Your Development Manager: or call

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1 THE West Staffordshire & Midlands Your Development Manager: or call November/December 2016 AWARDS GREAT REMINDER OF SUPPORT FOR OUR MEMBERS The Staffordshire and West Midlands Region recently delivered it fifth Annual Small Business Friendly Local Authority (LA) and Local Enterprise Awards (LEP) Awards. This process was instigated to recognise and celebrate the great and, often unsung, work delivered by the 15 LAs and three LEPs across the Region on behalf of our members and other small businesses. Throughout the last five years what has become abundantly clear year-onyear is that, even through budgets being squeezed, diminishing resources and, more latterly, the move towards a West Midlands Combined Authority and, of course, the decision to leave Europe and the uncertainty this has caused, our engagement with our critical partners has gone from strength to strength. Our third quarter Small Business Index, the first major dataset on UK small business gathered since the result of the EU Referendum in June, tells us that for the first time since 2012 small business confidence has fallen into negative territory. This means the number of small firms feeling confident is outweighed by the number feeling the opposite. In the West Midlands, confidence has fallen from to +3.1 from Q to Q This is the second largest annual drop in confidence on record. However, more positively, we have seen an increase in the number of small businesses increasing their headcount this quarter. This is an important reminder that it is through supporting small businesses that high employment levels can be sustained and increased. The share of small businesses aspiring to grow over the next 12 months has increased this quarter according to our index, standing at 55.3 per cent which is the highest share since the end of The share of businesses expecting to downsize, close or pass on the business has fallen this quarter, standing at 10.9 per cent. Again, this tells us that the support offered by our partners to our members and other small businesses has never been more crucial if the businesses are to achieve their aspirations to not only survive, but to thrive. AND THE WINNERS ARE... The winners of our fifth Annual Local Authority Best Small Business Friendly are listed below. Procurement Policy (joint winners): Walsall Council for its Social Value Charter and Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council for its Business Excellence Programme. Programme or Campaign: South Staffordshire Council for its Business Hub programme and Small Business Saturday campaign. All Round Small Business Friendliness: City of Wolverhampton Council for its Skills for Growth Carers into Care programme. CITY OF WOLVERHAMPTON COUNCIL, WINNER OF BEST ALL ROUND SMALL BUSINESS FRIENDLINESS FROM LEFT: JAY PATEL (MANAGER, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & INVESTMENT AT WOLVERHAMPTON), JOHN POOLE (FSB REGIONAL CHAIRMAN) AND CLLR JOHN REYNOLDS REGIONAL NEWS 2, 11, 14 BUSINESS UPDATE 3-10 REGIONAL CONTACTS 14 TO ADVERTISE CALL

2 Staffordshire & West Midlands ARE FSB MEMBERS SET FOR THEIR BUSIEST DAY OF THE YEAR AGAIN? Small businesses throughout Staffordshire and the West Midlands look set for another pre-christmas boost thanks to an important campaign which FSB will once again be backing. Small Business Saturday has quickly become established as the biggest day of the year for applauding and supporting the UK s amazing small business community. It is estimated more than 623m was spent with SMEs on the day last year an increase of nearly a quarter on 2014 and hopes are high this figure will be smashed again this year. Small Business Saturday takes place on Saturday, December 3, and, with support from the media, local MPs and councils, it is hoped it will put the whole SME sector in a positive light and get those tills ringing among our retail members. In previous years in this Region we have held events to celebrate the day in Dudley, Lichfield and Burton and this year we have another local boost as the special tour bus which will be travelling around the country highlighting the work small businesses do, has chosen Burton as one of its stop-off points. You can see it in the city centre on Monday, November 7, where FSB will be present to join in the pre-event excitement. We are happy to support this annual awareness day as it has similar goals to our own Keep Trade Local campaign which was one of the pioneering schemes to encourage the public to see the value of backing small businesses. We will be trying to support events locally and nationally to help promote the day so keep an eye on our regional newsletter and our Twitter for up to date information. In the meantime, for more on the day itself, the bus tour and the Small Biz 100 which highlights a different SME every day go to smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com/. 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: 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. PAGE 2 LATE PAYMENT IS A SCOURGE FOR SMEs We presented a joint award for Best Small Business Friendly Procurement policy to two of our Local Authorities this year, Walsall Council and Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council. The initiatives by these two local authorities were welcomed by us on behalf of our members. Almost 99 per cent of businesses in the UK are small businesses yet our intelligence tells us that only 10.5 per cent of those businesses account for direct Central Government procurement expenditure. Any measures which help to level the FSB MEMBERS IN THE STORAGE AREA WHERE THE GIANT ROLLS OF PAPER ARRIVE AND ARE STORED READY TO GO ONTO THE PRINTING PRESS BIRMINGHAM BRANCH SEE FOR THEMSELVES WHAT HOT OFF THE PRESS MEANS Members of the Branch visited the Trinity watch the printing process from the start Mirror Print Works in Erdington recently to the final stage in which newspapers to see newspapers coming off the are put into bundles ready for distribution presses. to wholesalers all over the country. The group was given a tour of the state Despite the gradual move away of the art print works led by Nick Cahm, from the consumption of news in print who manages the centre that prints to on-line, FSB members learned that the Daily Mirror as well as many regional financially print is still the biggest part and local newspapers including The of the business and that millions of Birmingham Mail and The Birmingham Post. newspapers are still printed and read During the tour members were able to every day. USED COURTS FOR A BUSINESS DISPUTE? The Ministry of Justice is keen to engage with FSB members as they design and test a new online THE playing field for small businesses are welcomed. Procurement is only half of the equation. Once a business has been successful in winning a contract, the next stumbling block is to ensure they are paid on time. A total of 51 per cent of FSB members report having been paid late in the last 12 months. This creates a huge barrier for them, their workforce and their customers. We would welcome any initiatives they can instigate which ensure payment terms afforded to tier one suppliers are court system. If you ve had experience using the courts for a business dispute and would be passed down the supply chain. Writing this into their main contracts and instigating sanctions for failure to comply would be a big help. It is not necessarily the local Government bodies which fail to keep to their side of the bargain but their main suppliers taking unauthorised credit from our members and other small firms. We have case studies which would keep anybody awake at night so we have asked them all, when putting contracts together, to consider measures to help alleviate this problem. happy to provide feedback please contact the FSB Press Office press@fsb. org.uk

3 Staffordshire & West Midlands BREXIT, ENSURING YOUR IS BEING HEARD At the time of writing this issue of Regional Voice, it marks 100 days since the UK voted to leave the European Union (EU). Our position to remain neutral throughout the Referendum campaign has placed us in an ideal position as our Westminster team has sought to be a constructive partner for the Government in its forthcoming negotiations. We have and are engaging with Government to make sure the small business voice is heard as the UK moves to exit the EU. In addition, we have been seeking views from members on all affected areas. Great uncertainty remains around future access to the European market. This is not surprising as one-third of our members import or export and the vast majority of them trade with European countries. FSB s main priority is to keep the European market easily accessible for small firms at the lowest cost for business. To this end we have set out our four key areas: 1) Access to European single market and non-eu markets 2) Access to labour, skills and the ability to do business anywhere in the EU 3) Current EU funded projects and future SME support 4) Clarity on the future regulatory framework It is critical that we consider all views and opinions to accurately reflect the views of members. The views and experiences of members are being actively sought in all four areas. We have held roundtables and will be conducting specific surveys and order make sure you are signed up to our Big Voice survey panel uk/benefits/big-voice. It is crucial that your voice is heard. We are keen to hear your views and case studies about how the decision, may, has and will affect your business. If you are willing to share information then the Staffordshire and West Midlands Development Manager Karen. woolley@fsb.org.uk. FSB will rally its resources to distil our understanding of the areas above and help shape Government priorities. THE BIRMINGHAM WINS MOST ENTERPRISING PLACE IN BRITAIN Small Business Minister, Margot James, recently announced that Birmingham had been named the Most Enterprising Place in Britain by the 2016 Enterprising Britain Awards. The winning project saw Birmingham City Council team up with six Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) to improve confidence, encourage investment, and attract and retain business talent. It supported 1,000 businesses, generating 87m in private sector investment and creating or safeguarding 4,300 jobs, as part of the ambitious plans to build a Midlands Engine for Growth. Ms James said: We have 900,000 more small businesses than in 2010 and they have an important role to play in building an economy that works for all. It is great to see the support available for business owners making a real difference and driving entrepreneurial spirit across the UK. These awards recognise the value of local support and show what can be achieved when people who know their community best make their own decision. Run by Investment in Young People (IiYP), on behalf of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the Enterprising Britain awards celebrate local initiatives which boost business and growth. Liverpool John Moores University, the Borough of Broxbourne Council and Kent International Business also won awards for building enterprise skills, promoting entrepreneurial spirit and supporting exports, respectively. Birmingham City Council and Liverpool John Moores University will now go forward as the UK entries to the European Enterprise Promotion Awards. FSB SMALL BUSINESS REPORT SHOWS CONFIDENCE CONCERNS FSB recently published the latest edition of our quarterly Small Business Index (SBI), surveying the confidence levels of business like you, across the UK. We took these findings to Ministers and policymakers of all political parties at Party Conferences and these will inform our negotiations in advance of the Autumn Statement where we want the Government to take urgent decisions to back small business. The SBI is produced from survey responses given by our members and is used by policymaking organisations such as the Bank of England as well as the Government to inform their decisions. Our survey shows that small business confidence has fallen for the third quarter in a row and is now in negative territory for the first time since Business owners feeling confident are outnumbered by those that feel the opposite. You can read the report and have join the Big Voice survey panel at benefits/big-voice. PAGE 11

4 Make the most of your membership Call or visit fsb.org.uk/benefits ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES WHAT COULD YOUR FSB MEMBERSHIP DO FOR YOU? We re always looking at ways to help your business fly and constantly review the benefits of membership, to ensure they deliver what you want. Over the last 12 months, a lot has changed and we don t want to you miss out. We ve introduced new member benefits including; Vehicle leasing and purchasing services, a business and domestic energy broker and have replaced our workplace pension provider, making the product even more competitive. Are you making the most of your membership? We could have done with FSB earlier in the company s history, we would have been able to expand at an earlier date. When we were looking at employing our first apprentice last year, it was FSB employment documents that helped cut through the red tape and navigate us through a minefield of paperwork. Having somebody like FSB behind you is fantastic. There is a whole team behind the organisations, whatever is required: support, advice, finance, you know that you re not alone, you ve got FSB. Mark Woodward, Member for seven years and CEO of the Printed Cup Company. Liz McNaughton, Member for seven years and Director of Ecce Media. Mubarak Chati, Member for five years and Managing Director of 1 Events Media.

5 REFRESH WE WANT TO HEAR YOUR VIEWS ON THE PROPOSED CHANGES! Be part of a national consultation on the future of FSB s region and branch structure. We are funded by members, for members - and so members set our strategy and participate fully in our work at every stage. Every member is invited to take part, so please tell us what you think by: 5 December 2016 by filling in our survey at: We are able to provide a paper version of the survey on request. Completed surveys will be entered into a draw to win 1 year s free FSB membership* Get involved, let your voice be heard. REFRESHING OUR ROOTS! For further details go to or Call *Terms apply, see fsb.org.uk/refreshterms for details

6 Staffordshire & West Midlands THE SUBCONSCIOUS PSYCHOLOGY OF ATTRACTING CUSTOMERS The Staffordshire and West Midlands Region recently hosted a Black Country Member s networking event in Dudley which was well received by members of that Branch. The event included a presentation by Tom Mallens, a learning and development trainer and specialist in online B2B lead generation using LinkedIn, on the subconscious psychology of attracting customers. Tom runs a sales and marketing training company and a manufacturing sales business. His presentation started by asking those present if they had ever felt frustrated by ideal prospects who don t buy from you.] The talk provided tips to help members close deals with more people, more easily and more often. It looked at the key subconscious triggers that prompt people to buy and the natural fears that will stop people doing deals with you if you accidentally trigger them. It was an enjoyable, interactive session and those present were armed with seven practical ways to attract and keep more customers. REGIONAL CONTACTS REGIONAL CHAIRMAN: John Poole Tel: john.poole@oakhamresearch.com REGIONAL SECRETARY: Jenny Cartwright Tel: family.cartwright@gmail.com REGIONAL VICE-CHAIRMAN: William McCafferty Tel: fsbwilliam@gmail.com REGIONAL VICE-CHAIRMAN Karen Hays Tel: Karen.hays@theaccountsmith.co.uk REGIONAL TREASURER: David Cartwright Tel: dcartwright@ymail.com NATIONAL COUNCILLOR: Helen Lillis Tel: helen.lillis@fsb.org.uk HELPLINE SERVICES ASSIST THOUSANDS TO DEVELOP The Stoke on Trent & Staffordshire LEP won our LEP Recognition Award this year for the creation of a Regulatory Charter which was signed between 19 FROM LEFT: JOHN POOLE, organisations, including FSB REGIONAL CHAIRMAN, the FSB, to provide a NICOLA KENT AND regulatory environment MATTHEW SHUFFLEBOTHAM which promotes success FROM THE STOKE-ON-TRENT in business. AND STAFFORDSHIRE LEP The LEP believes that good regulation is essential in protecting the public and the environment whilst acting as an enabler for business growth. A representative from each regulatory area was invited to attend the Enterprise Round Table which has a membership that includes all publically funded local and national organisations providing business support in Staffordshire. The group was established to share information about schemes and new opportunities for businesses. In conjunction with this, the existing helpline being used by Trading Standards was not working well so the website and all promotional materials were changed to show the Growth Hub Business Helpline number. The Helpline number is the single point of contact for business support DEVELOPMENT MANAGER: Karen Woolley LL.B (Hons) Tel: karen.woolley@fsb.org.uk BRANCH CONTACTS BIRMINGHAM Secretary Helen Lillis Tel: helen.lillis@fsb.org.uk BLACK COUNTRY Secretary John Poole Tel: john.poole@oakhamresearch.com BURTON, LICHFIELD & TAMWORTH Secretary Ian Irwin Tel: ianirwin178@btinternet.com NORTH STAFFS Position vacant THE in Staffordshire and using the Helpline number means provides an opportunity to discuss all the services on offer and connect businesses to the other areas of support available to them in Staffordshire. Over the past year, more than 400 businesses called the Business Helpline with regulatory queries, many of which were in the pre-start or early stage of business life. Providing them with awareness of how Trading Standards and other regulators work means that the business can be encouraged to take advantage of support on offer at an early stage and hence trade compliantly. Aligned with this, the LEP Growth Hub advisers offer businesses the chance to work with specialists from a breadth of disciplines, to develop and grow their business. Whether the business is established or a new start-up, getting the right support is crucial to success and businesses are encouraged to phone the Staffordshire Business Helpline and request the support of the Growth Hub Advisors team. FOOTNOTE: So far, Growth Hub Advisors have engaged with more than 3,400 businesses and have provided over 5,200 referrals to business support organisations. HAS YOUR FIRM BENEFITTED FROM EU FUNDING? WE are keen to talk to any small business that has been a beneficiary of EU funding. This could be directly, in the form of a grant or loan, or indirectly by receiving business support from an EU funded project. If you are keen to help contact Greg Warren in the London Policy Team at greg. warren.fsb.org.uk PAGE 14