A UK State aid scheme that aims to reduce the cost of finance for businesses with turnover of up to €300 million is to be allowed to run for a further six months, the European Commission has confirmed.
Earlier this year it decided that the National Loan Guarantee Scheme was in line with the EU’s crisis State aid rules for banks, because it ensured that the reduced funding costs from which banks will benefit were passed on to SMEs. That authorisation lasted only until 30 June. However, the Commission has now extended that deadline to 31 December 2012.
The UK credit easing scheme was originally limited to small and medium-sized firms with a turnover of up to €60 million, but has since had its scope widened. The Commission agreed that it still met the rules for the banking sector during the economic crisis.
“Facilitating SMEs’ access to finance is a Commission priority to overcome the crisis,” Competition Commissioner Joaquín Almunia said. “The National Loan Guarantee Scheme will reduce borrowing costs for SMEs thanks to a State guarantee, without unduly distorting competition.”
Since October 2020, The Sounding Board have been helping Norfolk and Suffolk entrepreneurs navigate real-life business challenges through a six-session programme aimed at supporting business leaders with growth and strategic direction.
Their mission is to not only help others in crisis periods but to offer their time and energy to collectively give a little back to both business and good causes. They pledge to raise £50,000 to support the Norfolk Community Foundation in tackling food insecurity.
A chance to meet with this group of professional advisors and generally nice people will be at Hethel Engineering Centre on Tuesday 19th September, between 8 am and 10.30 am. They are hosting a Discovery breakfast: this face-to-face event will be a great opportunity to meet some of the mentors, who have exceptional knowledge, to share and hear experiences from alumni and to understand how it all works. Essentially, this session allows time for participants to come together to share what challenges they face right now and how best to put a plan into action.
John Nortcliffe, Architect & Director, Redhead Architects Ltd, who completed the programme in 2023, said, “My repeated thanks go to Kevan & Saul for all their support on my Sounding Board journey. They both engaged and took the time to understand some of the unique challenges we face as a growing business. As the name suggests, it was useful to sound out many of my thoughts on where to go next and build on what we have. I have already raved on about it to many of my industry peers”.
Founder and Mentor, Richard Ross defines the purpose of the programme; “The entrepreneurial journey is rarely a smooth one and, in good times and bad, there are always big decisions to be made. The Sounding Board is a group of experienced business leaders who you can talk over your dreams and challenges with and together come to better decisions to drive your business forward. It was important to all of us that we give our time free – any fees go directly to support vulnerable families”
Already, they have raised over £13,000, helping SME businesses across Norfolk and Suffolk. All funds raised go directly to, The Nourishing Norfolk Network, who so far, have opened 15 affordable food hubs to ensure communities have access to affordable, healthy food. Norfolk Community Foundation – JustGiving.
Upper Sixth student at Langley School, Matt has signed a deal in principle with Ipswich Town Football Club, marking his first ever contract as a professional.
17-year-old Matt is an Academy player in the prestigious Langley Football Academy (LFA) run by former professional Grant Holt, alongside UEAFA A Licenced Coaches.
Langley Headmaster Jon Perriss comments, ‘We are so pleased about this superb milestone for Matt, who has been an integral part of our Langley Football Academy, where he currently receives professional coaching alongside his academic programme at A-Level. It is a pleasure to support Matt and we will all follow his career with huge interest.’
Ipswich Town took to Twitter to say, ‘The 17-year-old attacker has impressed since arriving at the Club in December.’
Follow the LFA on Instagram @langleyfootballacademy
Recent estimates suggest that deepening relationships between the EU and its key trading partners could contribute significantly to Europe’s recovery.
If the EU pursues its ambitious external trade agenda this could boost the EU’s GDP by 2%, or more than €250 billion, MEPs were told recently. This is equivalent to adding an economy the size of Austria or Denmark.
An ambitious agenda could also help create more than two million jobs across the EU.
By 2015, 90% of economic growth will be generated outside Europe, with one-third in China alone. Hence, tapping into the markets of the Union’s key trading partners will play an increasingly significant role for Europe’s growth in the future, the European Parliament was told at a recent meeting.
More than two-thirds of these gains in growth and jobs would materialise through trade agreements with the USA and Japan.
Having seen the free trade agreement (FTA) with South Korea through to its first anniversary recently, the European Commission believes that FTAs are “within reach” this year with Canada and Singapore.
Despite difficulties in moving forward in the multilateral context of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Commission said, the EU has not stood still in the face of rapid changes in the global economy and is moving ahead to further connect to new global growth centres.
FTAs covered less than a quarter of EU trade before 2006. Concluding on-going negotiations with Canada, Singapore, India and other ASEAN states would bring this figure up to half, and moving forward with the USA and Japan would bring it up to two-thirds.
The EU remains the world’s largest exporter, importer, source and recipient of foreign direct investment (FDI). It has managed to hold on to its 20% share of total world exports despite the rise of China, whereas Japan and the USA have seen significant declines in their shares.
Tim, Olly, Joanna and Dom from Westcotec will be fearlessly taking the plunge and jumping out of a plane on Saturday 16th September to raise funds for Nelson’s Journey.
Westcotec are one of Nelson’s Journey NJ25 business supporters who, with other NJ25 businesses this year are collectively raising £25,000 which will fund a professionally trained Child Bereavement Support Worker for a year which will help over 100 bereaved children and young people in Norfolk.
The Westcotec team aim to raise £1,920, if you’d like to know more or wish to sponsor us, visit: https://lnkd.in/eezCX-nG
Proeon Systems Ltd. are pleased to be working with OceanTools Ltd, following the successful delivery of the first order worth £500,000, Proeon Systems Ltd. confirmed a second order for a further four pressure housing units to value of £250,000. Richard Miller, MD of Proeon Systems commented:
“We are very pleased to have worked with OceanTools on this project. They met the exacting standards required by both Proeon and our customer, and as they delivered a quality product on time and to budget, this has given us the confidence to place a second order with them.”
OceanTools, global leaders in subsea engineering, have secured their second major order with Proeon Systems Ltd, specialist systems integrator based in Norfolk, United Kingdom.
OceanTools have completed the initial contract approaching £500,000, with the manufacture and pressure testing of eight 3000m depth rated pressure housings for Proeon. Machined from super duplex stainless steel and Xylan coated, the deep-water subsea housings form part of a package Proeon is supplying to their client, an oil industry first tier contractor.
The two significant orders are the latest in a series of major pressure housing contract wins for the company. OceanTools recently supported a Tsunami Detection Project in Southeast Asia, delivering Detection Housings to be utilised for early detection of tsunami threat.
Kevin Parker, MD of OceanTools, added:
“We are delighted to work with Proeon to support them with this project. Supplying these units hot on the heels of multiple tsunami detection housings to Indonesia, is great testimony to the design and manufacturing expertise of our team of engineers and support staff. We hope to continue supporting Proeon in the future with their specialised subsea engineering requirements.”
Image: Stuart Low ,OceanTools Machine Shop Manager, with the prepared Pressure Housings ready for delivery.
The government has announced the results of its energy red tape challenge initiative. The package will see the scrapping of 86 regulations and improvements to 48 regulatory regimes. According to government estimates the package, alongside other measures, will save businesses around £400 million over the next 20 years. Most of the measures contained in the package relate to minor or out of date regulations. An announcement on the future of the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme, a current regulation that seriously burdens businesses, is due in the autumn.
As part of a drive to cut red tape burdens, Minister of State for Energy, Charles Hendry, has announced the scrapping of 86 regulations and a further 48 improved regulatory regimes, whilst keeping protections as strong as ever. Coupled with other reforms, DECC’s overall reform package is estimated to deliver businesses savings worth around £400 million over the next 20 years.
Minister of State for Energy, Charles Hendry, said:
“Energy is vital to the economy and essential to driving growth. It is also the biggest infrastructure sector in the UK. Our reforms aim to stimulate over £100bn of new investment in the electricity sector and could support around 250,000 total jobs in electricity to 2030.
“It is therefore vital that we have a regulatory regime which promotes fairness and consumer and environmental protection, but does not impose unnecessary costs or barriers to generating the necessary investment, innovation and skills we need to build the low carbon economy.
“The Red Tape Challenge has provided the opportunity to ensure we continue to meet these objectives. We have listened to our stakeholders as they suggested regulations which add cost or complexity without effectively leading to protections, and I am pleased to announce that DECC will scrap or improve 134 regulations.”
Supporting today’s announcement, Terry A’Hearn, Regulation Lead of the Aldersgate Group said:
“We welcome the Government’s work in cutting back excessive and outdated regulation, whilst ensuring that protection of our environment remains as strong as ever.
“Smart regulation corrects market failures, drives innovation and provides the foundation for long-term economic growth, jobs and competitiveness and we congratulate DECC’s recognition of the importance of prioritising these long-term outcomes.”
Annual producer output inflation down from 2.0% in June, to 1.7% in July
Annual producer input inflation up from -3.0% in June, to -2.4% in July
Commenting on the producer price figures for July 2012, published today by the ONS, David Kern, Chief Economist at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:
“The producer price figures are positive overall. Output inflation has decelerated steadily since last September, and the annual rate is at its lowest since 2009. Input inflation has risen in July, but the annual rate is still in negative territory. The figures do highlight some worrying upward pressures on prices, in particular the impact of the US drought on food prices.
“We expect consumer price inflation to continue falling over the next year, which will be good news for the economy. In the face of tough fiscal austerity at home and difficult problems in the eurozone, falling inflation will be key in easing pressures on disposable incomes and underpinning demand in the economy.
“The Monetary Policy Committee should not use additional QE to limit the fall in inflation. In recent years UK inflation has consistently been above the 2% target. A temporary period of inflation lower than this level in 2013 would benefit the economy and should not be resisted. Meanwhile the economic situation remains difficult and businesses as well as consumers are facing major challenges. While the government perseveres with its deficit reduction plan it should act more forecefully to create the right conditions for businesses to grow, through deregulation, and supporting business lending and exports.
After an extremely successful year with more garden centres stocking PlantGrow products than ever, we’re thrilled to announce that our first national TV campaign goes live!
In partnership with Happy Hour, an award-winning creative agency based in the heart of Bristol, we’ve come up with a creative and thoughtful TV campaign that highlights the importance of organic gardening.
“We’re very excited to bring PlantGrow to TV. It’s a quality, eco-friendly product and we’re proud to work with them on their first response TV campaign.” Says Tom George, Creative Director at Happy Hour. “PlantGrow came to us with a specific brief, to reach organic gardeners and land the important organic and ecological benefits of their product vs chemical and peat-based fertilisers.
“Working with Chase Media, the combined direct response media and creative strategy targets the eco-conscious gardener and provides cut-through in ad breaks, using silence to emphasise the natural characteristics of PlantGrow. Creatively, we felt the quality of the product speaks for itself, so we decided to use that to our advantage to communicate how quietly and naturally PlantGrow works in harmony with your garden.
Since we’re known for winning the Breaking Boundaries awards we wanted to create something unique that showed our innovation and dedication to an organic, plant-based future.
Laura Ruddock, Producer at Happy Hour, says “We had an opportunity to do something different for PlantGrow and we were happy to rise to that challenge. The heroes of the creative are really the sights and sounds of the garden, which speak to the enjoyment we get from our connection to the natural world and underscore the benefits of using PlantGrow to garden sustainably.”
We’re delighted that more and more people are going to see PlantGrow and how it can benefit their gardens, whether they have a small vegetable patch or a whole plot of land.
A new version of the Export Control Organisation’s current Training Bulletin is now available.
The Bulletin includes details of all forthcoming ECO seminars and workshops taking place from September to December 2012 (along with an attached course booking form at the bottom of the bulletin). Courses are scheduled to be held during the next few months in Glasgow, Aberdeen, Nottingham, Oxford and London.
The schedule includes a briefing session on the implementation of the Intra-Community Transfer Directive concerning military goods and a seminar on Ministry of Defence procedures (eg F680 procedures).
These courses are all designed to increase your understanding of UK strategic export controls and what your responsibilities are when exporting controlled items. All courses are delivered by UK government experts working within the UK’s Export Licensing Community.
These special themed days are hosted throughout 2023 by Delia and Chef Alex Mackay. Your day includes coffee and cake on arrival, followed by a live cookery demonstration from Alex. This is followed by a three-course lunch and a tutored wine tasting with our wine expert Jason Banner from Peter Graham Wines. Delia and Alex will be happy to sign books, both old and new.
Delia, Alex and other specialists will also take part in a Q&A session and after that tea is served and there will be a goody bag to take home as a memento of your day.
Our Food and Wine workshops are the perfect gift for anyone who loves food and wine and would like to learn more.
Norwich Study Centre, Flying Classrooms is a British Council accredited English language school in the heart of the city, opposite the Cathedral. For over 20 years, our experienced teachers have been providing personalised English tuition to students from around the world and every student we welcome becomes part of the school community.
Our international connections bring visitors from all four corners of the globe to Norwich, and we would like to develop our relationship with other local organisations to expand our network and find new ways in which our students can be involved in local life.
We are looking for volunteering opportunities with charities or community projects that we can offer to our students who are interested in contributing to our city whilst also developing their practical language and communication skills. If this is something you would like to collaborate with us on, then we would love to hear from you – please contact us at info@flyingclassrooms.co.uk to discuss further.