February 2013 - Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber of ...

2 Business News
to increase their prices in the first three
months of the year. More on the results
can be found here http://www.dncc.
co.uk/news/2814/chamber-calls-formore-growth-support-on-back-of-survey
M1 J28-31 Managed Motorway
Project
The Highways Agency proposes to
improve the M1 by making it a ‘managed
motorway’ between junctions 28 and
31. Managed motorways help relieve
congestion by using technology to vary
speed limits and allow the hard shoulder
to be used as a running lane at peak
times to create additional capacity.
More details are published at http://
www.highways.gov.uk/roads/roadprojects/m1-junctions-28-31-managedmotorways/
The plans will also be presented at the
DNCC Transport and Logistics Forum on 7
February 2013.
HMRC PAYE Real Time Information
from April
From April 2013, when the Real Time
Information System takes effect,
employers must submit Pay As You Earn
(PAYE) returns to HMRC on a monthly
basis. More details and advice on
preparation are published on the HMRC
website at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/rti/
dip/index.htm
Funding to Support Improving
Patient Experience
The Department of Health has opened
two new SBRI competitions to fund
the development of technological and
innovative solutions that can improve
experience for people with mental health
illnesses, or improve experience for
people at the end of their life. Open to
single companies or organisations from
the private, public and third sectors,
including charities, the competition for
funding will close on 28 February 2013.
The application process is being run by
Health Enterprise East. More details at
http://www.hee.org.uk/sbri/sbri-dec/
Derbyshire Economic Review
A brief snapshot of the latest statistics
and news on the Derbyshire economy
both in a national and local context has
been published by Derbyshire County
Council at http://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/
business/economic/derbyshire_economy/
default.asp
Tackling Unfair Practices for Pubs
The Government has announced plans for
an independent Adjudicator to address
unfair practices in the pub industry.
There will also be a new statutory Code
to look at the relationship between large
pub companies and publicans, which will
be enforced by the Adjudicator. This new
Code is intended to look at a number of
issues including rents, abuse of the beer
tie, the prices publicans pay for beer,
disputes between pub companies and
publicans, and in some cases have the
power to fine. A consultation document is
expected in the spring.
Community Entertainment Licence
Following a Government consultation,
community venues such as schools,
village halls and hospitals will be free to
put on cultural events like dance displays
and concerts without having to apply to
the local council for a licence. The change
to the 2003 Licensing Act also means
that the process will be simpler for local
businesses and cultural organisations
that wish to host a live music band or put
on a play.
More details http://www.culture.gov.uk/
news/media_releases/9652.aspx
Extra Support for Firms from
Trading Standards
Nottinghamshire County Council
Trading Standards operates a Primary
Authority Partnerships Scheme for
businesses that trade across Council
boundaries. This means that qualifying
businesses can enter into a legally
recognised partnership and receive a
bespoke package of advice and support
chargeable on a cost-recovery only basis.
Companies operating in a number of
local authority areas have a single
point of contact in their own area
and local regulators in areas outside
Nottinghamshire must respect the
advice of the Primary Authority when
carrying out inspections or dealing with
non-compliance. For details of the
Nottinghamshire Scheme look at http://
tinyurl.com/a3ha7s8
For a list of business participants look
at https://primaryauthority.lbro.org.
uk/eFpWorkplace/pa-public/pa-publicpartnerships.php
SKILLS AND TRAINING
Chamber Training Update
Graduate Apprenticeships for the
Professions
Graduate and post graduate level
apprenticeships (levels six and seven)
will be available for the first time shortly
in professional subjects such as law,
accountancy and advanced engineering.
These will offer a vocational route to
qualifications in these professions,
alongside the more traditional higher
education route.
http://news.bis.gov.uk/Press-Releases/
Graduate-apprenticeships-for-theprofessions-introduced-68589.aspx
Grant for Employing Apprentices
Businesses across Derbyshire and
Nottinghamshire are benefiting from a
number of different financial incentives
when employing their first apprentice.
Businesses have already benefited
from recent changes made to the
Apprenticeship Grant for Employers (AGE
16 to 24). With AGE 16 to 24 businesses
can take advantage of a £1,500 grant
when employing an apprentice aged
between 16 and 24. Each business can
apply for up to 10 grants. In addition,
businesses in Derbyshire can take
advantage of a £1,000 as Derbyshire
County Council has reintroduced its
Apprenticeship Grant for Employers
for a limited period only. To find out
whether your business is eligible for any
incentives when employing an apprentice
contact the Chamber Training team.
Email chambertraining@dncc.co.uk or
call 01246 212519.
Loans for Individuals 24+
The Government is introducing 24+
Advanced Learning Loans for learners
aged 24 and above in further education
or training, studying at Level 3 and
above. Learners starting their course
or Apprenticeship (includes advanced
and higher Apprenticeship) on or after
1 August 2013 will be affected. 24+
Advanced Learning Loans will cover the
cost of tuition, so learners do not have
to pay upfront. Interest on the loans
will be minimal and linked to inflation
with any balance outstanding being
written off after 30 years. Learners under
the age of 24 plus learners seeking to
gain basic qualifications at Level 2 and
below will continue to be funded by the
Government.
National Apprenticeship Week 11 –
15 March 2013
Now in its sixth year, National
Apprenticeship Week is the time when
all eyes are on Apprenticeships. Further
details, including details of events taking
place nationally, are available here
http://apprenticeships.org.uk/Awards/
Apprenticeship-Week-2013.aspx
£150 million for Training Schemes
Businesses can bid for a share of £150
million for training schemes from the
Government’s 2nd round of the Employer
Ownership Pilot (EOP). The fund is open
to businesses of all sizes that want to
make sure they have the right skills
for the future. The money can be used
for setting up training schemes such as
new apprenticeship programmes and
specialist training academies. 34 projects
were successful from round one bidding,
including Nissan’s training for more than
3,600 technical staff and supply chain
workers. More details for round two
bids can be found at www.ukces.org.uk/
employerownership. The deadline for bids
is 28 February 2013.
Learners Need More than
Qualifications to Find Work
Ofsted’s report ‘Promoting enterprise
in college vocational courses’ shares
the experiences of 15 high performing
colleges that excel in teaching enterpriserelated
skills and maintain strong links
with local employers. These colleges
recognised that the future success of