THE
VOICE
Shropshire,
Herefordshire &
Worcestershire
Your Development Manager: michael.goodall@fsb.org.uk or call 07917 628 993
March/April 2016
WORCESTER STUDENT SECURES A
TRIPLE SUCCESS IN BUSINESS
No matter what happens later in life,
Jordan Forrest, the winner of the 2015
Federation of Small Businesses Award for
Most Entrepreneurial Student, will have to
go a long way to beat his stunning triple
success.
Jordan, a student at the University of
Worcester’s Business School, collected
his FSB prize and a day later he received
his degree certificate at the graduation
ceremony in Worcester Cathedral.
However, these were surpassed when the
student received word that he had landed
his dream job at H & K International, a
global giant specialising in supplying
equipment to the hospitality sector.
Judi Brazkiewicz, Chairman of FSB
Worcestershire, said: “This is the fourth
year that FSB has worked with the
university and every year I’m absolutely
blown away by the hard work, dedication,
determination and ingenuity that our
young people bring to FSB’s Sponsored
Student campaign.
“I understand that Jordan will leave
Worcestershire to join his first big
employer at Rugby. I wish him every
possible success for the future and ask
him not to forget FSB as from little acorns
great oaks grow.”
Jordan added: “Any entrepreneurialism
I have I probably received from my mother
JORDAN BEING PRESENTED
WITH HIS PRIZE
who has run her own business for many
years and tells me that customers return
if you give them good service and quality
products.
“I started an online retailing business
a while ago but it was extremely
competitive so decided to concentrate
on finding a job where I can gain more
experience, which is crucial to any
CHARITY DEVELOPS SME KIT
Businesses of all sizes are increasingly turning to their
online presence to maximise sales and after-sales.
Online is what the majority of customers want and
although nothing beats the face-to-face business model,
businesses need to use technology to their best advantage.
Go ON UK is a digital skills charity which has developed a
toolkit to help small businesses identify local support to get
them doing more online.
Visit http://local.go-on.co.uk/topics/helping-smallbusinesses-and-organisations/ to find out more.
REGIONAL NEWS 2, 11, 14
BUSINESS UPDATE 3-10
business. As part of my award I get to visit
the House of Commons which I’m really
looking forward to as I’ve never been
before. It’s going to be a very special day
for me.
“I’m delighted to have received the
award and would like to thank my tutor,
Nigel Walton, the university and FSB for
making it happen.”
GIVE US YOUR FEEDBACK
FSB’s Big Voice is your opportunity to feedback your
business opinions on issues that really matter to you.
FSB emails you approximately every four to six weeks
inviting you to take part in a short online survey.
It takes a few minutes to participate and makes all the
difference when we are talking to politicians on your
behalf.
Sign up today and be part of the biggest small business
voice to date. Visit www.fsb.org.uk and click on the Big
Voice Image.
REGIONAL CONTACTS 14
TO ADVERTISE CALL 020 7324 2776
Shropshire, Herefordshire & Worcestershire
LATEST MESSAGE FROM YOUR REGIONAL CHAIRMAN
By Richard Asghar-Sandys
Many of you may have seen
our 2016 Policy Conference
‘Small Business 2020:
inspiring growth, innovation
and ambition’ which took
place on 2 February at
Queen Elizabeth II Centre
Westminster. The Conference
was a huge success and
gave us a national platform to
debate the issues important to
our members.
In a rapidly-changing
business environment, the
event saw key politicians,
business leaders,
policymakers and FSB
members come together to
set the small business policy
agenda for the future. The day
was hosted by leading BBC
business presenter, Steph
McGovern.
The conference also
included three high level
sessions focused on
rebalancing the UK economy,
high-growth global future for
small businesses and growing
tomorrow’s entrepreneurs innovation and competition.
If you didn’t get a chance
to watch the conference
live visit https://www.fsbpolicy-conference.co.uk/
about#sthash.bLpg19BT.dpuf
The next big event on the
national FSB calendar is our
National Small Business Expo
& AGM taking place from the
17 to 19 March in Glasgow.
More details can be found
here https://events.fsb.org.
uk/conference2016 but if you
haven’t got time to attend I
urge you to exercise your right
to vote.
More locally to
Shropshire, Herefordshire &
Worcestershire I am delighted
to welcome Michael Goodall
as our new Development
Manager who started
with us at the beginning
on February. Michael
has many years of
experience representing
businesses and is
looking forward to
meeting you at one of
our events. After 14 years
with FSB, Angela has
taken a career break to
enjoy life. We wish her
well and thank her for
all her hard work and
devotion to FSB and
small businesses across
RICHARD ASGHAR-SANDYS
the Region.
You will also have
noticed that FSB
I value and welcome your
underwent a rebrand towards
thoughts and ideas on how the
the end of 2015. This is only
local region can best support
one part of a comprehensive
your business.
plan to grow and strengthen
Feel free to contact me via
FSB to ensure it remains
our Development Manager
the preferred business
who can be contacted at
organisation that is truly the
michael.goodall@fsb.org.uk
voice of small businesses.
FSB WORLDPAY BUSINESS
AWARDS A CELEBRATION
EXPORT CASE
STUDIES ARE
IN DEMAND
Do you export? Would you be
willing to be a case study to
support a new Government
campaign Exporting is GREAT?
The Exporting is GREAT
campaign aims to provide
advice and expertise to support
businesses at every step on their
exporting journey, from initial
interest to selling in market.
We are looking for businesses
who can share their story and
inspire other small firms to start
exporting and at the same time
this would be a great way to
promote your company. Contact:
karen.durcan@fsb.org.uk
VOICE EDITORIAL: This publication is produced by and published for the Federation of Small
Businesses, Sir Frank Whittle Way, Blackpool Business Park Blackpool, Lancs, FY4 2FE.
© Copyright 1996 Federation of Small Businesses all rights reserved. Editor: James Connor. Tel:
01253 361179 Email: james.connor@fsb.org.uk.
Whilst every care has been taken in the compilation of this publication errors or omissions are
not the responsibility of the Federation of Small Businesses and opinions expressed are those
of the authors and are not necessarily the policy of the Federation.
The finalists for the 2016 FSB Worldpay
Business Awards demonstrated just how
diverse small businesses are. Over 1,000
entries were submitted by fast-growing
SMEs across the UK which ranged from
a hotel for cats in Yorkshire to a cake
company in Kent.
Recognising the crucial role that
SMEs play in the UK economy, the FSB
Worldpay Small Business Awards – now
in their third year – are designed to find
the country’s most successful SMEs who
also have diversity and corporate social
responsibility at their heart.
Jo Ounsley, founder of the The Ings
Luxury Cat Hotel in Yorkshire, which
claims to be the ultimate five-star holiday
retreat for felines, was one of four finalists
up for the Best Start-Up of the Year
category.
Speaking about her nomination, Jo said:
“I’m delighted and very proud to be a
finalist. We are excited about the future of
our little Hotel for cats.
“We will continue to offer the best
possible service for the country’s felines.
All our guests will have their paws
crossed for us on the night.”
Richard Asghar-Sandys, Regional
Chairman, Shropshire, Herefordshire
& Worcestershire for the Federation of
Small Businesses, said the standard of
this year’s entries was extraordinary, with
more businesses than ever before.
He said: “I think this reflects a real
upsurge in entrepreneurial vigour and
optimism among many firms across
the UK. Starting a business can be
tremendously exciting and invigorating,
and it takes great courage and fortitude.
“I’m proud to be part of these awards
because they celebrate these remarkable
people, showing appreciation and support
for the fantastic contribution they make to
our country.”
The highly-prized awards boast seven
categories, Microbusiness; Online
Business of the Year; Business & Product
Innovation; Business Exporter; Ethical/
Green Business; Family Business and
Start-up of the year.
One category winner will become the
overall winner, receiving a total prize fund
of £12,000 and will be named The FSB
Worldpay UK Business of the Year.
If you missed the chance to enter look
out for the launch of this year’s awards
later in the year.
THE
PAGE 2
VOICE
www.fsb.org.uk
Shropshire, Herefordshire & Worcestershire
BUILD YOUR
BATTLE BOX
SMALL FIRMS UNDER AUTO
ENROLMENT PRESSURE
Nearly half of business owners without a
workplace pension scheme (45 per cent) are
still unclear about their responsibilities with
a quarter (25 per cent) not confident their
business can cope.
FSB research has found that although
smaller firms generally believe auto
enrolment will be good for their staff and that
workers should save for the future, many
are still unclear what they need to do, when
they need to do it, and how much it will cost.
Three in four business owners (76 per cent)
said auto enrolment pensions put too much
pressure on businesses like theirs.
Over the next two years more than a million
small and micro businesses will need to set
up a workplace pension for their employees
under the Government’s automatic enrolment
rules.
January saw the number of employers
reaching their designated staging date – the
date on which they need to start complying
with auto-enrolment – rapidly ramp up with
tens of thousands ‘staging’ each month in
2016 and 2017.
Although 51 per cent of businesses feel
confident they can meet the challenge of
the new workplace pension, 45 per cent of
businesses which have not yet complied are
unclear what they need to do and one in four
do not know their staging date.
The survey also found businesses
underestimating the costs of implementing
auto enrolment. On average, smaller
businesses still to start the process,
expect overall costs to be approximately
£903. However, firms which have already
introduced a workplace pension reported
average overall costs of £1,436, with one in
five businesses reporting costs upwards of
£2,000. Although costs are likely to be higher
for firms with more than 50 employees, the
findings suggest that the smallest businesses
could be underestimating the costs too.
When asked how they accommodated the
cost of setting up a workplace pension, 70
per cent of businesses which had already
done so said they absorbed the expense into
general operating costs or accepted lower
profits. However, a fifth said they had frozen
or reduced wages in order to cover the cost
of auto-enrolment.
Those firms yet to start auto-enrolment
said they were more likely to be planning a
wage freeze or cuts in response, with 30 per
cent expecting to do so. This suggests that
as the rollout reaches greater numbers of
businesses this could act as a further drag
on pay growth as employers look to manage
increasing costs.
Richard Asghar-Sandys, FSB’s Regional
Chairman, said: “Our message for small
employers is that auto-enrolment is coming
and will affect your business and the sooner
you get to grips with what you need to do,
the better off you will be.
“Most of the businesses which have
already set up a work place pension told us
they found the process fairly straightforward,
but we know many remain concerned about
their ability to cope.
“These businesses should feel reassured
that there is plenty of information and support
available to help them through this process,
both through FSB and from the Pensions
Regulator.”
How long would it take for
your business to recover from
a disaster? Any business hit
by, flood, fire, cyber attack etc.
struggles to recover.
Prevention is better than cure
so build your Battle Box and the
contents should include:
• Business Continuity Plan.
• List of employees with
contact details.
• List of customer and supplier
details.
• Insurance details and
certificates of all policies.
• Financial and banking
details, including passwords and
phrases.
• Utility company account
numbers, online passwords etc.
• Latest stock and equipment
inventory.
• Formulae and trade secrets.
• Business stationery.
• Site plan, including: location
of gas, electricity and water shut
off points.
• Engineering plans and
drawings.
• Local Authority contact
details.
Also include:
• Computer back up
• Spare keys/security codes.
• Disposable camera
This is not an exhaustive list
and keep the box secure, off-site,
checking it every six months.
Your people and processes
1. Identify any critical activities
such as payroll which keep the
business going.
2. Identify the employees or
input required to keep those
activities.
3. Ensure that they are not a
‘Single Point of Failure’.
4. Where necessary, train other
staff in these procedures.
5. Store backup data off site,
ensuring key staff know where
it’s kept.
6. Consider alternative work
locations.
7. Check that your suppliers
and contractors have Business
Continuity Plans in place.
8. Check that suppliers and
contractors will continue to
supply you if you’re hit by
business interruption.
9. Schedule regular review
dates for all of the above.
THE
www.fsb.org.uk
VOICE
PAGE 11
Shropshire, Herefordshire & Worcestershire
ALL ROADS LEAD TO GLASGOW
FOR FSB CONFERENCE 2016
Over 1,000 small
business owners from all
over the UK are beating
a path to the SECC in
Glasgow to be part of the
annual FSB Conference
and Expo from 17-19
March 2016.
Scotland’s First
Minister, Nicola Sturgeon,
will be adding her voice
to an impressive line-up
of keynote speakers
THE CONFERENCE VENUE IN GLASGOW
alongside senior
UK government and
opposition MPs. Hosting
products around the world - and all before the
the Conference and back on home ground, is
age of 30!
TV presenter and journalist Kirsty Wark, whose
This year’s Conference has many new
job it will be to put the spotlight on the panel
features
including new sponsors Epson and
of influential decision-makers and quiz them
British Standards Institute working alongside
about their plans and policies regarding small
key FSB providers and supporters.
businesses.
Away from the main Conference platform,
Kirsty, who grew up in Kilmarnock but now
the theme of ‘Invention, Innovation and
lives in Glasgow, tells of her pride in being part
Investment’ is running through the event
of the FSB Conference and how she’s looking
itinerary with the co-located FSB Business
forward to meeting delegates during the three
Expo (details below).
days. “Glasgow is such a beautiful city” she
For those who also want to explore the
says ”and it’s very welcoming, having been
delights of Scotland’s largest city whilst they’re
voted one of the friendliest cities in the world.”
there, a package of trips have been arranged
Another well-known Scottish figure,
which include the world famous Kelpies and
Fraser Doherty MBE, of SuperJam fame has
the Falkirk Wheel.
already confirmed his place as this year’s
Registrations for the event are already
main business speaker. Fraser will reveal the
breaking records and places are filling up
secrets of his amazing and meteoric rise from
rapidly so make sure you reserve your place by
learning the art of jam-making as a schoolboy
booking online at fsbexpo.co.uk or follow the
in his grandmother’s kitchen to running a
multi-million pound business exporting food
QR code (inset in above picture).
FSB BUSINESS EXPO 2016: BIGGER THAN EVER!
When FSB’s Business Expo
opens its doors at the SECC,
Glasgow from 17-19 March, it
will signal the start of three
days of totally free business
to business opportunities all
brought together under one
roof.
This year the Expo is set
to be bigger than ever with
over 100 exhibitors, keynote
speeches from some of the
country’s leading business
gurus and inspiring seminars
designed to help you improve
and grow your business.
If you have ever thought
how handy it would be to
network with over 1,000 other
similar-minded business
people from all over the UK,
well here’s your chance.
The Expo is all about
encouraging you to build
your contact list and find
ways of growing your
business and achieving your
ambitions.
It’s the ideal place to pick
up practical hints and tips
and at the same time browse
around the wide range of
exhibitors, all with products
designed specifically for
smaller businesses offering
advice and exclusive Expo
deals and discounts.
From telecoms to transit
vans, pensions to payment
terminals, fintech to funding,
the Business Expo has it all
– and it’s completely free to
enter.
We’re showcasing
dedicated open-access
areas for pensions and auto
enrolment advice, legal, tax
and insurance plus moneysaving deals on your energy
bills, business vehicles and
a host of other services and
benefits.
Better still, why not join in
as a new exhibitor? We have
a range of exhibiting options
and a special FSB member
discount available.
Registration is quick and
easy – just go to the website
at www.fsbexpo.com to
reserve your place and learn
more about what’s on offer
for you at the Expo.
GET THE MOST
FROM YOUR
TELECOMS
Dave Millett of Equinox, a
leading Telecoms Brokerage
and Consultancy looks at
getting the best from your
telecoms.
When did you last try calling
your own company? This is
often people’s first experience
of dealing with you. Whilst
systems can measure time to
answer and abandoned calls
do you know how customers
are greeted? If you use
routing options such as ‘press
1’, ‘press 2’ etc. – are they easy
to navigate? It may save you
time but it can create irritation
for the caller. If you use an
answering service are they
creating the right impression
for your company?
Secondly, is your solution
enhancing the productivity
of your staff? Technologies
that enable working on the
move and at home are readily
available. Services such as call
recording to review customer
service quality and video
conferencing/webinar services
to reduce travel costs are now
available for small monthly
fees. Costs have fallen
significantly and it is worth
revisiting many technologies
to assess if they can benefit
your business.
When did you last check the
costs you are paying? 80%
of organisations have not
reviewed, in detail, their bills
in the last two years. Call costs
have fallen significantly. Are
you the 1 in 7 company that
is paying for services they no
longer use? If you are about
to sign a new contract always
check the following:
1. How long is it for?
2. What is the notice period?
3. Are prices fixed?
4. What are the cancellation
penalties?
5. Have you got the
costs of every element and
destination?
6. Are there set up fees or
minimum charges on calls?
7. Are unlimited or bundles
right for you?
THE
www.fsb.org.uk
VOICE
PAGE 12
Shropshire, Herefordshire & Worcestershire
NETWORKING EVENTS
THAT CAN HELP YOU
AND YOUR BUSINESS
A number of local networking
events are organised across the
Region to allow members and nonmembers to meet new contacts,
learn and grow their business.
There will also be someone from
FSB who can help you with benefits
of membership to ensure you are
getting maximum value from your
FSB membership.
A list of our latest events can
be found below but visit www.fsb.
org.uk for a comprehensive list of
events.
FSB Shropshire Telford
Networking: Thursday, 17 March,
17:30 – 19:30: Meeting Point
House, Southwater Square, Telford,
Shropshire TF3 4HS. This is an
opportunity to find new customers
and suppliers in a friendly relaxed
meeting. It is open to members,
guests and non-members.
Members are FOC, non-members
first six visits are FOC and £10
per visit thereafter. The nearest
car parking is Brown Elm car park
approximately 100 metres away
Booking Ray.hickinbottom@fsb.org.
uk
FSB Shropshire Oswestry
Networking: Thursday 31 March,
17:30 – 19:30: Scotty’s Cafe, 4
Market Gate, Oswestry, Shropshire
SY11 2NR. This is an opportunity to
find new customers and suppliers
in a friendly relaxed meeting. It
is open to members, guests and
non-members. Members FOC, nonmembers first six visits FOC then
£10 per visit thereafter. Free parking
on site. Booking Ray.hickinbottom@
fsb.org.uk
MONTHLY MEETING
The Wyche Innovation Centre
hosts events for home workers,
freelancers, small business owners and
entrepreneurs in the Worcestershire &
Herefordshire area each month.
This is a chance to meet others. Bring
your laptop or tablet to use the free wi-fi.
Tea, coffee, cake and other refreshments
available at Cafe H2O. Networking
dates and registration details are at
http://malvernjelly.eventbrite.co.uk/
FSB WELCOMES NATIONAL
APPRENTICESHIP WEEK
The drive to encourage more FSB
members to take on apprentices will be
further boosted in March by a series of
events to highlight the importance of
apprenticeships.
National Apprenticeship Week runs
from March 14 to 18 and there will be
meetings all around the country to
showcase businesses who already have
apprentices and to encourage others to
follow suit.
With the Government committed to
introducing three million apprenticeships
over the next five years, FSB members
will be particularly sought after because
encouraging more small businesses to
take on apprentices is seen as the key
to making the ambitious programme
succeed.
The week aims to show employers that
taking on an apprentice could not only
give youngsters an important first career
step but could also introduce invaluable
assets to the workforce.
Research shows the vast majority of
apprentices are ultimately taken on by
their employers and many now see this
as the ideal route to take on trainees.
Businesses are being incentivised to do
so with the extension of apprenticeship
grants which mean you could get grants
of £1,500 per apprentice.
In addition, you can also get funding for
training and gain support through local
apprenticeship training organisations for
all the necessary qualifications, HR issues
and on-going assessments you need
making it easier than ever to take on an
apprentice.
Supporting apprenticeships is a
long-term FSB policy and our Regional
Chairman, Richard Asghar-Sandys,
said: “We hope this year’s National
Apprenticeship Week will lead more
businesses to consider taking on an
apprentice.
“High-quality apprenticeships are vital
to the future of British business and they
are a fantastic way to enable young
people to gain the skills they need to
succeed” There are a number of events
planned to celebrate the week locally and
if you want to know more visit http://www.
apprenticeships.gov.uk/
OFCOM EXPANDED ITS ONLINE PORTAL
The portal now includes
a jargon buster for
business customers, and
infographics showing the
benefits communications
services can bring to
businesses.
Ofcom’s portal was
launched last year to
provide advice to small
firms on choosing and
switching provider,
navigating and negotiating
contracts, and resolving
complaints. The portal
explains how businesses
can get the most from their
communications services.
It provides information
on what to consider when
choosing services and
provider; how to change
provider and what to
watch out for when signing
up for a service, contracts
and the things to consider
before signing up, how
to complain and where
to go for help and, finally,
Ofcom’s role, the rules
communications providers
must follow and business
customers’ rights.
consumers.ofcom.org.
uk/ofcom-for-businessconsumers
THE
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VOICE
PAGE 14