Helping businesses weather the storm - London Borough of Barking ...

Is your business having problems paying business rates? If so, contact the Council as soon as possible – we may be able to
help. Call us on: 020 8227 2934 or email: businessrates@lbbd.gov.uk.
Is your rateable value less than £15,000? You may be able to get a reduction in the business rate. Call us on 020 8227 2934
or email businessrates@lbbd.gov.uk.
An easy way for your company to reduce costs is to become more lean and efficient by cutting waste. If your business needs
help on how to reduce your energy bills and be more efficient, you can find out where to get free, expert advice by visiting:
www.lbbd.gov.uk/cutcostssavemoney
Thinking about starting a business? Barking and Dagenham Small Business Centre offers financial and other support,
including business training and counselling for emerging entrepreneurs and micro‐businesses. Call us on 020 8911 3735,
email: bdsbc@bdsbc.org or visit www.bdsbc.org
Would your business benefit from a cash injection? Barking and Dagenham Small Business Centre manages a
comprehensive range of business loan funds, including one that allows small initial borrowings by new as well as existing
businesses in the borough unable to secure bank finance. This initial borrowing can be increased to a limit of £10,000 as the
business expands. Call Simon Oliver on 020 8911 3737, email: bdsbc@bdsbc.org or visit www.bdsbc.org
Want some advice on growing your business? At Barking and Dagenham Enterprise we have a Business Relationship
Manager available to advise and offer practical help in building and maintaining productive business relationships. Call
Karthik Durgaprasad on the Business Desk on 020 8724 8295 or email Karthik.durgaprasad@boldanddynamic.co.uk or Jo
Sinclair on 020 8227 5315. Email jo.sinclair@lbbd.gov.uk
You can also access free information on employment law, government legislation and other sources useful for small
businesses at Barking Learning Centre or by visiting www.lbbd.gov.uk/4‐libraries/branches/reference‐information.html
Advertise your job vacancies with Jobcentre Plus. Register a vacancy with us over the phone on 0845 601 2001 or fax them
to us on 0845 601 2004. A text phone service is available for people with speech or hearing impairments on 0845 601 2002.
You can advertise online by visiting www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk and following the ‘need to fill a job’ link where you can
create, view and update your jobs yourself through Employer Direct online; giving you total control of your vacancies
anytime that suits you.
You can also email your vacancies at any time to employerdirect‐vacancies@jobcentreplus.gsi.gov.uk
Helping businesses weather the storm
JobNet, the Council’s bespoke job service is able to help you find that right candidate and even offer training in certain
circumstances. You will only be presented with people who are right for your company. And, it is free! Contact
BarkingandDagenham@jobnet.org.uk
Barking College provides customised skills and training advice for employers and can provide a free skills audit to help
identify training needs of employers. Telephone Business Innovation and Support Services on 01708 770182 for more
advice, information and an employer pack.
In a recession you need new markets: The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham is part of East London Business Place ‐
a programme to help local businesses win contracts in both the borough and in Thames Gateway. Contact Glen Addis on
020 7537 6480 or email glen.addis@ELBP.co.uk
Business Link in London is the gateway to all business support available across the capital, both public and private. They
work with hundreds of partners to deliver this service and to provide tailored solutions to small and medium enterprises
(SMEs) particularly when they are experiencing difficult economic conditions.
The service is wholly funded by the London Development Agency (LDA) and provides the following additional
services to support businesses through the recession:
• round the clock, 24 hour telephone and online advice service;
• helping business owners identify potential shortcomings or growth opportunities through business
health checks;
• delivering intensive one‐to‐one support and consulting business owners
• on developing clear plans of action
• free master‐classes, networking events and local business surgeries or at
• your own premises
For further information about the support services Business Link in London offers,
contact 0845 6000 787 or visit www.businesslink.gov.uk/london
Training could give you that vital competitive edge that will help you whether the storm. Train to Gain is a free training
programme for you and your staff. Contact Mel Robinson on 020 8270 4739 or email mel.robinson@lbbd.gov.uk

WE (WITH PARTNERS) WILL ELEMENTS RECOMMENDATION
Draft DEVELOPING A BUSINESS SURVEY ACTION PLAN Draft
RECOMMENDATION 1 RECOMMENDATION 2 RECOMMENDATION 3 RECOMMENDATION 4 RECOMMENDATION 5 RECOMMENDATION 6 RECOMMENDATION 7
ENSURING LOCAL KEEPING
RESPONDING TO THE GROWING THE ENCOURAGING DEALING WITH THE BUSINESSES BENEFIT TACKLING THE
BUSINESSES
RECESSION / BUSINESS ENTREPRENEURSHIP CRIME ISSUE/ FROM PUBLIC SKILLS ISSUE
INFORMED AND
REDUCING BUSINESS
BASE/IMPROVING
FROM DIVERSE
IMPROVING THE
PROCUREMENT
ENGAGED
COSTS
TRANSPORT
COMMUNITIES
BOROUGH’S IMAGE
(INCLUDING 2012)
• The increasing cost of goods such as
fuel is a major issue.
• The economic downturn appears to
be having an impact on local
businesses.
• Businesses want more help with
“managing costs and cash flow”.
• More advice is needed on the
financial benefits of environmental
sustainability or how businesses can
help to limit climate change.
• Work with the Carbon Trust,
Eureka and Global Action Plan to
help companies cut costs by being
greener.
• Assist setting up Business Link
Recession Busting Surgeries.
• Run periodic master classes on
reducing costs, budgeting, cash flow ,
taxation, energy saving and bad
debt.
• Investigate the options for
renewable energy reducing business
costs.
• Promote the new Solutions For
Business publication/product
solution coming out in 2010;
‘Understanding Finance for Business’.
• Meet with Banks to explore why
businesses have not been able to
access funds for investment.
• Actively market SME rate
abatement.
• Set up Recession & Anti‐Poverty
Taskforce.
• ELSBC LDA Access to Finance
Intensive Support programme.
• Start up support will continue to be
important.
• It is unlikely that local start‐ups
alone will significantly transform the
economic or social profile of the
Borough.
• Inward investment therefore still
needs to be encouraged.
• Transport and infrastructure
improvements needed to support
existing businesses and attract new
ones.
• Develop a strong, clear Economic
Development Vision taking account
of business views.
• ELSBC or HRMC to run master
classes for VAT registration and
business growth leading to VAT
registration.
• Work closely with the Inward
Investment Agency to set out an
offer to businesses.
• Develop two business centres.
• ELSBC and other Loan Funds.
• Sustainable Industries
Park/Institute for Sustainability.
• Evolutive database – knowing what
properties are on the market.
• New housing – new markets.
• Support East London Transit.
• Lobby for other Transport
improvements (DLR, Station
Improvements, Renwick Road
junction, Tube improvements,
Crossrail)
• Highway Investment Programme.
• People from minority groups play a
key role in the setting up of new
businesses, including ethnic
minorities, recent economic migrants,
and females.
• There is further untapped potential.
• There is scope to develop and target
support aimed at minority groups.
• There is scope for collaboration with
neighbours and pan‐London agencies
to help minority groups.
• Restarting Manufacturing Advice
Service (MAS)
• Muslim Loan Fund (ELSBC)
• Support setting up a Food Forum.
• Draw up a user‐friendly leaflet on
available grants, loans and business
support.
• Run master classes for marketing
and business planning.
• Look at Loan Funds generally and
how these can be accessed.
• ELSBC working in Jobcentres and
neighbourhoods.
• Targeted Marketing Campaigns.
• Dealing with crime is a particular
challenge.
• Businesses suffer from direct and
indirect crime such as anti‐social
behaviour.
• It impacts on the ability to attract
inward investment.
• It is a deterrent to new businesses.
• A two pronged approach may be
needed, with physical and social
initiatives.
• Local Shopping Parades need
improvement
• Industrial Estates need
improvement
• Encourage local businesses to club
together on security.
• Police addressing business network
meetings.
• Shopping parades improvement
£1m allocated.
• £400k identified for improvements
to River Road including addressing
security.
• Hold discussions with the Police on
how crime affecting businesses can
be addressed.
• Promote the use of Street
Wardens.
• Work with the PSB/Police.
• Support road improvement plans
through the Highway Investment
programme and via partners such as
LTGDC and Barking Riverside.
• Town Centre regeneration.
• Barking Riverside.
• Public procurement opportunities
are more important to businesses in
the recession.
• Businesses would like more
information about public contracts,
especially those relating to the
Olympics.
• Businesses would be willing to sign
up with business support
organisations.
• Publish awareness raising
leaflets/Case Studies.
• Follow up on those that want
support.
• Work through East London
Business Place.
• Help local businesses to produce
the documentation required to
tender for public contracts.
• Maximise the use local suppliers
through the following:
‐ S106 agreements
‐ Framework agreements
‐ Development Agreements
‐ Council Procurement
‐ Other public procurement.
• Business Directory to raise
awareness of Borough businesses.
• Local people have a low number of
qualifications.
• River Road and the A13 Industrial
Estates are areas where people have
a particularly low number of
qualifications.
• Local businesses seek skills rather
than qualifications.
• Govt. initiatives e.g. Train to Gain
could help with skills.
• Need bite‐sized training courses.
• Need to join up skills and business
support.
• Promote the role of Knowledge
Connect.
• Master classes on skills.
• Prospect Centre.
• Advanced Skills Centre.
• Use new industrial estate forums to
promote skills and training
opportunities.
• Bite size courses for Train to Gain
to avoid lengthy spells away from
work.
• Ensuring training relates to
business needs.
• Actively market free recruitment
service.
• Pathways to Employment
• Promote Apprenticeships.
• Use S106 agreements to maximise
local labour and training.
• Employer Accord.
COMMENTS WILL FEED INTO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN FOR BARKING & DAGENHAM (INC MARKETING PLAN)
• Businesses want to know what is
going on in their area and the support
available.
• Regular engagement with business
support organisations would be
helpful.
• Relatively high awareness that local
business support organisations exist –
but there is less clarity about their
role and of the value of the support
provided.
• Clearer information is needed.
• Networks between local businesses
would be helpful.
• Feedback the results of the
business survey to respondents (49%
requested this service)
• Investigate new working hours for
the support groups to improve
accessibility.
• Consider dedicated Business
website.
• Keep businesses informed and
involved via:
‐ The News
‐ New Retail Forums
‐ Industrial Estate Forums
‐ Networking Events
‐ BDE Board
‐ BDE Newsletter
• Business Desk.
• Series of workshops to raise
awareness of the support available.
• Business Relationship Managers.
• Benefits for Business Network.
Key Black text: In place/to be enhanced Red text: New Initiative