Monday 21 January 2013

Ladders, not snakes!



Business in the Community 

Ladders, not snakes!

Well the last of the turkey recipes have been exhausted, the family get-togethers are complete and consigned to fond memories, so we all move on with the realities of everyday life in 2013.

For many in the business world the race was hard run in 2012, hopefully it was positive for you but you would have to be rather myopic not to have noticed some of the ongoing issues many faced. The “knock on effect” is felt far from the factory gate’s and as we move quickly through January we must action what we say we will do or they become another unwelcome addition to what “could have been”.

From a Business Connector perspective it has all begun reasonably well. The Turnaround Foundation confirmed their support for the David Young Community Academy and will be funding a sport/employment program, which we hope in due course will become a fixture. In addition by working closely with the council leisure services, we are hopeful of announcing a key program for the same area which will show how public/private partnerships can benefit all. Watch this space.

Lorien plc has agreed to work with the council, East North East Homes and West Yorkshire Police to take on a new apprentice and we hope this model can be expanded to further companies in Leeds. A special thank you on this goes to Claire Middleton and Ruth Gorman for supporting this very worthy and hopefully productive initiative. From the council side Rory, Clare and Sarah have ensured this will become a reality.

We have also had success with Paperworks a charity I have mentioned previously, where a request for specialist support was responded to by John Watmough and we are hoping his expertise and passion will help the charity attain more work to continue and extend their services.

 Localism Act

Does anyone know what it is? I didn’t, but it turns out to be one of those unheralded pieces of legislation that could impact on your community in some really positive ways. 

Of real interest is the “Community Right to Bid” where every town, village or neighbourhood is home to buildings or amenities that play a vital role in local life. They might include community centres, libraries, swimming pools, village shops, markets or pubs. Local life would not be the same without them, and if they are closed or sold into private use, it can be a real loss to the community.

In many places across the country, when local amenities have been threatened with sale or closure, community groups have taken them over. In some cases, however, community groups who have attempted to take assets over have faced significant challenges. They often need more time to organise a bid and raise money than the private enterprises bidding against them. The Localism Act requires local authorities to maintain a list of assets of community value which have been nominated by the local community. When listed assets come up for sale or change of ownership, the Act then gives community groups the time to develop a bid and raise the money to bid to buy the asset when it comes on the open market. This will help local communities keep much-loved sites in public use and part of local life.


Passing on your experience

In my numerous meetings there are often common themes running through them which are broadly jobs, job training and interview skills. In an ideal world there would be easy answer to the first but sadly there isn’t. The second and third however we can do a bit more about.

I am reaching out to anyone who thinks they could help me set up an Interview skills workshop. There are several community groups who have already shown interest and I have a few willing and very able HR Managers from Lloyds willing to get involved, but I would like you to think about if you can help or who you know and ask them.

The complaint from a prominent politician was that “they should get on their bike”, well if we can support the learning and provide a little direction then they may well find the destination far quicker.

Please do let me know if you think you could help in any way.

Speed dating or was it networking?

I would like to say a huge thank you to Mark Goldstone of the Leeds Chamber of Commerce for looking after me at their latest “Pure Networking” event at Elland Road. Great spread of businesses and rest assured entrepreneurship is alive and well if this lot are anything to go by.

Printers, Jewellers, Telecoms, Social Media, Lawyers, Accountants, Security, Design, and Furniture to name just a few of the areas covered.

If you need a job doing price and reputation are always key, but ask yourself could you use a local company to help? They are often in the same price bracket, very reputable and as they are local you are helping the local community.

Thanks for reading and if there is anything you would like me to consider including next time, then please get in touch.

Shaun

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