Falmouth Chamber of Commerce is pleased to support new member Pierre Cuignet in the launch of his new business Help4Export. As part of this new venture Pierre has announced that all members will be entitled to a free initial consultation and a 20 % discount on his services.

Help4Export will specialise in international support which includes: Internet products, translation, interpretation, training and consultancy.

Pierre informs us his business aims to achieve a fully coherent approach to the international markets for Hotels, Restaurants, and leisure businesses and those who are interested in exporting overseas.  This will include Design & Translation, recruitment and training. Pierre states that his company can: design and translate a clients own marketing material (websites, fliers, brochures, etc.) to effectively address the international markets that have been identified by a business, recruit and select the appropriate staff to deal with your international clients and provide a software tool to analyse all aspects of your international business. Pierre has worked in numerous countries around the globe and in this respect he is able to impart valuable knowledge and insider information to his customers about the work ethics and methods of forming international business relationships.    

Renewing the lease – protected under the Act or not.

Definition

If you are not already an avid listener of Radio 4's The Bottom Line, hosted by Dragon's Den presenter Evan Davis, then for the sake of your business you soon should be. This conversation show hosts a number of Britain's top business men and women who give there insight into what really matters in the world of business. In one of the shows recent segments, 'My Bottom Line', a variety of entrepreneurs, corporate leaders and business thinkers reveal their individual recipes for success. 

If your business is on a tight budget, this should not necessarily stop you from utilising the Internet to its full potential to make you business as good as it can be. In this article, we at Channel Computing teach you how to create and maintain an online presence for your business without the need for a big budget or technical expertise.

Please find below two links to information on Small Business Rate Relief which you might be entitled to claim.

The government in the Budget introduced a temporary increase in the level of small business rate relief, so that eligible small businesses occupying properties with rateable values up to £6,000 will pay no business rates for one year from October 2010. In addition, small businesses benefitting from rate relief taper (rateable values up to £12,000) will receive “significant reductions”.  Unfortunately I have been unable to find any further information on this. If anyone cast any further light on the issue I would be grateful to know.

The link to the taxation website is I think the most informative. I use this website on a regular basis the section on tax articles is invaluable and its free!!

Julie Butler asks whether a business person can obtain tax relief on sponsorship and general networking

Introduction

In the recent recession it might seem “corporate hospitality” is a dirty word but businesses need to grow. Can sponsorship be tax allowable?
The recent McQueen v R & C Commrs [2007] Sp C 601 case has resulted in a helpful and favourable result for those involved in commercial sponsorship of competitors of sports activities. In McQueen, it was shown that the marketing advantage was not vague and uncertain but was clear and successful. There was evidence to demonstrate a direct correlation between sponsorship and the gaining of new clients.

The Commissioner’s view was that the expenditure had been incurred for the purpose of promoting the business and getting names and liveries into the public awareness. Although the taxpayer gained some personal satisfaction from competing in rallies, his preferred leisure activity was sailing rather than rallying and the private satisfaction of success on the rally circuit was an incidental benefit of expenditure rather than its purpose.

Do I have to give my employees a contract?

The law states that you must give all your employees within 2 months of the start of their employment a statement of particulars of employment. This is a very basic document which must set out the following points:

• Name and address of both parties
• The date when employment began and whether any employment with a former employer counts in terms of continuity of the employment relationship.
• The scale or rates of pay and when it is to be paid and how i.e. Cash, cheque or bank transfer.
• The hours of work and terms and conditions relating to holiday, pensions and sickness
• The length of notice required to be given by both parties if they wish to terminate the working relationship.
• A job title and brief description of the role.
• If the role is not to be permanent the period for which the role is expected to last and if for a fixed date, the date it ends.   
• The place of work or if more than one place an indication of the address and employers address.
• Special provisions if the employee is required to work outside the UK.
• Specify the disciplinary rules which apply or refer the employee to another document (e.g. employment handbook) which contains such rules.

Details of an appeal procedure if an employee is dissatisfied with any disciplinary action.