The Bulletin - Issue 6 Mar/Apr

THE

www.brchamber.co.uk

Issue 6 - March / April 2014

ANNUAL MEMBER SURVEY THE RESULTS Your views shared

Also inside this issue: • A pprenticeships - Frequently Asked Questions • Mandatory Speed Limit Consultation Response

Quality Assured Legal Services Our services include: BUSINESS SOLUTIONS Commercial Property Company Commercial Commercial Disputes Employment (Employer) Planning INDIVIDUAL SOLUTIONS Care of the Elderly Probate and Wills Family Law Childcare Residential Property Property Disputes Employment (Employee) Accident Compensation Industrial Disease Compensation Resolving Disputes Crime and Road Traffic Offences

Founded in 1791, Oxley & Coward is one of the region’s longest established law firms. We are based in Rotherham and provide a quality legal service to individuals and businesses.

Oxley & Coward is committed to providing the very best service to our clients. In fact, many of our clients have used the firm for generations, satisfied that they will always receive an excellent service at a competitive rate.

Judge for yourself… we look forward to establishing an ongoing relationship with you as a new client.

We are members of LawNet, the UK’s pre-eminent group of law firms.

For further information please call

01709 510999

or e-mail mailbox@oxcow.co.uk 34/46 Moorgate Street, Rotherham, South Yorkshire, UK, S60 2HB

www.oxcow.co.uk

CHAMBER VIEW

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Your Views our response

Chamber News All the latest news and information from inside the Chamber.

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Operations Manager Mark Hannigan tells of new patrons, new services and what our members have told us.

Platinum Members News from our Platinum Members.

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Member News A focus on apprenticeships.

2014 is already starting to prove to be a busy year for us, we’ve welcomed new patrons, ASD Lighting and Rotherham United Football Club, we’ve got a full events programme underway and we have also launched new services.

This issue of the Bulletin highlights our annual membership survey and the feedback you’ve given us. Every year we run our survey to ensure we continue to offer you the best possible service, this year we thought we would share with you what we are doing with your thoughts, concerns and feedback.

It is important that you feel you are getting the most of your membership and that’s why we do the survey but please remember you can shape your membership by getting involved in our activities, whether it is coming to an event, submitting editorial or becoming part of one of our working groups.

Patrons

Cover Story Annual members survey - the results.

Purchasing and our HR service has now launched an online shop.

Finally, preparations for the President’s Annual Ball are well underway. This year it’s the “Shaken not Stirred” James Bond inspired Ball, we’ve received lots of support in the form of sponsorship and now bookings are starting to flood in. This year’s theme is proving really popular so I’d urge you to book quick if you’d like to join us!

As always, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support and I hope you enjoy this edition of The Bulletin. If you’d like to feature in the next issue email thebulletin@ brchamber.co.uk or call 01709 386 200.

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Policy Updates on our Policy and Representation activity.

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Social A bit from our social media and what’s new.

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New Members A full listing of new members and contact details.

Skills and Apprenticeships are always high on peoples agenda so we have put together some information with the help of local providers and the National Apprenticeship Service, this will show you what you can do, what support and funding is available and how you can benefit – this fitting with the National Apprenticeship Week running the beginning of this month.

We’ve updated some of our services, we have a new utilities provider – Profession Energy

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34 Mark Hannigan

Events & Training A listing of forthcoming events and in-house training.

Operations Manager DESIGN BY:

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If your company would like to feature a news item in The Bulletin, please call our PR department on

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CHAMBER NEWS

Chamber members dig deep for hospital charity Back in December 2013, the Chamber hosted a “Sporting Christmas Lunch” in support of Weston Park Hospital Cancer Charity which saw Chamber members dig deep in aid of the cause.

The event, which was kindly sponsored by Yorkshire Bank and held a the Holiday Inn Barnsley, brought together a number of local sporting names including, boxers and Cancer Charity ambassadors, Scott Jenkins and Adam Etches.

Other stars who attended included Barnsley footballer and Cancer Charity patron, Bobby Hassell, former player and coach at Rotherham United, John Breckin (who also was a player at Doncaster and coach at Barnsley), players from Sheffield Wednesday and former premier league referee, Keith Hackett from Sheffield.

Away from football, British Superbikes rider Kingsley Ruddy, from Hoyland, Barnsley, Olympic swimmer Joe Roebuck, from Rotherham, and head coach of Sheffield Eagles RLFC, Mark Aston, also attended.

Monies raised at the event totalled £2,225 and was donated to the Charity in the New Year.

Deputy Director, Catherine Rhone, said “We are so grateful to the Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce for hosting this fantastic event and it was an honour to have so many well-known sporting faces attend and support our Christmas Star Appeal.”

Photograph (from L to R) David Potts of Yorkshire Bank, Chief Executive Andrew Denniff and Diane Graham Corporate Services Executive from the Chamber and Weston Park Hospital Cancer Charity Deputy Director, Catherine Rhone.

Chamber welcomes new service provider As part of the Chamber’s services to members, we have launched a new energy service with Chamber Member, Professional Energy Purchasing Ltd. Professional Energy Purchasing will be operating as the nominated energy service provider offering a commercial utility brokering service.

The service aims to provide help, support and give confidence to members during the complex process of purchasing power efficiently with the best utility tariffs available on the market.

The fully managed personal service is designed to meet the diverse needs of business customers which includes: • I nitial assessment of business needs, including a site visit • Negotiating contracts

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• Invoice auditing for the life of the contract • E nergy consulting including monitoring and reduction advice • Billing dispute handling Prices are checked daily and the energy market is monitored to ensure the best prices and products are offered and available to businesses when needed.

Professional Energy Purchasing can also support members with full project management for design and planning of all sites for new connections, meter installations, power or gas consumption increases and contractor liaison.

Director of Professional Energy Purchasing Linda Spencer said “We are extremely pleased and looking forward to working with Chamber members to help support them and provide good advice in this difficult market. Purchasing utilities can be a complicated, time consuming and costly exercise, so let the experts do it for you as part of our package included in your Chamber membership”

For more information Linda can be contacted on 0114 327 2645 or visit the website – www.professionalenergypurchasing.co.uk

CHAMBER NEWS

Congratulations…

The Chamber would like to offer congratulations to Ann Cadman, Frank Carter and Stephen Lavender, all of whom were recognised in the Queen’s New Year Honours.

Ann Cadman

Frank Carter

Stephen Lavender

Ann, director of The Source Skills Academy, has been recognised with an OBE for services to the community. Ann is heavily involved within the City Region, she is part of the Local Enterprise Partnership Retail Sector Group and the LEP Growth Plan Steering Group.

Past President Frank, has also been recognised with an OBE for services to the Borough of Barnsley. Frank was President of the Chamber twice, first in 1995 until 1997 and returning for a year in 2002.

Stephen, director of Penistone based Lavender International, has been recognised with an MBE for services to the economy and regeneration.

Lavender International are a family run business which was first established in 1976.

Photo courtesy of The Source Academy.

Photo courtesy of Barnsley Chronicle.

Photo courtesy of Barnsley Chronicle.

Chamber helps establish 460 businesses Enterprising jobseekers in Barnsley and Rotherham have established over 460 businesses thanks to the Chamber and the Government’s “New Enterprise Allowance Scheme” (NEA).

The scheme has helped a wide range of businesses from recruitment consultants to vintage vinyl sales since its inception in 2011. The Chamber supports businesses by providing expert guidance from a business mentor to develop a business idea and offer continued support through the early stages of trading.

The NEA offers expert mentoring and financial support for jobseekers who want to start their own business, helping people who have previously been on benefits turn their ideas into successful business ventures.

Jav Khan, NEA Mentor at the Chamber said, “Small businesses are one of the foundations of our economy, but for many the prospect of going self-employed is daunting, particularly from a financial point of view.

“The NEA programme has proven a vital lifeline for many jobseekers wishing to start their own business. With the mentoring and support available through the Chamber of Commerce, NEA candidates have been able to successfully make the transition from benefit claimants to small business owners, not only improving their

own circumstances, but becoming vital contributed to the local economy” Since 2011 the NEA scheme has seen 225 new businesses in Barnsley, 237 in Rotherham and 1,280 in South Yorkshire.

The Chamber will continue to deliver this service with Jobcentre Plus into 2015 and are extending the service to new premises in Maltby and Dinnington in 2014.

Anyone wishing to access support through the NEA Scheme should contact their local Jobcentre to find out if they are eligible.

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CHAMBER NEWS

Join us for a night of pure entertainment Tickets are now on sale for the James Bond inspired “Shaken not Stirred” President’s Annual Ball.

Guests will walk down the red carpet and become immersed in 007 glamour with thrilling entertainment by the Gillian Banks Theatre School, who will showcase productions from the 50-year Bond collection.

Guests will then be able to test their luck at the after dinner Charity “Monte Carlo” Casino, followed by late bar and after dinner entertainment.

The “Shaken not Stirred” Ball takes place on Saturday, 10th May at the soon to be newly refurbished Magna Centre in Rotherham.

A host of local businesses have committed their support to the James Bond inspired President’s Annual Ball. Jeremy Neal Funeral Directors and Morthyng Group Limited have pledged their support by becoming headline sponsors of the 007 themed Ball.

Chamber President Owen Gleadall said, “It is incredible the support the Ball has received.

The event supports many member charities from across the region through the President’s Charity Fund by raising the vital money these charities really need.

“The event is set to be superb and will have some real James Bond glamour! I’d like to urge more companies to get involved so make sure you are joining us on the night” Local companies supporting this year’s event include, Jeremy Neal Funeral Directors and Morthyng Group as overall sponsors, and other sponsors include Real Steak House, First South Yorkshire, Napoleons Owlerton, Swinton Commercial, Mustav, Glamour Puss, Copier Systems, Barnsley Premier Leisure, Bridge to China and Merlin Software.

The President’s Annual Ball supports local member charities and this year is no exception, proceeds from the event will go towards support good causes across Barnsley and Rotherham.

Fund raising activities will take place on the night including a raffle, tombola and an auction. If you or your company would like to donate a prize, please contact diane.graham@brchamber.co.uk.

Tickets are priced at £65 plus vat or £600 plus vat for a table of 10 – call 01709 386200 or visit www.brchamber.co.uk to book or remain sponsorship opportunities.

EVENT SPONSORS MAIN SPONSOR

MAIN SPONSOR

S AT U R D AY 10 t h M AY • M A G N A S C I E N C E A D V E N T U R E C E N T R E

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CHAMBER NEWS

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Oakwell Stadium For all your MATCHDAY, celebration and business requirements SPONSorships • advertising matchday hospitality Weddings • Christenings • Dinners Christmas Parties • Conferences and Meetings For more matchday sponsorship, hospitality and advertising contact Rachel Hearne on 01226 211182 or email rachel@barnsleyfc.co.uk or for conference and events call on 01226 211555 or email cgcevents@barnsleyfc.co.uk

Copier Systems and Develop form partnership Copier Systems have announced the addition of the Develop printers, copiers and multifunction devices to the solutions they offer.

This new partnership means that Copier System can now provide the full range of Develop products, alongside our existing solutions from Canon and Invu. Develop are a subsidiary of Konica Minolta and focus on providing cost effective but high quality

printers and copying devices providing an even greater range of solutions including everything from desktop printers to largevolume multi-function devices. These devices put Copier Systems in an even stronger position than ever to advise local businesses on the most suitable solution to match their printing and copying requirements.

Although the Barnsley based business have a vast amount of knowledge and experience in supplying and supporting Canon devices, the Develop machines are already proving to be a popular solution amongst both existing and new customers. The first systems have already been installed and the feedback received has been very positive.

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Andy Bethel, Managing Director at Copier Systems, explained, “The Develop devices we’re now providing are proving to be excellent value for money for many customers. We are able to show businesses that they can not only reduce the amount of money they are spending on printing within their organisation but they can actually improve the print output at the same time.”

To find out more about Copier Systems and their new range of Develop solutions visit www.copiersystems.co.uk or phone 01226 321 181.

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Your advert here?

Want to get your message across? Give your business a higher profile? Then feature your business in The Bulletin. Whether it’s a quarter, half or full page advert, the choice is yours.

Call 01709 386 200 for more details.

PLATINUM MEMBERS

Could your business benefit from a part-funded graduate intern?

What is an internship?

An internship, generally speaking, is a kind of short-term employment popular with young people and recent graduates who wish to gain experience in a professional field.

Why do employers offer internships?

Hiring a recent graduate, with cutting edge knowledge and skills, can be a great way to bring innovative ideas and fresh eyes to your organisation. These interns can be used to fill an existing skills gap or staff shortage, to head up a new project or event, or to carry out useful market research or publicity campaigns. Additionally, interns are likely to be incredibly motivated and ready to prove themselves by working hard and taking on any challenges they are offered.

Internships can also be used to try out new employees and see how they fit in with your organisation, before offering them a longerterm contract. If the internship goes well, you should have produced a fully trained, loyal, potential employee, who is already well acquainted with your organisation’s staff and processes.

Is there any support available for businesses interested in offering internships?

You may be interested in the idea of an internship but unsure about how to make the most of it.

Or perhaps you have an ideal role or project in mind, but are simply lacking sufficient funds to hire a new employee. Luckily, this is where The University of Sheffield Careers Service, in partnership with Santander, are able to help.

Following a very successful pilot scheme last year, the University are again offering the opportunity for small to medium sized businesses to take part in their Santander Internship Scheme.

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Employers who participate will receive: • A talented University of Sheffield graduate, keen to gain experience.

• F ree assistance from the University of Sheffield Careers Service in developing a suitable graduate-level project or role for the intern.

• F ree use of the university’s vacancy advertising service to promote the opportunity to our graduates.

• F unds of £1500 per internship, provided by Santander, to help pay the intern’s wage.

Santander Internships are typically full-time, 3 months in duration and would be paid at £1000 per month (although employers will be able to negotiate a longer internship or higher salary at their discretion). The internships can commence any time from now onwards, but successful graduates must have started their internship no later than the end of June 2014.

To apply for the scheme, find out more information, or see example internship projects visit www.shef.ac.uk/careers/ employers/raising/Santander For further queries or to discuss your application you can contact Jo Edwards on 0114 222 0904 or at intern@sheffield.ac.uk.

PLATINUM MEMBERS

Pat Man comes to Rotherham!

Jason Mace, South Yorkshire entrepreneur and managing director of marquee company Gala Tent has acquired the client base and assets of a business called Pat Man UK and set up an exciting new venture called Pat Man Company Ltd, which is dedicated to providing portable appliance testing for businesses.

The business will be part of Gala Tent and based at Farfield Park, Manvers in Rotherham.

It will be headed up by managing director Chris Winterbourne, with a dedicated team of electrical engineers, with exciting plans to expand the business over the coming months.

Managing director of Gala Tent Jason Mace said: “We have spotted a gap in the market for an efficient and cost effective portable appliance testing service. We were offered a deal to acquire the customer base and assets of a reputable local business that needed help and so decided to expand our operations into this area. We expect to use our local business contacts to grow the client base and to create a number of new jobs over the next six months. This is the latest new business to be added to the Gala Tent portfolio and we are really excited about the opportunities for this new business in the South Yorkshire area and beyond.”

provide a very comprehensive service. We see some fantastic growth opportunities for our business in South Yorkshire.”

Regular PAT testing is essential to provide a safe environment for employees and visitors.

It ensures a business complies with the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

For more information, contact Pat Man Company on 01709 533579 or visit the website www.patmancompany.co.uk.

He adds: “We are offering a free risk assessment for all local businesses, for a limited period only. Anyone interested needs to get in touch.”

Chris Winterbourne, managing director of Pat Man Company, said: “We take away all the hassle from businesses and our whole service is geared up to meet their needs, with no hidden extras. We don’t work on contracts, we only price per item and we do not charge for call outs, minor faults or for the test certificate. We use the latest technology and

PLATINUM MEMBERS

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APPRENTICESHIP FOCUS

Case Study - Active Response Security Services Michelle Bailey, Managing Director of Barnsley based Active Response Security Services tells us her experience of recruiting an apprentice.

What was your greatest concern about employing an apprentice, and how did that compare to your actual experience?

can chair a high end meeting is something I personally feel proud to be part of.

Are there any pitfalls in the process that employers should be aware of?

My initial concern was having the time to develop an apprentice to their full potential as an apprenticeship needs to be both beneficial for us as a business but also to the young person involved too. This concern was eradicated through a criteria being set in terms of the ideal candidate for us and as our industry is so specific, the time we have invested into our apprentice’s means not only have they gained valuable experience but we have been able to provide industry specific on the job training which is not something you can generally recruit for. We and the young people on our programmes are supported throughout the apprenticeship and has been a mutually beneficial experience for us both.

Would you recommend hiring an apprentice to other business owners?

I would highly recommend an apprenticeship programme to other businesses, especially when your industry is so specific. It can be difficult to recruit an experience staff member that has the qualities and training needed to work to our standards, seeing a young person flourish and gain confidence to the point they

further training and development we offer is continuing to grow and is an integral part of our operations team.

The key is to identify the role and the starting requirements for that role for example if you are looking to train an apprentice due to new contract gains but time is limited to develop the young person then someone who has not spent time within the centre gaining basic administration skills may not be the right candidate for your organisation. I cannot say I have come across any particular pitfalls myself but as advice to other companies is to prepare to invest time into your apprentice as the outcome will help your business tenfold.

How has hiring an apprentice affected the performance of your business?

Using apprentices and offering work specific training and committing ourselves to the young person means we remain competitive within the market place as we have industry specific and qualified members of staff that are trained to our standards. Hannah joined us three years ago and through the

Will you be hiring more apprentices in future?

Absolutely! – We make a conscious decision to only have a certain number of apprentices at any given time to ensure we have the resource to develop them, as a young person takes the next natural step within their career and accepts full time employment we review and offer another opportunity to another apprentice.

Barnsley businesses commit to apprenticeships Hiring an Apprentice has been made easier for Barnsley Employers since the launch of Barnsley’s free and impartial Apprenticeship Hub. First for Apprenticeships Barnsley launched on Friday 11th October 2013, funded by the Leeds Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and forming part of the Leeds City Region it aims to help small and medium sized Barnsley businesses find the right Apprentices and training providers for them.

The impartial agency acts as a mediator for candidates, businesses and training providers and will offer Barnsley employers advice and support in accessing the most suitable services and grants for them. So far the hub has engaged

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with over 50 Barnsley based employers of which the majority will hopefully soon have Apprentices in employment and working hard.

Heather Lord, Hub manager, said: “This has been a fantastic start to the two year project but we need to keep the momentum going. We have had some great feedback from Barnsley Employers and the team are working hard to try and raise the profile of Apprenticeships in Barnsley to increase Apprenticeship opportunities along with helping to reduce the number of 16-24 year olds looking for

employment and training in Barnsley.

“We encourage anyone considering taking on an Apprentice to contact us to find out how we can help them get started.”

To find out more about the service, visit www.firstforapprenticeships barnsley.co.uk or email info@ firstforapprenticeshipsbarnsley.co.uk

APPRENTICESHIP FOCUS

Stafforce hopes for 550 new apprentice placements in 2014 Following the successful launch of its Apprenticeship Training Agency (ATA), Stafforce is now aiming for 550 new placements with employers this year.

It intends to raise awareness that an active Apprenticeship scheme is an effective way of developing talent pools and investing in people who will grow business in all sectors - then work with employers to identify and recruit the right individuals, managing training, development, payroll and other HR functions for them throughout.

The ATA’s recruitment and management service is delivered both onsite and in classroom sessions with training providers, who are selected to suit the needs of host companies from a choice of the best on the market. To date, 142 apprentices have been successfully placed with Yorkshire and Humberside host companies.

Stafforce claims that this is a major benefit to firms as they will be able to appoint apprentices who have been pre-vetted for their suitability, while the process gives them far more flexibility and support than if they were to directly recruit.

The government funds 100% of training fees for 16–18-year-old apprentices and up to 50% for those aged 19–24.

For further information, please contact Jacqueline Lovewell on 01482 22626.

Apprenticeships – Frequently Asked Questions What is an Apprenticeship?

Apprenticeships take between one and four years to complete.

Apprenticeships refer to on-the-job training leading to nationally recognised qualifications, developed by industry.

The National Apprenticeship Service supports, funds and co-ordinates the delivery of Apprenticeships throughout England.

Why would I take on an apprentice?

Because it is good business. Skills shortages are still one of the biggest threats to UK business. Apprenticeships can help businesses across all industries by offering a route to harness fresh talent. If you have trained staff with the right skills for the job they can do a wider range of tasks and take on new responsibilities - this can help

Is anything being done to help SMEs? Like any other business, SMEs can benefit from taking on apprentices. to reduce skill shortages, minimise staff turnover and workplace accidents, and increase productivity.

Taking on an apprentice is cost effective because your people can learn while they’re on the job and the government contributes to the costs of learning.

How long does it take?

The length of an Apprenticeship varies depending on prior skills levels of the apprentice, the qualification being obtained and industry sector. Generally,

Currently the government is offering an Employer Incentive (AGE 16-24) The AGE 16-24 is aimed at helping eligible employers to offer young people employment through the Apprenticeship programme, by providing wage grants of £1,500 to assist the employer in recruiting a young apprentice.

Vacancies can be advertised on the Apprenticeship vacancies system on the Apprenticeships web site free of charge.

Where can I find help?

More questions answered at www.apprenticeships.org.uk .The National Apprenticeship Service has all the information you need to start an Apprenticeship. Tel 08000 150 600 or email mike.long@apprenticeships.gov.uk or call 0795 827015.

The National Apprenticeship Service website at www.apprenticeships.org.uk is your one stop shop for all the information you need about how to get started with taking on an apprentice.

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APPRENTICESHIPS

Apprenticeships make good business sense Whether it’s recruiting new staff or training existing teams, Barnsley College can support you to up-skill and develop your workforce.

The College’s dedicated Employer Response Team provides free recruitment support and a range of training solutions, including short courses, mandatory training, leadership and management qualifications, training on the job, NVQs and Apprenticeships.

The Team is committed to supporting you and your business to identify where additional skills are needed, what training

would be most appropriate and where funding or grants might be available to help with the cost.

One of the most high impact and cost effective options is Apprenticeship training, combining on the job experience with off the job training. Staff receive industry qualifications and practical, hands on skills.

The College offers over 50 different Apprenticeship programmes, at a range of levels, in all industry areas including Management, Business Administration and Graphic Design. However, where a programme might not be exactly right for your business the Employer Team can work with you to develop a programme which works for you.

Pledge your support Barnsley College works with a large number of organisations who have signed the Apprenticeship Pledge, a commitment by businesses to employ 2.5% of their workforce as apprentices. Andrew Nicholson, Managing Director at Doyle Consultants said: “We are a local company and believe in giving the young people of Barnsley a chance.”

If your business would like to sign the Apprenticeship Pledge and join us at a celebratory event on Friday 7 March, contact Liz Smith on 01226 216 166 or email apprenticeships@barnsley.ac.uk to book your complimentary ticket.

Employ

an apprentice for huge business benefits

81%

Something for everyone Apprenticeships are available to all, regardless of age or experience.

You can even enrol your existing employees.

88%

of employers believe Apprenticeships lead to a more motivated & satisfied workforce

of employers say apprentices make their businesses more productive

80%

of employers feel that Apprenticeships reduce staff turnover

Flexible training Apprenticeships are flexible training programmes, which mix: • assessment & training in the work place • teaching in the classroom or workshop • exams & practical assessments

For more information about Apprenticeships contact us now Tel: 01226 216 166, Email: apprenticeships@barnsley.ac.uk or visit: www.barnsley.ac.uk

We have grants available to help you towards the cost of employing an apprentice

PATRONS NEWS

Employers urged to engage with apprenticeship programme The Source Academy is urging employers to use the seventh National Apprenticeship Week (3 – 7 March 2014) as a springboard for getting involved in the apprenticeship programme, which is currently enjoying unprecedented success in the UK. National Apprenticeship Week 2014 provides a fantastic opportunity for employers to consider the ways in which they could get involved in the apprenticeship programme, and help provide fantastic opportunities to young people in our region whilst creating a dynamic and skilled Sheffield City Region workforce.”

Figures released in October 2013 showed that the number of apprentices in the UK has almost doubled since 2010, with over 850,000 apprentices currently helping thousands of employers to grow their operations and build a more motivated, productive and satisfied workforce.

Susan Gravill, owner of Brook Bakery in Sheffield, says, “Having apprentices learning about Brook Bakery from the bottom-up has been really beneficial to our business, giving us the staff we need to move forward into a bright future. The new ideas, enthusiasm and motivation which the young people have brought to our office environment has had a really positive effect on our staff, and we are now in the process

of recruiting a retail apprentice for one of our shops.”

Dale Robinson, from The Source Academy, says, “There has never been a better time to employ an apprentice in the Sheffield City Region, thanks to the Local Enterprise Partnership’s Skills Made Easy programme, which is aiming to create 4,000 new apprenticeships by 2016.

For more information about apprenticeships, contact Dale Robinson, Head of Sales and Marketing at The Source Academy, on dale.robinson@ thesourceacademy.co.uk.

MEMBER NEWS

te Size News • Bite Size Bi • s w Ne ze Si te Bi • s w Ne ze Si ze News • Bite

Plans for R-evolution in Rotherham Plans have been approved for the R-evolution development on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham which includes 100,000 sq ft of industrial units.

Rotherham Council are hoping to purchase the completed development, unlocking funding for construction.

Owen Michaelson, chief executive of Harworth Estates, said: “We are confident that this development will meet increasing

market demand in a region where the availability of equivalent quality stock is reducing. We are delighted to have received support from Rotherham Council, whom we intend to provide with a high-quality business estate.”

Investors return to Rotherham town centre £50m worth of deals took place in 2013 for commercial property in Rotherham town centre, indicating improved levels of investor confidence and a brightening economic outlook.

The bank at the White Hart Buildings sold with Allsops in May for an impressive £1m and deals were done for properties on College Street, Wellgate and The Old Town Hall. The Cascades Centre was acquired by Threadneedle in a £5m deal.

The largest deal saw the council agree the £7.3m sale of its former civic site with developers, TCN UK, enabling the £41m required for a new Tesco development to be secured.

Sheffield city region ITA backs Meadowhall as HS2 location Transport leaders in the Sheffield city region (SCR) are backing Meadowhall as the location for the South Yorkshire HS2 station, but only if a significant package of improvements is included to ensure that it reaches its full economic potential.

In response to the national consultation, the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE), on behalf of the South Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority (ITA), explained how improvements to connectivity and a masterplan for the area around Meadowhall would help the region

harness the economic growth that the HS2 project could bring.

The response calls for improvements to the current rail infrastructure; more tram and tram-train services; improving the road network and the M1; and links to the region’s airport.

Content provided by Rotherham Business news editor, Tom Austin For the latest Rotherham Business News as it happens visit

www.rothbiz.co.uk

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Metalysis now in 3D Metalysis, the Manvers-based technology innovator for the speciality metals industry, has seen its low-cost titanium powder used to 3D print automotive and jet engine parts at the University of Sheffield.

Dion Vaughan, CEO of Metalysis, said: “The Metalysis process could reduce the price of titanium by as much as 75 per cent, making titanium almost as cheap as speciality steels. We believe that titanium made by the Metalysis process could replace the current use of aluminium and steel in many products.”

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MEMBER NEWS

Fripp Design and Research join AIRTO Fripp Design and Research Association company has been accepted as a member of Independent Research and Technology Organisations; AIRTO “This is a tremendous accolade to be given to Fripp Design and Research” commented Tom Fripp, Managing Director at Fripp Design and Research “it recognises the focus our company has in developing innovative, research focused solutions to our clients problems”.

Research and Technology Organisations, more commonly referred to as “RTOs”, provide an important bridge between academia and commercial business. Their focus is to help business exploit science and technology to gain a competitive advantage.

Fripp Design and Research has a track record in innovating new products and services for a broad range of clients, including many UK Universities. “It is one of our proudest achievements that many of the UK’s greatest research institutions come to us for help to research new and innovative ways of applying modern industrial design methods into commercial applications” continued Tom.

AIRTO brings together those ‘best in practice’ independent research organisations, to encourage and support greater adoption of science and technology within UK businesses. “In common with the many eminent organisations that make up AIRTO’s membership, Fripp Design and Research have a strong focus and ability to help businesses exploit science and technology for their

commercial advantage, making innovation happen” added Dr Jane Gate, AIRTO’s Director of Operations “.

Already membership is bringing advantage to Fripp Design and Research “As a result of being recognised as an independent Research and Technology Organisation, Fripp Design and Research are now obtaining approval to join as suppliers to a number of publicly funded programs, this means our clients are able to take some of the risk out of their own research and development programs by working with us” concluded Fripp.

Rotherham school gives backing to campaign for defibrillators A Rotherham High School has given its backing to Martek Medical, based in the Dearne Valley, which is calling for all schools to fit an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), in order to save more young people’s lives who may suffer a Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA).

Oakwood High School had a Lifeline AED from Martek Medical presented to them by World Cup referee Howard Webb last year.

The AED is located in the school’s reception, so it is easily visible and can be accessed quickly not only by the school but also members of the public requiring its use in the community.

David Naisbitt, headteacher at Oakwood High School in Moorgate, Rotherham, said: “It’s a great comfort to know we have an AED within our school’s premises and we are aware that it may help save lives within the local community too. Fortunately, there hasn’t been a case of sudden cardiac arrest on our premises since having the AED fitted, but it gives us the added reassurance and peace of mind that should an incidence of sudden cardiac arrest arise, we are equipped to deal with it.”

Like many schools, Oakwood High school, which has almost 1,300 adults and children on site on a daily basis, no longer has trained nursing staff permanently based there, therefore having life saving equipment like a Lifeline AED is hugely important.

Ian Couldwell, Product Manager for Martek Medical, said: “Schools and colleges are really taking their responsibilities seriously and increasing numbers are choosing to fit

AEDs to protect their pupils, staff and the public. There are too many cases of young people dying from SCA, when in many cases, with defibrillation within a few minutes their chance of survival could have been increased by 75 per cent.”

The Lifeline AED is ideal for school environments as it is safe to use on young people. It’s been designed to be extremely straightforward to use and the talk-through guide helps people to relax when using it.

An independent study by the University of Illinois concluded that the Lifeline AED has the highest success rate for untrained users being able to deliver a safe and effective defibrillation shock to the patient.

Clear and concise voice instructions guide the user through the process of use in an emergency situation, making the whole process straightforward and providing the best chance of saving a life.

Recent Government statistics show that as many as 12 young people die each week as a result of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).

An even more worrying statistic is the fact that 80 per cent of these young SCA victims which show no prior symptoms.

AEDs are the only proven treatment to restore a normal heart rhythm and the

speed of delivery is vital as the chances of successful defibrillation decline at a rate of around 10% with each minute that passes.

Martek Medical is the official UK distributor for Defibtech LLC, a leading innovator in the field of automated external defibrillators (AEDs). Martek Medical provides the full range of Lifeline defibrillators, which are designed to be used by both professionals and non-professionals to restore a heart to a normal rhythm in the event of sudden cardiac arrest.

For more information visit the website www.martek-medical.com or call Martek Medical on 01709 464 331.

Bulletin

17

COVER STORY

Membership Survey What you’ve told us Towards the end of last year we opened our annual member’s survey for you, our members, to feedback to us about how we are doing, what you’d like us to do and anything else you want to share.

The survey is really important to us at the Chamber, it helps us to design our events programme, bring in new services to meet your needs and shape our policy activities for over the coming months.

Membership Very Satisfied

This year we wanted to share some of your ideas, concerns and comments, to show you that 1. We really do read the responses and 2. What we do because of it.

Firstly, we were so pleased to see that so many of our members are truly happy with their membership. Over 90% of you said you were either satisfied or even very satisfied. We had a little bit of a turbulent year last year and we have worked hard to make sure we continued to meet your needs and we will continue to do so for 2014 – hopefully we can say ‘nearly 100%’ next year. (Nearly, no-one can be that perfect – we admit that).

Satisfied Dissatisfied Very Dissatisfied

Policy and Business Issues We are continuing to address issues on behalf of members and particularly those brought to our attention in the survey. Two main issues of concern came across: 1. Business rates Business rates continue to be on the agenda for the Chamber network as a whole. The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) are lobbying central government on the behalf of all members of an accredited Chamber.

• T he BCC is calling on the Government to abandon up-rating business rates for the next two financial years, with HM Treasury working with all three devolved governments to ensure that the freeze extends UK-wide.

• W e estimate the exchequer cost of the BCC’s proposal for a two-year freeze of rates to be around £1.7 billion (2014/15 2015/16). This is equivalent to just 0.1% of total government spending.

• Further, the BCC is calling for a comprehensive review of the system of business rates to be completed by 2015.

Ministers should signal their intention to adopt the proposed reforms in the first year of the next Parliament, so that a new business rates system is operative in 2016/17.

2. Transport and HS2 We continue to be involved in discussions around transport infrastructure and in particular to the HS2 developments. We will continue to feedback to local and central government consultations such as the recent mandatory speed limited on the M1 (see page 25 for our response).

COVER STORY

Services

50

“91% of members said they would recommend membership to others”

40 30 20

Events We’ve introduced new networking for 2014 – City Region Business Breakfasts. These are the 3rd Tuesday every other month.

Event Attendance

80 60

If you have received your diary but you don’t want it, please let us know as some members like more than one!

40 20 WORKSHOPS / SEMINARS

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

CORPORATE HOSPITALITY

BUSINESS AWARDS

PRESIDENT’S BALL

SPECIALIST EVENTS

NETWORKING

0

OT HE R

EN ER GY TR AI NI NG HE AL TH PL EX AN PO

“My interaction with the Chamber has only been around Export Documentation but this has been accomplished to the highest possible standard and service.”

RT NE SE RV TW IC O ES RK IN G & EV EN TS

If you have any issues of concern you would like to raise with the Policy and External Affairs Committee (PEAC) or the Transport Working Group, please contact dominic.beck@brchamber.co.uk.

HE AL TH

HR

0

SE RV IC ES LE GA & LS SA UP FE PO TY RT & AD VI CE

10

We will do our best to keep you up to date with the services to make sure you have the best deal.

(See page 4 for information on our new utility service provider)

Funding Funding is an area of concern for many businesses, unfortunately all we can do at this time is tell you that we will try our best to keep you up to date with the latest opportunities, if and when they come available.

Services We were surprised that so many services are sourced elsewhere, particularly our discounted and money saving services such as HR, Health & Safety and Training.

Chamber Diary The Chamber diary has been a hot topic this year, we understand that not everyone would like a diary but according to the survey the majority of members do. While we can still provide a diary at no cost to ourselves we will continue to deliver this.

We are also looking into electronic applications for those who are more digitally inclined.

“[The Chamber] Keeps me connected with what is going on in the local and national economy. Sub group participation enables me to influence discussions and policy. Events are great for networking and staff very helpful”

19

MEMBER NEWS

Chamber backs Junior Cup Way back in 1910 Penistone Church football club became the first ever winners of the Sheffield & Hallamshire Junior Challenge Cup, and for the very first time Penistone Church will host the final of the Junior Cup at their Memorial Ground on Wednesday 9th April 2014.

With the Tour de France making its way through Penistone in July, the Chamber has pledged its support to the Sheffield & Hallamshire County FA by agreeing to support the County FA in promoting this season’s Saturday Junior Challenge Cup. Richard Finney, Marketing and Communications Officer at S&HC FA said, “It is a major added bonus for us to have the Chamber on board. The teams that play at this level enjoy their Saturday afternoon games

and the games have been keenly contested throughout the competition.

“Penistone Church, particularly club secretary David Hampshire, have been very supportive, and we are looking forward to the evening of Wednesday April 9th when two County FA teams will be chasing the glory of a Junior Challenge Cup victory.

“We are, of course, very grateful to the Chamber for their support and hopefully the

final will provide a fitting introduction to the fun and excitement that Penistone will enjoy in the weeks and days leading up to the world’s number 1 cycle race.”

The Sheffield & Hallamshire County FA Junior Cup Final with a 7.00pm kick off, takes place at the Memorial Ground, Penistone Church FC, Church View Road, Penistone, Sheffield, S36 6AT

Local lecturer wins personal accolade Samantha Hannigan, Rotherham College lecturer has won the PQ Lecturer of the Year Award (Public Sector). Samantha beat off stiff competition from candidates from De Montfort University, MMU and Birmingham Metropolitan University.

The College was also shortlisted for two awards at the prestigious PQ awards Accountancy College of the year (Public Sector) and the Rotherham College Accounting Clinic was shortlisted for Accountancy Team of the year.

The PQ awards are nationally recognised awards for professionals in the field of accountancy.

This includes accounts to lecturers and training establishment.

According to the PQ Website, for those in the know, these are “The ultimate recognition” Samantha Hannigan commented on her achievement “I am delighted that students feel they are receiving a service that is good enough to want them to nominate myself, the College and the Accountancy Clinic.

“I feel honoured to be shortlisted and was totally shocked when I received the phone call from the editor of the PQ magazine so to win is a real privilege.”

20 Bulletin

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

UKTI Review - Britain Open for Business The Next Phase A report, published in January 2014, on achievements and future initiative in relation to the five-year strategy launched in May 2011 entitled Britain Open for Business.

The update addresses its successes so far, its plans to work with medium-sized businesses, enhancing support for small companies to export as well as High Growth Markets, China & US statistics, Free Trade Agreements, securing export-

SYITF Programme Announcement 2014 25 March Focus on Turkey

13 May Trade Finance -- The Key Challenges and Solutions for Exporters

29 May Focus on South East Asia

July

oriented foreign directed investments

Global Economy

Increasing impact by working with partners.

23 September

An interesting read, for the full report please visit www.gov.uk

25th November

Focus on Poland Focus on South Africa

December Trade Mission to Singapore – coinciding with OSEA – 20th International Oil & Gas Industry Exhibition

Content Provided by Halton International e : renate@haltoninternational.com www.haltoninternational.com

UKEF appoints new Y&H Export Finance Adviser Richard Clarke has been appointed to cover the Yorkshire & Humber region, replacing Jim Keir.

UKEF (UK Export Finance) is the UK’s export credit agency, helping exporters and investors by providing credit insurance policies, political risk insurance on overseas investments and guarantees on bank loans. UK Export Finance is the operating name of the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) UKEF supports companies that can’t get what is needed from the private market, so may be able to help. It provides guarantees, insurance and advice to UKbased exporters large and small. UKEF works across sectors from aerospace

to automotive, engineering to energy and water to waste processing, and we support exports to over 200 countries.”

UKEF has its own risk assessment framework and our work is focused on helping UK exporters maximise the opportunity to do more business overseas.

To find out more visit www.ukexportfinance.gov.uk or contact Richard on: richard.clarke@ukef.gsi.gov.uk

Top 25 Trading Partners – November 2013 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

UNITED STATES GERMANY NETHERLANDS FRANCE IRISH REPUBLIC BELGIUM CHINA ITALY SPAIN UAE SWITZERLAND SWEDEN RUSSIA HONG KONG INDIA SOUTH KOREA JAPAN CANADA SINGAPORE SAUDI ARABIA AUSTRALIA TURKEY POLAND NORWAY DENMARK

Source: HMRC, Overseas Trade Statistics

Bulletin

21

PATRONS NEWS

Solar Europa and Chamber develop business package Solar Europa and the Chamber have worked together to develop a package for businesses for which the consumption of environmentally friendly electricity will bring much needed long-term cost savings.

Solar Europa provides the solar PV system free of charge to businesses. In exchange for the free system, Solar Europa requires the business to enter an agreement to consume the Green Electricity generated by the system.

This Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) is for a period of 20 years saving up to 50 per cent of grid prices and will not only secure a material reduction in utility based electricity costs but will also protect against energy price inflation (historically at least more than 3 per cent above RPI and rising) as a result of linking increases to RPI only.

The electricity costs are agreed at the outset, on signing the PPA and incorporated into the contract. The contract is portable so should a member decide to sell its business or move premises the new owners can also benefit from low cost electricity.

The UK has now introduced the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) which is a direct business tax calculated by reference to the energy that a business consumes and the carbon created in producing that energy. For every ton of emissions produced by Industry in consuming carbon creating energy the CRC is charged at £16 per ton.

This tax could prove to be ruinous to every size of business over 25 to 30 years. By generating renewable energy from solar PV this reduces the consumption of electricity created from carbon creating sources so it is not only the cost of energy bills that is reduced but also the amount of tax payable under the CRC scheme – a double saving for members to enjoy.

For more information, please contact 01226 249852 or e-mail info@solareuropa.co.uk.

Using the Cloud to weather the storm…

The winter weather can take its toll on your business productivity. Are you concerned about the weather preventing your staff getting to the office? What will happen on those days when many of your employees can’t access their email and company documents because they are snow-bound?

Using Cloud technology can be a great solution to this challenge as well as benefiting your business in many other ways. In today’s competitive marketplace the most successful businesses operate with maximum agility, lower costs and better staff productivity. Companies can benefit by embracing some form of Cloud technology to help simplify their I.T. set-up, lower their upfront costs and allow staff to work with more flexibility.

Microsoft’s Office 365 suite can help your staff do all the following without having to leave their house and brave treacherous weather conditions.

22 Bulletin

• Access and respond to their emails • View and edit documents • Access their calendars • Stay connected with video conferencing • Stay in touch with instant messaging By moving even part of your I.T. set up to the Cloud you can take advantage of reduced overheads, (both I.T. and Telephony) make your workforce more productive and flexible and ensure that you are always compliant and using latest technologies.

To find out more about Copier Systems and their new range of Develop solutions visit www.copiersystems.co.uk or phone 01226 321 181.

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Call 01709 386 200 for more details.

POLICY

Chamber Pre-Budget Statement what the heart of our local businesses need.

Access to finance should be seen as one of the key catalysts to be used to incentivise industry, innovation and enterprise in the UK.

Dominic Beck, External Affairs Executive gives an overview of what the Chamber hopes to see in the Chancellors Budget later this month.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne will deliver the penultimate Budget Statement before the 2015 General Election and is arguably the most important of this Parliament. It will be eagerly anticipated by individuals, families and of course businesses who will once again wait with baited breath to hear what commitments of support are made towards ensuring sustainable economic recovery and growth is achieved.

The Chamber will be calling for several key measures of support for businesses in the area and more broadly across the country. It will be through the endeavour of innovation and enterprise from small and medium sized businesses that will provide the UK

economy with the sound footing it needs as we move into less turbulent economic times. An environment based on tempered confidence needs to be encouraged and nurtured through a suite of strong, radical and genuinely business based policies. Some of the key measures we would like to see commitments made around include: British Business Bank: With the launch and establishment of the British Business Bank based on our doorstep in Sheffield we hope to see some real hard evidence that small and medium sized businesses are being supported in accessing the finance they need to grow. A return to good old fashioned lending based on prudent levels of risk is

Apprenticeships: The Chamber has continually welcomed the Government’s strong commitment to support young people into apprenticeships and firmly believe it has helped towards the recent improvements in the reductions in unemployment. Moving forward, we would like to see stronger and more robust plans to increase the number of apprenticeship places in key sectors and in key roles. There is a huge demand for high skilled workers in the advanced manufacturing and engineering sectors and measures to reduce the skill shortage in these key areas will ultimately contribute to a more globally competitive economy.

Regional Economic Growth: Chambers across the country have been involved from the onset an inception of the Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) back in 2010. Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber is no different and we have been largely impressed and supportive of the progress and collaborative nature with which the Sheffield City Region LEP has evolved. We now want to see hard evidence of revenue and capital support for the LEP’s moving forward to ensure they are resourced sufficiently enough to begin to deliver upon some of the priorities set out in their individual Growth Plans and associated strategies.

A full and detailed budget response will be given following the budget announcement and the budget breakfast on the 21st March. Keep up to date on Twitter @brchamberuk or the Chamber website www.brchamber.co.uk.

24 Bulletin

POLICY

SatNav to Work Scheme A group of young people have taken part in an innovative mentoring scheme called ‘SatNav To Work’ and have received recognition at a special presentation.

Rotherham United Chairman, Tony Stewart, presented the young job seekers with a certificate and small gift at the Chamber’s Rotherham Business Club held at the New York Stadium on 30th January.

The mentor project was organised by Rotherham Council, Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce and Guinness Northern Counties .It is aimed at sharpening some of the soft skills of the scheme participants around writing a good CV, being confident in an interview environment and tips for presenting themselves in the best possible way for prospective employers.

Businessmen and women from across the region took part in the mentor scheme from an array of backgrounds and were most appropriately aligned with a young person for whom they would be able to make the greatest positive impact upon.

Andrew Denniff, Chief Executive of the Chamber, said, “The Chamber has a long track record in supporting young people develop their skills to help them position themselves in

a way that makes them attractive to potential employers.

“We hope to build upon the success of this project and promote other schemes

that put to good use the experience and expertise of businessmen and women in helping young people access to the job market.”

Consultation Response-60mph proposed mandatory speed limit The Chamber has considered the proposed mandatory 60mph speed limit on the M1 motorway between junction 28 and 35a.

Having consulted our members through our Policy & External Affairs Committee (PEAC) and through social media channels, the Chamber on behalf of our members will be objecting to the proposals within this specific consultation.

We feel that these particular proposals contradict those that we agreed to around the ‘Managed Motorway’ scheme which will see the M1 between those aforementioned

junctions opened up to a four lane highway.

The concept of the Managed Motorway is that the technology will react to traffic congestion to set an appropriate speed limit to help the flow of traffic through hot spot areas for congestion. We think that setting a ‘mandatory’ limit of any speed is in complete contradiction to these original proposals that we felt and still feel would be positive for business.

Clive Watkinson, Chair of the Chamber’s Transport Working Group when commenting, said”We strongly oppose these proposals. They are not based on any evidence, should have been included in the original managed motorway consultation and are bad for business and the UK economy.”

Bulletin

25

ADVERTORIAL

Companies are keen to walk their Supporting and your workforce to way to ayou healthier workforce make greener and healthier journeys.

In the drive to help staff stay fit, healthy and improve performance, 35 local businesses have signed up to the Walk Barnsley Programme delivered Contact the Inmotion! team by Team Activ Ltd and funded through the Inmotion! project.

to find out more.

Some of the businesses involved include Barnsley College, Active Barnsley, ASOS and Barnsley Football Club. The scheme offers £ businesses support to engage and motivate employees to walk as part of their journey to and from work or as part of their daily routine.

Walking can have a real benefit to organisations and can help deal with issues like local congestion, whilst also reducing emissions and supporting employees to be healthier and happy in the workplace.

Darren Padgett, Director of Team Activ Ltd, said: “We’ve already had a positive response,

which just highlights how serious businesses travel@inmotion.co.uk are about their employees’ health and inmotion.co.uk wellbeing.”

01709 51 51 51

Darren added: “For businesses who want to get involved, we will provide a health check and assess how employees currently £ travel and provide tailored support to be able to incorporate walking into their daily routine.

Employees will receive free information such as a Barnsley Town Centre Walking Guide and Maps with helpful tips. The guide also includes a chart detailing the time and distance it takes to walk between many of the town centre’s main locations including the Civic Theatre, Barnsley Hospital and the markets.”

It’s not just Barnsley that can benefit, there are similar walking schemes in Sheffield and Doncaster, plus other programmes available across South Yorkshire, such as better driving schemes, cycling to work and electric car options.

Contact the Inmotion! team to find out how you and your workforce can benefit from any of these free schemes. Inmotion.co.uk

_Inmotion_walking green_advert_200x142.indd 1

2

Supporting you and your workforce to make greener and healthier journeys.

Contact the Inmotion! team to find out more. £ travel@inmotion.co.uk inmotion.co.uk 01709 51 51 51

£

6823

SOCIAL MEDIA

Social Media Round-Up For further details and to get the latest chamber updates, visit our website www.brchamber.co.uk or connect with us on Twitter, Facebook and Linked In.

New to social media – Jelly!

What is Jelly?

Jelly is the new social media app developed by Twitter founder, Biz Stone.

It’s a question and answer app – users asks questions and receive real-time answers from their social media network.

How does it work?

Jelly says – “Using Jelly is kinda like using a conventional search engine in that you ask it stuff and it returns answers. But, that’s where the similarities end.”

Users download the app and first have to connect to their social networks – Facebook or Twitter. You are then asked to

“point, shoot, ask!”- Simply take a photo, ask a question and then it is shared across the user’s social network (and friends of friends on said network who have Jelly), users will then be notified when they start receiving answers.

Users can also share their question with “anyone in the world” via other media, email or SMS.

Should we be interested?

If you are able to link Jelly to your company Facebook and Twitter accounts you should be able to answer questions that are relevant to your business which could prove useful but you might need to spend

Pick of the web...

some time trying to find questions you can answer – Jelly has no monitoring service and you can’t do keyword searches to find questions.

The app may have its uses in asking questions to tap into the market to gain feedback, views or test new products with their customers to get quick answers.

The app is in its early adopter’s stage and no doubt has many updates to come – one to keep an eye on maybe?

Watch the Jelly Video http://vimeo.com/83478484

Dictionary Corner Hashtag (noun)

A word or phrase preceded by a hash sign (#), used on social media sites such as Twitter to identify messages on a specific topic. #nowyouknow

Did You Know?

Facebook was 10 on 4th Feb 2014 – Happy belated birthday Facebook!

Bulletin

27

PATRONS NEWS

A ‘patient’ wait to see a GP? From week-long waits to see a doctor, to sevenday opening for GP surgeries – it can sometimes seem like only a few days pass before another health story hits the headlines.

With the NHS working to save £20 billion by 2015, access to services to keep healthy isn’t always readily available and for employers this could mean an increase in employee sickness.

As an employer, you have your employees’ health at heart, so how can you ensure they stay fit and healthy and at work?

Westfield Health, an award-winning health insurance provider is the official partner of the BCC offering health cover through the Chamber Primary Health Plan.

Through their plan, employees have easy

consultation without even having to leave their workplace – good news for employees and their employers, as well as busy GP surgeries. access to a range health care solutions, which may prevent a long wait to see a GP. Services such as their 24/7 GP phone line, DoctorLine™, which includes a webcam consultation facility, enables employees to undergo a ‘face-to-face’ consultation with a qualified, practising GP from anywhere that has a webcam connection. Staff can have a

The Chamber Primary Health Plan, which is available to all members of Barnsley and Rotherham Chamber of Commerce, includes the DoctorLine™ service.

For more information about the Chamber Plan, visit www.westfieldhealth.com/ chamber or call 0845 602 1629, available 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.

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16/01/2014 15:52

NEW MEMBERS LIST

New Members List

Use your smartphone to scan our QR code for further information on Membership

Contact details for our latest members

Platinum We would like to welcome the following Platinum Members: Real Steakhouse & Grill at the Double Barrel Craig Savage Woodhouse Green Thurcroft Rotherham S66 9AN T 01709 709911 E craig@realsteakhouse.co.uk

Gold

Professional Energy Purchasing Ltd

Training Action Results Ltd

Linda Spencer Office 4 Ecclesfield Business Centre 46 Stocks Hill Ecclesfield Sheffield S35 9YT

Alan Richards 6 Greaves Sike Lane Micklebring Rotherham S66 7RR

T 0114 3272645 E lindaspep@gmail.com

Roketix Ltd Paul Kelsall Digital Media Centre County Way Barnsley S70 2JW T 01226 447211 E paul.kelsall@roketix.co.uk W www.roketix.co.uk

We would like to welcome the following Gold Members:

Silver

Aston Hotel

We would like to welcome the following Silver Members:

Andrea Hippsley Britannia Way Sheffield Business Park Rotherham S60 5BD T 0114 2615690 E andreah@astonhotelsheffield.co.uk W www.astonhotels.co.uk

Kor Racing – Kingsley Ruddy Mandy Cross 1 Aspen Court Forest Town Mansfield NG19 0ND T 07580 095931 E mandycross67@googlemail.com W www.korracing.com

Legal & Business Affairs Ltd Paul Gregory Unit C2 Sheaf Bank Business Park Prospect Road Sheffield S2 3EN T 0114 2509229 E paul@legalbusinessaffairs.com W www.legalbusinessaffairs.com

Jobs 4U Recruitment Nicola Brookes 131 Laughton Road Dinnington Sheffield S25 2PP T 01909 560355 E nicola@jobs4recruitment.co.uk W www. jobs4urecruitment.co.uk

Parker Hannifin Manufacturing Ltd John Robinson Hydraulics Group Global Accumulator Division Barbados Way Rotherham S66 8RX T 01709 792500 E jxrobinson@parker.com W www.parker.com

SLS Nutrition Solutions Andrew Tattersfield 29 Rowley Way Bramley Rotherham S66 3ZY T 01709 545648 E slsexercise@gmail.com

30 Bulletin

T 07836 267870 E alan.a4r@gmail.com

Whitley Hall Hotel Jade Ridley Elliott Lane Grenoside Sheffield S35 8NR T 0114 2454444 E info@whitleyhall.com W www.whitleyhall.com

Retail We would also like to welcome our first Retail Members:

The Black Eye Project Jim Lobley Belgravia House 115 Rockingham Street Sheffield S1 4EB T 0114 2132001 E jl@theblackeyeproject.co.uk W www.theblackeyeproject.co.uk

Vitalife Gavin Edley Unit 41-44 Fusion@Magna Rotherham S60 1FE T 07528 372619 E gavin@vitalifehealth.com W www.vitalifehealth.com

NEW MEMBERS LIST

Why not upgrade?

R CHAMBE HERHAM EY & ROT BARNSL MBER AM CHAMBER BARNSLEY & ROTHERH GOLD ME

PLATINUM MEMBER

ulations Congrat

you

to:

are a member

of Barnsley

m Chamber & Rotherha

e to: of Commerc Congratulations

you are a member of

Barnsley & Rotherham

Chamber of Commerce

Could your company benefit from the additional benefits that Platinum and Gold membership provides? For a full run-down of the extra benefits available, call our Membership team on: 01709 386 200

Expiry Date: hip No: Members

Membership No:

Expiry Date:

Denniff Andrew Chief Executive

Sole Traders Andrew Denniff Chief Executive

Salvation Data UK Ltd

The Wesley Centre Rodney King Blyth Road Maltby Rotherham S66 8JD

Athersley Cares

Izu Egege Cooper Buildings Sheffield Technology Park Arundel Street Sheffield S1 2NS

Lorraine Headen Partnership House 26 Laxton Road Athersley Barnsley S71 3DH

T 0800 13307161 E izu.egege@salvationdatatech.co.uk W www.salvationdatatech.co.uk

Smart Support For Business

T 07984 400778 E lorraineheaden@hotmail.com

Joanne Law 17 Basegreen Avenue Gleadless Sheffield S12 3FA

We would also like to welcome the following Sole Trader Members:

Brian Huxley 85 Genn Lane Ward Green Barnsley S70 6SY T 07771 665204 E brianhuxley8@gmail.com W www.brianhuxley.co.uk

Cripten Tendering Stephen Bailey 24 Woodland Drive Barnsley S70 6QW

T 0114 2219054 E joanne@smartsupportforbusiness.co.uk W www.smartsupportforbusiness.co.uk

T 01709 811118 E s.r.king@btinternet.com W www.wesleycentremaltby.co.uk

Visualisedit Ltd Joada Allen-Booth 140 Wath Road Elsecar Barnsley S74 8JF T 07870 405413 E visualedit@mail.com W www.visualisedit.com

Supreme Momentum Sharon Whitehouse 198 Doncaster Road Thybergh Rotherham S65 4NU T 07875 605082 E sdwhitehouse@hotmail.co.uk

T 07816 468666 E s.bailey2@btinternet.com

Bulletin

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MEMBERSHIP

Chamber Online Business Shop is now LIVE! The Chamber, in conjunction with Qdos, the providers of ChamberHR are making it easier than ever for Chamber members to stay compliant with easy online access to additional expert support and advice in employment law, human resource and health & safety.

As you are aware ChamberHR is included within the Chamber membership fee however, you can now purchase additional HR Services through the NEW Chamber Online Business Shop!

What can you buy?

The Chamber Online Business Shop gives you this and more.

• HR Audit

• DBS Checks • Driver & Qualification Checks • Bespoke Contracts & Handbooks

• PLUS much more!

When did you last relax?

So, there’s a rush order to complete, the phone’s ringing, and two of your people are off ill. How would you cope?

Stress, it an inevitable part of life. A little bit of stress can even be good for us. However it is important to recognise when stress is becoming too much and affecting you in the workplace. Stress can stop people from performing at their best.

Right now: • 1 in 6 employees is dealing with a mental health problem such as stress or anxiety* • 1 in 5 employees feel they couldn’t tell their boss if they were overly stressed.* Your Barnsley and Rotherham Chamber and AXA PPP healthcare work closely together to offer you a wealth of support to you and your team from free vital business resources to a series of in-depth health and wellbeing

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hubs, full of useful information, factsheets and expert advice.

It’s good to know you’ve done all you can to ensure you and your staff are in the best possible frame of mind for work.

Protecting the health of you and your business Whether you’re a sole trader or a small business with a team of employees, we offer a range of flexible and affordable business health insurance plans tailored to meet your needs.

Find out more online or call 0800 387 754 quoting the name of your Chamber.

When you join you’ll also get 50% off your Chamber membership fee

PATRONS NEWS

Two new Patrons for the Chamber ASD Lighting and Rotherham United Football Club have become the latest companies to pledge their support to the Chamber by coming Patrons.

Employing over 200 people, ASD Lighting have been based in Rotherham for over 30 years. They specialise in supplying decorative and commercial lighting all of which has been designed, developed and manufactured in the UK to the highest standards.

Tony Stewart, Managing Director of ASD Lighting said “As a manufacturing business in Rotherham for over 30 years, are proud to become a patron of the Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce. We look forward to working side by side with the Chamber and creating partnerships with local businesses moving forward.”

Mark Hannigan, Operations Manager at the Chamber said: “Welcoming ASD Lighting

as a Patrons of the Chamber allows us to be involved with another of Rotherham’s big companies. This partnership will allow the Chamber to utilise their knowledge and expertise to support manufacturing in the region while working towards mutually beneficial goals.”

Our second new patron of 2014 is Rotherham United football club. The club was form in 1925 following the merger of Rotherham Town and Rotherham County. In the more recent history, Rotherham United faced some uncertain times following 2 administrations in 2006 and 2008. Following the administration in 2008, Tony Stewart stepped in became to become Chairman.

Tony Stewart made the difficult decision to take the club away from Millmoor after it being their home for over 100 years and move to Don Valley Stadium whilst a new home was built at the site of Guest & Chrimes in Rotherham Town Centre. The New York Stadium hosted its First game on 21st July 2012 seeing The Millers take on Barnsley FC. Steve Coakley, Commercial Director at Rotherham United said “Rotherham United Football Club are delighted to become a patron of Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce. This extension to our long standing relationship will facilitate mutual commercial opportunities and further development of our brand and image within the local business community” Andrew Denniff, Chamber Chief Executive said “The Chamber has supported Rotherham United through the good times and the difficult times of moving to Don Valley and into their new stadium. We are please the club has now come on board as a patrons allowing us to publically strengthen our ties with one of the biggest brands in the region and further utilise The New York Stadium” Part of the patronage package is will see The Chamber continue running The Rotherham United Business Club. These events will run monthly through the season with guest speaker from the world of Sport and Business. Please see the Chamber Website for full details and dates.

Top: Managing Director of ASD Lighting Tony Stewart and Mark Hannigan.

Bottom: Steve Coakley Commercial Director RUFC and Mark Hannigan.

Bulletin

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EVENTS/TRAINING

Chamber Events

Use your smartphone to scan our QR code for our latest Chamber Events

For further event details and to book your attendance, please visit our website www.brchamber.co.uk or call 01709 386 200

City Region Business Breakfast Membership of the Chamber is all about helping your business to grow and what better way to meet new businesses and make new contacts than at the City Region Business Breakfast.

The Bi-Monthly events will take place on the third Tuesday of the month and will be held at Tankersley Manor Hotel.

We are giving you the opportunity to do business, make new contacts and grow your network, all before your working day starts!

There will also be a Business Card Draw offering some attendees the opportunity to promote their company by making a two-minute presentation on their business to all assembled guests.

Coming up:

A generous supply of business cards is essential to the success of this unique networking event. A literature exchange table will be made available for the display of company brochures and literature (one item per business).

21st March 2014 Budget breakfast

The City Region Business Breakfasts are a joint initiative between The Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce, Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, Doncaster Chamber of Commerce and Derbyshire & North Nott’s Chamber of Commerce.

Date: Venue: Time: Price:

15th April 2014 Tankersley Manor, Barnsley 7:30am – 9am £12.95 for members

( Holiday Inn, Rotherham and The Core, Barnsley)

27th March 2014 Rotherham United Business Club 8th April 2014 The Barnsley FC Business Hub For more information or to book your place at this event please visit www.brchamber.co.uk/events

In-Company Training We have experienced increased interest for in-company training. In-company training is a great way to tailor training packages to meet your needs, improve convenience of staff training and save money for group training bookings.

We have a number of courses that we are able to offer in-company at an affordable price.

Health & Safety from £600 + VAT per day or £400 + VAT per half day

Some of the courses we have available are:

Including asbestos awareness, manual handling, fire warden, IOSH, NEBOSH & CIEH courses.

IT training from £395 + VAT for a maximum of 8 people: Microsoft Office courses including Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Soft Skills from £645 + VAT for a maximum of 12 people

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Sales & Marketing from £600 + VAT for a maximum of 12 people There are many courses available, to discuss your training requirements please contact

the training department on 01709 386200 or email training@brchamber.co.uk

Use your smartphone to scan our QR code for more information on Training.

Advertise in the Bulletin Call 01709 386200 Advertising rates Full page £450 Half page £275 Quarter £150 Discounts are available for multiple editions. For more information or to book your space please contact – Mark Hannigan 01709 386200 or email mark.hannigan@brchamber.co.uk The Bulletin is a bi-monthly member’s magazine produced by Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce. The magazine is distributed to members of the Chamber, local businesses and online.

Business IMPROVEMENT

Are you looking to recruit an

Apprentice?

Benefits • Reducing training and recruitment costs • I ncreasing productivity and your bottom line • D eveloping a skilled, motivated and qualified workforce • Improving customer service results • Providing financial return on investment • G rant of up £1500* towards supporting your new recruit

Call us now on 01709 722777 * Eligible to employers who employ 1000 or less staff and have not recruited an apprenticeship in the last 12 months.

We can support you in finding the right employee, sourcing the right apprenticeship course and potentially help you receive the Apprenticeship Grant for Employers. www.rotherham.ac.uk/employers/pages/apprenticeships.aspx For more information contact the Business Improvement team at Rotherham College: Email Visit business@rotherham.ac.uk www.rotherham.ac.uk

5745/1401

@BusinessRothColl ApprenticeshipsRC