Business Brief Summer 2012
8
Tamworth & Lichfield 1 Welcome Sadly this is the last hard copy issue of the Business Brief. Austerity measures at both Tamworth and Lichfield Council due to the economic climate coupled with the recently announced postage increases means it can no longer be sustained in this format. We will therefore be moving to an electronic version for the next edition which automatically reduces our distribution costs substantially. One of the issues we have been grappling with over the last few months besides cost is the number of businesses we can contact electronically. Currently the hard copy circulation is around 7500 but by moving to an electronic distribution method it will reduce by over 50% due to the lack of email addresses. It is therefore important if we are to bridge that gap of some 3000 businesses that you notify Matt Fletcher, Senior Economic Development Officer of your email address either by telephone 01827 709 382 or email [email protected] if you wish to receive the next issue. I thank you for your support over the last 4 years and 14 editions, for your news, sponsorship and advertising. Without you the printed version of the Business Brief would not have been the success it is. We look forward to a new era of the Business Brief in its new electronic format - so don’t miss out on local business news and make sure we have your email address!! Peter Farmer (Chair of the Business and Economic Partnership) By Demand Pop-Up Show to Return in September 2012 “We picked up a number of valuable leads potentially worth over £40,000 from visitors and other exhibitors.” Chris Blunt - The Bus Stop Group (BrokenStones/Blossom Digital) The thriving local business community in Tamworth and Lichfield came together to promote local business at the Pop-Up Show on 17th April 2012 at Drayton Manor. The idea of a low-cost no-frills business exhibition was put forward to BEP Chair, Peter Farmer, by a Tamworth business. He explained “The suggestion was to put on a show that any business could afford to exhibit at and, because a great number of businesses already have their own pop-up stand, what they needed was a place to come together to do business. We were charged with providing the right environment and as the show was sold out, we believe we achieved that goal.” In a survey of exhibitors after the event over 90% of them said they would exhibit at a future show. The next low-cost no-frills Pop-Up Show will take place in September 2012. To register your interest in a stand at £70 plus VAT please contact Matt Fletcher at Tamworth Borough Council email [email protected] or call 01827 709 382. See pages 6 and 7 to see who exhibited. "I took Design Pit Ltd along to its first day long exhibition and found it to be very successful as we have now secured four jobs as a direct result of the Show.” Gareth Robertson, Creative Director - Design Pit 14th Quarterly Issue Find us on ThinkLocal4Business Business Brief This issue of the Business Brief is sponsored by
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The newsletter from the Tamworth & Lichfield Business & Economic Partnership
Transcript of Business Brief Summer 2012
Tamworth & Lichfield
1
WelcomeSadly this is the last hard copy issue ofthe Business Brief. Austerity measuresat both Tamworth and Lichfield Councildue to the economic climate coupled
with the recently announced postage increases means itcan no longer be sustained in this format. We willtherefore be moving to an electronic version for the nextedition which automatically reduces our distribution costssubstantially.
One of the issues we have been grappling with over thelast few months besides cost is the number ofbusinesses we can contact electronically. Currently thehard copy circulation is around 7500 but by moving to anelectronic distribution method it will reduce by over 50%due to the lack of email addresses.
It is therefore important if we are to bridge that gap ofsome 3000 businesses that you notify Matt Fletcher,Senior Economic Development Officer of your emailaddress either by telephone 01827 709 382 or [email protected] if you wish to receivethe next issue.
I thank you for your support over the last 4 years and 14editions, for your news, sponsorship and advertising.Without you the printed version of the Business Briefwould not have been the success it is. We look forwardto a new era of the Business Brief in its new electronicformat - so don’t miss out on local business news andmake sure we have your email address!!
Peter Farmer(Chair of the Business and Economic Partnership)
By Demand Pop-UpShow to Return inSeptember 2012“We picked up a number of valuable leads potentiallyworth over £40,000 from visitors and other exhibitors.”Chris Blunt - The Bus Stop Group(BrokenStones/Blossom Digital)
The thriving local business community in Tamworth andLichfield came together to promote local business at thePop-Up Show on 17th April 2012 at Drayton Manor. Theidea of a low-cost no-frills business exhibition was putforward to BEP Chair, Peter Farmer, by a Tamworthbusiness. He explained “The suggestion was to put on ashow that any business could afford to exhibit at and,because a great number of businesses already have theirown pop-up stand, what they needed was a place to cometogether to do business. We were charged with providingthe right environment and as the show was sold out, webelieve we achieved that goal.”
In a survey of exhibitors after the event over 90% of themsaid they would exhibit at a future show. The next low-costno-frills Pop-Up Show will take place in September 2012.To register your interest in a stand at £70 plus VAT pleasecontact Matt Fletcher at Tamworth Borough Council [email protected] or call 01827 709 382.See pages 6 and 7 to see who exhibited.
"I took Design Pit Ltd along to its first day longexhibition and found it to be very successful as we havenow secured four jobs as a direct result of the Show.”Gareth Robertson, Creative Director - Design Pit
14th Quarterly Issue
Find us onThinkLocal4Business
Business Brief
This issue of the Business Brief is sponsored by
Business news in brief
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Insurance broker firmly rootedA Tamworth insurance company is doing its bit for theenvironment by planting trees to limit its impact onclimate change. Prizm Solutions is planting 50broadleaf indigenous trees this year to help offset theCO2 produced through running the business, to reduceits carbon emissions footprint. Prizm has been workingwith environmental company Alliance CO2 Ltd, whichhelps a company calculate its total emissions, and thenplants trees to help absorb carbon dioxide as a way ofoffsetting this. MD, Peter Robinson says, “At Prizm we
work hard to look after our clients, so it’s only right we look after the environmenttoo. Due to the nature of insurance, a lot of paperwork is generated in terms ofpolicies and agreements. Whilst electronic communication is helping to reducesome of the paper used in the office, we’re a long way off being a paperlessindustry, which is why it’s important we take this step as the 50 trees planted willhelp offset our company’s CO2 emissions.” www.prizmsolutions.co.uk
Local businessdefies double-dip
Tamworth business,Stratique Marketing, Designand PR has recentlyexpanded and added threenew members to theirtelemarketing team in orderto manage the exceptionalincrease in business they have alreadyhad this year. The highly experiencedteam is a resounding success andeven more business is beinggenerated for both Stratique and itsclients by the enthusiastictelemarketers.
In addition, Stratique has also takenon a new marketing apprentice whonow has the opportunity to earnmoney whilst also gainingqualifications. Kira Brittain initiallyjoined Stratique as part of the Job
Centre’s work experience programmebut, long before her 8 week placementwas complete, the StratiqueManagement Team realised she wasfar too talented to let go. Schemesand programmes, such as theapprenticeship scheme, are beingcreated and implemented with thepurpose of allowing and encouragingcompanies to hire new employees;something which will benefit the entireeconomy and contribute to loweringunemployment rates.www.stratique.com
Students flock torural enterpriseacademy
Over 130 people flocked to theopen day of Britain’s firstdedicated land-based freeschool, The Rural EnterpriseAcademy, to find out moreabout this new and excitingeducational offer. Tours of theCollege’s brand new £3MillionFoster Learning Centre, Farmand Animal Zone enabledpotential students to experiencesome of the facilities that wouldbe available to them at TheRural Enterprise Academy. By2016, it is anticipated theAcademy will accommodate upto 300 students, providing astrong academic core ofsubjects such as EnglishLanguage, Maths, Science, ICTand Business Enterprise as wellas a strong focus on land-based, rural, environmental andsustainability themes.
New manager at village pubAn iconic pub has appointed a new manager as it gears up for a major expansion of itsfood and drink offering. The Swan with Two Necks in Longdon near Lichfield has appointedAlistair Morris as manager. He has extensive experience in the hotel, licensed and foodtrade and runs his own consultancy, working with privately-owned establishments as wellas pub and hotel chains. Swan with Two Necks owner Neil Morten, who took over the publast year, said “The Swan is a great local village pub which already has a reputation forgood food and traditional beers. We have ambitious plans to build on that, extending andimproving all of our facilities and making the Swan the place to visit from all over theregion, while still providing a great local for our regulars and providing a focal point for thevillage.” Tel 01543 490 251
Alistair Morris,Swan With Two Necks
South Staffs College’s Jon Gilesand Sarah Winson with TheGorman Family
Stratique Team Weather Economic Storm
www.ruralenterpriseacademy.com
Peter Robinson, MD, Prizm Solutions
Business news in brief
3
First time exam success
Kay Lewis, Practice Manager with InspiredAccountants in Lichfield is celebrating after qualifyingwith the Association of Taxation Technicians tobecome a qualified Taxation Technician. TheAssociation of Taxation Technicians (ATT) sets thebenchmark in technical education and qualificationfor taxation technicians. It is the leading professionalbody for qualified taxation technicians who specialisein complying with UK tax obligations, complianceservices and related activities. Commenting on herqualification Kay said: “I’m happy that the hard workand nine months worth of study has culminated inpassing ATT first time. The course covered personaland business tax as well as practice administrationand ethics. Achieving ATT is just the first step, as Iwill be undergoing continual professional
development to ensure I am 100% up-to-date and able to offer the bestpossible advice to businesses and individuals.” www.inspiredaccountants.com
Kay Lewis with PaulBulzacchelli – MD,Inspired Accountants
Lichfield based Beautiful Gardenshas installed state-of-the-art outdoorfitness equipment at Cannock Chasethanks to a £4,500 grant fromStaffordshire County Council’sCommunity Wellbeing Fund.
www.beautifulgardens.co.uk
In a national campaign run by TheBest Of to find Britain’s most lovedlocal businesses they discoveredthat Sarah Birch from ProfessionalApproach in Lichfield is a nationalfavourite. Sarah’s ProfessionalApproach to business has won herthe number one position in thetelemarketing category.
www.thebestof.co.uk/lichfield
Erasmus Darwin House and Museumis keen to keep history and heritagealive for the benefit of the communityand has meeting rooms available inthe house that was once the home ofCharles Darwin’s grandfather.
www.erasmusdarwin.org
According to Pickerings Solicitors inTamworth anyone can setthemselves up as a will-writer withjust a couple of days training. Thesad thing is many people pay up andthink that they have a proper will, butthe mistakes don’t usually come tolight until it’s too late to do anythingabout it.
www.pickerings-solicitors.com
Business Bites
This issue of the Business Brief is sponsored by
Boxing clever to helpyoungstersMFA Boxing Club is a business set up tohelp young lads like Luke Cookson fromTamworth. Luke has been in constanttrouble with the Police since the age of 10.Dropping out of school and falling into alife of crime. MFA directors pulled him outof a street fight and into the gym. He hasan 18 month suspended sentence but hasbeen out of trouble since MFA startedworking with him 12 months ago, and he is looking to turn professional inthe near future. MFA also has 15 other lads in the same situation as Lukethey are currently helping. “We need help to progress the club further withnew equipment and would welcome the opportunity to discuss advertisingand sponsorship with local businesses and as little as £30 would buy a newpair of gloves and go a long way to helping these youngsters.” SimonPearson, Director, MFA Management Ltd www.mfa-management.co.uk
New recruit comes home to roostA Tamworth accountancy and business adviserfirm has strengthened its team with a new recruithaving scooped a number of new accounts afterthe launch of their new service, Board Support.Stephanie Phillips from nearby Wilnecote, hadbeen working in Leicestershire and is delighted tobe joining the nine-strong team in her home town.She will be working alongside the accountspreparation team to ensure Adams Moorecontinues to provide a high level of service toclients. Stephanie brings with her almost tenyears’ experience. www.adamsmoore.com
Left to Right: Simon Pearson,Courtney Griffiths, LukeCookson, David Maskell
Stephanie Phillips,Adams Moore
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The SmartWaterStrategyTMSmartWater’s proven crime reductionprogramme incorporates state-of-the-art forensic technology which is usedtactically to strike fear into the heartsof criminals. The SmartWaterStrategyTM combines a high level ofdeterrence with the ability to captureand convict. SmartWater has over600 criminal convictions to its namewhilst maintaining a 100% convictionrate when used as evidence in court.SmartWater attended a recent BNFmeeting. See opposite.www.smartwater.com
Register yourbusiness for freeon Think Local!Do you want to connect with 3,000other businesses in the Tamworthand Lichfield area or 10,000businesses in the whole ofStaffordshire? Simply go towww.thinklocal4business.co.uk andregister for FREE. Yes it is as simpleas this. You can find the businessyou need, you can advertise yourservice or product, find out whatbusiness support is available for yourcompany and even post newsarticles for free and much more. The website has been constructedspecifically to help business and wasinitially funded by all the localcouncils in Staffordshire. Currentlythere are over 700 businessesregistered and since the emailmarketing campaign started a monthago an additional 100 businesseshave joined. It also gives you anenhanced website presence andraises your profile on Google and youcan publish and promote your ownevents including adding pictures andvideos. If however you only want tofind local businesses to buy or to sellto then create the network for this tohappen. Remember it’s FREE toregister.
Nigerian club contractfor StaffordshirecompanyOne of the top night clubs in Nigeria has drafted in aRugeley leisure company, GMP Design to design amajor half-million pound transformation of itspremises. The new night club interior will include anumber of GMP’s latest club advances. Theseinclude the world’s first “Emulator DJ” glass touch-screen DJ unit, and revolutionary celebrity boothsthat transform from a seating booth into a dancingarea. The Nigerian contract is the second majorinternational night club design project landed byGMP Design in little more than a month. Earlier, GMPclinched a prestige deal to design a major revamp for the Coco Night Club andSports Bar in Georgetown, Guyana. GMP’s Neil Morton said, “This is thesecond prestigious international contract won by us in a very short space oftime, and is testament to the worldwide reputation of GMP Design. The first partof 2012 has been a very busy time for us, and we anticipate that the pace willbe maintained throughout the year.” www.gmp-international.com
Carillion,StaffordshirePolice and SmartWater atBusinessNetworks ForumThe Business Networks Forum is anorganisation set up to give localbusinesses a voice on local andnational issues affecting business.Ambassadors from all of the main localnetworking groups and individualbusinesses and organisations such asthe Federation of Small Businessesattend. At the February meeting the
topic was “How Can Local Businesses Work With Carillion?” Carillion UKConstruction is currently carrying out building and reconstruction work valuedat £45m over two years at Whittington Barracks. Paul Bird, Projector Directoraddressed the meeting and outlined the best way for local businesses to getinvolved at Whittington Barracks. At the April meeting the topic was“Business Crime – Police Response & SmartWater.” Police officers outlinedbusiness crime issues in Tamworth and Lichfield, how they respond torequests for help from business owners and Neil Carter from SmartWatergave a fascinating demonstration on how SmartWater works and how crime,both domestic and business, is vastly reduced where it is deployed. All localbusinesses are welcome to attend BNF meetings. Please contact MattFletcher for details [email protected].
“THINK BUSINESS THINK LOCAL”
www.thinklocal4business.co.uk
Business Networks Forum Co-ChairsLeft to Right Karen Nicholls – RoarMarketing Ltd, Tracy Pound –MaximITy Limited
Neil Morton, GMP Design
5This issue of the Business Brief is sponsored by
6 Now delivered to Thinklocal4business.co.uk users, 7,500 local businesses and public sector organisations
Company Email address Phone Web address
[email protected] / [email protected]
www.akleen.co.uk
www.a1sampleandprint.com
www.abflab.co.uk
www.adamsmoore.com
www.barontraining.co.uk
www.brfcarpets-flooring.co.uk
www.bcrs.org.uk
www.beautifulgardens.co.uk
www.thebestof.co.uk/lichfield
www.blossomdigital.com
www.bluebirdcare.co.uk
www.brokenstones.net
www.b2bclubnetworking.co.uk
www.businessam.net
www.businessb4work.co.uk
www.bds-uk.co.uk
www.maximity.co.uk
www.tamworth.gov.uk
www.cathedralchemdry.co.uk
www.cef.co.uk/branches/tamworth
01827 250750
01827 289551
01827 64911
01827 54944
07917 428753
0121 378 4230
0845 313 8410
01543 444470
01543 304441
01543 439000
01543 418432
01543 222 444
0844 225 0340
0121 343 3277
07786 067207
01543 416222
01827 312 278
01827 709 312
01543 418811
01827 261 051
Adams Moore is an accountancy and business adviser firm offering a variety of accountancy services. It also offers Board Support, a fixed-fee option giving a higher level ofsupport to Owner-Managed Businesses, comparable with an in-house Finance Director, providing total support for you and your business.
A Kleen Cleaning Services
A1 SamplePrint
Absolutelyflab-u-less
Adams Moore
Baron Training
Barry Field Carpets and Flooring Ltd ofSutton Coldfield
BCRS
Beautiful Gardens
Best of Lichfield
Blossom Digital
Bluebird Care
Brokenstones
Business to Business
Business AM
Business B4 Work
Business Development Service
Business First
Business Networks Forum
Cathedral Chem Dry
CEF
Beautiful Gardens offer a full range of landscaping services, from initial design and consultation work through to the build and completion of projects. We undertake small,individual jobs and repair work, as well as fully project-managed work, including car parks, play areas and installation of outdoor fitness equipment.
The Best of Lichfield is an interactive hub, working with a passion for supporting local businesses. It is run by local people for local people. We are energetic, motivatedand are growing along with our clients' businesses.Our approach makes online advertising simple, trouble free and highly cost effective for our featured businesses.
Welcome to Baron Training, specialists in the provision of training solutions to public and private sector organisations. We help clients build internal capability by engaging withthem to ascertain training needs and providing bespoke courses. Using qualified trainers we utilise blended learning and engagement techniques to meet the required outcomes.
We are part of the UK's premier provider of privately purchased care in your own home. Our services include providing Access To Work for employees who have short-term or permanent disability issues. We offer a cost effective alternative to residential care and help people stay in the comfort of their own home.
B2B is the area's most successful business networking group. We have generated over £700,000 of invoiced business for our members since the inception of the groupin January 2009 and won the prestigious Business Development Award at the South Staffordshire Regeneration Awards. Our group is run by our members for ourmembers and has a single seat policy.
We are a proactive business networking group made up of business people from Lichfield, Tamworth and the surrounding areas. We meet fortnightly on Friday morningsto promote our businesses, generate sales, build relationships and discuss business issues with other like-minded business people. We have an informal structure andbelieve in a simple co-operative approach to networking, which works really well.
BDS has provided advice, training and NVQs to hundreds of businesses over 23 years. We have a wide range of experienced, qualified and practical experts. BDSprovides the free Tamworth4Business service to help people to move into self-employment, give advice and strategic reviews for local businesses and deliver freemanagement workshops in the Tamworth area. For more details visit our website.
We are not a networking group. We are part of the Business & Economic Partnership and give local businesses the opportunity to have their say on local and nationalissues that affect business. We hold meetings every two months. Any business can attend, please get in touch for more details.
Welcome to City Electrical Factors in Tamworth. Electrical wholesalers since 1956. Our team is vastly experienced with many years of working closely with industrial,commercial and domestic customers. With vast stocks we offer a local personal service that can adapt to your needs. Behind this lies the vast support structure of alarge multinational company.
Pop-Up Show
7This issue of the Business Brief is sponsored by
Company Email address Phone Web address
www.cloveraccountants.com
www.deeleys.net
www.designpit.co.uk
www.fcng.co.uk
www.fsb.org.uk
http://jennymarsh.com
http://jobseekers.direct.gov.uk
www.kallkwik.co.uk/tamworth
www.mavericksolutionsuk.com
www.maximity.co.uk
www.mazprint.com
www.sinica.co.uk
www.othello.uk.com
www.raphaeldesign.co.uk
www.roarmarketing.co.uk
www.senatorsecurity.co.uk
www.southstaffs.ac.uk
www.stratique.com
www.lichfield-tamworth-chamber.com
www.tcmtrailers.co.uk
www.thinklocal4business.co.uk
www.tissueman.co.uk
www.waterchemist.co.uk
0845 200 0952
01543 682361
07977 156544
0845 901 4444
01543 481918
07824 368226
01543 513735
01827 61618
0800 987 8730
01827 312 278
01543 466 150
01827 62155
0800 975 0390
01543 261220
01827 897142
01543 411811
01543 438724
0845 226 3095
08450 710 191
01543 255452
07791 835236
01283 566 481
01543 306802
Design Pit Ltd is a small and wonderfully creative design company based in Lichfield. We design logos, stationery, flyers, posters, brochures, websites and banners that pack avisual punch! We’re a one stop shop for all your design needs, competitively priced and don’t baffle you with marketing buzz-words or jargon!
Clover Certified Chartered Accountants
DEELEYS
Design Pit Ltd
Four counties networking Group
FSB
The Harvest Project/Jenny Marsh Ltd
Jobcentre Plus
Kall Kwik
Maverick Solutions Uk Ltd
Maximity
MAZ print
MT Services
Othello4 Martin James
Raphael Design Ltd
Roar Marketing Ltd
Senator Security Services Ltd
South Staffordshire College
Stratique Marketing Design and PR
Tamworth and Lichfield Chamber of Commerce
TCM Trailers
Think Local
Tissueman Hygiene Supplies Ltd
Waterchemist Ltd
The Federation of Small Businesses is the UK's largest campaigning pressure group promoting and protecting the interests of the self-employed and owners of small firms. Ithas 200,000 members. It provides a wide range of high quality, good value business services to all its members. It also applies pressure on MPs, Government and Whitehalland puts the SME viewpoint across to the media.
Harvest was set up to offer simple and straightforward guidance on how to use LinkedIn. Jenny and Sharon deliver their workshops in an informal but effective way and you cantake along your laptop and get excellent support in a safe and relaxed environment with a small working group. If you feel happier with personal session, 1:1 training isavailable along with in house training for companies. Simple bite size sessions take the mystery out of LinkedIn!! Book on and find out why 2 people are joining every second....
Our FREE, no fee, no obligation service, searches a wide range of venues for each event. We’ve organized over 10,000 events, saving clients 1000’s of ££’s. Our knowledge,expertise and client focus guarantee quality of service and total commitment to your event success.
Our mission is to provide independent, professional, innovative, friendly and cost effective business solutions. We focus on total client satisfaction through the delivery of ourfirst class training and consultancy services. MaximITy is committed to working in partnership with both clients and suppliers to add value in an environment of mutual respectand professionalism. MaximITy is dedicated to life-long learning and self development in support of achieving a healthy work / life balance.
MT Services Ltd has been established for over 40 years, working with small medium and corporate enterprises, providing a complete range of services and exceptionalsupport that cover all their IT requirements. We have recently developed SINICA; a Visitor and Staff Management System for use within any businesses reception area.
We're a highly qualified and experienced marketing consultancy based in Tamworth. We help our clients to sell more products and services cost effectively. We provide all thefunctions of a full in-house marketing department at a fraction of the cost of employing staff of your own. Call us for a chat or to arrange a no-obligation free consultation.
Stratique Marketing, Design and PR helps businesses in the Midlands develop low-cost lead generation marketing strategies that can double their business. Imagine havingyour own team of highly skilled online and offline marketers, public relations specialists, designers, and web developers, implementing weekly services, tailored to yourbusiness needs.
The Chamber of Commerce exists to connect its members to opportunity, whether it is customers and suppliers or linking them with other support organisations. Membershipof the Chamber opens up a wealth of free essential business information, advice and support. For all your business needs, think Chamber first…
TCM Trailers provide exhibition, merchandising and box trailer hire for roadshows, promotions and events on a nationwide basis - but with massive discounts available forlocal work, it could be cheaper than you think to take your message on the road! Call Lindsey to find out more.
Clover is a fresh and energetic firm of Chartered Certified Accountants based in Lichfield that offers a wide range of accountancy, financial and business services. Cloverknows that prosperous business is not luck, it's judgement. As a proactive firm, we pride ourselves on anticipating change and taking action so that your company thrives.
8
Business news in briefRecovery in the CommercialProperty Market is underwayThe degree to which the commercial property market isrecovering from the worst of the recession, is subject tomuch debate, almost weekly change, and is highlydependent upon where you are in the country. TheLondon office market for example has had a purplepatch for the last 2 years or so, whilst many sectors ofthe market in the regions have suffered over the sametime frame. There are some clear signs of recoveryhowever, and whilst these are fragile and certainly notrobust enough to feel that we are now on a constantupward trend, they are nonetheless encouraging.
There are a number of key contributors to this optimism:1. The resurgence of the motor industry in the region
which has a direct impact (Jaguar, Land Rover,Toyota, JCB etc.), and an even bigger indirect impacton suppliers, spin-off activities and in theconstruction sector.
2. Large scale retail – particularly at the budget end of
the market – has beenperforming well, despitesome casualties on the way.
3. Supply levels of newproperty in the industrialand warehousing sector inparticular are low, as littlenew construction hasoccurred over the last 3years.
4. Interest rates remain low.There are always exceptions: thelocal retail market is on its knees,lumbered with high rents set pre-recession, and falling sales asunemployment, short timeworking and general belt tightening take hold. But there ismoney out there, and UK as well as foreign investors arenow deciding that the time is right to get back in the saddle,in the expectation that rents on new lettings will swing moreto a point of equilibrium between Landlord and Tenant, andin a market where cash is king, freehold values will start torise due to the prospects of a limited increase in demandnot being met by an equivalent increase in supply until theconstruction sector can respond. It’s patchy, it’s fragile, butit is there.
All businesses in theASA’s sightsLichfield solicitors McIntosh Law recently dealt with an ASA investigationinto one of their clients. From March 2011 the Advertising StandardsAuthority’s (ASA) remit was expanded to internet advertising. Most smallbusinesses have websites. The primary purpose of websites is to attractbusiness and is usually an advert, or collection of adverts. Many smallbusinesses rely on websites done on a shoestring budget by websitedevelopers who are themselves small businesses. The ASA upholds rulescalled the CAP Code. It demands compliance with its investigations allowinglittle response time and demanding that business produces evidence thatadvertised information is true. The ASA apparently expects all businesseswho advertise to know the CAP Code, including the requirements to befulfilled before the advert goes public on the internet. “The ASA is nowmoving amongst micro-businesses where the smallest of losses ordiminution of cash flow can be instantly fatal. The ASA should recognise thatsmall businesses may not respond well to the heavy regulatory hand that itwill lay on them.” says Stuart McIntosh, McIntosh Law. Tel: 01543 440 308
Tamworth marketingconsultancy, RoarMarketing Limitedworks in partnershipwith the Business andEconomic Partnership to produce theTamworth and Lichfield Business Brief.For advertising or sponsorshipopportunities in the new electronicversion of the Business Brief [email protected], 01827 897 142.
Matt Fletcher’s department is thecentral link between the public sectorand local businesses, so if you have anyqueries about any of the articles in thisissue or just don't know who to speakto on business issues please contactMatt on 01827 709 382 or [email protected]
Please send your news stories for theBusiness Brief (with picture or logo) toMatt Fletcher at Tamworth Council.
The Business Brief is collated, writtenand designed in Tamworth and Lichfieldand is printed by Restart Print,Tamworth Tel: 01827 302 554
Andrew Buckman,Commercial AgencyPartner, KingstonCommercial PropertyConsultants, sponsorsof the Business Brief
Matt Fletcher, SeniorEconomicDevelopment Officer,Shared ServiceTamworth BoroughCouncil and LichfieldDistrict Council
This issue of the Business Brief is sponsored by
