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Is your business prepared for the Credit Crunch?
The media is full of scare stories about the impending Credit Crunch and the impact that it is likely to have on small business. As a small business owner, you need to make sure that you are prepared for any consequences this economic climate is likely to have on your business.
To help local business Ten Sixty Enterprise Agency and HSBC’s East Sussex Commercial Centre are joining forces to support the national NFEA (National Federation of Enterprise Agencies) Credit Crunch Week from Monday 28th April – Friday 2nd May.
This dedicated week of events will offer new and existing small businesses owners the opportunity to benefit from free, independent, professional financial advice - from those concerned with raising finance for a new business to those under financial pressures with their existing businesses.
Ten Sixty Six Enterprise and its in house team of specialist advisers will be supported by local HSBC Commercial Managers, Nigel Bishop, Tony Burt and Phil Gobbett in advising businesses throughout this week devoted to financial support.
Commenting on the launch of this activity, Tony Shrimpling Head of The HSBC Commercial Centre has said: “We know from talking to small businesses in Hastings and Rother that they are worried about what they are reading and hearing, and we know that many entrepreneurs, particularly those who have started businesses in recent years, have not had the experience of managing their business through a downturn.”
To find out more information or book your dedicated Credit Crunch advice and support meeting call Ten Sixty Six Enterprise on 01424 205504 or visit www.1066enterprise.co.uk
1066 Business Awards
The Hastings & Rother business community gather today to recognise the outstanding achievements of local businesses at the 4th 1066 Business Awards ceremony, organised by Ten Sixty Six Enterprise and sponsored by HSBC Bank Plc. Guests at The Powdermills Hotel, Battle, will be joined by keynote speaker John Bird, founder of The Big Issue Magazine and Foundation.
With a record number of applications this year, competition has been stiff. John Males, partner at Hailsham-based Accountants and Business Advisers, Watson Associates, comments, "The high standard and variety of applications across the board made the judging of entries difficult. On behalf of the judges, I would like to congratulate all of those submitted entries."
Tony Shrimpling, from HSBC, pictured with 2007 winner, Naomi Ridley from Hastings Furniture Service, says, “We are delighted with the response to this year’s event and our continued sponsorship highlights our support and commitment to the entire local business community.”
Ten Sixty Six Enterprise would like to take this opportunity of thanking HSBC and the individual category sponsors for their support of the 2008 Awards.
Sponsor of the Best Start-Up Award, Capitalise Business Support provide finance for new and existing businesses, which cannot access loans or credit from mainstream providers.
Sponsor of the Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community, Chartered Accountants Manningtons provide expert advice and clear thinking across 1066 Country – www.manningtons.net
Sponsor of the Outstanding Social Enterprise Initiative, Hastings College the Hastings College Services to Business Team will take care of all your training needs – www.hastings.ac.uk
Sponsor of the Customer Care Award, Battle & District Chamber of Commerce promote and protect the trade, commerce, manufacturing, professional and general interests of the Town – www.battlechamber.org
Sponsor of the Retailer of the Year Award, Priory Meadow Shopping Centre includes over 50 retail stores and an expanding car-park, offering a mix of big-name retailers and a wide selection of high street names – www.priorymeadow.com
Co-sponsors of the Hospitality, Tourism & Leisure Award - Hastings Borough Council and 1066 Country Marketing work together to promote the whole area as an all year round visitor destination - www.1066country.com or www.hastings.gov.uk
Sponsor of the Outstanding Individual Achievement Category, NatWest RBS offer a range of financial solutions for the growth and development of local SME’s – www.natwest.com
Sponsor of the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, University of Brighton research and development services and specialist facilities benefits businesses of all sizes, across a range of industry sectors – www.brighton.ac.uk
Sponsor of the Sustainable / Green Business of the Year – Ten Sixty Six Enterprise help businesses start, improve and develop across 1066 Country – www.1066enterprise.co.uk
Sponsors of the Overall Business of the Year, HSBC, offer an award winning online business internet banking service, a comprehensive business telephone banking service, and a full range of business products. For more information visit – www.hsbc.co.uk/business
See your Observer for a full list of winners – www.hastingsobserver.co.uk
Big Issue Founder to speak at 1066 Business Awards
John Bird, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Big Issue, will be the keynote speaker at this year’s 1066 Business Awards Ceremony, to be held at the Powdermills Hotel, Battle on Friday 14th March.
Sponsored by HSBC, the Awards celebrate the success over Hastings and Rother business over the past 12 months.
Ten Sixty Six Enterprise, Chief Executive, Graham Marley says, “To have such a renowned entrepreneur and motivational speaker as John support this year’s event is a great privilege“.
Since setting up The Big Issue Magazine and Foundation to help the homeless help themselves some sixteen years ago, John has become an authority on motivation and the ascendancy to achievement. Amongst the places he has spoken are the UN in New York, Nairobi and Istanbul, Downing Street and Buckingham Palace.
The UN Scroll of Honour, an MBE and the 2005/6 Beacon Prize for Creative Giving are just three of the many accolades and awards he has received. Since the inception of The Big Issue in 1991, John has overseen its development into the UK's most successful social enterprise, stretching from Tokyo to Totnes and helping thousands of homeless people worldwide.
With a deadline for entries of Friday 8th February, there is still some time to get your business the recognition it deserves.
The Awards provide an ideal opportunity for businesses of any size, age or sector to shout about what they’ve achieved over the past 12 months.
With a wide range of categories, there really is something for everyone. The 2008 Award categories are:
Business Start Up
sponsored by Capitalise Business Support
- Open to any business that has been trading for less than 24 months.
Outstanding Contribution to
the Local Community
sponsored by Manningtons
- Open to any business which can demonstrate an outstanding contribution
to the local community through the support of local community organisations,
charities, schools or partnerships.
Outstanding Social Enterprise
Initiative
sponsored by Hastings College
- Open to any social enterprise, charity or community group which can
demonstrate a sustainable business strategy.
Customer Care Business of the
Year
sponsored by Battle & District Chamber of Commerce
- Open to any business which can demonstrate outstanding customer service
Retailer of the Year
sponsored by Priory Meadow
- Open to any retail business that can best demonstrate strong growth,
an innovative approach to customer and employee relations together with
creativity to increase sales.
Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure
sponsored by Hastings Borough Council and 1066 Country Marketing
- Open to any business that can demonstrate exceptional financial returns,
innovation, strong growth and market leadership in the field of tourism,
leisure or hospitality activities.
Individual Achievement
sponsored by NatWest RBS
- Open to an exceptional individual whose effort and determination has
made an exceptional contribution to a business resulting in a positive
gain for the organisation.
Young Entrepreneur of the Year
sponsored by University of Brighton
- Open to an exceptional individual aged under 30 who has set up or developed
a new business, product or service.
Sustainable (Green / Eco) Business
sponsored by Ten Sixty Six Enterprise
- Open to any business, which can demonstrate sustainable / green business
practices, or the development of products and services that will benefit
the wider community or environment.
All entrants into the above categories will be considered for the top accolade of HSBC Business of the Year 2008, scooped last year by Hastings Furniture Service.
For further details or application forms, please visit www.1066businessawards.com or call 01424 205500