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FSB
FSB CALLS FORPRO-BUSINESSBUDGET
As the UK’s worst-ever recession hits, the FSB is pressing the Chancellor for the most pro-business, pro-self-employed Budget ever this autumn.
The FSB would like to see measures such as a cut to employer national insurance contributions, backing for the New Enterprise Allowance and Start-Up Loans Programme, ambitious investment in our infrastructure – not least broadband (it’s good in Cornwall but not perfect) and transport networks, taking more small firms out of the regressive business rates system and ending a worsening £23 billion late payment crisis are all a must.
More than a million firms have now taken on bounce back loans to see them through this incredibly challenging period. They now need a guarantee that they won’t have to start paying them back until they’re making a profit. Such an assurance will encourage them to invest and expand today, rather than hoarding During the past several months, we’ve seen people coming together to support each other during difficult times. Sadly, not everyone is as altruistic: cybercrimes such as online scams, malware and phishing continue to be a threat. It’s all too common for larger companies to experience data breaches, but smaller businesses can be targets, too. FSB research shows that smaller businesses are victim to seven million cybercrimes every year – 19,000 a day. The average incident costs a small business £3k in damages, and it can take days to get back up and running. Here are five steps you can take to protect your business: Back up all your data All important business data, like customer cash for fear of what’s coming down the line.
In a short time the UK will transition to its new relationship with the EU but we still have no idea what that relationship will look like.
EU-UK talks need to see negotiators on all side accelerating their efforts to agree a probusiness deal in acknowledgement of the fact that time is of the essence.
It has been encouraging to see UK efforts to strike new trade deals. It’s now even more critical that any new UK free trade agreements include a dedicated small business chapter spelling out exactly how each deal will protect and promote the interests of the UK’s 5.8 million small businesses.
Our economy will depend on joined up programmes, robust negotiation and inspired support in the next budget and FSB will be sharing evidence from our members to press
STAY SAFE FROM CYBER ATTACKS
for exactly what is needed. details, financial records and any sensitive documents, should be backed up safely and regularly.
2 Use strong and unique passwords Enable password protection on all devices and choose a unique password for your accounts.
3 Keep all computers updated Keep IT equipment up to date with the latest software, including computers, servers, smartphones and tablets.
4 Installantivirussoftwareandfirewalls
Ensure all PCs have antivirus and antimalware software installed, and that it’s always on. You can also install firewalls on your internet router and servers.
5 Educate employees on best practices
Train employees about how they can keep business data secure. Make sure they know how to spot the signs of a fraudulent email to avoid phishing.
FSB Cyber Protection is free for members. For more information, call the FSB customer service team on 0808 2020 888 quoting ‘FSB Cyber Protection’ or visit fsb.org.uk/benefits
FSB Offer for Business Cornwall Magazine Readers at www.fsb.org.uk/join
If you want to join FSB after reading this page then please quote BCM30 when you join and save £30!
£23BN LATE PAYMENT CRISIS
The majority of small businesses (62%) have been subject to late or frozen payments in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak, according to FSB’s latest study of more than 4,000 firms.
Its recent report, ‘Late Again: how the coronavirus pandemic is impacting payment terms for small firms’, shows that only one in ten (10%) small businesses have agreed changes to payment terms with clients, meaning the vast majority of this fresh wave of poor practice has not been formally signed-off by creditors or debtors. The study shows that – despite concerted efforts by Government at all levels to improve procurement practices, efforts that were accelerated following Carillion’s collapse – there is no discernible difference in late payment activity between public and private sector supply chains. Around two thirds (65%) of small businesses that supply to other businesses have suffered late or frozen payments. An almost identical number (63%) of firms in public sector supply chains have experienced the same treatment. Small firms in the wholesale (71%), legal and accounting (62%) and advertising and marketing sectors (62%) have been hardest hit in this regard. Pay.UK data shows that the sum of late payments due across the country rose 80% to £23.4 billion at the end of last year. FSB national chairman Mike Cherry said: “Before the COVID-19 outbreak struck, many small firms were already under immense financial pressure because of late payments. “With cashflow drying up as the lockdown took hold, this situation has worsened. Sadly, some unscrupulous corporations are trying to inoculate themselves from the impacts of Covid-19 by withholding payments, or even freezing them, at the expense of small businesses.
ORIGIN JOINS B-CORP CREW
Origin Coffee has joined the growing number of Cornish companies to secure certified B Corporation status.
Founded over 15 years ago, Helston-based Origin has grown to become one of the UK’s leading speciality coffee roasters and also has six of its own coffee shops in Cornwall and London.
Owner and founder, Tom Sobey, says behaving in a sustainable way has always underpinned Origin’s coffee sourcing programme and informed the decisions they’ve made throughout the business.
He said: “The Origin team have always strived to demonstrate full transparency in our supply chain, and until now our valued customers have trusted that when we’ve said something regarding our social and environmental performance, we’ve meant it.
“B Corp certification is verification of all our hard work, and it’s one of my proudest achievements as a business owner.”
By joining the global B Corp community, Origin becomes part of a new movement of businesses, agreeing to use what they do as a force for good. There’s currently 2,500 certified B Corporations in more than 50 countries, including a growing Cornish cohort that includes the likes of Leap Design, Finisterre and, most recently, construction consultancy, WWA.
CORNISH CHEESE IN CANADA
Cathedral City cheese has been launched in Canada.
The brand, which is manufactured at the Davidstow creamery using milk from 330 local farms, is now on sale in more than 500 stores across Canada.
Adam Braithwaite, commercial director of parent company Saputo Dairy UK, said:
“Cathedral City is bought and loved by more than half of all UK households and I’m delighted that our prized cheddar can now be enjoyed in Canada too. Our British team has worked closely with our Canadian colleagues to bring this successfully to market.” Colwith Farm Distillery has launched a new vodka, pairing Cornish potatoes with berries from Cornwall’s first sea buck plantation, whose juice is known for its vivid orange hue and nutritional properties. Seaberry Vodka takes Aval Dor Vodka – recently named one of the best vodkas in the world with a Double Gold accolade at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition – as the base, paired with the first harvest of berries from Cornish Seaberry Co in neighbouring Lostwithiel. Dubbed the “holy fruit of the Himalayas” and “liquid gold”, sea buckthorn has been rum market. While the gin boom has been in full swing for a couple of years, many observers believe rum is set to enjoy a similar surge. Penryn Spirits was founded by Pete Mack and Willoughby Werner, who have harboured dreams of running a distillery together since they met at Britannia Royal Navy College. And they have brought out BORA Botanical Rum, which they describe as a “Caribbean George Eustice, Secretary of State for Envi ronment, Food and Rural Affairs, added: “This is fantastic news for Cornwall and the south west region, helping over 330 local farms showcase their high-quality produce abroad.
“As the global appetite for UK food and drink continues to grow, the Government is committed to working with exporters to help them tap into new markets and open up
A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN
opportunities around the world.” used for centuries to protect against various ailments including diabetes, stomach ulcers and skin damage. It has been a long journey towards the distillery’s newest drink…agronomist Seth Pascoe first encountered sea buckthorn on a Himalaya trek in Nepal. He returned home to Cornwall and planted 150 trees. After a four-year wait and a lengthy trial, Steve Dustow, Colwith Farm Distillery’s owner, is excited to be bringing Seaberry Vodka to market.
“When we learnt that Seth was planting Cornwall’s first sea buck plantation, we knew we had to trial the berries in our spirits,” he said. “It takes four to five years for the plants to bear fruit, but we were willing to wait. The timing couldn’t be better, the first harvest coinciding with Aval Dor winning Double
A new Cornish distillery is targeting the growing
Gold. We’ve found a match made in heaven.” Spirit with Cornish Spice” and “a refreshingly different aperitif” designed to be enjoyed with tonic.
Named after the Cornish word for dawn, Penryn Spirits says BORA heralds a new beginning for rum, reinventing traditional spiced rum using British botanicals.
Mack said: “We are very excited to launch BORA Botanical Rum this Summer. Following nearly a decade of dreaming, two years of experimentation and refinement, and plenty of setbacks along the way, we’ve created what we believe is a truly unique spirit.”
