The Insider - 6th May 2008
May 6th, 2008

Kent International Airport – Join the Debate

Kent International Airport is undertaking a major public survey to measure the demand for the airport at Manston. The site, which is currently able to handle 800,000 passengers a year, is already home to one of the UK's longest runways capable of handling all commercial aircraft types. Everyone that complete this questionnaire are in with a chance of winning a free holiday in Majorca. Kent Escapes is offering flights, transfers and half-board accommodation for two adults.

To take part in the survey, visit http://kentinternationalairport-manston.com/new_site/demo/.

Paul Carter Visits LAA at Lydd

Paul Carter, Leader of Kent County Council recently attended a public meeting at Lydd and his comments on London Ashford Airport can be read on his official KCC blog: http://kent.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/democracy-and-elections/cabinet/airports.htm

Flying the Flag

As you may have already heard the world-famous Red Arrows have been banned from appearing at the 2012 London Olympics because they are deemed 'too British'. Organisers of the event say that the Arrows military background might be 'offensive' to other countries taking part in the Games. The Arrows performed a short flypast in 2005 when the winning bid was announced, but their flypast at the Games was to have been truly spectacular. If you disagree with this decision, sign the petition on the link http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/RedArrows2012/?ref=redArrows2012

Dover’s B2B Show

This annual event is being held on Thursday 22 May (10am – 4pm) at the Ramada Hotel in their Grand Marquee at Singledge Lane, Whitfield. Entry is free and all local businesses are warmly invited.

Folkestone Rotary Half Marathon

This annual event will be held on Sunday 28th September 2008 at 10:00am. The course will be 13.1 miles from The Leas in Folkestone, through the town near the Harbour on to the Promenade to Hythe and back, returning up the Road of Remembrance hill and finishing along the Leas. More details are available on the Folkestone Rotary Club website www.folkestonerotary.org where application forms may be downloaded.   Hed Kandi Comes to Kent We are pleased to see Chamber members working together to put together an event that will put Kent on the National Club scene, with HD Promotions bringing "Hed Kandi" to the Leas Cliff Hall with over 1500 clubbers expected to take to the dance floor, and then recover at the Burlington Hotel. For more information please see http://www.leascliffhall.org.uk/prod-productions_details.asp?VenueID=98&pid=1041

Our Weekly News Roundup
April 28th, 2008

Parking in Folkestone

Thank you to all those who responded with concerns over the proposed parking strategy – we have passed your comments on and made representations to Shepway District Council

Internet Card Fraud Underestimated

New figures from the banking industry suggest that debit and credit card fraud on the Internet costs UK Businesses £270 million. Furthermore, it has been suggested that police are not interested in investigating because of the lack of technical expertise and the cost of involved.

Employer Concerns over ‘Skills Gaps’

A UK-wide survey conducted by the CBI has revealed that more than 50% of employers fear they will be unable to find enough people with the right skills for their firm when they next recruit. Key issues also raised were the inability of employees to write well and spot simple numerical errors. The survey is available on: www.regen.net/doc

Folkestone’s New Music Festival: 2nd – 4th May

The Sacconi Quartet, an award-winning group of exceptional young musicians, will hold its inaugural Chamber Music Festival in Folkestone next week at St Eanswythe’s church. The annual festival aims to introduce new audiences to chamber music, with a special focus on people who rarely have access to live performances. For more information please visit www.sacconi.com

Condolences

The news today of John Patterson’s passing is both shocking and unexpected and on behalf of Channel Chamber of Commerce and the wider Shepway business community, we wish to send our deepest condolences to his family, the teaching staff and pupils of the Folkestone Academy. Having worked with John on a number of projects over the past year, we were always impressed by his commitment, passion and belief in all that could and would be possible at the Folkestone Academy - there are very few people who go out of their way to impact the lives of children, and he did that virtually every day and will be missed by all.

Our Weekly News Round Up
April 21st, 2008

Our Winning Businesses

At our fifth annual Business Awards Ceremony held at the Leas Cliff Hall on Friday evening we were very proud to announce the following winners for 2008:

Sharon Perez - The One To Watch

Jasmine Ford - Young Entrepreneur of the Year

New Creatif - International Trade Award

L & D Logistics - Most Promising New Business

Danny Martin - Channel Business Person of the Year

African Experience at Port Lympne - Customer Service Company of the Year

Allied Broadcasting - Most Innovative Use of Technology

Independent Insurance Services - Business Commitment to the Community

Internet Stamps Group - Employer of the Year

Romney Hythe and Dymchurch Railway - Channel Business of the Year

Visit Kent also joined us for the evening to present their own Pride in Shepway Awards to the following:

Kishore Sapkota, Gurkha Palace - Restaurant Employee of the Year

Danny Duffy, Crosskeys Coaches - Transport Employee of the Year

Stephanie Lewis, Romney Marsh Visitor Centre - Attraction Employee of the Year

Donna Dryland, Hotel Burstin - Hotel Employee of the Year

Anne Clifton-Holt, Haguelands Farm B&B - Accommodation Provider of the Year

Our congratulations to all these winners and everyone who took part in this years Awards competition. Photographs of the event will be available on line from our website from tomorrow. Check the Folkestone Herald for a full report and pictures on Thursday.

Folkestone Town Centre’s New Controlled Parking Zones As mentioned last week changes are being proposed by the Council to the on-street parking arrangements in the town centre.

Channel Chamber has already suggested that a close look is needed at other similar coastal towns to see what has worked well there. In the meantime, our main concerns surround those employees who park on the street at present - they are the target of this new strategy and will have no option but to find alternative ways of getting to work. We will be urging the Council to talk with major employers about the introduction of car share schemes and other measures to ensure that the situation doesn't cause anyone any undue problems.

If you need any further information about these proposed changes email: folkestoneconsultation@parking.co.uk

Royal Mail Survey

The Times is seeking the views of businesses about the service offered by Royal Mail and to see if businesses are now using private suppliers.

Chambers members from across the UK are being asked to assist in this in order to get a good cross section of the country. The survey will take no more than five minutes to fill in and will be available online until May 2nd. http://www.britishchambers.org.uk/6798219242988449773/royal-mail-survey.html

Our Weekly News Round UP
April 7th, 2008

Local Business Crime – Costs up 50%

Channel Chamber’s latest survey reveals that the cost of crime against local businesses has risen a staggering 50% since 2004. Furthermore, two thirds of businesses appear to have lost confidence in the police and almost one third don’t even bother to report such crimes any longer. For further details of our survey and the efforts being made to attract Home Office attention please visit – www.channel.chamber.co.uk.

Hands Off Private Business

KCC’s move to compete with the private sector is of growing concern to many Kent-based businesses in the following sectors - Bus and Coach transport: Recruitment: Minicab hire: Printing and graphic design: Stationery and office supplies: Landscaping and grounds maintenance: Vehicle maintenance and MOT testing. If you want further information and the chance to express your opposition please visit the new website – www.kcc-hands-off.co.uk

Trouble On Our Roads

It’s worrying to learn from the ALARM survey (Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance) that 2.5 million trenches are dug each year by utility companies, costing the UK an estimated £8.6 billion. If that’s not depressing enough, we are shocked by the news that thousands of traffic cones were left on the M2 at Boughton, near Canterbury for a year after repairs were actually completed. Profuse apologies from the Highways Agency but work to replace a barrier started last week so the cones are back again.

Shepway’s Arts Strategy – Your views needed

With the first Folkestone Triennial just a couple of months away, the District Council is putting together a new arts strategy and is asking everyone for their views. If you haven’t had a chance to contribute and want to do so please contact Amanda Oates on 01303 853464 or email amanda.oates@shepway.gov.uk

Our Weekly News Round Up - 1st April Edition
April 1st, 2008

Business Crime Survey A Safer Business Park Project has been running here at Shearway Business Park for some time now. Its role is to bring together all the various businesses on the site to exchange information on business crime, and work together with the police and other bodies to make this a safer place to work. As part of this project we are this week conducting a Business Parks Crime survey. If your business is on a local business park and you would like to take part please let us know - contact Sezen on 01303 270022. Results of the survey will be published on our website in due course.

Downing Street Petition There is a petition on the Downing Street website asking for special lenses (Freznell) to be fitted to all foreign lorries entering the country. As we are only too aware, many of the accidents involving these lorries are due to the so-called 'blind spots' and with drivers rushing to catch ferries/shuttles. On a daily basis the car drivers' safety is jeopardised and the situation is becoming progressively worse with the continued increase in such traffic on our roads in Kent. If you want to sign this petition it will only take two minutes, but do remember to enter your personal email address rather than your work one please. http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Safer-Lorries/

Kent 2020 Vision

If you’re planning to come along to this Thursday’s Exhibition at the Detling Show Ground please don’t forget to call at our stand. Business Link are offering an online appointment system which allows everyone attending and exhibiting to make advance appointments to meet one another. To take advantage of this new system register on www.kent2020.co.uk

Euro lures more visitors

Visitors from mainland Europe flocking to Kent as they enjoy the benefit of a favourable £/Euro exchange rate. Well-known attractions such as Leeds Castle are already reporting an increase of 30% in visitor numbers, and some of our local B&B’s are taking a record number of reservations from Dutch and German families

Our Weekly News Round Up
March 17th, 2008

Operation Stack As our road chaos continues, Kent County Council says it is ready to announce a location for a semi-permanent lorry park to ease the pressures caused by Operation Stack. KCC leader Paul Carter confirmed on Saturday that the site of the park is set to be revealed. He said: "We think we have now got our preferred solution and we have a meeting on Tuesday to dot the Is and cross the Ts. Following that, we will be making an announcement as to the location of our preferred site. It will then be up to the Government to find a way of funding that." KCC want the costs of the park to be met by introducing a 'Brit disc' charge on freight traffic from other countries. But Cllr Carter insists a lorry park in Kent is just one answer and must be added to across the country to ease the strain on the region. For further information see www.kentonline.co.uk

Budget The Budget is expected Wednesday – experts suggest that with the economy slowing, the Government should think against a number of planned business tax increases, including: Abandoning the planned increases in the Small Companies’ Corporation Tax rate; providing further assistance for high growth business owners’ tax liabilities on Capital Gains Tax; and scrapping the proposed 2p fuel duty increase scheduled for April

Business Crime Survey The BCC’s national crime survey has revealed that 58% of businesses have experienced at least one incidence of crime in the last 12 months. Most commonly business have suffered damage to vehicles, vandalism, graffiti and burglary – is this the case in Shepway? Please get in touch and let us know.

Commercial Rates As from 1/4/08 rate relief on empty commercial properties will be abolished. There are some exceptions for charities, protected buildings, and companies in administration and sports clubs. The unintended consequences of this may be to discourage small-scale property developers from investing location. We will be making representations nationally on behalf of our members. If this affects you please let us know.

Our Weekly News Round Up
February 18th, 2008

Chambers of Commerce Unite across East Kent

An historic partnership agreement has been signed with Thanet & East Kent Chamber which gives Channel Chamber members the opportunity of making new contacts and gaining new business during the year ahead. Our members will also benefit by attending Thanet’s forthcoming series of networking events at the local member rate, whilst jointly-branded events will help everyone to raise their business profile and keep abreast of the latest business issues.

Come along to the first joint -Chamber event for 2008. The BIG BREAKFAST is scheduled on Tuesday 11 March at the Ramada Hotel , Dover.starting at 7.30am. This very popular venue has been host to a range of successful business networking events and we are confident that businesses across East Kent will take this opportunity to make new business associations, gain information that’s of interest to them and enjoy themselves at the same time.

Chamber Pressure Grows to Axe Tax Rise

Chambers of Commerce across the UK together with the Road Haulage Association and the AA are urging the Government once again to scrap the 2p increase in fuel costs planned for April. Research released by the Scottish Chambers tomorrow reveals that over the last six months alone the Treasury has generated an extra £1.7b in taxes and VAT from North Sea oil and gas companies. It's claimed that this 'windfall' cancels out any argument for raising the cost of petrol and diesel. Plans are now being made to personally quiz the Chancellor at a face-to-face meeting during the next couple of weeks.

Attention All Golfers

Playing at the prestigious Princes Golf Club in Sandwich is just a dream for most golfers but, if you hurry, you could be teeing off for your first drive on 29 February 2008. The Martha Trust’s Celebrity Golf Day promises to be bags of fun and you could find yourself playing alongside several household names as well well known sporting personalities - for more information please contact:- roseosborne@marthatrust.org.uk

Channel Chamber members are also invited to an annual Golf Tournament taking place North Foreland Golf Club on Friday 26 September. Organised this year by our neighbours, Dover District Chamber of Commerce, this day-long event is packed with prizes and there will be a team competition for the Challenge Cup between players representing Thanet, Dover and Channel Chambers. Interested in joining the Channel team? Contact Peter Hobbs on 01303 270022.

Folkestone Multi-Cultural Festival 08

A four-day event celebrating the town’s different cultures takes place 12 – 15 June. Already lined up are Ghurkha, South African, Nepali and native American performers as well as local Morris dancers and a troupe from Boulogne. Cultures and customs from many places are expected to be represented in a programme of family-fun events, which include street theatre, parades, workshops, demonstrations of arts and crafts, film shows and an It's a Knock Out competition. Local restaurants are being asked to feature ethnic menus, and it is hoped that bars, clubs and shops will also join in the celebrations. For information about how to take part in the festival, please call Barbara Witham on 01303 850522.

Your Business News Roundup
February 5th, 2008

Have your say in Shepway’s future The first District Council ‘consultation’ event takes place today at Folkestone University Centre but, if you’ve not booked a place, there is another chance on Tuesday 12th February at the Marsh Academy starting at 6.30pm. Key decisions about planning and development across the District are going to be made shortly and this is your chance to contribute ideas and suggestions about the type of place in which you want to live and work during the next decade. If you or your colleagues want to be involved in this important consultation process please email: planning.policy@shepway.gov.uk

Kent Business Directory 2009 Kemps Publishing are producing this popular county-wide publication for the BCC Accredited Chambers of Commerce in Kent. Channel Chamber members automatically get a basic listing of their company details for free. Kemps sales representatives will be telephoning members shortly to ask if you would like better coverage, or to invest in a display advertisement

The Royal Pavilion Hotel Returns In March, visitors to Folkestone seafront will have the unique opportunity to see a magnificent audio visual projection of the original Royal Pavilion Hotel projected onto the east side of the Grand Burstin Hotel. Ruth Parkinson, a practising visual artist based in Folkestone has been researching the history of the Royal Pavilion Hotel, built in 1843, a fragment of which survives and forms part of the Grand Burstin Hotel.. Her visual projection will take place on 14th –16th & 20th – 23rd March between 7pm – 9pm.

12th May – Visit to the House of Commons Channel Chamber is arranging a visit to Westminster with a short tour, a meeting with Michael Howard AND a trip on the London Eye. Further details will be available shortly but if you are interested in joining us please telephone Pam Robinson on 01303 270022 to book your place

CHANNEL BUSINESSES SUPPORT LETTER TO THE CHANCELLOR OUTLINING BUSINESS CONCERNS OVER ANOTHER RISE IN FUEL DUTY
January 21st, 2008

Chambers of Commerce, road hauliers and other business members from around the country have collectively written an open letter to the Chancellor, urging him to scrap the proposed increase in fuel duty, scheduled for April.

The Government has controversially planned an increase of 2p per litre on fuel duty, which Chambers of Commerce members, especially hauliers and road dependent businesses claim is, "completely unwarranted" and could cost the haulage industry an estimated £170 million.*

The letter states that the impact of the decision will severely damage the UK's haulage industry, which is already battling against the staggeringly high price of oil and a duty rise from last October. It goes on to say that in order to remain competitive, Chambers of Commerce and their business members would welcome the opportunity of working with Government in developing "an alternative pricing system which separates the way fuel tax is levied for cars as opposed to commercial vehicles."

Commenting on the planned increase, David Frost, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce said:

"The message being sent from Government to our logistics industry is particularly worrying. The ability for hauliers to compete with other European firms is looking increasingly threatened, especially considering the UK economy faces a slow down in 2008. The Government must urgently reconsider this unnecessary rise in fuel tax to protect hauliers and businesses who use the roads on a daily basis."

Channel Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive, Peter Hobbs said,

” We have received an enormous response to this issue. The cost of fuel has risen dramatically in recent months, it is impacting on businesses of all kinds. Whilst the fuel companies and the government might be enjoying additional revenues most businesses and their customers are feeling the pinch. Adding an additional 2p in April amounts to institutional greed”.

Hauliers have calculated that April's tax hike, which looks set to be followed by yet another in 2009, would add an extra £15,000 in costs per vehicle per 100,000 miles on the road.*

WEAKER GROWTH AND STRONGER PRICE PRESSURES SIGNAL DIFFICULT BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT AND TOUGH POLICY CHOICES
January 16th, 2008

The Q4 2007 Quarterly Economic Survey of 4,600 members of the British Chambers of Commerce indicates difficult times lie ahead for the Government and Monetary Policy Committee if they are to steer a safe course for the UK economy in 2008.

The Q4 results are negative with most critical balances for both the manufacturing and services falling. Of particular concern for the service sector are export balances which are disturbingly weak while profitability confidence has plummeted by 17 points. The manufacturing sector also saw export performance worsen markedly in Q4, with plans to increase investment in plant and machinery falling by 12 points.

Across both the services and manufacturing sectors the pressure on pricing is worrying. The balance of manufacturing firms reporting pressure to raise prices rose 9 points in Q4 to +41%, an all time high. In services, the balance of firms expecting to increase prices rose 12 points, to +40%, also an all time high.

David Kern, economic adviser to the British Chambers of Commerce, said:

“The latest results show the tough position that the MPC is in as it contemplates its next move. “Overall, the Survey results are negative. The critical balances for both manufacturing and services have fallen, with exports being of particular concern. The pressure that many firms are feeling on pricing show inflationary pressures that may be hard to keep a lid on.

“Talk of recession however is unjustified and must be strongly resisted. If the right policies are adopted the damage associated with an economic slowdown can be limited. Inflationary concerns cannot be shrugged off but a small interest rate cut early in 2008 will alleviate the credit squeeze, prevent a major confidence loss, and reduce the need for dangerous emergency measures later in the year.”