Author: Alan Shaw

James Roberts from the local council’s development department came along to explain the origins and workings of the Think Local initiative, which is a joint effort between the District Council and Lichfield Chamber. Our own Chair was also involved in the development of this from its inception.
Think Local is a web-site that contains a directory of businesses and other organisations that can be searched on the basis of name, postcode or service type. It exists to help increase the amount of local intertrading in the Lichfield area.
The service is free to all local organisations, so if you are not listed there, contact James on 01543 308166 or admin@think-local.biz.

August Social
In August we plan to hold a joint social evening with Burton Business Club and we shall be hosting the event. To date, we have two main ideas to consider; one is to spend the evening go-karting at Fradley; the other is to have an evening of mixed pub games. Whichever we choose we should like it to be a well-attended success. The karting could cost up to £40 per person but it could be quite a thrill; the mixed pub games would be much cheaper. Call Alan now with your preference.
Less time at work
Business managers and owners across the UK have resolved to spend less time at their desks during 2004. A survey conducted by the CMI found that 58% of respondents intend to spend less time in the workplace, with the top reason being to exercise regularly. Adopting a better work-life balance is increasingly seen by UK senior executives as a way of preserving their health, coping with stress and improving their workplace performance, including better decision-making and improved productivity. Now that seems like a very good idea!
Chair & Membership Secretary - Debbie Baker- Thomas 01543 308621
Vice Chair and Treasurer –Chris Edwards - 01543 263915
Newsletter and Club Programme –Alan Shaw - 01889 584147
Social Secretary – Sandra Booth - 01785 353808
Member – Andy Laverick – 08707 456280
Secretary – Warren Bradley – 01543 472747

Think Local in Lichfield…

Other Information

Despatches

2004 Club Programme
3rd March - Business Link Staffordshire & legislation update - Joy Brassington
7th April - Social - visit to Garrick Theatre
5th May - Management Development focus for the smaller firm
2nd June - Computer Tips & Tricks Surgery, including file management, security, spam and searching the Internet
7th July - Lichfield Festival (TBC)
4th August - Social with Burton Business Club (see main body of text)
1st September - Personal Development
6th October - Business Topic
3rd November - AGM
1st December - Social - Xmas Party

Lichfield District Business Club Newsletter

Feb 2004

This story can fit 150-200 words.
One benefit of using your newsletter as a promotional tool is that you can reuse content from other marketing materials, such as press releases, market studies, and reports.
While your main goal of distributing a newsletter might be to sell your product or service, the key to a successful newsletter is making it useful to your readers.
A great way to add useful content to your newsletter is to develop and write your own articles, or include a calendar of upcoming events or a special offer that promotes a new product.
You can also research articles or find “filler” articles by accessing the World Wide Web. You can write about a variety of topics but try to keep your articles short.
Much of the content you put in your newsletter can also be used for your Web site. Microsoft Publisher offers a simple way to convert your newsletter to a Web publication. So, when you’re finished writing your newsletter, convert it to a Web site and post it.

This story can fit 75-125 words.
Selecting pictures or graphics is an important part of adding content to your newsletter.
Think about your article and ask yourself if the picture supports or enhances the message you’re trying to convey. Avoid selecting images that appear to be out of context.
Microsoft Publisher includes thousands of clip art images from which you can choose and import into your newsletter. There are also several tools you can use to draw shapes and symbols.
Once you have chosen an image, place it close to the article. Be sure to place the caption of the image near the image.

This story can fit 100-150 words.
The subject matter that appears in newsletters is virtually endless. You can include stories that focus on current technologies or innovations in your field.
You may also want to note business or economic trends, or make predictions for your customers or clients.
If the newsletter is distributed internally, you might comment upon new procedures or improvements to the business. Sales figures or earnings will show how your business is growing.
Some newsletters include a column that is updated every issue, for instance, an advice column, a book review, a letter from the president, or an editorial. You can also profile new employees or top customers or vendors.

This story can fit 150-200 words.
One benefit of using your newsletter as a promotional tool is that you can reuse content from other marketing materials, such as press releases, market studies, and reports.
While your main goal of distributing a newsletter might be to sell your product or service, the key to a successful newsletter is making it useful to your readers.
A great way to add useful content to your newsletter is to develop and write your own articles, or include a calendar of upcoming events or a special offer that promotes a new product.
You can also research articles or find “filler” articles by accessing the World Wide Web. You can write about a variety of topics but try to keep your articles short.
Much of the content you put in your newsletter can also be used for your Web site. Microsoft Publisher offers a simple way to convert your newsletter to a Web publication. So, when you’re finished writing your newsletter, convert it to a Web site and post it.

This story can fit 75-125 words.
Selecting pictures or graphics is an important part of adding content to your newsletter.
Think about your article and ask yourself if the picture supports or enhances the message you’re trying to convey. Avoid selecting images that appear to be out of context.
Microsoft Publisher includes thousands of clip art images from which you can choose and import into your newsletter. There are also several tools you can use to draw shapes and symbols.
Once you have chosen an image, place it close to the article. Be sure to place the caption of the image near the image.

This story can fit 100-150 words.
The subject matter that appears in newsletters is virtually endless. You can include stories that focus on current technologies or innovations in your field.
You may also want to note business or economic trends, or make predictions for your customers or clients.
If the newsletter is distributed internally, you might comment upon new procedures or improvements to the business. Sales figures or earnings will show how your business is growing.
Some newsletters include a column that is updated every issue, for instance, an advice column, a book review, a letter from the president, or an editorial. You can also profile new employees or top customers or vendors.

As an owner or manager of a small business you may view Data Protection as just another legal requirement to be dealt with in the course of carrying out your business.
Unfortunately, the Act as it stands makes no particular allowance for the existence of “small businesses” and contains no special provisions for those who run them. Legally it requires you to comply with the Act in exactly the same way as if you were a large corporation. Under the Data Protection Act 1998 the size of your business is actually immaterial. What is important is the personal information you hold in relation to your business activities.
With the maximum penalty for failing to notify the Information Commissioner of your processing now at a level of a £5000 fine plus costs in the Magistrate’s Courts, or an unlimited fine in the Higher Courts. It is not a subject you can afford to disregard. However, it is recognised that those running small businesses work under a great deal of pressure, facing a great many time consuming administrative demands.
It may be at present you consider the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998 to be nothing more than a bureaucratic burden. What you will find however is that by following the good information-handling practices contained within the Act, you will be establishing a good set of operating practices which will be of considerable benefit to your business generally. For a more detailed free guidance brochure, go to
www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk/cms/DocumentUploads/Small%20Business%20Information.pdf

Lichfield Business Village
The Friary
Lichfield WS13 6QG

Lichfield District Business Club Newsletter

Phone: 01543 308620
Fax: 01543 308622
Email: hawthornes@lichfield.biz

Promoting interaction in local business

In a nutshell … Club members’ businesses

Andy Laverick has run Cosmic IT Solutions for the last 4 years and provides a commercial web development and consultancy service to SMEs.
Cosmic IT Solutions has assisted companies in all aspects of ICT from e-commerce advice and web design to IT training and development, hosting and domain name registration.
Andy has also worked with local government on numerous ICT based projects that offer support to local business communities.
Andy is also a committee member for your club and will be co-ordinating the Club IT evening in June dealing with various computer tips and hints.
Andy can be contacted on
Tel: 0870 1364910
Alan Shaw set up Carshaw Management and Quality Services almost 17 years ago to focus upon improving workplace performance in organisations. These improvements range from management systems to business processes, to team and individual performance and to overall improvements in productivity.
Alan tends to work with larger organisations and is renowned for providing a highly competent professional service.
He is an independently accredited management systems consultant and has implemented dozens of high performance ISO 9001 (quality) and ISO 14001 (environmental) systems for a broad range of client organisations across the UK.
Alan can be contacted on
Tel: 01889 584147
The main reason why very small and micro firms become limited is to gain a tax advantage. Now, sole traders and partnerships planning to convert to limited companies are advised to wait until after this year’s (April 2004) Budget before making a decision, warns accountancy firm Wilkins Kennedy. Changes in the tax system for limited companies led to a dramatic increase in the number of new incorporations last year, from 225,000 to 322,000. Many cab and taxi drivers in the South East contributed to this upsurge.
However, new measures expected in the Budget could negate tax advantages of incorporation for certain companies.
To find out more, go to:
http://www.wilkinskennedy.com/online_info/wk_news.asp?strAreaNo=30_1&intElement=510

The Club is sponsored by Lloyds TSB, Barclays, SULC and Lichfield District Council

Despatches

Business Topic of the Month - Data Protection Act 1998

Visit your Club web-site at
www.lichfieldbusinessclub.com - it exists to help you

www.lichfieldbusinessclub.com

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