North Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Latest Chamber News 2010

Let's Do Funding - a Business Broker Event Added: 02-03-2010
The Business Broker Project Team at the North Staffs Chamber of Commerce would like to
invite you to our Let's Do Funding event:Date: Wednesday 17 March 2010Venue:
Britannia Stadium, Stanley Matthews Way, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 4EGTime: 09.30-15.30What?An
exhibition of the various finance and funding organisations available to North
Staffordshire...
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The Business Inspector gets boost from HMRC Added: 18-02-2010
A new TV series - "The Business Inspector" - has been sponsored by HM Revenue
& Customs (HMRC). The programme will raise awareness among small businesses that
they need to keep good records. This includes around 363,000 small businesses and
self-employed people in the West Midlands. The Business Inspector is a four-part series
that...
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Retail Price Index Added: 10-02-2010
MonthRPI(1987)
BaseInflation2008December210.90.9%2009January210.10.1%February211.40.0%March211.3-0.4%Ap
ril211.5-1.2%May212.8-1.1%June213.4-1.6%July213.4-1.4%August214.4-1.3%September215.3-1.4
%October216.0-0.8%November216.60.3%December218.40.3%
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West Midlands Employers – PAYE attention to spring changes Added: 10-02-2010
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has issued an urgent alert to employers in the
West Midlands - important PAYE changes are coming this spring, so make sure
you're prepared for them.  HMRC is writing to all employers in the
region this month to remind then that, from this year, they must file their
Employer Annual Returns online by the 19...
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London Gateway port to create mass of new construction jobs Added: 08-02-2010
Construction work has begun on the new giant London Gateway port, which is
likely to create thousands of new jobs in construction over the course of its
development.Work started in January on DP World's £1.5 billion
combined deep-sea port and logistics park, which is expected to be the largest
of its kind in Europe once completed.Located...
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Age 16 & 17 grant for employers to take on apprentices Added: 08-02-2010
Apprenticeship grants of £2,500 are now available to encourage employers
to take on 16 and 17 year old apprentices. The AGE 16 & 17 grant is in
addition to the costs of training, which are met by the National Apprenticeship
Service (NAS).Employers in England who are able to offer a job opportunity to an
unemployed young person aged 16 or...
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Music Licensing - what is it and do I need to worry? Added: 08-02-2010
You may already have a PRS for Music licence, or have been contacted by letter
or phone call, but if you're new to business you may never have heard of us.
PRS for Music represents 65,000 songwriters, composers and publishers across the
UK by collecting royalties whenever their music is played, performed or
reproduced.We've been working on...
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Can social marketing websites like LinkedIn really help grow your business? Added: 08-02-2010
Chamber member, Chan Bansal, MD of Gauge Marketing has put together a handy
guide to getting the most out of LinkedIn.Below is an excerpt. To receive a full
copy visit www.gaugemarketing.co.uk/free-marketing-advice Make sure your profile
includes a photoPeople do business with people - and they are more likely to do
business with people they can...
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Are you Linked In? Added: 08-02-2010
LinkedIn is a network of experienced professionals from around the world. You
can find, be introduced to, and collaborate with qualified professionals that
you need to work with to accomplish your goals.Through your network you can:-
Manage the information that's publicly available about you as a
professional- Find and be introduced to...
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Project FIT - Keele University's Future Industry Training programme Added: 29-01-2010
Project FIT - Keele University's Future Industry Training programme. For a
business it brings an extra pair of hands dedicated to completing a must-do
project that they and their team just don't have time to focus on. For the
graduate it provides practical work experience which is extremely valuable in
this competitive market place, plus we...
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Local firms must not be excluded from Beacon Barracks re-development opportunities Added: 20-01-2010
The issuing of a single contract to re-develop Beacon Barracks in Stafford is
likely to exclude local firms from procurement opportunities, warns the Stafford
Chamber of Commerce.Business leaders have written to Lord Mandelson, Secretary
of State for Business, and Bob Ainsworth, Secretary of State for Defence,
expressing concern about the nature of...
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Bogus Caller Warning to Businesses Added: 14-01-2010
Staffordshire businesses are being warned about bogus callers trying to sell
advertising on behalf of their local fire service. The warning comes after two
local companies were contacted by individuals purporting to represent
Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service.Earlier this week the owner of a Rugeley
firm received a call from ‘Alan...
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Timely Tax Return Reminder Added: 04-01-2010
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is issuing a timely reminder to anyone who
hasn't yet submitted their 2008-09 Self Assessment tax return - do it
online, by the end of January, or you could risk a penalty.More than 9 million
people file a Self Assessment tax return every year, including around 711,000
people in the West Midlands.Breakdown of...
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Quarterley Economic Survey December 2009 Added: 17-12-2009
The Chamber's latest Quarterley Economic Survey reveals difficult trading
conditions for North Staffordshire firms. The level of domestic sales and orders
for both the manufacturing and services sectors has dropped, reversing the
improvement we saw in the 3rd Quarter. Export markets have improved slightly for
manufacturers while the service...
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BCC response to the Queen’s Speech Added: 18-11-2009
Commenting on the Bills announced in the Queen's Speech today, David Frost,
Director-General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said: On the Fiscal
Responsibility Bill"Fiscal responsibility is neither the preserve of
legislation nor of politics. It should be every government's guiding
principle. The UK urgently needs a credible...
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Member2Member Added: 18-11-2009
This section of the Chamber's website is designed to give members the
opportunity to promote a specific event or service which they feel would benefit
other members,Entry criteria:Only available to Chamber membersIt is not an
opportunity for a straightforward advertisement for your companyNo more than 50
words including contact details web and...
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In need of some INSPIRATION? Added: 17-11-2009
In need of some INSPIRATION? THEN JOIN OUR BUSINESS SURVIVAL SKILLS DAYWith
three of Staffordshire University's experts in their field to help you
consider the fundamentals: operating in challenging economic conditions;
marketing for profit, and human resource management, you'll walk away at the
end of an exhilarating day with a fresh...
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A new service providing professional IT advice to SMEs Added: 04-11-2009
A new initiative launched by Business Link West Midlands will help regional
businesses to improve their performance through more effective use of IT in the
workplace. Technology at Work is a new initiative geared towards improving
performance in the workplace by helping businesses identify the right IT
solutions to help them grow. The service will...
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North Staffordshire Chamber survey highlights rising business confidence and a turning point in the Added: 03-11-2009
Companies are optimistic that they can beat the recession and business
confidence levels have risen sharply, according to the North Staffordshire
Chamber of Commerce's latest Quarterly Economic Survey.The comprehensive
survey for July, August and September shows the so-called green shoots of
recovery have been experienced in the area with a...
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North Staffordshire Chamber joins bus operators for Brussels showdown over 'devastating' EU transpor Added: 02-11-2009
Local bus and coach operators have joined forces with the North Staffordshire
Chamber of Commerce to fight the European Commission over new public transport
legislation, which could have a devastating effect on their industry and bus
users.The bosses of Baker Bus and D & G Coach and Bus travelled to Brussels
- as part of a Chamber-led lobbying...
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A new service providing professional IT advice to SMEs Added: 21-10-2009
A new service providing professional IT advice to SMEsA new initiative launched
by Business Link West Midlands will help regional businesses to improve their
performance through more effective use of IT in the workplace. Technology at
Work is a new initiative geared towards improving performance in the workplace
by helping businesses identify the...
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Chamber Primary Health Plan - Employee healthcare covered from as little as £1.10 per week Added: 21-10-2009
Designed exclusively for Chamber members, Westfield Health's Chamber Primary
Health Plan could help you to:- Reduce long term absenteeism and related costs-
Improve recruitment and retention of staff- Provide a valuable employee benefit
package- Reduce your risk of stress and musculoskeletal litigation- Complement
existing PMI coverUp to 100%...
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Tenders Electronic Daily - Public sector opportunities direct to your desktop Added: 21-10-2009
Access 200,000 UK and European public sector and utilities opportunities worth
£500 billion a year! A massive range of UK and European-wide compulsory
tendered contracts are available from the public sector, including gas, water,
electricity and power.The serviceDoes your company want to know about UK and
European business and sub-contracting...
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Free Energy-Saving Loans Added: 21-10-2009
The Carbon Trust is to help thousands of small and medium sized businesses drive
down their costs by as much as £40 million through a new programme. Called
The Big Business Refit, it will offer SMEs advice and financial support to slash
their energy costs by scrapping old and inefficient equipment and replacing it
with new energy efficient...
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The Sentinel Business Awards Added: 21-10-2009
Now entering their 16th year and presented in association with North
Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the awards offer unrivalled
opportunities which smart people can exploit to make a dramatic difference to
their profitability. Though the stars of the show tend to change year on year
one thing remains constant: from day one the...
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Can you help us to grow our network? Added: 21-10-2009
If so, we'll give you money off your membership renewal or other Chamber
Services.For every lead supplie that we convert ot membership we'll give you
a voucher entitling you to £40.00 off your membership renewal, training
courses, room hire or translation. You can also trade in the voucher in for two
free places at either Spotlight,...
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HMRC slashes red tape to simplify the tax system Added: 09-10-2009
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is committed to making the tax system simpler.
Stephen Banyard, Director of HMRC's Business Customer Unit, said: "Our
aim is to improve our customers' experience and contribute to improving the
UK business environment. We will reduce the administrative burden of the tax
system on business and make changes...
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Chamber Accounts & Directors Report 2009 Added: 25-08-2009
Click here to view the Chamber's Accounts and Directors Report for the year
end 31 March 2009.
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Redundancy Payments Service Added: 10-08-2009
Companies who are unable to meet redundancy payments can apply to the Redundancy
Payments Service (RPS) for help in meeting their legal obligation. If the RPS
can help it will pay employees directly from the National Insurance Fund on the
condition that you repay the money as soon as possible.The RPS will consider
giving help only when:- You have...
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Translation Service Added: 15-12-2008
We speak your language...And your customer's language!The current trend for
global trading has created a wealth of business opportunities which are easier
to explore if you producer your marketing literature in their language.We offer
competitive rates for translation into any language, whether it contains
technical, commercial, legal or...
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Are you looking to access finance to grow your business? Added: 15-12-2008
Perhaps you need additional finance for:- new machinery- moving to bigger
premises- starting a new venture- to expand or take on new staff- for working
capitalWhatever the reason, if your business is based in North Staffordshire,
you can access unsecured loan funding from three sources:North Staffordshire
Risk Capital FundContact Arthur Bailey or...
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Eight Year Vision of Business Leaders Helps to Chart Future Growth for Stafford Borough Added: 08-04-2008
A long-tem plan to stimulate business growth and help shape the future economic
development of Stafford Borough has been unveiled by Stafford Chamber of
Commerce & Industry.Their Business Manifesto 2008-2016 sets out clearly and
concisely what needs to be done over the next eight years if businesses in the
area are to prosper and grow - and the...
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