www.twitter.com/torfaenbiz http://linkd.in/1eHoanB
To book, please contact elizabeth.crowley@torfaen.gov.uk
chairman’s notes With the sun coming out we all start to dream of where we would like to go on holiday, perhaps a cruise in the Med or a beach in the Bahamas. Some of us can make it a reality, for others it just stays a dream. As we all know, dreams can be powerful and can motivate people to do many things. For all of us who, for the moment, are not able to be in the Bahamas perhaps we can continue to focus on improving our businesses - to help us achieve our dream. Sometimes it’s prudent to ask yourself as a business person the question – do I offer a Dream to my clients or do I offer a necessity to compliance in some form? Take a look at some of the dream examples below (Courtesy of Suni Bali) and you’ll understand what I mean. The sushi restaurant chain Yo Sushi doesn’t just sell cold dead fish, it sells an experience.
Meeting contacts and clients through our events and facilitated networking activities. Showcasing your business through the marketing opportunities available as a member of TBV. Saving money off next year’s membership through our Introduce a Members scheme. Our dream is to assist you all to prosper. If you haven’t already renewed your membership please do so as soon as possible to ensure you are able to take advantage of all the benefits TBV offers. Our next event is on May 1st – and we I look forward to meeting you all again then. Regards,
Harley Davidson don’t just sell motorcycles, they sell a lifestyle. An Elizabeth Arden executive states “We are not just selling lipsticks & perfumes we are selling glamour & confidence. So, what does your local Torfaen business club offer? I’d like to think OPPORTUNITIES...to name a few...
IF YOU WOULD LIKE A FREE ENTRY* ON THE TORFAEN BUSINESS DIRECTORY PLEASE VISIT www.southwalesbusiness.co.uk and add your details. *Please note, entries are available only to businesses that are located within Torfaen.
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On Thursday 6th March 2014 we held our final Torfaen Business Voice event of the 2013-14 membership year. Along with a round of facilitated networking, we welcomed Iestyn Gruffudd from Business Wales who gave a presentation that highlighted the fundamental aspects that any business looking to compete for work with the public sector needs to be aware of, and the processes that need to be adhered to.
All events are held at Greenmeadow Golf & Country Club, Croesyceiliog Cwmbran
- www.bespokelaseruk.co.uk - www.dmppublishing.co.uk - www.primrosecollections.co.uk - www.torfaen.gov.uk - www.torfaen.gov.uk - www.langleysplumbingandheating.co.uk Page 3
To book your places please contact elizabeth.crowley@torfaen.gov.uk This will be our first facilitated networking evening event of the New 2014/15 Torfaen Business Voice Membership Year and will take place on Thursday 1st May 2014 at Greenmeadow Golf & Country Club. Our facilitated networking events have become some of the most popular meetings and always receive positive feedback. They provide new and existing members with an opportunity to get to know each others’ businesses through a structured, yet informal networking activity. Each person will have the chance to formally present to a number of other businesses around a table for 2 minutes to promote their company. The aim is to ensure that you reach at least two tables of listeners (approximately 12 businesses).
Remind your listeners to also pass your details on to other people they may know who would be interested in what you have to offer! It’s all part of the networking concept you never know who they know! In addition, please make sure you bring along a supply of business cards and leaflets to hand out. In order to make the evening a success, we encourage you take advantage of the two free places that you are entitled to as a member. Make sure you bring a colleague, client or even a guest from another company, as this is a sure way of us spreading the word and increasing the membership.
Members of Torfaen Business Voice can bring and display a single pop-up stand at our events (up to 15 only allowed at each event so please contact Jo or Cheryl early to ensure you have a slot on the list).
Our Torfaen Business Voice quarterly event on July 3rd is going to be a little different to what we usually do! Starting at 4:30pm instead of the usual 6:30pm, this event will feature one round of facilitated networking, a speaker and a HOG ROAST. Further information to follow, but please ensure you note the change of time for our Summer event!!
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ÂŁ50 For further details contact Jo or Cheryl on 01633 648644 or e-mail: joanne.john@tofaen.gov.uk or cheryl.williams@torfaen.gov.uk
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Are you getting people applying for the job who don’t match what you need? Do you think your time could be better spent? If yes, will this help? Torfaen County Borough Council’s Economy Enterprise and Tourism team are teaming up with The Torfaen Employability Team to bring you a bank of Torfaen’s most suitably skilled individuals. It will be a free service to both employer and applicant and will have both unemployed people and working people looking to change jobs. Through a series of pre screening sessions only applicants with the right attitude to work and right skills will be included into the ‘bank’. Those individuals are out there and may be applying for your vacancy but are hidden among the mass of CV’s and applications you get. By looking in the ‘bank’ first you may be able to avoid the headache of recruiting. We would like to make this service as useful to local employers as possible, so please tell us a little about your recruitment processes so we can design the programme around your collective needs.
Would you find a pool of pre-screened applicants useful for your recruitment needs? What sector do you recruit for? How many vacancies a year do you have (average)? How do you currently recruit? Any specific skills you find difficult to identify in applicants? What platform would your preference be? Linkedin, Facebook, Twitter, etc What pre-requisites would you like applicants to have to enter the bank?
For more information on the Talent Bank and to give you opinions contact: christina.martin@torfaen.gov.uk
Springboard Business Innovation Centre ~ Wales, based at Llantarnam, Cwmbran ‘Ramped up the Red’ on Friday 7th February for the British Heart Foundation, raising over £250.00. Staff and companies based at Springboard baked and ate their way through many cakes all in the name of charity. People were also asked to wear something red and donate a pound. The red ranged from t-shirts, tights, socks, nail polish and lipstick. The British Heart Foundation is the biggest funder of charitable heart research in the UK. They are fighting for everybody who suffers with a heart condition – from babies born with life-threatening heart problems, to the many mums, dads and grandparents who survive a heart attack and endure the daily struggles of heart failure. For more information on the British Heart Foundation and ‘Ramp Up the Red’, visit www.rampupthered.org.uk.
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Pontypool Indoor Market is looking to attract quality traders who are enthusiastic and dedicated to providing a high level of customer service. A diverse shopping offer will ensure that customers keep coming through the doors. An emphasis will be placed on the food and drink offer making the market a place that tantalises the taste buds although we welcome applications from all traders. We offer the following stall types – Ventilated Catering: for food retailers that will be cooking on site Catering: for food retailers without a cooking requirement Refreshment: for pre-pack or off-the-shelf food retailers Non Food Casual Stalls: providing a flexible trading environment with flexible terms these stalls can be rented on a daily or weekly basis and located throughout the Market. Ideal for test trading or start up business. If you are interested in finding out more please contact Sharon Hutchinson on 01495 752822 or sharon.hutchinson@torfaen.gov.uk. Also visit us at our website http://www.torfaen.gov.uk/en/Business/Markets/Marketstalls/Pontypool-Indoor-Market.aspx where you can see an artist impression of the completed market.
Torfaen Council have set up a Community Covenant that complements, at a local level, the Armed Forces Covenant, which outlines the moral obligation between the nation, the government and the armed forces It encourages us to recognise and remember the sacrifices faced by the armed forces community. They are looking for the support of local businesses that can offer a discount to members of the Armed Forces and their families. This is a very small way to say thank you to our men and women who do, and who have done, so much for us. As well as for their families who support them while they are on operations To sign up or for more information please visit: http://www.defencediscountservice.co.uk
It is free to offer a discount to the forces and the defence community. If you are an online retailer you can complete an online form and once completed you will be then be able to login to add an offer to the website and mobile application. Page 7
Hi, I am David Thomas the Managing Director of Thomas Safety Services Ltd who are a Safety, Health, Environmental & Fire (SHEF) consultancy. My 28 year SHEF career started at a multi-installation chemical manufacturing site (18 ½ years), moving on to a multi-installation steel manufacturing site (4 years), before setting up the business in 2007. I am passionate about SHEF issues and have come to realise that it is one of those things that you either 'love or hate'. My family are always asking me if I ever switch off and have even started making comments such as "Dad won't like that!" Academically, I have pushed myself and in 2011 passed a Master's of Science (M.Sc.) Degree in Safety, Health & Environmental Management with a Distinction. I am qualified in all areas of SHEF having qualifications such as; OHSAS 18001 Lead Auditor, Site Managers Safety Training Scheme (SMSTS), Implementing Food Safety Management Systems, Licensed Business Management Diploma, for example. I am proud to hold Chartered status with the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (CMIOSH), Fellow status with the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management (FIIRSM), Member status with Institution of Fire Engineers (MIFireE). I am a Member of the Occupational Safety and Health Consultants Register (OSHCR), which is backed by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), also hold Fellow status with the Chartered Management Institute and the Institution of Leadership and Management (FCMI and FInstLM respectively), and am of course Continuing Professional Development (CPD) registered with IOSH and IIRSM. I volunteer with IOSH as an IPD and CPD auditor and with the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH) to mark examination papers on their behalf.
If you would like to speak with me directly, please call me on 07974 590946, alternatively you can email me at dave@thomassafetyservices.co.uk Thomas Safety Services Ltd offer a comprehensive range of SHEF services, including bespoke and certified training courses to businesses in the Non-Construction and Construction sectors. For more information please see our website www.thomassafetyservices.co.uk or call our office on 01633 420290. Present a copy of this article to receive a 10% discount on your first years retained contract. (Offer valid until 1st November 2014. Terms & conditions apply.)
Dave Thomas: tel: 07974 590946 | email: dave@thomassafetyservices.co.uk | web: www.thomassafetyservices.co.uk
Our next newsletter will be published early June 2014 so if you would like to advertise what you do or have a recent success or news story, just let us know and we will book you a space. We only have 2 slots available and it’s first come, first served for this opportunity. The maximum number of words you need to supply is 250, plus we can carry your logo and, if room, a suitable photograph. We also have the “Meet the Member” feature, so if you would like to be the next one please let us know. Again, it’s first come, first served. Another 2 good reasons to be a member!!!
E-mail: joanne.john@torfaen.gov.uk or cheryl.williams@torfaen.gov.uk
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We hope you have enjoyed your Torfaen Business Voice membership over the past 12 months and found it beneficial and worthwhile. The business club continues to grow as more and more local businesses discover what TBV can offer them. We are grateful for the help and support of all our members and would like to thank all of you who have already renewed their membership. If you haven’t renewed yet, then we would like to invite you to renew your membership soon as the new membership year has now started (April 1st). We believe that membership of Torfaen Business Voice will continue to represent exceptional value for money, especially as we have held the fees for a further year.
£50 £65 You will still be entitled to 2 free places at the quarterly meetings, which provide excellent networking opportunities and a chance to meet and hear some inspiring speakers. In addition, your membership entitles you to a free e-mailed copy of the quarterly newsletter plus an opportunity to include an article about your business in an edition, a free and vetted e-mail information service and advance notice of Torfaen County Borough Council business events – including free business breakfasts. In addition, your company details will be added to our Torfaen Economy and Enterprise website. To continue your Torfaen Business Voice membership from April 2014 until the end of March 2015, please complete the attached renewal form on this e-mail. Remember renew before the 11th April and your logo will appear on Torfaen Business Voice’s new pop up stands, see article on this page for further details.
Following our last TBV Committee meeting on Thursday 6th March, we would like to receive members’ feedback about participating in a new scheme. If as a business you feel you are able to offer a bespoke discount or incentive to other TBV members please let us know. We are looking to compile a list of TBV member companies who are happy to provide special offers and publicise these details through our marketing and communication channels, including the Torfaen Economy and Enterprise website. Please contact Jo or Cheryl on 01633 648644 or email us at Joanne.john@torfaen.gov.uk Cheryl.williams@torfaen.gov.uk
Renew your 2014/15 membership by 11th April and your business logo will appear on our Torfaen Business Voice Pop up stand. The pop up stand will be displayed at all TBV meetings and every business exhibition and event Torfaen Economy and Enterprise takes part in. So renew now to make sure you are include and ensure your company benefits from this opportunity for widening your exposure.
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20% of our new members joined through this scheme last year, so why not help us spread the news about Torfaen Business Voice and encourage your business contacts and clients to join this popular business club and enjoy all the benefits of belonging to Torfaen Business Voice. For every business that you encourage to join, your own business will earn ÂŁ5.00 off your 2015-16 membership (up to a maximum of ÂŁ50.00). The new member will be entitled to a ÂŁ5.00 discount off their joining fee. Simply make sure that the new business member completes your name and your company name in the space provided on the back of the newsletter application form. If you would like to receive additional membership forms please let us know. e-mail joanne.john@torfaen.gov.uk and Cheryl.williams@torfaen.gov.uk
Laura Adams, 24, set up Bespoke Laser UK in January this year in Cwmbran, Torfaen. Originally from Cwmbran, Laura completed her Masters degree in Visual Communication in Swansea last July and began working with Tim Williams at The Centre for Business to complete her business plan and applications for the Torfaen Local Investment fund. This funding allowed Laura to purchase a state of the art laser cutter built for quality and precision and thus launch the business on strong foundations that will allow production to run at full capacity. Bespoke Laser UK provides a graphic design and laser cutting service to businesses in all types of industries, from the small cottage workshop to larger industrial businesses. Together with Laura's Graphic Design knowledge and skill, her business now offers a range of unique and bespoke services, from promoting your company brand with material such as acrylic key rings and coasters with your logo engraved, to corporate gifts such as wooden wine boxes, business card cases and more. Laura has already started working with local companies, from providing a bespoke laser cut switching panel for an engineering firm to delicate paper cut wedding invitations, her range is not exhaustive. Laura is able to work with a wide variety of materials from slate to glass, wood, acrylic and paper and offers an entirely bespoke service to cater for personalised orders where minimum and maximum order quantities are not an issue. Laura's vision is to promote your brand identity through unique, creative promotional products that provide a talking point and leave a lasting impression. As an introductory offer Laura would like to offer all Torfaen Business Voice members 10% off any orders placed before 1st May 2014.
www.bespokelaseruk.co.uk | info@bespokelaseruk.co.uk | 07927021301
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Charity No: 1037278
www.twitter.com/torfaenbiz
in
http://linkd.in/1eHoanB
Torfaen Business Voice is the area’s thriving business networking club, comprising of staff in the Torfaen Economy & Enterprise team at Torfaen County Borough Council and local Torfaen businesses keen to make a difference. Joining this thriving and popular business club is very simple and provides excellent value for money.
Torfaen Business Voice membership provides you with....
2 free places at our bustling quarterly business events which feature inspiring speakers,networking opportunities and buffet at a quality local location. Quarterly emailed newsletter with articles, tips and information tailored for local Torfaen businesses. Earn up to £50.00 off next year’s membership fee through our Introduce a Member scheme Informal and organised networking opportunities. Email bulletins with relevant, vetted information. Advance notice of other FREE Torfaen County Borough Council business events and opportunities, including business breakfasts and facilitated networking events. Your company details maintained on the Torfaen Business Voice website. Sponsorship and advertising opportunities via Torfaen Business Voice for member companies to reach the local business market. We look forward to welcoming you as a Member in 2014. Yours faithfully Torfaen Business Voice Committee
QUARTERLY EVENTS FOR YOUR DIARY FOR MEMBERSHIP YEAR 2014/2015 1st May, 3rd July, 25th September, 4th December
Introduce A Member scheme
If an existing TBV member has introduced you, please enter their name and company name below:
Name :. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Company Name :. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Membership Fee
Please Tick as Appropriate
£50.00 (Companies with 1-4 employees) £65.00 (Companies with 5+ employees) £30.00 (Companies under 1 year of trading) Company Name:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Company Address:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Post Code:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Contact Name:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Contact Telephone Number:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Position in Company:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-mail address:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Website address: www. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brief Description of company products/services: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................................................................. .................................................................. No of employees: Length of time business has been operating: Under 1 year
1-5 years
6-10 years
11-15 years
16-20+ years
Please tell us how you found out about Torfaen Business Voice:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................................................................. *Please note, entries are available only to businesses that are located within Torfaen.