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We are doing what we can, including paying invoices to local firms as quickly as possible, holding off on imposition of the 8-year age limit on Private Hire Vehicles and encouraging tenants of our shops and industrial units to get in touch if they are having problems.
Practical help is available on a wide range of topics, from advice on how to tender to training and development.
Does your business need help through the economic downturn?
Business Link East Midlands can help. Their business experts can offer FREE, independent advice on issues such as improving your efficiency and costs, help with your cash flow, managing your debts, and access to finance. Business Link can also point you in the right direction if you need more specific support.
Call: 0845 058 6644
Visit: www.businesslink.gov.uk/eastmidlands
UK Trade & Investment can help. UK Trade & Investment can provide access to the FREE expertise and market intelligence you need to get your business ready to enter new international markets.
Call: 0845 052 4001
Visit: http://www.ukti.gov.uk/export/unitedkingdom/eastmidlands.html
Source Derbyshire can help. Opportunities to supply your goods or services to the nine councils in Derbyshire can be found through Source Derbyshire. There is also advice on the Council web site about tendering for public sector contracts.
Visit: www.sourcederbyshire.co.uk
Business Rate Relief can help. Are you one of the many businesses not claiming the Relief that you qualify for. If your business has a rateable value of less than £15,000 then you can claim up to 50% Rate Relief - and you can backdate your claim to 2007.
Visit: Business rates (NNDR) reductions (relief)
HM Revenues & Customs can help. A new Business Payment Support Service has been introduced to meet the needs of businesses affected by the current economic downturn, for example, if you are worried about being able to meet payments.
Call: 0845 302 1435
Visit: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/pbr2008/business-payment.htm
Business Events can help. The Council and its partner organisations are staging a programme of events to brief businesses on the support that is available, who is eligible to apply for it and how to find out more.
Visit: www.south-derbys.gov.uk/business
Scores on the Doors can help. We have an assistance programme to help catering businesses improve their star rating. This helps your business by boosting customer confidence.
Visit: Food hygiene star ratings
Derbyshire Trusted Trader Scheme can help. It is now free to sign up with the Scheme, which gives customers more confidence in local traders. You will be able to use membership of the Scheme to promote your reputation as a business that cares about its customers. You will also benefit from promotion of the Scheme and its searchable public database of member businesses.
Visit: www.derbyshire.gov.uk/trustedtrader
Our Trade Waste Collection Service can help. We offer a competitive collection service, which is valuable to local businesses and helps to stop the market drifting higher.
Visit: Commercial waste
b_line and Gold Card discounting can help. Why not try and beat the crunch by becoming a b_line or Gold Card discounter? Offering cardholders a modest discount can help to attract that extra business.
Visit: www.derbyshire.gov.uk/goldcard and www.derbyshire.gov.uk/b_line
Are you thinking about starting a business?
Our Starting a business page can help. It offers information and advice on many areas including tax, business rates, grants and loans, planning permission, licensing, and recruiting.
Visit: Starting a business
Are you considering changes to your workforce?
Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) can help. Providing advice and guidance on all legal issues connected to business restructuring, alternatives to redundancy or legislation regarding making redundancies - ensuring principles of good practice are applied to the way all staff are treated. ACAS can help you explore options such as short time working, temporary wage reductions and changes to working arrangements in order to avoid redundancies.
Call: 08457 474747
Visit: www.acas.org.uk
Train to Gain can help. Their brokers can assist if you need your workforce to develop extra skills to keep your business competitive. From improving English and Maths, through accredited NVQs and apprenticeships to leadership and management training. This may be anything from short accredited courses in vocational skill areas such as health and safety, through to bespoke training to meet your business needs.
Call: 0845 600 9 006
Visit: www.traintogain.gov.uk
Jobcentre Plus can help. Helping businesses find the right staff for their needs - filling vacancies and reducing costs. In depth recruitment support through Local Employment Partnerships can provide access to a range of measures including pre-employment training programmes bespoke to your needs and Work Trials to assess an individual's suitability for a particular role. Jobcentre Plus can also offer a Rapid Response Service for businesses making redundancies, including skills analysis for your workforce, job-focused training to develop new skills and access to a fund to overcome individual short term barriers, such as travel expenses.
Call: 01283 233 500
Visit: www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/JCP/Employers/
HotProspects can help. The East Midlands Graduate Recruitment Service can assist if your business would benefit from a graduate placement.
Call: 0845 450 5460
Visit: www.hotprospects.org.uk
National Apprenticeship Service can help. This offers a vacancy matching service, linking businesses seeking new staff to apprentices looking for opportunities to work and learn.
Call: 08000 150 600
Visit: www.apprenticeships.org.uk/Employers.aspx
Is there specific assistance for the voluntary sector?
KnowHow Nonprofit can help. This is the place to learn, build expertise and share experience whether you work in a large charity, are setting up your own social enterprise or are helping out your local community group.
Visit: http://www.knowhownonprofit.org/
Institute of Fundraisingcan help. Providing support and development for fund raisers, including written best practice for all areas of fund development plus access to funding training.
Visit: http://www.institute-of-fundraising.org.uk/
South Derbyshire CVS can help. Supporting local voluntary and community groups by providing information, advice and support to both groups and individuals in South Derbyshire.
Call: 01283 219761
Visit: www.southderbyscvs.org.uk
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