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Training and Development - Can you Ignore It?
By Gary Parker, Managing Director- CNT Associates, Start Woolwich, London. Call 0208 301 8660. Email Gary.parker@cntassociates.com
Visit our website http://www.cntassociates.com .
Since the credit crunch officially began in August 2007, the economic climate has changed dramatically. According to recent research by Experian (the credit reference agency) more than 65 firms a day went bust in 2008 and there were over 23,000 business failures in 2008 (a 30% rise compared with 2007).
As the Director of a company who has worked with many small businesses
(SME's), I know only too well the current pressures on many businesses, who are affected by the current recession. If you are tempted to cut training & development support, you may be in difficulties when the upturn comes. Also to retain staff who you may not be able to reward financially in current circumstances, all research shows that, particularly in skill shortage sectors, training and development helps to motivate and boost the morale of staff and makes it more difficult for competitors to 'poach your staff'.
Even in these tough economic times, if your staff don't have the right skills for the future then neither does your business. Recent Government reports have warned that businesses need to improve the skills of their workforce if we're to remain competitive as a nation.
Without doubt, trained staff are better staff. Training helps unlock employees' potential and fosters a more efficient and communicative workforce. In turn, this helps drive productivity, innovation and competitiveness, nurturing long-term business prosperity. So really, it's a win-win situation for all.
What help is available? - Employment & training programmes
A range of interventions and support are out there funding through government, Europe and other agencies- a selection are detailed below.
Future Fund for Jobs - http://www.dwp.gov.uk. This is a £1 Billion fund that employers can get an employment subsidy to employ a young person aged 18-24, who has been unemployed for over 1 year. Terms and conditions apply, like in all government schemes, but if you can create, sustainable, long term employment for the target group then the funding is available. The programme starts this month.
Support from Regional Development Agencies- http://www.lda.gov.uk - London, http://www.seeda.gov.uk - South East. A range of support is available through your RDA, check the websites for details, this includes, loans, grants and business support and many networking and other training opportunities.
Train to Gain- http://www.traintogain.gov.uk. Against the backdrop of increasingly tough times, the Government has pledged an additional £350 million to help small businesses train their staff through Train to Gain, so they are more resilient and able to weather the global economic climate.
Businesses can access a broad range of training - from basic skills to Level 2 (GCSE equivalent), Level 3 (A-Level equivalent) and higher-level skills, as well as support to develop the leadership and management skills of owners and managers in smaller businesses.
The new additional support package, targeting small-and medium-sized businesses in the private sector and available through Train to Gain, will provide businesses with the advice and funding they need without bureaucracy or delays. Eligible businesses will be able to access this support through a dedicated skills broker, or a college or training provider can deliver Train to Gain.
It will now be even easier to access funding to allow workers to get training up to Level 2 even if they already have a previous qualification at this level; and more funding is now available for Level 3 training.
Where Next? - http://www.direct.gov.uk
If you wish to access further information, try the websites above, they are just a snapshot of what is available. Many employers find this a confusing maze of programmes. Try the Direct Gov website if the others don't work for you. Or contact me, through the contact details given at the top of this article- we do charge, but the savings and development they bring, have left us with many satisfied clients.
If you use these programmes wisely they can help to sustain your business, they cannot bring back trade or access new customers immediately. But in tough times like these, anything that can give you an edge to support employees, improve productivity and motivate staff, is well worth investigating.
Gary Parker- Sept 2009
If you would like to see your article here - then please contact rebecca.hartshorn@start-anywhere.com.
The Rise of the Virtual Office
Officebroker.com compiled a report in the number of virtual office enquiries they received, with some interesting findings. "We receive huge numbers of enquiries every day from businesses looking to move into new office space. Our enquiries bring many specifications - size, cost and location often being the most important.
However over recent months, we've noticed a significant trend emerging from our enquiries - the rise of the virtual office. So we decided to look further into this shift in popularity, and find out what it is about the virtual office that is becoming more appealing to businesses.
The virtual office allows companies to have a business address, calls answered and mail received, but without the need to go into the 'office' to work. They will carry out their working routine from home or from a cheaper office elsewhere. One of the biggest benefits is that businesses can choose a virtual address in a prestigious location that would otherwise be out of reach or too costly.
Over the last 6 months, we've noticed a steady rise in the amount of virtual office enquiries in 2009 when compared to the same period in 2008.
What's more, the trend looks set to continue for the foreseeable future, with June receiving the sharpest increase so far this year of a massive 41%.
So what is it about the virtual office that's causing such a stir?
Simon Jones, officebroker.com's Commercial Director, says:
"Cutting cost whilst maintaining a professional business image is the key to the success of any small company, and the virtual office product delivers exactly that."
While one of the key benefits of a virtual office is the low costs associated - something which is high on the agenda in our current economy - it is also imperative that businesses do this without affecting their current performance.
With the virtual office, businesses can get a prime address, a receptionist to answer calls, a mail forwarding service, and discounted use of meeting rooms. Combine this with the fact that virtual offices can be acquired on a month-by-month basis, and it becomes a flexible, affordable solution for any business looking to expand, move into new locations, or simply cut the cost of overheads.
Many home-working or self-employed individuals choose to take on a virtual office to protect their home address, and project a more successful image of their company. The virtual office address can be printed on business cards and correspondence, and also provides a physical base for home-workers to meet their clients or suppliers in person.
The virtual office is also an excellent commodity for larger or more established businesses, as it allows companies to set up a presence in new locations - enabling the larger business to reach out to more clients, or to test the water in a new location before committing to physical office space.
The virtual office is saving businesses time and money, and is being used with success all over the world. A recent article by David Spark of sparkmediasolutions.com brought to light one such example of a business that had decided to go virtual, and made it work by taking on a network of technologies that were either free, or cost next to nothing. Spark attended a talk by Stephen Jagger, CEO of Ubertor, and explained their route to virtual success:
"Instead of searching for some new office space, Jagger and team all decided to go virtual. While they saved a fortune on rent and maintenance, they needed to adopt some Web 2.0 technologies in order to stay in touch and conduct business."
The technologies they adopted included the likes of Skype for free video conferencing, Instant Messenger for communication between employees, Google Sites as a free Intranet tool, Google Analytics to keep up with external web performance - again free - and a number of other easily accessible technologies that helped the business function as normal.
Here at officebroker.com we're finding that many businesses are looking to the virtual office as a way of saving money. In today's cost-cutting climate, reducing overheads is everything. Outgoings are being scrutinised from every angle, and businesses are looking for effective ways to cut costs without losing out on productivity.
Simon Jones adds: "With more and more Providers adding features to their virtual office range, the line between a virtual and a real office is beginning to blur."
Therefore the virtual office is proving itself as an effective tool for keeping costs low whilst still maintaining business performance and reaching new customers. "
http://www.officebroker.com/Report-shows-rise-in-popularity-of-virtual-offices.obart
To find out more about how a Start Anywhere Virtual Office can benefit you, call now on 0845 456 7140. Take advantage of a Full Start Anywhere Virtual Office for only £95.00 per month and start reaping the benefits.
7 Reasons to go for a Serviced Office
When you are looking for a new office, it is always wise to look at all the options available to you. Serviced office space can provide you with some surprising extras...
Reception Facilities in a Serviced Office
Serviced office space offers you a wealth of services, many of which are included within your monthly license fee.
Excellent first impressions: with an imposing reception area, clean & tidy washrooms and friendly business centre staff to greet your guests you will have no worries about that all important first impression. All of the costs associated with the up-keep of these areas is the business centre's responsibility.
Full board & rent: serviced office tenants can hire fully equipped board rooms as and when they need them - by the hour, half day or full day. Why pay extra monthly rent for a space you may only use for a couple of hours? Get all the benefits of the extra space without the cost.
Food, glorious food!: have you got an important client you need to impress? Your business centre can provide catering services to accompany your meetings, so that you can tempt your visitors with a spot of light lunch.
Secretarial & admin support: An urgent report to write? Masses of paperwork? The administrative support provided by your business centre, with professional staff offering quick and accurate support can save you employing an extra member of staff.
Don't worry about IT: serviced offices have the best and fastest internet connections installed, so you just plug in and start working. With IT support staff, you don't have to worry if there is a problem.
Access all areas: don't tie yourself to the office! Larger office providers often have business centres throughout the UK in key business locations. Use these facilities when you are on the road.
This is just a small snippet of the benefits of choosing a serviced office - you get a whole lot more for your money when you go serviced.
http://www.officebroker.com/8-Reasons-to-go-for-a-Serviced-Office-.obart
Keep Your Workforce Healthy with a Start Virtual Office for only £95.00 per month
Keep your workforce healthy with a virtual office? Did you know that a virtual office can provide a healthier working solution?
Virtual offices can reduce the spread of illness and keep your workforce healthy. There are many benefits of a virtual office - reduced costs, flexibility, and a prime business address the most obvious. But one lesser-considered advantage is that a virtual office can greatly reduce the spread of sickness - an important factor for anyone running a business or employing staff.
Today's modern, open-plan offices - whilst an excellent way to encourage collaboration between colleagues and fully utilise office space - are also a hotbed for transmitting illnesses. A simple cold, tummy bug or even a more serious case - such as Swine Flu - can be spread quickly by colleagues who come to the office when sick.
In fact, according to Absence Anonymous - a company who help resolve absenteeism in the workplace - the average level of absence is eight days per employee per year, which results in 3.5% lost in working time. Also, an employee absence survey from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development shows that absenteeism costs employers an average of £659 per employee every year, which is considered a 'significant cost' to over 90% of businesses.
However, when a business signs up to a virtual office they frequently use their home as their physical office. As a result, sick workers are not bringing their illness to a central point where they can pass it on to their colleagues or other individuals.
Working remotely gives the employee the tools to work in an environment - whether it's from home, their bed, or the garden shed - so they can isolate themselves if their illness is contagious. For some, a cold or tummy bug doesn't prevent them from working, but the commute to get to the office can be an exhausting process that results in a day off sick.
By equipping workers with the tools to work remotely, the employee has the option to tidy up any loose ends quickly and efficiently, or even get through a few hours of work, before curling up in bed.
However, for those with a physical office, all too often employees will force themselves into the workplace in order to meet an important deadline. But according to Dr Vinesh Oommen of the Queensland University of Technology's Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, this increases the risk of spreading illnesses around more quickly.
Dr Oommen also states that open-plan offices relate to more serious conditions, such as high blood pressure:
"In 90 per cent of the research, the outcome of working in an open-plan office was seen as negative, with open-plan offices causing high levels of stress, conflict, high blood pressure, and a high staff turnover."
In addition, the research also points to other issues such as lack of productivity:
"The high level of noise causes employees to lose concentration, leading to low productivity. There are privacy issues because everyone can see what you are doing on the computer or hear what you are saying on the phone, and there is a feeling of insecurity."
Therefore the virtual office is an effective solution to staff wellbeing. Not only does it allow employees to work from home in a private environment away from the bustle of an open-plan office, it also helps reduce the spread of illness when workers become sick.
http://www.officebroker.com/Keep-your-workforce-healthy-with-a-virtual-office.obart
Start Anywhere are promoting a great introductory rate to a Full Virtual Office. You can have an impressive business address, mail handling facilities, call answering and call forwarding, a dedicated company telephone number, and access to great Meeting Rooms and discounts...for £95.00 per month. No set up fees. No hidden costs. Call 0845 456 7140 now to sign up, or for more details.
Small Business Office Trends 2009
Based on officebroker.com enquiry levels over the first two quarters of 2009, where businesses requested five desks or under, we look further into the trends of small businesses, including where they are looking to set up, and how second quarter 2009 figures match up to Q1.
Small firms are at the heart of the economy - as stated by John Wright, national chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses - and there are certainly plenty of figures to back this up. Starting with our very own officebroker.com enquiry levels for the first half of 2009, a massive 77% of enquiries were for businesses seeking office space of five desks or under.
Out of this number, requests for two desks were the most popular - with single desk enquiries in hot pursuit.
Q1 proved to be a stronger quarter for small business enquiries overall, with the majority of requests producing more enquiries in the first quarter. Only enquiries for 1 desk rose in the second quarter. Despite this, there were generally small differences between the two - showing reasonable stability across the small business sector.
A report by the British Bankers Association shows that lending to small businesses rose by £391 million in June 2009, and 50,000 small businesses set up new banking relationships at the same time. This adds weight to the suggestion that small businesses are maintaining stability despite the turbulent economy.
"These figures provide more evidence of the high street banks' support for small businesses," says BBA statistics director, David Dooks. He adds, "numbers of new business relationships continued to hold up, perhaps reflecting improved business confidence in trading conditions."
Enquiries for two desks produced 21.7% of all 2009 enquiries between January and June 2009 - which shows that almost one quarter of all officebroker.com enquiries over this period are from businesses with just two employees.
This becomes even more significant according to recent government figures, which state that UK SMEs (small and medium sized enterprises) employ 13.5 million people, which is 59% of the UK's total private sector workforce. SMEs account for businesses with anything up to 250 employees, therefore if our study included businesses seeking office space of up to 250 desks, the overall figure would be considerably higher.
Of our two-desk enquiries, the majority requested office space in Central London regions. The two most popular postcode areas are E - with E1 and E6 the most sought-after - and EC, with EC1 achieving the highest response in that remit. The third most commonly requested UK area was Birmingham - which came in ahead of Manchester, and also well ahead of the W and SW postcode regions of Central London.
Businesses of any size will often gravitate towards London - and small businesses are no exception. However despite the traditionally high expense of taking office space in the City, small businesses are currently able to seize the opportunity of lower than average rates. Recent officebroker.com figures show that in the first two quarters of 2008, the average cost per month for a workstation or desk area in Central London was £601 - but in 2009 over the same period, this average dropped by 26% to just £447.
Small businesses looking to set up in Central London will benefit enormously from taking on a serviced office as opposed to a traditional long-term lease. While the latter will tie the individual down for a set number of years, the serviced office provides a more flexible agreement, with license length contracts starting from just a few months. This means the business has the opportunity to trial a specific area, and move on after a short space of time if the location proves to be insufficient.
In addition, serviced offices provide many facilities which are all rolled into one monthly fee. This typically includes the likes of broadband, IT support and heating bills, meaning the client won't have to pay extra if something goes wrong.
With areas of Central London the most popular for enquiry levels, small businesses appear to be grasping opportunities and using the decline to their advantage.
A recent survey by Business Link in London suggests that London's small businesses are bearing the brunt of the recession - but many are looking to grow, with a massive 84% planning to expand and achieve growth over the coming year. However, setting up in London doesn't necessarily guarantee success, as the report highlights:
"Nearly two thirds of entrepreneurs surveyed said that the recession is still affecting their business, with 39% saying the recession has significantly impacted overall budgets and expenditure."
The global economic crisis has taken effect on many business sectors, but encouragingly there are many reports that suggest the bottom of the cycle is within reach.
"These results are an encouraging sign in these turbulent times," says Patrick Elliott, chief executive of Business Link in London. "We're seeing a clear trend emerge of a sector that is refusing to get bogged down in the doom and gloom."
Elliott also adds: "But what's telling from this index is that this confidence is across the board - many entrepreneurs across regional, industry, and demographic groups are responding to the recession by aggressively seeking out new market opportunities."
And with the potential to secure a cheaper-than-average desk in Central London, small businesses who take these opportunities are establishing an even stronger foundation come the end of the decline.
Link to article http://www.officebroker.com/Small-business-office-trends-for-2009-Q1-and-Q2.obart.
We invite you to Start Anywhere Open Day at Start Cambridge!
Start Cambridge launches social networking enterprise hub!
Launch open day: FRIDAY26 JUNE, 39 CAMBRIDGE PLACE CB2 1NS, 9.0am to 6.00pm, RSVP or simply drop in for lunch 12 - 2pm! Dont miss our fantastic Open Day Offers!
A new enterprise hub that combines social networking with an innovative serviced office concept is coming to Cambridge. Start Cambridge will launch with an open day on 26 June where remote workers, start-ups and businesses of all sizes can join a fast-growing national network of entrepreneurs backed by a wide range of virtual office services and resources.
Start Cambridge offers highly flexible access to a range of business services designed to suit the needs of the local business community. The service is targeted at any individual or organisation that needs a Cambridge office presence - whether as a virtual office, a branch office, for instant IT connectivity or as a meeting venue - on affordable terms without the long-term commitment or cost of traditional office accommodation.
Start Cambridge is part of the Start Anywhere network, which is already well established in Bristol, Harwell near Oxford, Fareham, Woolwich and Dartford, with another hub planned for Glasgow. By joining, virtual or real tenants will immediately become part of an expanding network that currently links 175 companies and 725 members to industry, academic and funding contacts with whom they can share ideas, offer services, seek advice and explore commercial opportunities to accelerate growth.
The first Start Anywhere offices in Cambridge are in a prime location at 39 Cambridge Place, conveniently situated midway between the university, city centre and railway station and the company is already on the lookout for additional premises in the city.
The brains behind the business is Cambridge and Harvard architecture graduate Roger Perrin, whose extensive experience includes collaboration with St Johns Innovation Centre. His vision is founded on a deep-rooted conviction that the right architecture and environment can have a profound impact on the quality of working life and therefore productivity.
"The Start Anywhere concept is ideally suited to the current business climate and a Cambridge economy that is increasingly linked to national and global markets via virtual social networks. It's a fresh concept that combines the latest thinking in workspace architecture, environmental design, IT connectivity and a flourishing business network within a single convenient package. For anyone who wants the benefits of an affordable, flexible base in central Cambridge, a professional business profile and the support of an office-based community, it is a very compelling proposition. We are looking forward to welcoming some interesting and ambitious people on board."
The Open Day on Friday 26th June is open to anyone that would like to explore the new Cambridge premises and find out more. In keeping with its proposition to add value, the company is offering a free package of consultancy services to the first visitor to sign up as a Start Anywhere tenant, with marketing advice from leading regional media specialist Media Managers. PEM, one of the UK's top-ranking accountancy firms, will be at the open day from 11am to 3pm to offer general accountancy advice for small businesses and start ups.
For more information, contact Rebecca Hartshorn on 01223 326787 or 07500 945831 / rebecca.hartshorn@start-anywhere.com
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Cafe Scientifique Dartford 25 June
Start Welcomes Terry McGivern, Development Director of SECBE (South East Centre for the Built Environment) and The Institute for Sustainability who presents:
"Low Carbon Dartford? Turning the Green Vision into a Reality....."
The 'green revolution' may not have truly arrived just yet but there is no doubting the enthusiasm of many local 'Low Carbon' community groups across the country to make a real difference on climate change
Government has raised the stakes substantially over the last two years. At the end of last year, it undertook to reduce UK carbon emissions by 80% by 2050 with the introduction of the Climate Change Act and with mechanisms such as the Code for Sustainable Homes, the Heat and Energy Saving strategy now in place, the environmental and building industries are gearing up to make this happen.
But how do we turn this momentum into logical, systematic and effective action?
The first step is to look at our own homes. Around 80% of today's flats and houses will still be in use by 2050 and nearly every one of these homes falls short of Government's carbon reduction targets. The best way to remedy this is to assess what energy saving measures need to be taken and then fitting existing homes with new efficient systems.
This is an enormous task and it cannot be solved merely by technological innovation, by building efficiently or by community action. All these factors must be drawn together in a systematic approach to one of the greatest societal challenges we have ever faced because if these energy saving measures are to succeed - we must all adopt a more carbon neutral approach to living. It is an exciting time and we cannot afford to fail.
The Institute for Sustainability, Energy Saving Trust and other partners are playing a key in this process across the country and they have come together at Dartford to undertake important trials of a range of sustainable/low carbon ideas; including airtight 'house envelopes', different insulation materials and renewable energy and water-saving technologies.
Dartford will be a national pioneer in this new eco project and you can take an active role in this exercise. Alternatively, you may just wish to observe and learn from it. In either case, we will be delighted to welcome you and are grateful to the Café Scientifique for the opportunity to outline the plans for Dartford.
For further information about past and upcoming talks - and anything else about Cafe Scientifique Dartford - visit the link:
http://cafe.cantiumscientific.com
Watch out for the upconming event next month!