Rallying call to small businesses
Tim Polkinghorne, of Ashbourne Business Club
SMALL businesses in Ashbourne are being urged to turn the financial crisis to their advantage.
The call has come from Ashbourne Business Club co-founder Tim Polkinghorne.
He says a recession presents a great opportunity to test the flexibility and adaptability of a business.
"It’s also when a lot of small businesses are able to carve their niche in markets previously dominated by large companies."
Many business club members offer services for companies striving to cut back on overheads, maintain a positive outlook and protect investments, added Mr Polkinghorne.
Club members have heard that from this month financial organisations taking orders from clients over the phone will have to record these calls.
The recordings must be encrypted and kept for six months, said George Nicholson, from Opus Telecom.
Ashbourne Business Club holds monthly breakfast meetings at The Quality Hotel, Ashbourne.
For further details contact Tim Polkinghorne on 01335 348444 or email
RESIDENTS in Ashbourne struggling to make ends meet in the recession can get help from a new magazine.
Quids In, produced by Derbyshire County Council, is aimed at helping people to make the most of their money, tackle debt and get all the benefits to which they are entitled.
County council leader Councillor John Williams said: “The current economic climate is affecting people from all walks of life and we think this magazine has something to offer everyone.
“We hope people will make good use of the four-page benefit checker as they could be financially better off if they take the time to fill it in.”
The magazine is just part of the council’s plan to tackle the economic downturn. A 16-point action plan has been put together to help local families and businesses.
This includes a new buy local' campaign running through the Market Towns initiative, waiving fees for businesses to join the council’s Trusted Trader scheme, and the promotion of county-wide debt counselling support in partnership with the Citizens' Advice Bureau.
Other plans include a review of the tendering process to make it easier for local businesses to bid for contracts, a campaign to ensure all small businesses claim small business rate relief and committing to pay all invoices as quickly as possible.
The Quids In magazine will be delivered to households across the county in April.
People can also call the Quids In number 0845 408 1010 for advice on tax credits, pension credit, attendance allowance and disability living allowances.
Cancer charity plea to swimmers
SWIMMERS in Ashbourne are being invited to take the plunge for a cancer charity.
Swimathon 2009 is getting under way at Ashbourne Leisure Centre in April to raise money for Marie Curie Cancer Care.
For further details go to www.swimathon.org
Reducing anti-social behaviour
A PROJECT using sport and recreation to reduce anti-social behaviour by youngsters in Ashbourne is being brought back.
Safer Communities Through Sport was launched in 2003 as a five-year initiative.
Now, thanks to a funding package secured by Derbyshire Dales District Council, the scheme will continue after a recent reduction in anti-social behaviour of more than 10 per cent in prioritised areas.
Innovations in Ashbourne brought about by Safer Communities Through Sport have included a new football pitch. street games and training for sports leaders.
Derbyshire Dales District Council will again host the project, originally established as a partnership with Derbyshire Sport, High Peak Borough Council, Sporting Futures and Sport England.
District council leader Councillor Lewis Rose, who is also chairman of the Community Safety Partnership, said: “Although crime in the Derbyshire Dales is very low, we are working to get it even lower and the Safer Communities Through Sport initiative is a great success story.
“The project, which has the support of community safety partnerships and the police safer neighbourhood teams, has increased the number and quality of diversionary activities where anti-social behaviour needed tackling.”
Inspector Bryan Hall, responsible for neighbourhood policing in the Derbyshire Dales, said: “We welcome the continuation of the Safer Communities Through Sport project .Providing facilities and activities for young people helps to steer them away from anti-social behaviour and undoubtedly has an impact in reducing crime.”
There will be new involvement in the scheme this year from Dales Housing and High Peak Community Housing in recognition of the importance of using sport to reduce anti-social behaviour in target areas.
Plight of rural businesses highlighted
PROBLEMS faced by businesses in the countryside trying to expand have been highlighted in a report on rural planning.
The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) says the document marks a step forward in 'unblocking an out-of-date planning system'.
The report, A Living and Working Countryside, has been compiled by Lib Dem Shadow Chancellor Matthew Taylor
It stresses the importance of the rural economy as part of the overall national economy and states that the countryside is very much open for business.
CLA regional director Caroline Bedell says many small rural businesses have enough business to expand but are frequently held back by the current planning system.
She said: "The report marks a huge step forward in unblocking this country's out-of-date planning system. It positively promotes the abilities of rural businesses to modernise, expand and remain profitable. It also endorses the needs of rural communities for affordable rural housing.
"The planning system seems to work on the belief that generally you should not be able to expand on your rural premises but should relocate to a larger site in a nearby town instead. As Mr Taylor rightly points out, people should not have to do this. This report really understands the problems faced by rural businesses and rural communities.”
PersonalPost™ - Try it FREE for 30 days!
Time is money for every business.
If you’re still using stamps to send out your mail, you’re familiar with post office queues, and putting extra stamps on to ‘ensure it gets
there’.
Avoid the queues, promote your company and save on unnecessary postage
costs with PersonalPost™, the franking machine designed specifically for the smaller
office.
'Silent killer' warning to families
Views sought on future of town
Take the plunge without splashing out
Tory hits out at Euro PC 'claptrap'
Copyright Ashbourne News Online 2009
