Greater Lincolnshire & Peterborough Your Development Manager: david.thorpe@fsb.org.uk or call 07917 628 927 May/June 2017 FSB EVENTS GIVE BUSINESSES GUIDANCE TO SUCCEED Business information and networking events held across the region have provided guidance to help with three crucial topics. The Business of Being Social How to make money and ensure your business survives in an increasingly digital world seems like a very long title but Social Media is a vast subject that should now be part of the marketing plan for any business. This event was organised by Neil Sharpley for members and guests from East Lindsey, West Lindsey and Northern Lincolnshire. Guest speaker was FSB Social Media expert David Taylor. Many of the discussions were about Twitter as the most appropriate for business users but the potential merits of other platforms such as LinkedIn and Facebook were included. Main message was that if businesses do not keep up with developments in technology they could fall behind their competitors. Discovering Grant Funding a guided tour to business support, delivered by FSB Development Manager, David Thorpe, was fully funded by the European Regional Development Fund via the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) so was free of cost to FSB and delegates. Owners and managers in REGIONAL NEWS 2, 11, 14 DAVID TAYLOR & NEIL SHARPLEY CYBER SECURITY SPEAKERS the Greater Cambridge and Greater Peterborough LEP area could be missing out on publicly funded, needs based, business support if they are not engaging with the Growth Hub, Signpost2Grow. David s presentation described a process that could be utilised to carry out Business Reviews to establish business needs BUSINESS UPDATE 3-10 in readiness for support. Joe Watson from Signpost2Grow and Sergio Aschettino from Nwes joined in for a Q&A session. Mike Johnson of Lagat Training organised a well-attended Co-Branded event at BG University with several speakers on the subject of Cyber Security it will never happen to me. REGIONAL CONTACTS 14 JOE WATSON, DAVID THORPE, SERGIO ASCHETTINO TO ADVERTISE CALL 07745 592 920
Greater Lincolnshire & Peterborough PAGE 2 VARIETY OF GRANT SCHEMES AVAILABLE TO OFFER SUPPORT Our FSB Region touches four Local Enterprise Partnership areas and in each there is a Growth Hub for accessing publicly funded business support. There has never been a better time for the variety and range of support and grant schemes that are available and the business support arena has now fully recovered from being decimated by the coalition government in 2010. This magazine will sometimes highlight schemes that would have a wide appeal but as business support has to relate to the strategy and growth aspirations of the business it is essential to establish those needs first. Help to do this is available from the Growth Hubs and often, more than one solution may be appropriate. A scheme launched recently for businesses in North Kesteven, West Lindsey and Lincoln is a good example. Collaboration 4 Growth provides 12 hours of support through mentoring, peer to peer and capacity building programmes. The project also offers a Grant Scheme for revenue or capital projects that will create new jobs or business growth. Grants are for 1000 to 5000 at a high intervention rate of 60%. Example capital projects would be purchase of equipment, tools or accounting systems. Example revenue projects would be consultancy services such as creating marketing plans, business plans or IT requirements. For details and the expression of interest form see the Advice and Grant Schemes section at the Growth Hub: www. businesslincolnshire.com Your Growth Hub website will have a filtering system to help you narrow down the lists of solutions. 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. AGRICULTURAL UPDATE Renewable energy consumes 1,000 s of acres of crops. Beet, maize and grass are harvested and fed into bio-digesters where bacteria gobbles them up producing gas which is fuel for massive generators feeding electricity into our national grid. Digestate waste is fed back to the land as fertiliser. 25% of UK s VIEW FROM CHAIR Forward thinking and training are key items in any successful business strategy. Our Region has instigated FSB Sponsored Apprenticeship Award Schemes with Further Education Colleges and the first awards presentation takes place at Boston College on the 17 May. Some of these events will have Business Support presentations attached too. The Lincolnshire Show in June is a great opportunity to drop in and meet us and discuss business matters and updated Membership benefits. In fact why not bring along a business colleague who would benefit from FSB Membership. Branches are holding business events around the Region so please look on the events calendar on the regional website home page for further details of events that are being organised as this publication goes to press. With the poor road network in our Region and the sparsely populated large geographical distances to be covered between business destinations it is most important that yours, and your employees mobile phone usage is safe and legal. For those who are sat at a desk or business station permanently, it is sometimes difficult to understand why the phone call or text is not answered or even an e-mail not replied to. There is a great call on our time. From March 2017 the Fixed Penalty Notice for using a handheld mobile The Branch Committee Chairman for South Kesteven has sent a note to the leader of South Kesteven District Council, Bob Adams, to thank his Council for the prudent vegetables are grown in Lincolnshire and over 12% of the UK s food supply is processed here. Vegetable waste is also fed into bio-digesters. Thousands of Eastern Europeans make the annual journey to harvest vegetables and soft fruit in fair and very foul weather conditions. The big question measure in deciding to freeze car parking charges for 2017/18. Our Branch Members welcome that decision even though it would have been good to see post-brexit is will they still find it economic to continue and if not what happens to our vegetable growing, harvesting and packing industry? Sunshine in May and June is critical to photosynthesise crop quality and yields as some Members found out to their dismay with unmarketable barley at harvest 2016. phone while driving has increased to 6 points and 200. Employers should issue specific business advice on mobile phone use. Though communication is key, Think carefully before you make it or take it! Our Regional Office will be closed by the end of July and more on this issue in the July/August edition. Regional and Branch Officer Contact details are at the back of this publication. Please keep in touch as we need to know where our Reservoirs of Knowledge (ROK s) are. MEMBERS WELCOME DISTRICT COUNCIL S FREEZE ON CAR PARKING CHARGES the implementation for free parking on some designated shopping days when parking would be free e.g. leading up to Christmas and Small Business Saturday. www.fsb.org.uk
Greater Lincolnshire & Peterborough LOCAL MEMBER IS NATIONAL COUNCIL CHAIRMAN Stav Melides is a member on the Lincoln, North Hykeham and Sleaford Branch Committee and is also current Chairman of FSB National Council. This is the highest representative committee of 33 regionally elected members and has four main responsibilities: 1/ To receive reports from the Board including the Strategic Directors and so exercise scrutiny for the members. 2/ To select and validate candidates, nominated from the membership, to stand for national level positions. 3/ To be responsible for member affairs, including the Manual of Standard Procedures and the region and branch structure 4/ To participate in the formulation of policy and discussion of policy initiatives. Stav accepts that the Chairman s role has both challenges and opportunities and said: My aspiration is to encourage the different parts of FSB to pull together with enhanced communication and a line of sight from senior positions through to the grass roots membership. A culture of shared ambitions is important and priorities include: Understanding the policy creation process and ensuring early National Council involvement in the decision making process. Involvement in writing the Business Plan Ensuring that senior appointments bring the appropriate skills and knowledge to help FSB up to the next level. Work to ensure that FSB triumphs over its competitors Encourage Members to find out about current lobbying and campaigning activities both locally and nationally. Provide guidance for local Committee Members, family and guests will be made very welcome when visiting the FSB Hospitality Marquee at Lincolnshire Show 2017. Conveniently situated on Avenue 10 near the Clock Tower, staff will be supplying beverages and biscuits for show visitors needing a well-earned rest. FSB Membership Advisers will be on hand to provide information about the benefits of Membership and for those that have already joined there will be the opportunity to chat with local Committee Members and staff. STAV MELIDES Members towards organising B2B networking meetings. Create some confidence in Members for referring fellow owners and managers to our Membership Advisers for new sign ups. There will of course be challenges, not least of all time, resources and finance but with some autonomy and a modest budget, the opportunity for the National Council to support organisational growth can be assured. Members wishing to comment regarding National Council issues can contact Stav at stav@astero.co.uk VISIT US AT LINCOLNSHIRE SHOW: 21, 22 JUNE Representatives from some of the FSB Member Services providers will be on hand to help ensure that you are taking advantage of the member benefits that are appropriate for your business. In the adjoining marquee you will be able to chat with FSB Members at their trade stands where they will be showcasing their business products and services and testing out show appearance for their business. Over 20 businesses will have taken advantage of a low cost stand. Come and visit us, there is a lot to see or you could just sit and enjoy a cuppa! FSB HOSPITALITY LOCAL TALENT FOR SKILLS NEEDS Innovative thinking and more importantly, action is needed to meet the future needs of local businesses across the region. Identifying and then matching those needs with the local pool of talent and potential is a perennial challenge. West Lindsey District Council is choosing to take some bold steps to truly localise the issues and the solutions. Geoff Middleton of local Consultancy business, No Limits Skills and Enterprise Ltd, has been commissioned to help tackle the thorny issue. Geoff s take on this is keep it local, keep it real. The key is making sense of local skills needs and opportunities now and into the future and connecting these to the pool of local talent available so that the latter can be encouraged, educated and trained appropriately. Develop round pegs for round holes everybody wins! That is where FSB and its members come in. The project needs a hefty dose of commercial reality at its core otherwise it goes off on unhelpful tangents and flights of fancy. It is imperative that the local economy benefits from the full range of education and skills development available. This initiative is addressing that range from the very specific vocational skills through to Apprenticeships at all levels and the Graduate programmes on our doorstep. Keeping local talent local! FSB members across West Lindsey are invited to take an active role in this exciting initiative to help ensure their own future success and prosperity. You can contact or Geoff Middleton directly at geoff@ nolimitsenterprise.co.uk or 07831 440044. www.fsb.org.uk PAGE 11
EVER THOUGHT ABOUT RUNNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS? SUPPORTED BY FSB, ONE OF LARGEST MEMBERSHIP ORGANISATIONS IN UK The skill and drive to maximise your nominated territory A proven track record in sales Self-motivated and hungry for success YOU WILL NEED: An understanding and experience of using Social Media platforms to develop membership sales opportunities Your own transportation and mobile phone OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS UK FOR SELF-EMPLOYED MEMBERSHIP SALES ADVISORS As experts in business we offer our members a wide range of vital business services including Legal and HR advice, financial expertise, support and a powerful voice in government as well as many other benefits. Imagine what you could achieve with uncapped earnings potential and full service and product training. WHAT DO WE OFFER? Uncapped earnings potential with our top performers earning in excess of 100k Additional earnings for high rate of sales Earn more by cross selling products and services Full service and product training If you are looking for a new challenge and have experience of working in B2B marketplace we re very keen to hear from you, don t delay in contacting us. Territories available across the whole of the UK For additional information Call 01253 361182 or email ma.opportunities@fsb.org.uk or visit Candidates.fsb.org.uk
Greater Lincolnshire & Peterborough SAVE MONEY AND ENERGY WITH BEE A boost of investment into the Greater Cambridge and Greater Peterborough LEP area has enabled the launch of the Business Energy Efficiency - BEE scheme. Funded by the European Regional Development Fund, the aim of the project is to encourage and enable local businesses to become more energy efficient. Aims are to reduce operating costs whilst improving competitiveness and growth potential. There are two strands of support: Free Energy Reviews: Energy efficiency advisors will conduct a site visit and help the business identify opportunities to save money and reduce carbon emissions. Grant Funding: BEE has a limited pot of funding to enable businesses to invest in capital projects and implement energy efficiency measures. The maximum grant available is 20,000 or 25% of eligible project costs (whichever is the smaller). The fully funded energy reviews will be on offer until early 2019, however grant funding is limited and is only available until all funds have been allocated. The project is led by the charity Peterborough Environment City Trust and is delivered in partnership with Nwes and Groundwork. LAST CHANCE TO BOOK A TRADE STAND AT SHOW There are still just a few low cost Trade Stands available for the 133rd Lincolnshire Show on Wednesday 21 and Thursday 22 June 2017. The FSB Marquee is on a prime site alongside the Clock Tower. So for FSB members wishing to grow their business this represents value for money and a fantastic opportunity. The show provides the chance to promote products and services to over sixty thousand potential new customers. However, to buy business space directly from the show organisers can prove expensive. The easy solution is to take advantage of your FSB membership and rent a low cost trade stand in the FSB Experts in Business Marketplace. Exhibiting with us is without doubt the most affordable way to test out show attendance for your business. At prices from just 180 plus VAT your business could be at one of the best county shows in the country. Plus, that price includes a table, some chairs and free drinks. The stands are on hard flooring and electricity is available at extra cost on certain stands. POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIA The Social Media workshop in Louth ended with a Business Rates discussion. The discussions were recorded on video using the Periscope platform by our Development Manager who then immediately posted the content on Twitter @FSBLincs. Two other FSB Regions were on hand to respond, again using Periscope and Twitter. The Hashtag used for the feed was CLASSIC TRACTORS AT LINCOLNSHIRE SHOW The price covers both days of the show and set up is done on Tuesday 20 June. All stand holders are automatically entered in to the Doug Balderson Agriculture Entrepreneur Award for Innovation that also gives them the chance to tell FSB Officers about their business. Last year the award was won by Justin Tricker with his business Conservaceil. Exhibitors from last year have reported great levels of leads and sales from their attendance at the Show. Get your application form by contacting either jacqueline.richardson@fsb.org.uk or david.thorpe@fsb.org.uk. Download it from www.fsb.org.uk/lincolnshire #FSBEastLindsey. Within 2 days the number of Impressions (links to other followers) was 100,124 and the number of Twitter accounts reached was 15,111. REGIONAL OFFICE 1 Henley Way, Doddington Road, Lincoln. LN6 3QR Tel: 0808 2020 888 Email: office.lincoln@fsb.org.uk REGIONAL COMMITTEE Chairman: Doug Balderson 01778 560507 Vice Chair: David Dexter 01522 789903 Richard Hutchings 07484 000364 Secretary: Neil Sharpley 01507 606371 Treasurer: Rod Handford 01529 469223 National Councillor: Stav Melides 01522 519197 Policy Chairman: David Dexter 01522 789903 BRANCH CHAIRMEN WASH Keith Gott 01406 425105 PETERBOROUGH Aasiyah Joseph 07588 630178 SOUTH KESTEVEN Doug Balderson 01778 560507 NORTH EAST LINCOLNSHIRE Laura Hambling 01472 358698 EAST LINDSEY Neil Sharpley 01507 606371 LINCOLN, NORTH HYKEHAM & SLEAFORD David Dexter 01522 789903 NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE & WEST LINDSEY Currently vacant - Applications welcome 01507 606371 Development Manager David Thorpe 01522 569612 or 07917 628927 Membership Adviser Region North Colin Picken 07871 481929 Membership Adviser Region South Andrew Masters 07885 978754 www.fsb.org.uk PAGE 14