Enquiries by potential employers and those willing to offer work placements have exceeded our expectations.

“We’ve made good progress in our first month in engaging with employers, partners and young people and wish to continue this success in subsequent months.

“Our key goal for the first month way to get the key aims of the Norwich for Jobs Campaign across, which I think we have achieved. We are now moving forward in following up on all lines of enquiry that have come to us and will seek to help and support businesses wishing to offer an opportunity to a young person in Norwich.”

Julia Nix, East Anglia District Manager for Jobcentre Plus, comments:

“Our sincere thanks go to our first set of employers who have pledged their support by offering jobs, apprenticeships and work experience to our talented young people. I would encourage any employer to make contact to help us further.”

Dick Palmer, Chief Executive Officer of City College Norwich, said:

“This is a really fantastic start for Norwich For Jobs and shows how supportive our local employers are. It shows that local employers, big and small, really do get that young people are our future.”

Next month includes Apprenticeships Week. Expect more updates from Norwich For Jobs on apprenticeships and more.

Employers should email [email protected] to show their support.

Norfolk Chamber’s ‘Opportunities 2013’ event on 14 March at Norwich City Football Club is the perfect place to boost your business skills and knowledge, because the event will feature a series of three, free 40-minute topical and interactive workshops designed to give a real competitive business edge.

The first workshop is entitled: ‘Networking so easy anyone can do it’, delivered by Mark Rhodes, of Rhodes2success. Mark will explain how many people attend networking events but very few get anything out of it. The reason for this is that they don’t understand what networking is really about, and they don’t have a clear strategy for networking or the skills to enable them to get results from their networking.

Mike Jones, of Modello, will deliver a workshop called: ‘Broadband: it’s more than just speed’. BT Business will be hosting this workshop to complement their exhibition presence and will use the session to explain how small to medium sized businesses in the UK are driving further cost savings, improving efficiency and keeping ahead of the competition, by grasping the full potential from broadband services.

Lastly, David Tillyer, from 101 Smart Ltd, will give a workshop called: ‘How to get results for email marketing’. This workshop will focus on explaining how to use email marketing to its full potential and improve your business.

Caroline Williams, CEO of Norfolk Chamber, said: “In business we need to continue to learn and broaden our skills; to keep up to date with the latest technology and methods of communication. These workshops are designed to be bang up to date and to help businesses to really gain an advantage and enhance their offering.”

‘Opportunities 2013’, which is free to attend, also includes a Meet the Buyer event called Open4business, where suppliers will have the opportunity to pitch to key private and public sector buyers at pre-booked, 10-minute, one-to-one meetings. This year there are more buyers than ever before, with more than 35 signed up for the event. They include a wide range of councils and colleges, Kinnerton, Adnams, Perenco, Norwich City Football Club and many others.

The ‘Opportunities 2013’ event also features Norfolk’s largest business exhibition, where suppliers from around the region can promote their products and services. The exhibition is divided into six themed business zones designed to help you grow your business and find the areas which are of most interest. They are Enterprise, Advice & Finance, Hospitality & Leisure, Technology, Promotion & Marketing and HR & Training.

For the first time, the event will feature a Networking United event that will bring together a range of Norfolk networking groups under one roof, with the aim of making those vital connections.

To sign up for the workshops, or to find out more about ‘Opportunities 2013’, go here

At today’s Norfolk Chamber of Commerce Board meeting, the members of the Board approved both the Business Plan for 2013/2014 and the new ‘Unlocking Growth Plan’. The Unlocking Growth Plan sets out the Chamber’s priorities for 2013, as identified by the Norfolk Chamber members. The key areas to be addressed in 2013 are:

• Championing Norfolk Business
• Improving Infrastructure
• Supporting Competitiveness
• Removing Barriers

The Chamber’s key theme of ‘Unlocking the Potential of Norfolk’s Young People’ will run through the delivery of all its services and is identified in the ‘Unlocking Growth plan’.

Big Sky Additions is an owner managed business run by Justin Murray and Sam Holt who are the faces and hands on expert consultants of a growing successful local business specialising in Accountancy Search & Selection.

We provide a professional, honest and consultative service to companies and candidates across Norfolk. Our expertise and knowledge of the accountancy job market makes us ideally placed to help you find the right staff or the right job with the minimum of fuss.

We offer permanent, contract and temporary solutions within industry, public sector and professional practice.

Above all we focus on delivering a fresh, innovative and personal approach specifically designed to meet our clients ‘needs and candidates’ skills.

The recruitment industry has changed. Yes, the internet has made it easier for agencies to find more candidates, but too often this means a less targeted approach, resulting in disappointment for client and job seeker alike. This is where we’re different.

• We rely on personal recommendation and referral
• We combine innovative advertising with a continually refreshed database
• We employ headhunting, networking and social media

This means we reach the 80% of the market not already on the job market. Which means greater quality and choice and less duplication for the client.

We work closely with local businesses in advising, targeting and sourcing highly skilled Accountancy professionals.

Big Sky Additions are not restricted to a 9-5 working day, you are VERY welcome to call us outside of these hours.

www.bigskyadditions.co.uk

Businesses across the UK, including Norfolk, are being asked to nominate planning regulations to be simplified or removed as part of the government’s “Red Tape Challenge” initiative.

Do you have any planning regulations that you would like changed?Pleaseleave your comments on the Red Tape Challenge websitebyThursday 7 March 2013.

Norwich City Council has released their latest Economic Barometer. The report highlighted that retail sales fell unexpectedly in January with volumes falling 0.6% over the month as a result of heavy snow. The Pound continued to weaken against the US Dollar and the Euro as a result of persistent worries about the health of the UK economy. In addition, umemployment has risen and has now surpassed the previous peak from February 2010. The UK housing market showed signs of improvement with mortgage lending increasing, led by a big rise in first-time buyers. The Council of Mortgage Lenders also reported that the number of homes being repossessed fell to its lowest annual level since 2007. InCrops, an Adapt Low Carbon Group initiative, based at the UEA, has received £750,000 of additional funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). This additional funding will allow InCrops to continue their programme to promote innovation in alternative and non-food crops until March 2015. Two HMV stores in Norwich and one in King’s Lynn have survived a round of cuts by the adminstrator, Deloitte, despite increased speculation that a least one store in Norwich would closed to help drive down the debts of the beleaguered retailer. A new era in local television broadcasting was launched at the end of January with the start of the country’s first dedicated web TV. Mustard online will stream an array of videos aimed specifically at viewers in and around Norwich. The full Norwich Economic Barometer report is attached.

Norfolk’s largest business exhibition, ‘Opportunities 2013’ on 14 March at Norwich City Football Club, is a must-attend for businesses looking to exhibit their products and services because there will be a guaranteed footfall of people attending throughout the day.

You can take a stand in one of six themed business zones designed to help visitors to grow their business and find the areas which are of most interest. They are Enterprise, Advice & Finance, Hospitality & Leisure, Technology, Promotion & Marketing and HR & Training.

Caroline Williams, CEO of Norfolk Chamber, which is holding the event, said: “Suppliers wanting to enhance their business are advised to take a stand at the event because there is so much going on throughout the day, which means there will be a huge footfall of potential customers. For suppliers, this will be a vital captive audience to promote themselves and be part of the region’s biggest business show.”

Highlights of the event include a Meet the Buyer event called Open4business, where suppliers will have the opportunity to pitch to key private and public sector buyers at pre-booked, 10-minute, one-to-one meetings. This year there are more buyers than ever before, with more than 36 signed up for the event. They include a wide range of councils and colleges, Kinnerton, Adnams, Perenco, Norwich City Football Club and many others.

Visitors will also be attending a series of three, 40-minute interactive and informative workshops designed to help boost business skills and give a real competitive edge. Topics are: ‘Networking so easy anyone can do it’, delivered by Mark Rhodes, of Rhodes2success; ‘Broadband: it’s more than just speed’, by Mike Joes of Modello (sponsored by BT Business); and ‘How to get results for email marketing’, by David Tillyer, of 101 Smart Ltd.

Also likely to bring in a great deal of visitors is the event’s Networking United event, which brings together a range of Norfolk networking groups under one roof, with the aim of making those vital connections. This presents an ideal opportunity to bring along some business cards and make contacts.

To book your stand, or to find out more about ‘Opportunities 2013’, go here

If you’re a supplier looking to sell your products and services, don’t miss Meet the Buyer, which is part of the Norfolk Chamber’s ‘Opportunities 2013’ event on 14 March at Norwich City Football Club. Open4business is delivered in conjunction with Norfolk County Council and is a tried and tested Meet the Buyer event that will bring the region’s buyers and suppliers together under one roof.

Suppliers will have the opportunity to pitch to key private and public sector buyers at up to four pre-booked, 10-minute, one-to-one meetings. This year there are more buyers than ever before, with more than 36 signed up for the event. They include a wide range of councils and colleges, Kinnerton, Adnams, Perenco, Norwich City Football Club and many others.

Caroline Williams, Norfolk Chamber CEO, commented. “These Meet the Buyer events are hugely successful and are a rare opportunity for suppliers to get in front of the region’s key buyers. The list of buyers attending is growing all the time and we are confident that some very profitable relationships will be forged on the day.”

‘Opportunities 2013’, which is free to attend, also includes three other elements; a business exhibition, a series of informative workshops and a Networking United event.

The business exhibition is divided into six themed business zones designed to help you grow your business and find the areas which are of most interest. They are Enterprise, Advice & Finance, Hospitality & Leisure, Technology, Promotion & Marketing and HR & Training.

The three 40-minute topical workshops at the event are interactive and informative, to help boost business skills and give a real competitive edge. Topics are: ‘Networking so easy anyone can do it’, delivered by Mark Rhodes, of Rhodes2success; ‘Broadband: it’s more than just speed’, by Mike Joes of Modello (sponsored by BT Business); and ‘How to get results for email marketing’, by David Tillyer, of 101 Smart Ltd.

Making its debut, the Networking United event brings together a range of Norfolk networking groups under one roof, with the aim of making those vital connections. This is an ideal opportunity to bring along some business cards and make contacts.

To book your place at Meet the Buyer, or to find out more about ‘Opportunities 2013’, go here

If you want to make business contacts through networking, then don’t miss Networking United which is part of the Opportunities 2013 event to be held on 14 March at Norwich City Football Club.

For the first time, the free-to-attend Opportunities 2013 event will feature Networking United held 12.30 – 1.3.30 in the Norfolk Lounge, which will bring together a range of Norfolk networking groups under one roof, with the aim of making those vital connections.

Prior to the Networking United will be held a free workshop called: ‘Networking so easy anyone can do it’, delivered by the dynamic Mark Rhodes, of Rhodes2success who was such a success at the Chamber’s Unlocking Success conference last November. To book please go onto the event website

Caroline Williams, CEO of Norfolk Chamber, commented: “Networking is one of the most successful ways to do business, make contacts and form new business relationships, so we have created the Networking United event to bring the business community together in one place. We advise anyone to come along with a stack of business cards and make those connections.”

‘Opportunities 2013’ also features Norfolk’s largest business exhibition, where suppliers from around the region can promote their products and services. The exhibition is divided into six themed business zones designed to help you grow your business and find the areas which are of most interest. They are Enterprise, Advice & Finance, Hospitality & Leisure, Technology, Promotion & Marketing and HR & Training.

In addition, ‘Opportunities 2013’ includes a Meet the Buyer event called Open4business, where suppliers will have the opportunity to pitch to key private and public sector buyers at pre-booked, 10-minute, one-to-one meetings. This year there are more buyers than ever before, with more than 35 signed up for the event. They include a wide range of councils and colleges, Kinnerton, Adnams, Perenco, Norwich City Football Club and many others.

Visitors can also attend a series of three, 40-minute interactive and informative workshops designed to help boost business skills and give a real competitive edge. Topics are: ‘Networking so easy anyone can do it’, delivered by Mark Rhodes, of Rhodes2success; ‘Broadband: it’s more than just speed’, by Mike Joes of Modello (sponsored by BT Business); and ‘How to get results for email marketing’, by David Tillyer, of 101 Smart Ltd.

To register for the Networking United, or to find out more about ‘Opportunities 2013’, go here

To comply with the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s Technical Instructions for the Safe Carriage of Dangerous Goods By Air, Royal Mail has updated rules which prohibit specific products from international services.

It will now be possible to send lithium batteries contained in a device in the international post, subject to packaging requirements. All lithium batteries were previously prohibited from international parcels. Lithium batteries not installed in a device continue to be prohibited.

Also, with effect from 14 January 2013, beverages with alcohol content above 24% ABV are prohibited from international parcels. Aerosols, nail varnish, perfumes and aftershaves continue to be banned, as regards sending to international destinations, for all business customers.

Royal Mail points out that dangerous goods transport regulations also apply to other parcel delivery companies.

The Civil Aviation Authority, Department for Transport and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency have agreed updated rules with Royal Mail for individuals sending small quantities of specific, previously prohibited consumer items through the post to UK addresses.

It is intended that these will come into effect on 15 July, following public consultation expected to begin in March.

Ernst & Young’s annual globalisation report suggests that there are increasing challenges when operating in some BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) economies, as well as slowing growth in some of these markets.

As a result, nearly half of the survey’s respondents expect an increase in protectionism in the BRIC countries. In contrast, respondents see a decline in protectionism as more likely in other, smaller, rapid growth markets.

These markets show consistently high economic growth close to that of the leading BRICs.

Turkey, Mexico and Indonesia closely shadow China and India in terms of GDP growth from 2000 through 2015, for example, while Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Malaysia and Vietnam, as well as several countries and regions in Africa, are all shaping up to be among the most dynamic parts of the world for investment.

The number of executives questioned who view rapid-growth markets, other than the BRICs, as the most important source of new revenue nearly doubles, from 26% today to 45% in three years time.

They are planning accordingly, with South Africa, Indonesia, Mexico and Turkey reported to be the most competitive locations.

Despite weak growth in 2012, and an uncertain economic outlook in many markets for 2013, globalisation is still increasing among a majority of the world’s 60 leading economies, according to the report, “Looking beyond the obvious: globalisation and new opportunities for growth”.

As well as the growth of the “second tier” markets such as Mexico and Turkey, the report also forecasts the rise of smaller European countries, including Belgium, Slovakia and Hungary.

HMRC is introducing Real Time Information (RTI) for PAYE from April 2013. The majority of employers are required to start submitting PAYE returns in real time in April 2013 and all employers will be routinely reporting PAYE information in real time by October 2013.

From April, PAYE returns are electronically required each time a payment is made, as part of routine payroll processes. Employers operating their own payroll will need to consider and take the appropriate action to either update their payroll software, obtain new payroll software or, where an agent or payroll bureaux is used, discuss the changes with their payroll provider. During October HMRC will be writing to all employers telling them about RTI, advising what they should be doing to get their business ready for the changes to PAYE in April 2013, and signposting HMRC guidance.

A new national information campaign and website has been launched to raise awareness among UK employers of the introduction of PAYE RTI. The website is a not for profit collaboration of business and accounting professional associations, that is independent of government and HMRC.

The site aims to become the leading independent source of news and information on this, which will be one of the key issues for UK business in 2013.

Please email queries or requests for additional information, to [email protected].