Spring to Action Ltd

The Absent Talent

Business advisors are soon going to be an endangered species.  Currently, Business Link is the major employer, but with many an enterprise agency, social enterprise development company, quango and local government officer employed to support businesses there are a range of business advisors out there.

But from November or even earlier, many advisors will have lost their funding or been made redundant. Many will have to re-train or enter the private sector perhaps in a related but different career.

What worries me the most however, is where is the next generation of advisors coming from? The current entry routes vary, but commonly people enter the sector through becoming project officers, administrator, information and guidance staff or similar occupations.  As the coalition governments spending cuts hit these entry routes will drastically decline.  Who else would enter the fray?

My own view is that at some point government will realise (perhaps through a bump on the head or worse, a complete drop in entrepreneurial activity) that they need funded business support, in some cases.  My argument of course assumes this, it assumes that we need business advisors, coaches, mentors and the plethora of business support that’s out there. But I would say that wouldn’t I?  That argument is for another day.

Any thoughts?

One Size Fits All?

Wouldn't it be fantastic if every business just had a one stop shop for all their business needs? Everybody would have a clear point of contact and would know where to go for information.  What's more, it would be pretty straightforward for those organisations tasked with monitoring business support, because there would just be one contract to monitor.

Ah, but wait! We have Business Link. The brand tasked with supporting all businesses to grow / develop.  I say brand, because for those of you blissfully unaware of the intricacies of public policy, Business Link is  several organisations working under one banner.

My problem isn't that the brand, one with differing reputations in different areas of the country.  I'm more concerned with the customer/s.  Because every business has different needs, approaches and skills.  I'm concerned that this current government will be looking to cut business support further, reducing the number and size of organisations delivering support to just a small few.

I think this doesn't make sense.  Currently in Leicester alone there are at least five organisations offering contracted business support.  They all support slightly different segments of the market and it works pretty well.  Ok so it's a bit confusing.  And yes quality is an issue.  But believe me, the customer is confused by Business Link and quality can be an issue there too (ofcourse, not in Leicester).  Let's continue to make savings where we can, but keep the range of breadth of organisations who deliver quality support that businesses want, where they want it.

How would you propose that business support is delivered? What changes would you make to ensure you get the support you need, when and how you need it?  Or should we just chuck it all away and save the pennies & pounds for the NHS, education or frontline services?

Leicester Farmers Market

Thursday saw the much-anticpated return of the Leicester Farmer's Market, this time in Gallowtree Gate and around the clock tower.  Although the image above probably doesn't show it as well as it could've, the area surrounding the Farmer's Market was packed with foodies, looking for some unusual and tasty bites.

In the midst of much negativity about our economy and the recession, this was a real triumph of enterprise.  From rustic breads to homemade nougat, to rare-bread meats, there was something for everyone.  Before long my purse was empty and I'm sure I wasn't alone.

Although the traditional venue of the Leicester Market is much protected, this new venue seemed to really successful. Shoppers, people on their lunchbreaks, pensioners and young families all centre on this part of town and it was pretty hard to avoid. 

Everything looked scrummy, so well presented, with friendly stallholders who can tell you all about their produce and there was a real variety of items.  This has to be the future of local markets - gone are the days of sub standard veg (no matter how cheap it may be!), wilting plants or car boot sale items.  And now we've had a taste of what local produce is out there the demand will continue to rise.  Well done to the Leicester Market staff for arranging a very successful event.  Find out when the next Farmer's Market is in your area  - and let's all do our best to support them!

Tomorrow is D Day for the Budget

Finally the day arrives when we all get to hear about where the budget cuts are falling and just how fast.  Is anyone else feeling a little nervous?

Already we've heard snippets of news, that Business Link's regional offices will be shut, that public sector pay and pensions will be frozen, that startup support will drastically change, and that local workspace capital developments have been stopped.

Indeed, when I wrote about this a few months ago, I asked what would you cut?

The question is developing as the days go past...now I would ask what would you cut and WHY? Let's face it, we can go ahead and cut everything that costs a significant amount of money, but we really need to ask ourselves what projects does this country need to prosper?

Which projects or developments will help us create jobs, build more prosperous communities and businesses, make the UK a better place to live and work in these tough economic times?

I just hope these aspects are being considered alongside the monetary aspects. Otherwise it really will be a return to the 80's of boom and bust. 

Election Fever: What would YOU do?

Just 7 days to go til we hit the polling stations to decide who next runs our country.  The final live broadcast debate has just come to a close with many questions left unanswered but perhaps for some people it may have helped them decide which box to put their cross in.

Whatever happens, there will be cuts in the regeneration sector due to the recession. There will be challenges to face and issues to resolve. Times will be tough, certainly as I have never experienced. Not so many years ago I remember wondering why there was so many different enterprise projects and just where all the money was coming from. 

Those days truly are gone.  For my money I would look at:

- Project selection - strategically deciding on the right projects, delivered by the right organisations in the right way.

- Project wastage.  How many times have we all been told to 'spend our budget ... all of it!' because it will just be taken away next year. Is it really so difficult to carry forward spend or rejoyce in projects that underspend but achieve.

Well, that's a start anyway.  What would you include in manifesto? What really gets your goat about how projects are funded?

Leicester Benefits Hotspot

News broke today that Leicester has a third of it's residents on benefits. Leicester City Council's benefits team are handling 500 more claims each month - a staggering and worrying figure.  Leicester appears to be slower than other UK cities at leaving the recession behind and this can only mean more difficulties for its residents.

Whilst there are some schemes to help people back into jobs, notably the Future Jobs Fund which assists young people, there appears to be a lack of focus on unemployment in the area.  Most people want to work, though there are a small minority for whom it doesn't feature in their lives.  As well as the Jobcentre Plus advisors, there needs to be more support for people when they want to get back into work, no matter how skilled they are.

Anecdotally, I have heard that careers advisors have suggested people visit dubious private enterprises to build up their CV - isn't this something we should be better equipped to help people with? Isn't this a core component of careers advice?  A bad CV will result in no interviews, no application form and ultimately begin the spiral of low confidence and low self-esteem which is difficlt (and expensive) to build back up again.

We need to take action NOW, not in 6 months time, to help people back into employment and that surely must involve agencies working together with businesses to assist people.  And where there aren't jobs, work with businesses and the public sector to provide work experience (hopefully paid) to keep people's confidence up and help them gain further expertise. 

So, as a first step, whenever I find a job I'm going to post it onto the Spring Facebook group for everyone to see and do a roundup here every once in a while.  Please feel free to post your opportunities there too.  It's only a small thing, but lots of small things could add up to something bigger.  And if you'd like to do more to help people into employment, contact me with ideas and let's see what we can achieve together.

Govnerment launches new growth strategy: Going for Growth

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has launched a new strategy to position the UK to have strong recovery.  It aims to equip people and businesses to return the economy to growth, increase employment and support an improved quality of life. It focuses on the markets and sectors where government intervention can make the most difference.

Seven core capabilities are identified:

• Supporting enterprise and entrepreneurial activity
• Fostering knowledge creation and its application
• Helping people develop skills to find work
• Investing in the infrastructure for a low carbon economy
• Ensuring open and competitive markets
• Building on our industrial strengths
• Recognising and employing the right strategic role for government

Enterprise

The strategy includes the commitment to a 'qualify with a business' package for learners, £5million for service personnel returning from conflict.

Jobseekers may be eligible for £50 a week Self-Employment Credit after 3 months to help the transition from benefits to work.

There will be a new growth fund to provide finance for businesses seeking between £2million and £10 million.

A copy of the full Going for Growth publication is available here.

Recession in UK at an end?

Finally, some good economic news.  The Institute of Chartered Accountants has found that business confidence amongst professionals has risen to 4.8%, according to a recent survey.  This figure is the highest for 2 years, leading the Institute to claim that recession may nearly be over.

The Metro claimed on Friday that it would be just 40 days until the recession could be declared over.  For all of us on our way to work in the morning, it provided an uplift that lasted at least until we got into work and a much-needed boost to confidence.

Still, even if the recession is over it's really just a technicality.  Although, we will at last return to the days when the economy increased month on month (doesn't it feel like a long while ago since that last occurred?).  But even then it will take a good few years before the UK returns to the rates previous to the recession and economic downturn.

But businesses must focus on what can be done - how they can take advantage of this increased confidence and economic growth.  This period of recession has reminded us all of the importance of not just values but integrity in business.  It would be foolish at the very least to forget all that now.  Consumers are more savvy than they have been for a while.  Its no longer enough to just sell a product or service - those days are long gone.

Businesses should focus on their unique selling points, their advantages in the marketplace, not least their customer service skills.  How they do business is every bit as important as where or what their business is and any business who hasn't yet outlined this feature from the bottom up could well be missing a trick in the months and years to come.