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The 12 Days of Digital December: Day 10 – Anti-Social Media (NSDesign)
Dec 14, 10:00 am?-?12:00 pm
Join NSDesign to learn where social media can go wrong in business, showing real world examples, the devastating outcomes, and discussing ways to mitigate the risks of it happening to you.
To book your free place please email Laura Connor:?[email protected]?or Laura Ritchie:?[email protected]?
Open to any business based in Renfrewshire, member & non-member the 12 days of Digital December are designed to help you adapt to the changing environment.?Funded by Renfrewshire Chamber these sessions are offered free of charge & form part of our strategy to support the recovery of the local economy.?
The 12 Days of Digital December: Day 11 – SEO in 2022 what you can expect and what you can do to get ready (Janine Marriott SEO)
Dec 15, 12:00 pm?-?1:30 pm
Join Janine Marriott SEO for a look ahead at how you can best utilise SEO in 2022.
To book your free place please email Laura Connor:?[email protected]?or Laura Ritchie:?[email protected]?
Open to any business based in Renfrewshire, member & non-member the 12 days of Digital December are designed to help you adapt to the changing environment.?Funded by Renfrewshire Chamber these sessions are offered free of charge & form part of our strategy to support the recovery of the local economy.
The 12 Days of Digital December: Day 12 – How to use Analytics to grow your business online (Brian Tait from Aillum)
Dec 17, 11:00 am?-?1:00 pm
Join Brian Tait at Aillum for an insight into some of the tools and data available to you now, free, that can help you start monitoring, refining and improving your digital marketing activities! Includes tips on Google Analytics, Keywords / Content, Heat Mapping, Site speed and more!
To book your free place please email Laura Connor:?[email protected]?or Laura Ritchie:?[email protected]?
Brexit: One Year On – Full On Brexit
Dec 14, 2:00 pm?-?3:00 pm
A year on from the deal which defined the terms in which the UK would depart from the EU, the BCC and ChamberCustoms have continued to campaign for greater clarity on the UK’s future trading relationship with the EU and to provide answers on the practical changes that will affect business.
Join us in December for “Brexit: One Year On” a three-part online webinar series, reviewing and analysing the last twelve months of the UK establishing a new relationship with the European Union.
Session 3: Brexit, What Brexit?
? Tuesday 14 December
? 14:00 – 15:00
Staged Customs Controls end on 31st December, meaning that the free flow of goods that has prevailed since Brexit Day will come to an end on 31 December 2022.
All EU imports will need to be accounted for with a full customs declaration. There will be new sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) arrangements, new pre-notification deadlines and a new inspection regime. This will apply to all EU exports and imports.
This webinar will discuss the changes and what practical steps you can take to reduce the possibility that your goods will be delayed at the UK border as well as what economic impact we should expect from the full implementation of the Trade Continuity Agreement.
Register here:?Webinar Registration – Zoom
These webinars are open to everyone, Chamber members and non-members.
BCC LETTER TO CHANCELLOR WARNS OF IMPENDING DAMAGE TO ECONOMIC RECOVERY FOLLOWING PLAN B ANNOUNCEMENT
Chamber News,?Member News?10th December 2021
The Chancellor was warned today of impending damage to the economic recovery if Government did not bring forward support for businesses following the Plan B Covid restrictions announced on Tuesday.
The warning came in a letter sent to the Chancellor this morning, co-signed by British Chambers of Commerce Director General, Shevaun Haviland, and BCC President, Baroness Ruby McGregor-Smith CBE.
In the letter Ms Haviland and Baroness McGregor-Smith set out the BCC’s concerns that the full impact of the current restrictions on business had not been offset by any fresh support. They state that the BCC is very concerned about possible knock-on effects from the ‘Plan B’ policies and has received reports from members in the hospitality sector about parties and events being cancelled despite the current rules not requiring this.
They wrote “Consumer-focused services firms, such as retail and hospitality and those in their supply chains, are most exposed to the new measures because they come during the critical Christmas trading period when those firms rely on consumers’ willingness to interact and spend (and is often vital to sustaining their cashflow ahead of typically quieter months). Those businesses in city centres which rely on the footfall from people working in offices will also be hit hard by the new measures.”
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Based on this they urged the Chancellor to consider the BCC’s proposals for a suite of policy measures which could be brought in to alleviate the pressure on worst effected businesses, including reverting the VAT for hospitality and tourism back to its emergency rate of 5%, reinstating 100% business rates relief for retail and making additional grant funding available.
Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, said:
“We have written to the Chancellor today because we know from speaking to businesses up and down the country that the Treasury absolutely needs to act on this issue if we are to maintain the strength of our economic recovery. We have put forward a set of policy proposals which are practical, targeted and commensurate to the level of impact these restrictions will have on businesses.
“It is simply not good enough for the Government to say at this juncture that ‘enough support has been provided’ and leave it at that. These restrictions will have the greatest impact on some of the firms, like hospitality, events and retail, who have been hardest hit throughout this pandemic. They have strained every sinew to get to this point but now face being hamstrung during this crucial festive period through no fault of their own.”
View the?Letter from BCC – Response to Plan B
MACROBERTS STRENGTHENS ITS CONSTRUCTION AND CORPORATE FINANCE TEAMS WITH TWO NEW APPOINTMENTS
Leading Scottish commercial law firm MacRoberts has strengthened both its renowned construction law team and award-winning corporate finance team with the appointment of Jonathan Gaskell as a partner and Rod Hutchison as a legal director.
Jonathan Gaskell is an experienced construction lawyer specialising predominantly in transactional matters. His work involves all aspects of non-contentious work, from initial contract procurement through to the drafting and negotiation of all types of construction contracts and related agreements. His experience extends to a wide range of sectors and premises in the built environment; these include shopping centres, hotels, office buildings, student accommodation, retail units, industrial premises as well as transport and energy infrastructure. He also has extensive experience of the standard form contracts used across the construction industry.
Rod Hutchison has particular experience in acting for clients in the energy sector. Rod also advises founders in business start-ups and management teams on company exits as well as acting for not-for-profit organisations, in various sectors. As a commercial lawyer he focuses principally on partnerships, corporate governance compliance issues, as well as business acquisition and sale transactions. He is also experienced in business restructuring, including equity investment in private companies, employee incentive schemes and negotiating commercial contracts, particularly for oil and gas service companies in the UK and internationally.
Neil Kennedy, managing partner, said: “Our construction team is one of the longest-established specialist teams in Scotland with an unrivalled reputation in both contentious and non-contentious matters. This is a continued sign of our commitment to grow and develop our key practice areas and we are delighted to welcome Jonathan to the firm.
We were impressed by Rod’s corporate experience and expertise, along with his enviable client following. We look forward to working with clients throughout the north of Scotland, and further afield in the international marketplace.”
Jonathan Gaskell said: “Joining a firm with such an impressive history, client list and admirable reputation is a huge privilege and I look forward to adding to the exciting growth and development plans across Scotland and beyond.”
Rod Hutchison said: “The corporate finance team at MacRoberts has a formidable reputation and I am delighted to be joining the team.”
ADDRESS ESG OR LOSE FUNDING, WARNS SME EXPERT
An SME expert with Top 10 accountancy firm Azets is urging businesses to embrace and implement Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) policies or risk losing their sources of funding.
Donald Boyd, Head of Growth at Azets, says climate change and ESG is already starting to have a significant impact on funding decisions and directors that focus on the short-term could be putting the future of their businesses at risk.
He warns that lenders, suppliers, customers, and employees will increasingly demand a roadmap to a net zero strategy and failure to address ESG policies could affect a business’ viability.
The warning follows a poll by Azets of 235 SME business leaders which revealed that just 10% of businesses say climate change and ESG will affect their business model with their attention focused on more immediate issues such as staffing (34%), economic recovery (27%), digitisation and technology (19%). Almost a quarter of SMEs have not reviewed their business model in over a year.
Donald Boyd said: “In the midst of a global pandemic, a quarter of businesses having not reviewed their business model is an alarming figure. We would expect more frequent forecasting to make sure businesses are adapting to change, particularly as the real impact of Brexit and Covid-19 may not yet have been felt, and with the growing awareness and importance of sustainability.
“A sharper focus on the short-term is perhaps to be expected as SMEs focus on immediate recovery and growth, with on-going concerns over staffing levels, economic instability, and digitisation an ever-present issue. However, with funding likely to be harder to come by and banks increasingly looking at sustainability and ESG policies as a condition of lending, businesses must be thinking ahead.”
Donald Boyd is urging businesses to take more of a proactive approach to ESG as part of regular business model reviews.
Donald Boyd concluded: “ESG will keep growing in significance and will impact decision making by lenders, suppliers, customers, and employees. We urge SME businesses to seek professional advice to ensure they are tackling short-term challenges and planning appropriately for long-term ESG requirements.”
Do you want to grow your business or grow as an individual in business? Then who better to encourage you than someone who has already made that journey?
With a diverse pool of Business Mentors across all sectors, you will be matched with someone who has the right skills and experience to add value to your business.
Business Mentoring can help with:
Using this service will not just give you the confidence to develop your business, it can also introduce you to a great network of contacts who can open doors and inspire new thinking.
Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce Business Mentoring?can help business owners like you realise your personal and business growth ambitions, giving you the ability to take your company to new heights.
We can?put you in touch with highly experienced entrepreneurs and business owners who are ready to share the secrets of their success.
Take advantage of our fully funded support service and find out how our Business Mentors can help you.
Stuart Murray is our Development Executive responsible for Business Mentoring in Renfrewshire. He can be contacted on:
Mobile: 07525 323500
Telephone: 0141 847 5458
Email:?[email protected]
Director of Governance at Bowls Scotland Ltd
3 年Thank you Bob
Executive director with proven people & product development skills and excellent in op. & change mgt.
3 年Thanks, Bob.
Peer Support Assistant for Digital at Glasgow City Council, Member of Scottish Apprenticeship Advisory Board and Business Enthusiast
3 年Will definitely have a read to keep up with everything Renfrewshire.. This is a local authority I hope to work with and alongside in the future! ????????