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Great FREE guide for getting the most out of Exhibitions

I received this handy guide from marketing agency theESCAPE.  It is aimed at helping businesses implement an effective exhibition strategy. There are pointers on differentiating yourself from your competition, attracting your target market, branding and earning media coverage.  Click on the link below to download the file and see how it helps your business grow! 

Click here: advice-on-attending-exhibitions


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An Insight into Working and Claiming Benefits

An insight into working and claiming benefits

 

Date: Wednesday 4th March 2009

Time: 10.30 - 17.00 (registration 09.30 - 10.30)

Cost: FREE

Venue: Coin Street Neighbourhood, Waterloo

 

 

 

This workshop will provide you with an insight into the benefits you can claim while working.  You’ll get advice on how the number of hours worked and the amount of money paid can affect which benefits you are entitled to. 

 

You will also have the chance to obtain up-to-date and relevant information about the impact of volunteering & working on social security benefits such as:

 

  • Incapacity Benefit
  • Disability Living Allowance
  • Income Support

  (more…)


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Petition Downing Street for Better Access to Business Premises

Steve Wilkinson (Right hand side) with Linda Holland at the RADAR Awards

Steve Wilkinson (Right hand side) with Linda Holland at the RADAR Awards

It’s been a while since we introduced Steve Wilkinson but a lot has happened since then!

At the end of August Steve made a film with the BBC to promote his Something Should be Done campaign. This campaign is seeking to improve disabled people’s quality of life by making it mandatory for any business with a staff or visitor entrance to display accessible signage and a door bell / buzzer, as a minimum.
After making the film, Steve launched an e-petition on the Government’s Petition Downing Street website

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/answer4access

The campaign has just under two months left to run and as Steve says, “whilst it is good to see a number of people supporting what I am campaigning for, the number is nowhere near enough to get the Government to take notice, unless there is a significant increase in the number before April”.

“Being able to gain access to a business premises in a dignified way with the minimum of fuss is something that the vast majority of people take for granted. Please sign the e-petition and encourage others to do the same and remember, it doesn’t just have to be disabled people who sign up”.


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New Website to Help Businesses in West Midlands Weather the Financial Storm

A new website, www.supportwm.co.uk, has been launched to offer real help to businesses and employees affected by the current downturn.

The website offers a range of help and support provided by organisations such as Advantage West Midlands, Business Link, Manufacturing Advisory Service, Jobcentre Plus, the Learning and Skills Council, trade unions and ACAS. 

The Government also recently launched “Real Help for Business” a raft of measures to support SMEs, and the website is the latest in a series of support initiatives being taken in the region, such as the £9m Advantage Transitional Bridge Fund that offers companies alternative sources of financial support and has already safeguarded over 1,700 jobs. 

Business Link has also launched a ‘credit crunch’ hotline (0845 0020900) and is holding a series of workshops throughout the region covering important aspects such as managing your cash flow and supplier contracts.

To find out more go to www.supportwm.co.uk


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Special Offer for RTS Members - Half Price Web Site

Leeroy Jenkins is a Ready To Start entrepreneur. His business Next Up Promotions helps businesses that don’t have the technical skills to get online.

Leeroy says, “I suffer with Dyslexia. I have received a lot of help and support with my business, which I have found invaluable. Now I want to return the help Ready To Start has given to me by helping other members to get on line”

Special Offer - Next Up Promotions is offering every RTS member a full 5 page website for just £50 (a 50% discount on the usual cost of £100).

Benefits of creating a website with Next Up Promotions:

  • A 5 page website to advertise your business products and services, pictures, YouTube videos, prices, Calendars etc
  • Use your own web address as well as listing your business with www.nextuppromotions.com
  • Each RTS member’s website will link to other members’ pages listed on Next Up, creating an RTS market place
  • A personalised template, this can be done for a minimal one-off fee
  • See how many visitors hit your site with your own personal hit counter
  • A simple web-based control panel to edit and maintain your website no need for IT qualifications
  • NO annoying ADS from other sites, unless you add the
  • FREE networking events for members

To take advantage of this Special Offer email leeroy.jenkins@ntlworld.com


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e-Access 09 Technology for All

+E-Access ‘09: Technology For All
- Access To All Technologies By People With Disabilities
- Fifth Annual Conference And Exhibition, 23 April, London.

In an ageing population, and in tough economic times, ensuring all your service users and staff are included in everything you do is more vital than ever, from your externally-facing websites to internal IT systems. If you design your services to be usable by all, it has been shown to improve business take-up and improve recruitment and retention of staff.

E-Access Bulletin’s fifth annual conference and exhibition on access to technology by people with disabilities is taking place on 23 April 2009in London. The keynote speaker is Bill Thompson, technology critic and broadcaster, who will explore the day’s key themes. Other speakers include Graeme Whippy, Senior Manager, Lloyds TSB IT Accessibility Group; and Shadi Abou-Zahra, of the W3C Web Accessibility Initiative, who will brief delegates on the new international web access guidelines WCAG 2.0.

Places cost just £195 +VAT for public sector delegates; £295 +VAT for private sector; and £165 + VAT for small charities and non-profits(turnover less than £150k a year). To find out more and sign up today,
visit: http://www.headstar-events.com/eaccess09


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Venture Capital Investment Competition from London Business School

London Business School is recruiting start-up companies to participate in our venture capital investment competition (VCIC).   Essentially, the simulation allows students to act as venture capitalists.  Five real start-ups pitch to them and support diligence.  Crucially, the whole process is overseen by our judges -VCs from London’s top firms.

 

It’s an opportunity for your start-up to present to several top VCs in one shot.  We also have a networking dinner just for the judges and entrepreneurs.  And of course you’d be helping students learn about entrepreneurship and VC.

 

Our general criteria for presenting companies are:

 

  • - Actively looking to raise capital
  • - No previous institutional funding
  • - Has product. Preferably has customer traction
  • - Available to present on 20th February and/or 27th February

 

Please let me know if you’re interested.  We would love to get you involved.

 

My best,

Christian Carrillo

ccarrillo.mba2010@london.edu

0759 006 8508 (mobile)


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British Library Event 3 February cancelled due to bad weather

The Making your Business Succeed event has been cancelled due to bad weather and an absence of public transport.  We will be rearranging this for a future date.


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