THE
Voice
January/February 2015
Essex
SEE PAGE 12 TO JOIN THE SURVEY
Your regional magazine from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)
The #ibacksmallbusiness
campaign gets underway
T
HIS year will see one of
the hardest fought General
Elections in recent memory,
and the FSB has wasted no time
in taking the small business
message to Prospective
Parliamentary Candidates
hoping to win a seat in the
House of Commons in May 2015.
Treasury Minister Priti Patel MP (right) and Jane Turton
CONTENTS
Priti Patel at Scrumptious Tearoom
2, 11, 12
Regional News
Consumer Law
3
VAT
3
Farming, Fishing & Food 4
Finance
5
Taxation
6
www.fsb.org.uk
7
Legal
7
Charities
8
Health & Safety
9-10
Employment
10
Telecoms
VOICE EDITORIAL: This publication is produced
by and published for the Federation of Small
Businesses, Sir Frank Whittle Way, Blackpool
Business Park Blackpool, Lancs, FY4 2FE.
© Copyright 1996 Federation of Small Businesses all
rights reserved. Editor: James Connor. Tel: 01253
361179 Email: [email protected].
Whilst every care has been taken in the compilation
of this publication errors or omissions are not the
responsibility of the Federation of Small Businesses
and opinions expressed are those of the authors and
are not necessarily the policy of the Federation.
and by intervening in the pubs sector
to protect small publicans where self
regulation by the pub companies has
failed.
• Lowering the costs of doing
business; by creating a competitive,
light touch tax framework for small
businesses, tackling major costs faced
by small firms such as business rates
and fuel, and reducing unnecessary
regulatory burdens.
Locally the issues most raised by FSB
members are: Business Rates; an unfair
tax that penalises those businesses that
need to have property - for instance
shops.
Broadband; as the UK’s European
partners race toward gigabit speeds
and despite the efforts of Essex County
Council delivering Superfast Essex, there
will still be areas without good coverage.
And Car Parking; The FSB continues to
ask local councils to treat car parking as
a vital service run in a more businesslike way and not a revenue raiser.
WELCOME to this
latest edition of YOUR
Regional Voice bringing
you up-to-date news
from the FSB.
To advertise your
business in this
magazine call Caroline
Essex
Voice
THE
and micro businesses, by changing the
school and college assessment system
and Ofsted inspection framework to
increase the emphasis on work-based
skills in the curriculum.
• Making all markets work better; by
championing UK small business interests
in Brussels, boosting transparency and
competition in regulated sectors most
notably the energy and water markets,
CONTACT
The FSB Business Manifesto
was launched at the Political Party
Conferences in September 2014 and
addresses five key areas for the next
Government to deliver on for small
businesses;
• A sustained economic recovery;
achieved by putting small businesses
at the heart of policymaking, creating
a coherent long-term plan for business
support, and committing to prudent
fiscal plans.
• Rebalancing the economy; by
delivering infrastructure, not just
announcing it, by providing suitable
support for high street and rural
businesses and by strengthening
ambitions on broadband and mobile
phone coverage to achieve universal
connectivity.
• Creating high quality jobs and
full employment; achieved by
alleviating where possible the impact
of employment regulations on small
McLoughlin on 020 7324
2777.
For editorial contact
Iain Wicks on
01206 250 451
or email at iain.
wicks@fsb.
org.uk
PAGE 1
Regional
Chairman
reports
Pensions Pavilion at Small Business Expo
FIRSTLY, may I wish you
a very prosperous New
Year and, as we look
forward into 2015, FSB
members are reporting
through Big Voice
that confidence in the
economy is rising and
businesses are returning
to growth.
This year will see the
General Election, one
that will be hard-fought
by all candidates, and
the FSB is, of course,
making the voice of
small business heard
through the FSB
Business Manifesto and
hustings events that
will be held closer to the
General Election.
Dates and
constituencies for these
are published in this
issue and booking can be
made through the FSB
website www.fsb.org.
uk/essex.
We’ve selected
key constituencies
in which to hold the
hustings events with
what happens after
the elections in mind
so that our team in
Westminster can
influence Government
policy for the benefit of
FSB members and so we
can work with the new
MPs on issues critical to
small businesses.
This year will also see
training seminars for
members delivered on
a number of subjects
including media, cyber
security and sales and
marketing.
Keep Trade Local
remains as a driving
principle for the FSB and
we will be continuing
work on business rates,
town centres and high
streets, procurement
and planning as well as
working with the South
East Local Enterprise
Partnership to encourage
it to deliver for the small
business community.
David Miles,
Regional Chairman
Voice
THE
Page 2
Essex
FSB Independent
Financial Services
will be present
at the Small
Business Expo
hosted by the FSB
from 19-21 March
in Birmingham
to advise FSB
members on the
implications of
auto-enrolment
pensions on their
business. Join
FSB members
and other small
business people
at the business
expo http://
www.fsb.org.uk/
conference2015
FSB lobbying has
helped landlords
Cheers, says FSB
IN the previous issue
we reported on what
the FSB was doing in
Essex to lobby MPs on
supporting the pubco
elements of the Small
Business Bill.
In this issue we are
delighted to report on the
success of that work. The
latest stage of the major
campaign to reform the
pub tie reached a new
milestone on the floor of
the House of Commons
on 18 November 2014.
This is big news and
a major lobbying win
for the Federation of
Small Businesses (FSB)
representing those
businesses who own tied
pubs.
MPs voted for an
amendment to the Small
Business Bill which will
allow landlords to take
up an option to be free of
the tie and buy their beer
on the open market. This
option would be available
under certain trigger points
already contained in the
Bill, such as when there
is a rent review (which
has to take place every
five years), or when there
are significant price rises.
There will be a negotiating
period in which a pubco,
can choose to offer their
tenants a better deal to
retain the tied relationship,
and once this period is over
the tenant will be able to
go free of tie, only liable for
an independently assessed
market rate of rent.
This is the first major
win from the FSB’s 2015
Business Manifesto where
we clearly outline that
the FSB wants to see tied
licensees no worse off than
a non-tied licensee.
The FSB has been
working behind the scenes
to lobby MPs on this issue,
provide research into
the economic benefits of
Market Rent Only and also
provide evidence, written
and oral, to several BIS
Select Committees. We
also contacted MPs directly
encouraging them to vote
for the amendment.
David Miles, Essex FSB
Chairman, said: “The
Government will need
to decide its response
to its first defeat in the
Commons since 2010
(except for when collective
responsibility was
suspended).
“We are working to
persuade officials and
Ministers to accept the
amendment, rather than
try to overturn it in the
House of Lords as it could
put the whole Small
Business Bill in jeopardy
and would need another
vote in the Commons.”
In Essex, the FSB
has contacted every MP
encouraging them to
support the Small Business
Bill and it has created a
unique Keep Trade Local
Trail Ale which has been
available in pubs across the
county and sent to each MP
detailing why they should
support small businesses
through the Bill.
www.fsb.org.uk
Hustings
calendar
TURNING a passion
into a business isn’t
unusual and Geoff
Page of Geoff Page
Racing has done just
that, writes Iain Wicks.
His racing career started
in 1976 aged just 13 and
it wasn’t long before Geoff
won the Links Kart Club
Junior Championships,
beating Brentwood-born
former F1 racing driver
Johnny Herbert, now a
broadcaster, into second
place.
The litany of names and
teams littering Geoff’s
career is astonishing.
Starting with Terry Hoyle
in 1982. Moving to the
F1 Tyrrell Team in 1985,
building the first turbo 014
(the same team that Jackie
Stewart had raced for). In
1986 he went to work on
Group B rally cars including
the RS200, the 6R4 and the
mighty Audi Quattro and on
to Le Mans in 1987 where
his team came third.
In 1995 he joined the
F1 Pacific team, and in
1996 it was on to Brian
Hart Engines, providing the
power units for the Formula
1 Arrows team-the team
Damon Hill famously raced
with in 1997.
Working on restoration
Geoff Page Racing
for Success
and repair of high end cars
and engines.
Mr Page has built a
reputation in the industry,
and says that Essex has a
cluster of businesses that
provide a supply chain that
eventually exports all over
the world.
His business exports to
Japan, Canada, America,
and Europe.
The engines his team are
working on are impressive
as well- a Jaguar straight
6 from a Mk 2 saloon, a
Ferrari 330 V12 and the
very rare and sought after
1957 Ferrari 250 series
V12 Hairspring. Also an
Evolution RS200 at 850 bhp
and a Formula 1 DFV from
a Tyrrell car. So what are
the challenges for Geoff?
“We have consulted with
a firm of surveyors who
advise that we are paying
too much in business rates.
We will shortly be appealing
the business rates.”
Continuing he said:
“I’m pretty easy going, so
there’s not much that really
affects us.
“We were flooded earlier
this year, as were some
of my neighbours, and we
have had to be very firm
with the landlord to get the
drainage improved.
“Now that we’ve joined
the FSB we have access to
good advice if problems do
arise.”
Situations vacant in the Southend area
DO you have a
proven track record
in sales or have
you got a great
personality and just
know you could sell?
Do you enjoy
the challenge of
achieving and
exceeding goals and
targets?
Would you like to
be self employed,
relishing the
flexibility this offers?
If the answer
is yes to all these
questions then we
definitely want to
hear from you!
We are looking for
self motivated, self
driven, determined
www.fsb.org.uk
individuals who
are energised by
delivering and also
exceeding their sales
targets.
You should be
able to demonstrate
a commitment
to successful
networking and
be knowledgeable
and passionate
about business
and in particular
small business.
B2B experience is
desirable but not
essential.
You will need
to have the
confidence and the
ability to generate
a significant
number of your
own appointments
and you must
have a car, a valid
driving licence,
mobile phone and
continuous access to
a computer.
Please contact
Arlene Davis at
arlene.davis@fsb.
org.uk for further
details.
THE FSB Hustings events are
the perfect opportunity for
FSB members to question
prospective Parliamentary
candidates on topical issues.
The hustings calendar is as
follows:
24 March: Clacton-onSea at the Princes Theatre.
Douglas Carswell MP
incumbent
2 April: Colchester at the
Town Hall. Sir Bob Russell MP
incumbent
9 April: Thurrock at the
Park Inn Raddisson. Jackie
Doyle-Price MP incumbent
16 April: Brentwood &
Ongar at the Old Brentwoods’
Club. Eric Pickles MP
incumbent
23 April: Harlow at the
Harlow Enterprise Hub.
Robert Halfon MP incumbent
The FSB is politically
neutral which enables it to
speak to all political parties
on an equal footing.
To that end, hustings
events will be run in line
with Electoral Commission
guidance.
If you are unsure which
Parliamentary constituency
your business is in visit
http://www.parliament.uk/
mps-lords-and-offices/mps
Big Voice
The FSB works tirelessly
on behalf of its members
to make change happen
in Government, and its
strength is the data and
evidence gathered from
around 200,000 members
nationwide.
But standing still doesn’t
affect change, so that is why
the FSB has introduced Big
Voice.
Big Voice is an interactive
online research community
where FSB members can
sign up to share their views,
challenges and issues
affecting their everyday
business. By taking part in
online surveys and research
discussions members can
provide the FSB with the
real world evidence it needs
to take into the heart of
Government and to shape
campaigning and lobbying for
small businesses at the local,
national and European level.
To join Big Voice and join
the online community visit
www.fsb.org.uk and follow
the links to Big Voice.
Essex
Voice
THE
Page turned as
Geoff goes global
PAGE 11
Life through a camera lens
For instance,
everything for me was
simpler before the
arrival of the internet,
the inevitable explosion
of social media and the
dramatic change from
film to digital bringing
both advantages and
disadvantages for
me as a professional
social and commercial
photographer.
I joined an advertising
studio in 1982 training
as a still-life and fine-art
photographer in the days
of film. Once proficient,
with my portfolio
underarm, I knocked on
doors acquiring work,
my reputation escalating
through word-of-mouth.
In the mid-80s, I
added a second string
to my bow as a freestyle
wedding and portrait
photographer. A
growing number
of people and
newlyweds then
wanted natural, creative
photography. I became
one of the first to
introduce freestyle social
photography to the UK,
producing a mixture
of colour and black &
white (occasionally
hand coloured) images
from colour film. I
subsequently became
a society wedding
photographer when
spotted by a well-known
wedding planner and
acquired four freelance
photographers.
In 2001, I set up
one of the first digital
studios in the UK,
employing over twenty
staff. Despite the initial
£160,000 set-up costs, I
naively thought I could
save tens of thousands
of pounds per annum in
reduced film and
ESSEX REGION
BRANCH CHAIRMEN
CHAIRMAN: David Miles
[email protected] T: 0845 8905323
VICE CHAIRMAN: Alan Jefcoate
[email protected]
T: 01277 822932
VICE CHAIRMAN: Graham Clarke
[email protected] T: 01245 835 085
SECRETARY: Jane Turley
[email protected] T: 01376 562415
TREASURER: Janet Jack
[email protected] T: 01376 562415
MID AND NORTH WEST ESSEX
Graham Clarke 01245 835 085
NORTH EAST ESSEX
Janet Jack
01376 562 415
SOUTH EAST ESSEX
Katherine Davison 01702 305 450
SOUTH ESSEX
David Barnes
0871 288 3542
SOUTH WEST ESSEX
David Miles
0845 8905323
www.fsb.org.uk
needed until the arrival
of the internet, social
media and digital
photography.
At first this appeared
to be an answer for
everything. No more
knocking on doors,
released from the
shackles of film with the
endless possibilities of
digital and the whole
world can find me. The
problem is, the whole
world can see and find
everyone else as well.
It’s OK to be cautious
when looking to the
future but I have learnt
to embrace change,
keeping one eye on the
future and one looking
over my shoulder as I
won’t survive if I become
complacent.
Personally, I’m one
of the first to jump. It’s
exhilarating and my
pioneering colleagues
and I have shaped the
digital photographic
revolution in to
what you see
today.
developing costs. In fact,
the learning curve was
immense. There was no
cohesion in the digital
industry and it took four
members of staff to run
and retouch all of the
images.
My industry changed
again around 2006 as
an increasing number of
people obtained digital
compact cameras and
smart phones.
I took this opportunity
to establish a
photography tuition
website aimed at
students, enthusiasts
and companies looking
for guidance. I’ve always
been a bit of a geek
when it comes to new
technology.
From the mid-80s to
the late-90s referrals
were all I
Tap into training
BUILDING on the
success of the
Training on Tap
series of training
seminars in 2014
the FSB is teaming
up with Growth
Accelerator in
2015 to deliver a
new program of
business seminars
designed to give
FSB members
access to quality
business support.
Essex
Voice
THE
CHANGE can come in
many forms, writes
Hugh Nicholas.
Launching in
February with
‘Sales, Marketing
and the essential
tools to grow your
business’, April
sees ‘Financing
your business
and entering
large supply
chains’. Book
early to avoid
disappointment.
Details at www.
fsb.org.uk/essex
PAGE 12
Health & Safety training is
a legal requirement for
EVERY business
Are you compliant or are you
facing prosecution and fines?
We can provide a range of hard hitting health and safety
courses (many RoSPA Approved) that will take about 30-40
minutes each – rather than having people sit in a classroom
for half a day!
Efficient, effective on-line training gives you peace of
mind and saves you substantial time, money and worry.
P.S. we are offering a 10%
discount to Regional
Voice Readers on all
courses booked up to
30th March 2015
To claim your free, no obligation, preview of a course go to:helmsmanservices.co.uk/contact-us
Tel: 01206 363710
S E R V I C E S
Voice
THE
Page 14
Essex
www.fsb.org.uk