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£113 MILLION BOOST FOR MERSEYSIDE
A record
number of businesses across the region accessed Business Link
Northwest’s service in its 1st year of operation, adding £113
million to the wealth of Merseyside’s economy, according to figures
released by the organisation.
Business Link completed a restructuring in the North West in April
last year, when the resources of the 5 sub-regional Business Link
offices in the North West were amalgamated to create Business Link
Northwest. The new streamlined organisation has cut down on
administrative overheads and has focused on providing a greater
level of local face-to-face support to help businesses thrive.
The overhaul has created a more cohesive service for Merseyside’s
businesses and a clear and consistent offer across the region. Over
13,750 businesses in Merseyside used the service in 2007/8, an
increase of 28% on the previous year. These businesses have
benefited from 24/7 support via Business Link’s website coupled with
access to the organisation’s business brokers from 8am to 8pm on
weekdays and 8am to 2pm at weekends and bank holidays.
In addition 1,370 companies in the county gained tailored, 1-to-1
support from a Business Link broker, double the number that accessed
this service in 2006/7. This support has enabled businesses to
identify areas for improvement, develop an action plan and work with
specialist suppliers from the region to source relevant and
effective solutions, with the ultimate aim of helping their
businesses to succeed and grow. This has been achieved against
a backdrop of 90% customer satisfaction and a growing recognition of
the service amongst businesses, with 71% of the region’s firms now
aware of the service. The focus will now be on improving in depth
understanding of how Business Link can support local businesses.
According to the figures, the number 1 issue on the business agenda
in Merseyside is workforce skills, accounting for 37% of enquiries
and leading to almost 2,000 local employers working with a skills
broker to access free training for their staff. This was followed by
23% seeking advice to start their companies. “We’re delighted with our achievements in our first year but
crucially our greatest success has been the difference we have made
to the businesses we have worked with. Our
website provides a superb 24/7 resource and our brokers bring
industry knowledge and business expertise to the team; a service
that’s customer focused, fit for purpose and stronger than ever.
As we move through 2008/9 we’ll strive to build on this strong
foundation, providing free-to-use, quality and impartial advice and
support to enable our customers to build better businesses.” commented Peter
Watson, Managing Director of Business Link Northwest.
Mark Hughes, NWDA’s Executive Director of Enterprise and Skills,
said:- “It has been a busy and successful first year for
Business Link Northwest. The regional business support service is
now aligned with the Regional Economic Strategy and is providing
businesses with a consistent and high-quality service. We have a
more efficient service with high awareness levels, the next job will
be to ensure we have a higher understanding level of what Business
Link can do for businesses in the region. We are currently
looking to guide progress towards an ‘enhanced Business Link’
service which will provide all business Information, Diagnostic and
Brokerage activity in the Northwest, making it even easier for
businesses to access support in our region, whilst also ensuring the
Northwest is leading the way on the government’s Business Support
Simplification agenda.”
Liverpool based charity, All Together Now has found Business Link
Northwest’s support invaluable in launching and developing its
publication aimed at people with disabilities and their families and
friends. Former journalist and
All Together Now creator, Tom Dowling says:- “Once I’d made
the decision to launch a magazine I had no idea where to start with
the business side of things. My Business Link broker was very
positive and enthusiastic from day one and was always on hand to
offer support and advice. Even now it’s great to know I can turn to
them if I need any business advice. It was a life changing
step for me and I was glad to have my Business Link broker there to
help me through all of the business elements such as tax and legal
issues so I could focus on getting the magazine right. I’d recommend
Business Link Northwest to anyone thinking about starting their own
company, or to existing business owners in need of advice or extra
support.”
If you think Business Link Northwest could help your business call
0845 00 66 888. |
DON’T GO WITHOUT YOUR CARD!!!
HOLIDAYMAKERS
should make sure they have a card that entitles them to free medical
treatment across Europe. In 2006 the European Health Insurance
Card (EHIC) replaced the old E111 form needed to get medical
treatment in the EU.
The warning from local Euro-MP Chris Davies comes as a Department of
health survey has revealed that half of people are not aware the
EHIC has a 3 year shelf life, and many don’t even know about the new
card.
The EHIC is credit card style pass that gives EU citizens access to
all forms of health care when travelling in Europe. The new EU
card extends the type of medical treatment that can be given and
means that cardholders can go straight to any local doctor if they
fall ill without first registering with local authorities.
All UK citizens can apply for the new health card by picking up an
EHIC form at their local Post Office, but Chris Davies warns that
applications are taking up to 21 days to process. He wants
holidaymakers to leave plenty of time.
He said:- “This is a good example of the EU at its best,
extending services, getting rid of red tape, and making it easier
for travellers to get treatment easily if they fall ill anywhere in
Europe. Local holidaymakers with a card should check the
expiry date, and those without a card should apply in plenty of
time.”
The Liberal Democrat Euro-MP had 1st hand experience of the card
when on holiday in France earlier this year.
He said:- "My family made use of the new medical card earlier
when my daughter had an accident and needed hospital care. It was a
great relief to be able to produce it from my pocket and find that
the bill I was eventually given amounted to just a couple of euros
for incidentals."
The scope of treatment has been extended so that all EU citizens
will be entitled to ‘medically necessary’ care as opposed to
the previous narrower limitation of emergency care. This is expected
to make it easier for chronically ill people, for example those with
diabetes or in need or dialysis, to holiday abroad.
DEMAND FOR TIMBER FRAME HOUSES ON THE RISE DESPITE DIFFICULT MARKET
THANKS to the
continuing demand for low carbon homes, the number of timber frame
homes being built has risen again for the 9th consecutive year,
according to the Interim Market Report published for members of the
UK Timber Frame Association (UKTFA).
The market share for timber frame construction now stands at just
over 22% of all new housing, In contrast to the overall decline in
housing starts last year (predicted to be about 4.4% lower than
2006), timber frame home building is estimated to have grown by 3.3%
in 2007.
Results from the survey conducted among UKTFA members earlier this
year reveal that more than 54,400 timber frame homes and commercial
units were built in 2007. Timber frame housing of up to two storeys
increased by 11%, while there was a 28% increase in the market for
timber frame commercial buildings. Adding the value of
commercial timber frame construction to housing, industry turnover
in 2007 increased to £601 million, up 10% on 2006.
Stewart Dalgarno, Chairman of the UKTFA, says:- “The timber
frame industry in the UK has shown its strength, resilience and
maturity in 2007.
Despite a difficult time for homebuilding and the
housing market, timber frame manufacturers, through the aggregation
of their own forecasts, clearly believe that the market will
continue to grow in 2008 and beyond.
This confidence comes
from timber frame’s ability to comply with, and often exceed, the
current and future requirements of Building Regulations and the low
carbon aims of the Code for Sustainable Homes.
We believe the
popularity of timber frame will continue to grow because of this
ability to offer home builders and developers cost-effective
compliance with these requirements."
Timber frame continues to be the fastest growing method of
construction in the UK. It delivers high build quality, a faster and
more efficient construction process and has an inbuilt natural
advantage in sustainable construction, it’s the most
environmentally friendly commercial building material available.
A comprehensive market report will be published for UKTFA members in
the autumn. This will include more detailed information on the
performances by country and region, with details on the trend of
private and social housing and developments by type of dwelling. |
