Monthly Newsletter - "WEBS for Women in Business"

This is an online copy of the monthly WEBS newsletter featuring project updates and items of interest for your business. Make sure you don't miss important information for your business by signing up now.

This newsletter is produced for information only. While we believe the content is accurate we can accept no responsibility for any errors or omissions. © WEVH Ada House, 77 Thompson Street, Manchester M4 5FY

The next newsletter will be emailed out on Wednesday 28th April

The All New WEBsite Clinic

WEBS services now include a regular "Nurse your Website" service. A couple of hours is all you need to take control of your website and make changes to your existing website. You are not dreaming, this is real!

You will then be able to update your website yourself within minutes. Just drop by our Business Unit with new content for your site and we will be there to assist you in discovering  this new power!  We are using Macromedia's Contribute 2 for updating sites, follow the link to find out more. Please call us first to arrange a time for your clinic,  call 0161 833 3300 and ask for someone from WEBS.

http://www.macromedia.com/software/contribute/

"Small Business Clinic" - FREE Advice on Employment issues

Stephen Calderbank is Head of Employment at Lopian Wagner solicitors, and advises on all aspects of employment law.

He is able to give rapid, practical and commercially based advice on Employment Contracts, Dismissal/ Disciplinary Procedures, Tribunals, Restrictive Covenants and any issue arising out of the Employer/ Employee relationship, and has an understanding of small businesses.

Currently offering a "Small Business Clinic", Stephen will visit any business and undertake a free Health-Check, assessing the suitability of existing contracts / procedures / handbook.

Stephen ran his own firm for 17 years and prior to joining was Head of Employment at the Manchester office of national firm Merricks.

Call 0161 834 2324 or 07971 162 663.

City Centre Office available for rent  all mod cons!

We have a fully equipped office available here at the WEVH on Thompson St, Manchester. For £160 per month you get an office with free broadband access, free phone line rental (you pay for calls only) and rates, cleaning and reception service included. The lease is available for 12 months or less.  For further details contact eliza.tyrrell@wevh.org.uk

Next Alt.net meeting; Free Training, Free Web Statistics resource

Here's a message from my colleague Sara Burnham.

Alt.Net Meeting - Everything you've ever wanted to know about hardware! Wednesday 21st April  5.30 pm
Are you thinking of buying a new PC system and don't know where to start? Or do you have some kit which you're not too sure how to use? Kari Walker from Suma foods will be leading the next meeting and answering all your hardware questions ... followed by our usual 'networking' buffet. If you have a particular question or area you would like to know about do tell us. Places are free but for planning we do need to know if you are coming - please contact sara.burnham@wevh.org.uk

Assertiveness/Confidence Building
Would you be interested in joining a free course during our Easter term? We need a minimum of 9 to run the course. Dates and times will be arranged so that the maximum numbers can attend. Please say if you would prefer a day or evening course/ and whether you would prefer full days, half days or short sessions....contact sara.burnham@wevh.org.uk

Free Statistics about your Website
Webstat gives you information about traffic to your website. There is a free or paid service - the free service is comprehensive enough for most small websites. Visit www.webstat.com and fill in the sign up form - you select a username and password and provide details of the website that you want to be monitored. An email will then be sent to the email address that you provide and once you reply to the email your account is up and running.Then just copy and paste a small piece of code on to the bottom of each page that you want to be tracked. And you're done! You can then log into your account at webstat at any time to view reports about your site. I've used this service for over 2 years and have never had any junk mail from them!


Minimum wage rises
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has announced that a £3 minimum wage for 16 and 17 year olds will be introduced in October.  At the same time, the rate for 18 to 21 year olds will go up to £4.10 from the current rate of £3.80, and the adult minimum wage will rise from £4.50 to £4.85 an hour. The rise has been greeted with concern by the British Retail Consortium (BRC), which believes it will hit retailers hard.

For more information visit their website. For guides to the minimum wage visit http://www.dti.gov.uk/er/nmw/index.htm


Business Basics E-Courses - Legal
If you are too busy to attend a course or workshop these courses are ideal for you. The course material is delivered to your In box everyday, providing practical explanations and suggestions regarding the commercial and legal issues that affect your business. Business Basics-Contracts E-Course (25 day course) will be launched in April. The course will help you understand:

what is a contract
how to avoid problems with verbal agreements
contract clauses (or you might call it legal jargon!)
how to avoid problems in contract negotiations
creating contracts over the internet
how to protect your position by using contracts to help you get paid and minimize your risks
how to spot problem clauses in your client's standard contract terms
key issues regarding entering into contracts with your suppliers or sub-contractors

The course price is £100 +VAT. enquiries@yourlearnedfriend.co.uk or call Yvette Hoskings-James on 020 841 0709.

This is your 3 Minute Warning! Calling all performance artists.

Showcase your artwork

For those of you who would like to create a catalogue online to showcase your artwork or are just simply looking for a solution to keep an archive of past work take a look at Portfolio-6. We will be installing this version onto our Business Drop-in computers very soon, however those of you who can use this immediately please check it out and it would be appreciated if you let us know how you get on. http://www.extensis.com/portfolio/

New look inc. website - attention writers

After the monumental success of the inc. launch and our continuing commitment to bringing accessible information to our 3000+ subscribers and readers, the new look inc. site has been launched at:

http://mysite.freeserve.com/incwriters

Each section of the site delivers up to date articles, reviews, readings and industry news. With articles on writing, interviews with living writers, criticism on new books, poets and writers.

http://mysite.freeserve.com/incwriters/incorporatingwriting.htm

British Small Business Champions 2004 Award

The hunt for Britain's small business champion has begun. The competition, organised by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), Lloyds TSB, Trinity Mirror Group, and Business in the Community (BiTC), is open to small businesses that have been operating for at least five years, employ fewer than 50 people, and offer excellent customer service. The overall winner will win a tailor-made trip to New York.
The closing date for applications is 14 May.

Further details here http://www.fsb.org.uk/general/bsbc

HSBC Start-up Stars Awards 2004

The HSBC Start-Up Stars Awards aim to find the best and brightest rising business stars in the UK. Applications are open to fledgling businesses that were under two years old on 8 March 2004. Ten finalists will share £65,000, and will also win consultancy services and software worth £4,000. The closing date for entries is 30 April.

Download an application form here: http://www.ukbusiness.hsbc.com/public/ukbusiness/inf/en/inf_start_up_stars.jhtml

Money and Your Business, Manchester, 1 April

Public / Private sector funding, using agents

We haven't any feedback on these people yet; if you give them a try let us know how you get on. They say this about themselves:

Obtaining reliable UK, European & lottery grants information can be something of a minefield. You know they're out there, but how do you find out in an instant what's available?

We have exclusive access to every Government, European & Lottery Fund, Grant and Award available in your postcode.

If you're in the private sector, all we need to know is where you are, what your business format is (e.g. starting up, limited company, partnership etc) and roughly what your turnover is- and we'll tell you everything you can possibly apply for! If you're in the public sector (schools, local authorities , charities etc) we just need to know your 'area of work' and 'project purpose' to produce your report. Further information here http://www.fundingagents.com/

Grants

For grant search www.j4b.co.uk

You must register with the site in return for being able to run 3 free grant searches. We have unlimited use of this at WEBS so contact us if you'd like to find out more about which grants may be available. They are getting harder to find all the time but it's still worth a bit of research!

Loans

The government run Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme funds businesses who find it difficult to get a traditional bank loan; find out more via the DTi website. Or come in to see us to talk through how it works.http://www.dti.gov.uk/sflg/

Grants, and Investment vs Equity

For information on funding available to North West small businesses check out the NWDA website; some sources of funding are loans or capital in return for equity (shares in your business) and tend to be orientated towards medium size or established companies. This is what North West Development Agency's site says about their schemes:

Business angels
Business angels invest in any type of business or business idea, whatever its stage of development or state of the business. Essentially, they invest in the business on the basis of their belief in the ability of the people involved to grow a profitable business.

Equity Advisory Service
The TEChINVEST Equity Advisory Service provides a simple and effective fast track preparation and introduction service to the most appropriate funds for a company's needs, be they NWDA backed funds, private sector funds or business angels. The TEChINVEST Investors Club is also a key source of business angel co-investors and non-executive directors for the funds.

North West Business Investment Scheme
This £17.5 million NWDA scheme is the very first in the UK to provide seed and venture capital investment to selected small businesses in the Northwest, using money allocated by the European Structural Fund for areas designated as Objective 2 or Transitional. The scheme will invest up to £500,000, providing generally up to 25 percent of the total finance required. The scheme includes over £4 million for investment in start-up and emerging businesses www.nwbis.co.uk

North West Seed Fund
This £4.5 million NWDA scheme has been created to help the regions entrepreneurs take ideas from the drawing board to achieving their first sales. Initial investment of up to £100,000 will be made in Innovative early stage companies to help them develop their idea, prove the concept and exploit early sales. The fund is available to selected companies from throughout the region and is being managed by Manchester-based Axiomlab Investment Management Limited.

RisingStars Growth Fund
The NWDA has unlocked another new source of finance, being the major investor in the RisingStars Growth Fund, a £19 million fund specifically for high growth early stage technology start up companies www.enterprise-ventures.co.uk

North West Equity Fund
The Agency also sponsored the establishment of the £35.5 million North West Equity Fund, managed by WM Enterprise Ltd from a base in Lymm. The fund can make investments up to £500,000 and aims to invest to produce a commercial return for its investors, including the DTi. www.nwef.co.uk

Culture Finance North West
Supported by the NWDA and Arts Council England this scheme is the first of its kind designed to help make finance available to people starting or running businesses in the creative industries. A small loan advisory service assists businesses in finding loan finance and provides guidance through the loan application process. It also aims to ensure that lenders understand a creative business unique requirements. It also provides a micro loan scheme of loans up to £3,000 administered by Bolton Business Ventures.

North West Community Loan Fund
Supported by the Agency, this  £1 million fund is primarily provides small loans to charities and other non profit making organisations, although small businesses focused on assisting deprived communities may be considered. www.clf.co.uk  

What this year's budget means for small business

I know it's dull but in case it affects you, here are the key points from Chancellor Gordon Brown's Budget 2004 that will affect small businesses in the UK.

Businesses with turnovers of less than £58,000, up from £56,000, will be exempt from registering for VAT from 1 April.

From 1 April an additional 13,000 businesses will be eligible to benefit from simplified VAT accounting.

Investment allowances for the smallest businesses will be increased from 40% to 50%, initially for one year.

A new 19% rate of tax on dividends paid from small businesses to individual shareholders will be introduced.

There will continue to be no tax on retained profits.

Possible ways to look at removing the working tax credit from the payroll were confirmed.

Accountancy firms will now be obliged to register tax avoidance schemes with the Inland Revenue, in an effort to close tax loopholes in partnerships, finance leasing and VAT.

Tax rates will be frozen on: corporation tax; capital gains tax; air passenger duties; vehicle excise duty for cars and lorries; and stamp duty.

Aggregate levy (a tax on sand, gravel and rock that has been imported from abroad or quarried in the UK) will be frozen.

Climate change levy will be frozen, and the 80% discount extended to include more businesses.

Over the next two years, Venture Capital Trust (VCT) investors will get tax relief for investments of up to £200,000 a year at the higher rate of 40p, rather than the lower rate of 20p.

From next year, further tax incentives will be introduced to encourage investment by firms located in 2,000 enterprise areas.

The Government will be selling all its remaining shareholdings in privatised utilities.

Inheritance tax rates will be frozen and the starting point raised to £263,000; this will mean 95% of estates will pay no inheritance tax.

A new National Minimum Wage for 16 and 17 year olds will be introduced from October.

There will be a 1p rise on a pint of beer, a 4p rise on a bottle of wine, but duties have been frozen on spirits, cider and sparkling wine.

There will be an 8p rise on tobacco, in line with inflation.

The annual rise in fuel duty will be frozen for six months. A 1.9p a litre rise in unleaded petrol and a similar rise on diesel is expected in September.

Reviewing progress on joining the euro has been held back until the next Budget.

To read the full Budget 2004 speech, go to:

http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/budget/budget_04/bud_bud04_speech.cfm