Over 90 businesses from the city region descended on the Niagara Conference and Leisure centre in Wadsley Bridge to attend the Human Resources Conference 2012 organised by Sheffield Chamber. The conference addressed important topics and considerations for businesses looking at the impact and future of pensions and the use of mediation towards conflict resolution with guest speakers Jillion Thomas, Managing Director of Future Life Wealth Management Ltd, and twice winner of the Sheffield Business Awards Woman in Business Award and Start up Business Award in 2010, and Jane Worrell, Senior Employment Relations Advisor at Acas, sharing their knowledge and experience. Senior associate in Irwin Mitchell’s Employment Team, Liesel Whitfield, provided a Legal and legislative update and Bridget Strong, Chief Executive for Sheffield MIND, a mental health and support charity, presented issues on Mental Health in the workplace and the importance and promotion of good mental health. Mick Hood, HR Director at TATA Steel, ...

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Introduction The Sheffield Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI) require all electrical items within their premises to be PAT tested at regular intervals to comply with Health and Safety guidelines and are keen to open this opportunity up to the membership to tender for. Current Position Our last PAT tests were spread over two years; most items were tested annually whilst other computer equipment tested bi annually. We require this year’s tests to be carried out in June. As a guideline for volume, SCCI had approximately 450 items tested in 2010/2011. Eligibility Sheffield Chamber of Commerce actively promotes businesses withinSheffieldand the wider city region. In order for your tender bid to qualify for selection, your company will hold current, paid membership to SCCI. Prior to commencing work on site at Albion house, contracting companies must have completed and returned any Health & Safety documentation requested by SCCI and ideally have CHAS or other similar SSIP ...

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Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and NHS CPC Plus have partnered up to give Chamber Members an opportunity to supply NHS Trusts around the country in a number of different areas. CPC Plus is the online market place designed to assist businesses to successfully bid for NHS contracts. Since its launch in 2009 it has seen a dramatic increase in both the number of regional suppliers signing up and the volume of work which is now advertised through the site. Sign up here! For a limited period Sheffield Chamber of Commerce members can now access the service for a full year for £80 + VAT instead of the £100 + VAT. That's a discount rate of 20%. Members wishing to take advantage of this fantastic offer, that can offer substantial returns, should ...

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A new era for Yorkshire's national newspaper is beginning with the launch of two apps for iPad and iPhone users. The Yorkshire Post iPad app, available on the Apple App Store from Saturday, March 3, is a first for the regional press and the first multimedia news app on the iPad dedicated to England's largest county. In addition, the paper's football app for the iPhone takes regional football coverage to a new level, with live match data, results, league tables, reports and much more – all delivered free. Peter Charlton, Editor of the Yorkshire Post, said: These are major developments which keep the Yorkshire Post up to speed with the latest media technology. Tablets and smartphones will play an increasingly dominant part in the way people access information and this is one of the most important steps forward in the Yorkshire Post’s 258-year history. It is a very different experience to reading online and ...

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Sheffield Chamber of Commerce has made it easier for members to access 6,000 UK and EU funding programmes. The Chamber has launched a Grant Tracker service, which is free to members and helps them take advantage of the grants available to support growth. Funding sources outlined on the system include the European Commission, UK Government departments, local authorities, charitable trusts and corporate sponsors. As well as grants, information on loans, venture capital and advisory programmes are also available. Criteria to access the funding includes location, total project value, what the funding will be for and number of employees at the business. The Grant Tracker’s search not only identifies funding opportunities for up-and-coming projects, but will also allow members to scan the database for a particular programme or provider without a specific project in mind. Amanda Pilgrim, head of business development at Sheffield Chamber, said: We want our members to prosper and to help them along the ...

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This week, the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has finalised details of its Enterprise Zone following extensive talks with Treasury. The sites where Capital Allowance tax incentives are on offer have been confirmed, bolstering the Enterprise Zone's existing Business Rate Relief benefits. James Newman, Chairman of the Sheffield City Region LEP, said, It is great news for our Enterprise Zone that after a series of detailed negotiations with Government we have got the best and a very flexible package of benefits for the Sheffield City Region.’’ The LEP has worked closely with many partners to secure this package of tax incentives, which will bring substantial manufacturing and technology investment to the Sheffield City Region City, creating economic growth and, over time, thousands of jobs." The LEP successfully negotiated the final package with Central Government and will be one of only six zones in England able to offer enhanced capital allowances, offering up-front tax ...

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The Chancellor, George Osborne, has today announced measures in his Budget Statement to reward work and back business. Little mention of the charity sector in the Statement and concerns over the Chancellor's announcement of a cap on personal tax relief has led many stakeholders to argue that the sector has fallen off the Government's agenda. Budget announcements of key importance to the sector include: Not-for-profit advice sector. The Government will give £40 million (£20 million per year from 2013 to 2015) to the not-for-profit advice sector "to support the sector as it adapts to changes in the way that it is funded". Charity shop donations. The Government will work with the charity sector to simplify the administration of gift aid in the context of charity shops. Gift Aid Small Donations scheme. A new Gift Aid small donations scheme will be introduced from April 2013. This was announced last year and it will enable charities ...

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Business leaders from key sectors are being offered one of the first opportunities to open dialogue with the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). A series of executive dinners is being arranged by networking group Matrix Sheffield City Region (SCR), where invited members and business owners will meet with representatives from the LEP on key sectors which drive economic growth. The first dinner will take place in April where discussions will look at the creative and digital industry (CDI). Professor Mike Holcombe, head of the LEP’s CDI sector group and Lee Strafford LEP board member will be attending. Events on manufacturing, property and construction, retail, sport leisure and tourism will also take place throughout the year, before bringing together all the sectors and actions raised in a report by the Matrix which will be published in the autumn. James Newman, chair of the Sheffield City Region LEP, said, We are looking forward to meeting ...

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THE DREAM team behind Rotherham United’s recent success at the Football League Awards has been working hard throughout the borough to stave off obesity and weight problems among disabled people. Latest figures from the English Federation of Disability Sport show that only 7% of disabled people take part in the recommended weekly levels of sporting activity compared with almost 17% of the overall population. Rotherham United Community Sports Trust (RUCST) has set out to do something about this, and recently took steps to employ two disabled young people, James Gosling and Jordan Leary (both 21) as assistant sports coaches, who actually first came to RUCST to access their sessions. James has cerebral palsy and dyslexia and said he feels as though his disabilities have held him back throughout his life. I get a lot out of working here.  I’ve got a disability myself and I think when other people with disabilities see me teaching ...

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A BLUEPRINT for boosting the fortunes of Barnsley’s young unemployed is set to kick into gear thanks to funding from UK Steel Enterprise Ltd. Latest figures show that approximately 20% of 16-24 year olds in Barnsley are what’s known as a NEET, meaning they are “not in employment, education or training” and Grimethorpe Activity Zone (GAZ) is out to do something about it. Working with the newly formed Shafton Advanced Learning Centre in Lundwood, GAZ is looking to identify 15 year olds who are potential NEETs and help motivate them towards success. Dave Taylor, founder of GAZ, said that many local young people are in unstable social situations which can make it difficult for them to focus and succeed in mainstream education, but the new Blueprint is set to dramatically change all that. I’ve always said that if you can find a young person a job or a course at 16 then there is ...

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