September 2012 Issue 02www.torfaenbusinessvoice.co.uk

@TorfaenBizlinkd.in/torfaenbiz

E-NEWSLETTER

IN THIS ISSUE:

Free Torfaen Business Breakfasts

PR Tips for your Business

Business Innovation Programme

Branding Workshop

NEXT EVENTThursday 27th September

Facilitated Networking

FROM THE CHAIRMANWelcome to the September 2012Torfaen Business Voice newsletter.As usual it is packed with businessarticles, news, events andinformation for you. Take a goodread! Please forward it on tocolleagues and business associatesto spread the good news aboutTorfaen’s local business club –Torfaen Business Voice!!

This month we have organised what is considered tobe one of the most popular events in the TorfaenBusiness Voice calendar – our Torfaen Business VoiceFacilitated Networking event will take place on the27th at Greenmeadow Golf Club at 6.30pm. For moreinformation on how to book see page 3. Make sureyou attend this event to promote your business.

Looking forward to October, Torfaen Business Voicebrings you a Torfaen Business Voice Branding workshopon 25th October at Technium Springboard. It is beingrun by Brand Cymru. At £15.00 per person to includerefreshments, it is a topic that everyone has a view on.See page 4. for more information.

If you go to Wikipedia you can find all these otherinteresting facts about the month of September that Ibet you never knew - such as:• In 1752, the British Empire adopted the Gregoriancalendar. In the British Empire that year, September2 was immediately followed by September 14.

• On Usenet, it is said that September 1993 (EternalSeptember) never ended.

• September in the Northern Hemisphere is theseasonal equivalent to March in the SouthernHemisphere and vice versa.

• The Ludi Magni (Ludi Romani) of classical Rome inhonor of Jupiter, Juno and Minerva began onSeptember 4.

• September was called "harvest month" inCharlemagne's calendar.

• September corresponds partly to the Fructidor andpartly to the Vendémiaire of the first Frenchrepublic.

• The Anglo-Saxons called the month Gerstmonath,barley month, that crop being then usuallyharvested.

• September is called Herbstmonat, harvest month, inSwitzerland.

• Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

As usual, I look forward to meeting you all on the27th.

Regards, Dennis RickettsChairman, Torfaen Business Voice

CONTENTS:Page 3: Next Event

Last Event

Page 4: Torfaen Business Voice WorkshopChristmas Event

Page 5: Torfaen Sustainability WeekElevate Cymru

Page 6: Social Shoppers

Page 7: Business Innovation

Page 8: Google Juice Bar UpdatePR Tips For Business

Page 9: Marketing OpportunitiesLeadership and Management Wales

Page 10: Choosing Anti-Vrius ProtectionRegional Centre Service

Page 11: Tendering for Business in the Public Sector

THURSDAY 6TH DECEMBERCHRISTMAS EVENT

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NEW MEMBERS:We would like to welcome the followingbusinesses as new members ofTorfaen Business Voice

M.D.R. Cleaning Services (wales)mswitt@hotmail.co.uk

Torfaen Energywww.torfaenenergy.org

Lilypad Commercial Serviceswww.lilypad.org.uk

Simon Dando - Videographerwww.simondando.co.uk

All information contained in this newsletter is based on copy supplied bycontributors and is believed to be accurate by the publisher.PDF E-Newsletter by Marshall & Hicks Print Media - 01495 750143 -www.marshallandhicks.co.uk

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NEXT EVENT - TIME TO NETWORKThe next Torfaen Business Voice eventwill be a facilitated networking eveningand will take place on 27th September2012 at Greenmeadow Golf Club.

Our facilitated networking events have becomesome of the most popular meetings of the yearand always receive positive feedback. They providenew and existing members with an opportunity toget to know each others’ businesses through astructured networking activity.

Each person will have the chance to formallypresent to a number of other businesses around atable for 90 seconds to promote their company.The aim is to ensure that you reach at least twotables of listeners (approximately 12 businesses).

To help you prepare we have suggested thefollowing format…

• Your Name

• Your Company Name

• What you do – remember to focus only onthe key service/s or product/s you provide

• How this/these benefits your clients

Remind your listeners to also pass your details onto other people they may know who would be

interested in what you have to offer! It’s all partof the networking concept!

In addition, please make sure you bring along asupply of business cards and leaflets to hand out.

In order to make the evening a success, weencourage you take advantage of the two freeplaces that you are entitled to as a member. Makesure you bring a colleague, client or even a guestfrom another company.

Please book early for this event as we are sure itwill be highly popular.

LAST EVENT - CARBON TRUST WORKSHOPOn Thursday June 28th we welcomed Lee Evansfrom Carbon Trust Wales who ran a carbonreduction seminar for Torfaen Business Voicemembers. Lee provided an overview of a numberof energy saving initiatives that SMEs need to beaware of and provided a wealth of valuableinformation. If you would like a copy of hispresentation, then please contact Jo or Cheryl.

The evening continuedwith informal networkingand the usual buffetwhich always creates agood atmosphere withour members.

Reserve Your Places for our event in September:Next event (time to network): Thursday 27th September 6.30pm promptat the Greenmeadow Golf Club, Cwmbran

Simply e-mail: joanne.john@torfaen.gov.uk or cheryl.williams@torfaen.gov.uk or telephone: 01633 648 644Remember if you are a member you are entitled to 2 FREE places at this event.

Non-members are very welcome at a cost of £20.00 per person.Please make cheque payable to: Torfaen County Borough Council

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BRANDING YOURBUSINESSTORFAEN BUSINESSVOICE WORKSHOP25th October, Technium Springboard,Llantarnam Park

BrandCymruGareth Waters & Chris Taylor

Our ‘hands on’ workshop will provide you withpractical advice and guidance on the basics ofbuilding a brand and how you can engage moreeffectively with your customers, and thereforeincrease profit.

This power session will give participants a taster ofhow they can take ownership of their brand andwill look at 3 key areas:

1. The importance of logos – What does yourlogo say about your business? Your logo is the‘visual identifier’ for your brand.

2. Brand Focus – How to streamline your brandand communicate to your customers effectively.

3. Presenting your brand online – The importanceof having an optimised website and introducingsocial media.

Participants to the workshop will also receive aFREE no obligation evaluation of their currentwebsite SEO and impartial advice.

Workshops are limited to 20 people (membersonly) and will cost £15.00 per person, to includelight refreshments. Starting at 6.00pm andfinishing at approx. 7.30pm.

Please e-mail joanne.john@torfaen.gov.uk orCheryl.williams@torfaen.gov.uk to reserveyour place.

CHRISTMAS EVENTNOT TO BE MISSED...Although December seems a long way off,time will fly by and we will be close toChristmas before we know it.

It is customary for us to welcome a very specialspeaker to the December Torfaen BusinessVoice event which this year will be taking placeon Thursday 6th December at GreenmeadowGolf Club, Cwmbran.

Our speaker will be the worldrenowned baritone and BBC radiopresenter, Mark Evans whose latestrecording a few months ago withthe Band of the Royal Welsh Guardtopped Amazon’s ‘best selling list’.

He has also appeared in the latest SherlockHolmes film and this year has seen his profile inAmerica soar. Mark is the brother of ‘superstar’Wynne (Mr Go Compare) so there is a greatdeal of sibling rivalry (the name of their BBCradio programme). Mark promises to be aninspirational speaker and may even perform acouple of songs for us.

PLEASE PUT THIS EVENT IN YOUR DIARYIT IS NOT ONE TO MISS!

To book a place, please email:Joanne.john@torfaen.gov.uk orCheryl.williams@torfaen.gov.uk

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TORFAEN SUSTAINABILITY WEEK:1ST - 8TH OCTOBER 2012FREE BUSINESS BREAKFAST Torfaen County Borough Council is holding their 4thSustainability Week in October. The week’s programme ispacked with exciting and informative events and activities forresidents and schools. For more information please contact:eco-building@torfaen.gov.uk or telephone: 01633648018/864694.

As part of the week’s activities we will be holding a FREE SustainabilityBusiness Breakfast on Thursday 4th October as part of Torfaen’s continuedcommitment to encourage businesses to focus on sustainability issues.

BEING RESPONSIBLEAchieving commercial success in ways that honour your values. Hear from Business In TheCommunity on the business benefits of managing, measuring and communicating yourresponsible business practices.

This will start at 7.45am and take place at Greenmeadow Golf Club, Cwmbran.To book your place contact Joanne John or Cheryl WilliamsJoanne.john@torfaen.gov.uk or Cheryl.williams@torfaen.gov.uk

NEARLY HALF OFCONSUMERS TO BE‘SOCIAL SHOPPERS’BY 2021

S-commerce sales to more than doubleto £3.3 billion within the next 5 years.

Social media is due to play a more significant rolein how customers will make decisions onpurchasing goods and services in the future. Thefollowing article has been provided by BarclaysBank and provides an insight into why businessesshould be considering social platforms as anincreasingly important tool in their sales andmarketing efforts.

The next generation of ‘social shopper’ is expectedto emerge as a force to be reckoned with by 2021with 41 per cent of the UK’s consumer populationexpected to be influenced by or using social mediato make a purchase, according to new researchfrom Barclays.

Amongst 25 to 34 year olds this figure is muchhigher with nearly half (45 per cent) of this agegroup already engaging in s-commerce. By 2021,the figure will have jumped to 73 per cent.

Deb Reader, Barclays Business Manager forCwmbran, said:

“Shopping has always beena social activity right backto the days when peoplebartered rather than paidfor goods. It wasn’t untilthe arrival of e-commercethat the social aspect ofshopping was removed.

“For most consumers thesocial element isfundamental – shopping itis a leisure activity in theBritish psyche – so beingable to reintroduce thisaspect into the onlinepurchasing process is apowerful tool for retailers”.

Around 70 per cent of online shoppers are alreadyactive users of social platforms but the number ofsocial shoppers is set to grow further as socialmicro-blogging websites, such as Facebook,Twitter and Pinterest increasingly blur theboundaries between retail channels in the sameway mobile technology has done.

Where social media is really coming in to its own isas an influencer and multi-channel integratorrather than a direct sales channel. Users arereceptive to new ideas, suggestions andrecommendations when on social networking sitesbut are not in an active state of mind to purchase.Translated into revenues, in the next five yearsinfluenced sales are expected to more than doublefrom £1.4 billion to £3.3 billion. This contrastswith direct sales which are expected to rise from£210 million to £300 million.

The retailers enjoying the greatest uplift in sales asa result of social media’s increasing influence arefashion, footwear, music, film and grocers.

Deb Reader continues: “When someone you knowand trusts makes a recommendation it’s extremelypowerful and we’ve seen that the social shopperisn’t afraid to express online how much they want,love or dislike a product or service.

“This in turn creates a feedback loop on a productor brand. As more people post reviews, morepeople read them and, in turn, they give their ownfeedback which is picked up by a new group ofconsumers. Retailers should be exploring ways totap into these communities in order to createmore personalised shopping experiences”.

Debra ReaderBarclays Business ManagerTel: 01633 205213Fax: 01633 205211Email: Deb.Reader@barclays.com

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Innovation is the ‘profitableexploitation of new ideas’. Itenables businesses to respond tochange. It plays a vital role inmaintaining and improvingcompetitiveness. In short,innovation is what gives life tobusiness enterprise.

Fully integrated advice and specialist support isavailable to help your business to:• Access funding for business innovation• Create and commercialise new products andprocesses

• Increase efficiency in manufacturing throughtechnology & process improvement

• Introduce design for new product development andmanufacture

• Identify, protect and exploit your intellectualproperty (IP)

It is easy to imagine that an innovation process startswith an idea and ends crisply with a successful andprofitable outcome. Business Innovation mirrorseveryday working reality, which isn’t always so well-ordered. Our support is offered in a non-linearsequence. The starting point is whatever is mostappropriate for your business, right now. Our supportcontinues to be available for as long as you require usto be involved. From initial idea to implementation ofthe final product, Business Innovation can helpto drive your business success.

Access to specialist advice and fundingBusiness Innovation Support is delivered by a team ofhighly experienced Innovation Specialists, Design andManufacturing Managers and Intellectual PropertyManagers, all of whom have solid and proven industrialexperience. Our team of specialists, across Wales, willjointly undertake a review with your business toidentify opportunities for innovation and exploitation ofyour intellectual property. Based on that review,advisors will help you to procure external experts fromthe private sector or Universities and Colleges. We canhelp part-fund the cost of the work through InnovationVouchers worth up to £25,000 in a 12 month period.Funding is also available for capital equipment andresearch and development into new products,processes and technologies.

Innovation voucher funding can help yourbusiness to:• Procure technical consultancy expertise from theprivate sector

• Assist with the financing of new capital equipment• Implement the findings of our review process withyour business, in areas of new productdevelopment, manufacturing and design

• Collaborate with Universities and Colleges andsource facilities, equipment and expertise to helpsolve your technical problems and allow you toinnovate

• Procure expert services for Intellectual Propertyregistration, including patents, designs andtrademarks

• Procure capital equipment that supports atechnology ‘step-change’ for the business. R&Dfunding is available at varying levels to support:

• Technical & Commercial Feasibility – to investigatethe technological and commercial viability oftransforming innovative ideas into new products,processes and technologies

• Industrial Research – research to acquire newknowledge for the development of new products ortechnologies, or significant improvements to existingones

• Experimental Development – to implement theresults of industrial research, including the creationof preproduction prototypes

• Exploitation – to assist with the exploitation costs ofnew products or processes, including marketing,publicity and attendance at trade fairs

Are you asking questions like these in yourbusiness?• How do we develop new products as well asmanaging day-to-day business?

• Where can I access funding to support ourinnovation and R&D activities?

• How do we access the expertise and facilities inUniversities and Colleges and is there funding tosupport this?

• How do I minimise the risks associated with NewProduct Development?

• How do I maximise the value of the intellectualproperty (IP) relating to the new products?

• How can I increase productivity?• What can I do to improve quality and delivery?• How do I reduce defects?• How can I use space or equipment more effectively?• How do I improve the look of my products?• Where can I find out about the latest materials andhow to use them in my products?

• How do I design my products to save costs inproduction?

• What is the best way to develop my branding toinclude new products?

• How do I make my packaging more environmentallyfriendly?

If you are, then Business Innovation – can help.

How to access Business InnovationCall Bernie now on029 20444 730www.businessinnovation.uk.com

The advice we offer is available to businesses in Wales. Eligibility criteria will apply.

BUSINESS INNOVATION – A WELSH GOVERNMENT INTEGRATED PROGRAMME OF SUPPORT

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Our approach to writing press releases is based on a simple andwell established premise that journalists are more likely to use apress release written in the style of a newspaper. Spending timedoing anything else is simple a waste of time for everyone andreduces your chance of your release appearing in the press.

Here are five useful tips to get started.

1. Tell the story in the first two paragraphs. Most people scan read a newspaperarticle. The introduction should have all the key points in a single 25 word sentence that sums up the fiveWs - who, what, when, where and how. Journalists talk about the inverted pyramid – the most importantinformation is weighted to the top and the less important lines are at the bottom.

2. No more than 300 words. Use single sentence paragraphs with no more than one or two facts perparagraph. Write as if it is being read by a seven year old child. Assume your reader has no previousknowledge of your story.

3. Add a human touch by adding a quote into the middle of the press release. If you’re drafting somethingon behalf of someone else, use conversational language. Avoid jargon and clichés. If you’re struggling,why not simply ask them what they think and use what they say!

4. Don’t forget to think about interviews and photographs and make sure they are captioned and you haveconsent of those photographed.

5. Be available if there are questions from the media. Don’t send out a release and then go on holiday fortwo weeks.

Article provided by Jamie Robins, Communications Officer,Neighbourhood Services, Torfaen County Borough Council.

PR TIPS FOR BUSINESSES

TORFAEN GOOGLE JUICE BARS: ARE YOU A BUSINESS LOOKING TO GET ON LINE?In the June 2012 edition of the newsletter we updated readers on theGoogle Juice Bars initiative that is taking place in Torfaen.

‘Google Juice Bars’ is part of The “Getting Welsh Business Online” (GWBO) initiative and comes on the backof a successful pilot in Liverpool during autumn 2011. One of its key aims is to help small - medium sizedbusinesses (SME’s) overcome the most common challenges associated with getting online for the first time orimproving the commercial aspects of their current websites.

The first Torfaen Google Juice Bar was held in May 2012 and a further one will be held in September 2012.The Economic Development team at Torfaen County Borough Council is keen to continue supportingbusinesses with their online and digital objectives and are looking to organise further Google Juice Bar eventsin the near future for Torfaen businesses. So if you would like to register your interest please contact Jo orCheryl: joanne.john@torfaen.gov.uk - cheryl.williams@torfaen.gov.uk

MORE MARKETINGOPPORTUNITIES FORMEMBERS One of the benefits of being a Torfaen BusinessVoice member is the opportunity to get yourcompany brand in front of other local businesses.

As from the event in September we are pleasedto announce that we will be creating a MembersInformation Area in the room at theGreenmeadow Golf Club. Members of TorfaenBusiness Voice can bring and display a singlepop-up stand (up to 15 only allowed at eachevent so please contact Jo or Cheryl early toensure you have a slot on the list).

There will also be an information table wheremembers can place marketing material andbusiness cards.

The event in September is a facilitatednetworking evening so on this occasion weunderstand that attendees may wish to distributeinformation directly to other people on theirtable, but please ensure you take all materialaway with you at the end of the evening toavoid wastage.

Thank you!

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www.lmw.org.ukfind outmore at

Think again.

Think you’re too smallfor leadership and

management training?

www.lmw.org.ukfind outmore at

DID YOU KNOW?Private sector businesses in Wales canaccess up to 70% funding* tosupport leadership and managementdevelopment training under theEnhancing Leadership and ManagementSkills (ELMS) programme.*Funding is part funded by the European Social Fund(ESF) delivered through the Welsh Government

Business?

Boost your leadership andmanagement skills to take

your business to the next level

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HOW TO CHOOSE ANTI-VIRUS PROTECTIONChoosing an anti-virus is something that seems trivial but could be the differencebetween your data being compromised and you being inconvenienced. So, how doyou find an anti-virus that is right for you?

There are several anti-viruses that could be considered such as AVG and Avast but two of the main anti-viruses that we recommend are Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) and Sophos. One of the main benefits ofMicrosoft Security Essentials is its free price tag but it also keeps the virus database up to date and performsregular checks ensuring that your computer is scanned regularly. Sophos is charged on an annual subscriptionbut it scans thoroughly and keeps your computer protected for a wide variety of viruses and malwareensuring you are constantly protected against new threats. One of the main points to consider whenchoosing an anti-virus is; if there is a free and a paid version, what is the paid version offering that you’re notreceiving on the free version? Are you putting yourself at more risk by not having that added feature?

Once you’ve found the right anti-virus for you,how often do you update the anti-virus? It isrecommended that the anti-virus is updated atleast once a day. Every day can seem drastic butit is actually recommended the anti-virus getsupdated every few hours, as and when a newdefinition is reported. However, every few hourscould inconvenience you so once a day would bean ideal amount of time to ensure all thedefinitions are downloaded and installed readyfor the next scheduled scan. By default thescheduled scans are set to 3am which results inthe scheduled scan rarely being performed. Werecommend that a full scan be performed once aweek to ensure that your system is thoroughlyprotected.

If you’d like more information about this topic,please do not hesitate to contact Siân Hayneson 01633 676543 or sian@a2z-computing.com

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How do I find out about the opportunities?

There are a surprising number of web portals which listopportunities in various sectors, Some are for the NHS,others for the Police and Ambulance services, some forLocal Authorities, and so on. These are often for Regional– and therefore manageable – contracts of an appropriatesize. Registration is often free of charge, and once set upwith your criteria, you are likely to receive e-mails as andwhen an opportunity arises.

Most portals give details of current opportunities,upcoming opportunities, and (importantly), contractswhich have been awarded. The upcoming business speaksfor itself, but often the ‘past opportunities’ show thecontract end date, and when the opportunity is likely tobe offered again. A good date to have in your diary!

Who can submit a tender?

Everyone can apply. There may be no pre-amble, just atender document which needs to be completed andreturned by a given date and time. There is usually anindication of how your answer will be assessed – e.g.40% weighting given to price, the other 60% spreadequally over (say) six questions where you have theopportunity to impress the buying organisation aboutquality, implementation, planning the contract, training,your environmental credentials etc etc.

Depending on the scale of the opportunity, some‘Framework’ agreements are created, on which ApprovedSuppliers get the opportunity to tender for some of thebusiness within that overall Framework Agreement. Whenspecific demand becomes known to the buyingorganisation, they either send an ‘Invitation to Tender’(ITT) to those on the Approved Suppliers list and run a‘mini tender’, or in some cases use preferred suppliers inorder of their ‘ranking’ in the Framework agreement.

All Framework Agreements are reached via a ‘PreQualification Questionnaire’ or a similar set of questions,You will need to pass this stage before the buyingorganisation considers your quality and/or pricesubmission.

The down side of a PQQ is that it is about your past – sofor example, if they want to see three years of accountsand you only have one, you just don’t qualify! If you needto be able to respond in all parts of a region within anhour, you either can or you can’t. The up-side is that younow know the duration of the agreement, when it will beput back to the market, and what you need to do to winit next time.

Opportunities are increasing.

Much business has been conducted by the Public Sectorin the past without the need to seek tenders. The ruleshave become more stringent: This means two things – 1) if you have enjoyed working with the Public Sector

for a number of years, there is a very good chancethat the business will be put to tender at some time,

2) if you aren’t supplying them yet, Public Sectorbusiness enjoyed by others may soon be put out totender and a wider audience will be able to tenderfor work.

How to complete a tender.

The organisation seeking suppliers is a professionalorganisation, and is serious about the opportunity it ispresenting to you. It wants serious business partners whowill deliver an excellent service. As such, you must presentyour responses professionally, with short, sharp, effectiveuse of words, and strictly no ‘wherefore’s or ‘therefore’s inthe answer. By all means express your company’spersonality and character, which is important – but keep itprofessional.

It seems an obvious statement to make, but please ensurethat you answer the question. Read everything diligently,take your time, and consider your response thoroughly.

Don’t be afraid of duplication, as quite often part of oneresponse can be included in another. For example, if yourservice needs to ensure personal data security, the way inwhich it is done would be explained fully as part of youroperational procedures response, and also in yourresponse regarding the quality of the service you provide.It’s relevant to both, so put it in!

Clarify any ambiguity.

Tender opportunities often are accompanied by someelements of ambiguity or uncertainty in them. Whilst theauthor of the document may know what was meantwhen it was written, that doesn’t necessarily mean thatyou, the reader, fully understands. Equally, further detailmay be required – for example, does the instruction to‘collect from Reception’ mean that Reception is open allday or there may be times of the day when the Receptionmay be unmanned.All tendering opportunities come with the ability to askquestions. Some give a telephone number, others insist one-mails, which are then published to all other competingcompanies, together with the answer to that query.Whatever the means of contact, ask the questions youneed answers to – it doesn’t count against you, andensures that you never assume anything.

Many thanks to Dennis Elliott of Lilypad, Cardiff forproviding this article:Telephone: 0845 450 6505www.lilypad.org.uk

HINTS AND TIPS FOR TENDERINGFOR BUSINESS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR

support for growth