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FSB
Liverpool and Knowsley Training on Tap:- 'Owning Your Digital
Space'
THE FSB's
Liverpool and Knowsley branch is to launch Training on Tap, series
of friendly evening restaurant and pub based training seminars
designed to support small businesses, on Tuesday, 27 January 2015,
at member venue Lunya Restaurant and Deli, Liverpool One, 18-20
College Lane, Liverpool, Merseyside, L1 3DS. The January 2015,
seminar, which will be accompanied by a selection of authentic
Catalan and Spanish food courtesy of the restaurant, is to be
delivered by Liverpool based digital agency Studio Mashbo. It will
provide entrepreneurs with insights into owning their digital space
in order to promote and grow their businesses. The session will
offer hints and tips to help improve audience engagement via online
marketing and social media and advice on how to boost search
rankings to generate more inbound enquiries. There will also be
networking and an opportunity to learn about branch, regional and
national work being carried out by the FSB. The cost is £5 for FSB
Members and £10 for non-members.
Liverpool City Council - Christmas Tree Recycling
CHRISTMAS trees can be recycled
at a dozen sites set up by in Liverpool, located at:-
► Alderfield Road, Speke - by Millwood.
► Calderstones Park - Calderstones Road car park.
► Calderstones Park - Yew Tree Road car park.
► Croxteth Park- Oak Lane car park.
► Everton Park - Viewing Platform, Netherfield Road North.
► Long Lane Recreation Ground - Garston.
► Newsham Park - Gardners Drive (Sheil Road end).
► Otterspool Promenade - first car park.
► Sefton Park - Review Field, Ullet Gate.
► Stanley Park - car park.
► Wavertree Park - Tennis Centre car park.
► Woolton Road - boys' club car park.
The sites will be available until the last week in January 2015.
8,000 Companies
benefit from regional growth fund
THE Regional Growth Fund
established in 2010 by the Deputy Prime Minister has now supported
8,000 companies to grow and thrive across England through a series
of 400 projects and programmes. The Fund has created and safeguarded
100,000 jobs and distributed more than £1 billion across the
country. For the 1st time, the Deputy Prime Minister is confirming
the total number of projects and programmes that are underway thanks
to the Fund. To date, there are 94 projects and programmes underway
in North East, 73 in North West, 48 in Yorkshire and Humber, 28 in
South East and London, 36 in South West, 61 in West Midlands, 11 in
the East, 25 in the East Midlands, and a further 25 that are
nationwide in scope. The selected bids for RGF Round 6 will be
unveiled in 2015. To boost manufacturing and engineering
industries and encourage job creation outside of London, the RGF has
supported companies across multiple sectors. From pioneers in tidal
turbines in Bristol to a laboratory developing new drugs for cancer
and resistant bacteria in Cheshire, bed manufacturers in Leeds, and
Liverpool food wholesalers, RGF funding has gone to a wide range of
businesses up and down the country. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg
said:- "It is great news that the Regional Growth Fund has now
reached the landmark of supporting its 8,000th company. This
innovative fund is helping companies to invest, expand and to create
sustainable jobs in the local community. Rebalancing the economy and
boosting regional growth has been a top priority for me in
Government. It is a key part of building a stronger economy and
fairer society. The success of the RGF is a shining example of how
government can help regional businesses realise their own goals and
plan for a prosperous future." Alongside awards made
directly to larger businesses, the RGF has also supported many small
and medium size businesses. Local partners such as Chambers of
Commerce, Universities and Local Enterprise Partnerships have been
running programmes to target support to those smaller businesses
with most potential in their local areas. Did you know that the RGF
is a flexible and competitive fund operating across England? It
supports projects and programmes that are using private sector
investment to create economic growth and sustainable employment. So
far over 8,000 businesses have received support through RGF. |
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FSB
New Year message - 2015 a pivotal year for small businesses
JOHN Allan, Federation of Small
Businesses (FSB) National Chairman's New Year message:- "As I
look forward to 2015 I am struck by a feeling of optimism, and by a
sense that the small business landscape may never look quite the
same again. It feels like small business owners are finally
receiving the sort of recognition and support from across the
political spectrum that has long been the mission of the FSB since
our founding 40 years ago. Small firms still face many issues, not
least the scandal of late payment and supply chain bullying we
highlighted in December, but it seems like there has never been such
a strong opportunity to make a positive impact on the outlook for
small firms.
2014 was a year of firsts for small businesses and the FSB. For the
1st time, the number of small businesses has broken the five million
mark. There are now more entrepreneurs, sole traders and freelancers
than ever before. There are also more small firms taking on their
first employee, growing and innovating across the UK. As economic
recovery has led to falling unemployment, small businesses have been
disproportionately responsible for creating new jobs. Our latest
Small Business Index found small business productivity was in
positive territory in 2014 for the first time since 2010. The number
of small businesses exporting is also up, as are wages in sectors
like personal services, construction and agriculture. This growth
and economic contribution has not gone unnoticed.
The past year was also the first time both the Prime Minister and
the Leader of the Opposition have addressed small businesses at our
policy and national conferences. In the same year, we hosted
speeches by the Chancellor and Shadow Chancellor. Indeed, all of the
main political parties have chosen to speak at FSB events. We have
also seen hundreds of parliamentary candidates from all over the UK
sign up to our #ibacksmallbusiness twitter campaign. Politicians
have realised that delivering economic growth and new jobs means
delivering for small businesses.
Though there are plenty of positives, we know from our new growing
research community Big Voice that hard times are far from over.
Business confidence, although still firmly positive, is down from an
all time high earlier in 2014. The money owed to small businesses in
late payment has grown from £18.6 billion in 2008 to £46.1 billion
today. It also seems regional economic imbalances remain engrained,
while ever more gloomy predictions emerge from the Eurozone.
If the gains we have made are going to be sustained and built upon,
small firms will need support from across all parties in Westminster
and in the devolved administrations. The coming General Election
will be a pivotal point for small business owners. What small
businesses will be looking to the political parties to do is put in
place the long term foundations for sustained, balanced growth. It
will not be a question of big vs small, but one of making sure all
businesses have the environment they need to succeed; what we call
big via small. This means responsible business, whether this is
through better support of the supply chain, more apprenticeships or
prompt payment terms between businesses.
In our Business Manifesto for the
2015 General Election, we have outlined what is needed, including
measures to tackle include the dysfunctional business rate system;
the ongoing skills gap, and improving access to finance.
Turning to the devolved nations, the past year has been 1 of fierce
debate over the future of how we are governed. Many questions are
still unanswered and 2015 will likely see these debates continue. In
Scotland the independence question is settled and I hope 2015 will
be a year to reconcile divisions and get back to business. With FSB
support Northern Ireland has won its long campaign to be able to
independently set Corporation Tax, while Wales now has the power to
set business rates. It will be interesting to see how these
victories affect the wider debates on the devolution of powers in
other parts of the UK.
Finally, in a reflection of the ambition of our members to invest
and grow their businesses, the FSB itself has also pegged 2015 as a
year to grow.
Following a period of
reorganisation and consolidation, we have made a major investment to
support rapid growth of our membership. There has never been a
better time to join the FSB and get your voice heard at the highest
level."
Please let us know your views on this by emailing them us via:-
news24@southportreporter.com.
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