THE
Voice
January/February 2015
South Wales
Your regional magazine from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)
Taking the small business
message to the politicians
F
SB Wales has been on the
campaign trail taking our
manifesto to the politicians
ahead of this year’s General
Election.
Platform party: (left to right) Jonathan Edwards MP, Mike
Cherry, Ian Nellist and Plaid Cymru Leader Leanne Wood AM
confusing constitutional settlement for
Wales. We are also calling for a future
UK Government to act on transport
issues.
They include immediately reducing
Severn Bridge tolls to cover only
maintenance costs once the crossings
enter public ownership and passing
control over Air Passenger Duty to
the Welsh Government so that it can
encourage greater connectivity with
flights to and from Wales. We also want
to see fair funding for Wales as a result
Share on social media
CONTENTS
2, 11, 12
Regional News
Consumer Law
3
VAT
3
Farming, Fishing & Food 4
Finance
5
Taxation
6
www.fsb.org.uk
views to be made clear to
policymakers.
FSB Wales Policy
Manager, Dr Rachel Bowen,
said: “We would urge
members to be part of Big
Voice and make sure that
their voices are heard.”
For full details of how
to take part in Big Voice
please see the article on
page 11.
7
Legal
7
Charities
8
Health & Safety
9-10
Employment
10
Telecoms
WITH the UK General
Election looming don’t
forget to join in our
social media campaign
to ensure politicians of
all parties are aware
of the views of small
businesses.
You can share
messages on Twitter
with the hashtags
#ibacksmallbusiness or
#cefnogibusnesaubach
VOICE EDITORIAL: This publication is produced
by and published for the Federation of Small
Businesses, Sir Frank Whittle Way, Blackpool
Business Park Blackpool, Lancs, FY4 2FE.
© Copyright 1996 Federation of Small Businesses all
rights reserved. Editor: James Connor. Tel: 01253
361179 Email: [email protected].
Whilst every care has been taken in the compilation
of this publication errors or omissions are not the
responsibility of the Federation of Small Businesses
and opinions expressed are those of the authors and
are not necessarily the policy of the Federation.
to show your support for
the FSB.
You can follow FSB
Wales on Twitter at @
FSB_Wales to find out
about the latest events
and comments from
our organisation. If you
want to find out about
the FSB’s campaigning
activities at a UK level
then follow @fsb_policy
for further information.
WELCOME to this latest
edition of YOUR Regional
Voice bringing you upto-date news from the
FSB.
To advertise in this
magazine call Caroline
McLoughlin on 020 7324
2777.
South Wales
Voice
THE
Make your voice heard
THE FSB now has a new
tool to allow members
to have their say on the
issues affecting their
business.
The Big Voice Panel
allows members to give
their views on a wide
range of subjects, helping
to shape the FSB’s
campaigning priorities
and allowing for your
of any major infrastructure projects in
England, such as HS2.
Gwynedd Branch Chair, Ian Nellist,
who represented the Welsh Policy Unit
at the Plaid Cymru Conference, said:
“Many FSB members in my part of Wales
are concerned at the lack of investment
in our transport infrastructure, both
road and rail. We need to ensure that
Wales gets fair funding from any major
transport projects in England, so that
businesses here in Wales are not
sidelined.”
CONTACT
The FSB’s UK Policy Chair, Mike Cherry,
joined FSB Wales members and staff to
discuss the manifesto at the Plaid Cymru
Conference in Llangollen.
Mike was joined on stage by FSB
Head of Public Affairs, Craig Beaumont,
and Plaid Cymru politicians, Rhun ap
Iorwerth AM, and Jonathan Edwards MP
for a well-attended fringe meeting.
The FSB has held similar events at
each of the main party conferences
in recent months, giving parties from
across the political spectrum the chance
to hear what our members want to see
from a future Westminster Government.
The UK-wide manifesto focuses on five
areas, delivering a sustained economic
recovery, rebalancing the economy,
driving sustainable growth in every
nation and region, creating high-quality
jobs and employment, making all
markets work better and lowering the
cost of doing business.
Here in Wales, we have some specific
asks for the next UK Government. We
are calling on MPs to deliver a less
For editorial content,
contact Dai Davies on
01686 624 054, check
our Twitter feed
at @FSB_Wales
or email at
dai.davies@
fsb.org.uk
Page 1
Plans laid to repeat apprentice awards
View from
the Chair
GIVEN that we are now in
2015, I hope that it is not
too late to wish all of our
members in South Wales
Region a happy and
prosperous New Year.
For all of us at the FSB,
this promises to be an
interesting year and there
are bound to be the usual
mix of challenges and
opportunities.
However, one thing that
we know is on the horizon
is the forthcoming
General Election. We have
been getting out and
about with the candidates
who are hoping to be
elected, asking them to
back small businesses.
Many of them
have already been
pictured with our
#ibacksmallbusiness and
#cefnogibusnesaubach
placards.
We will be meeting
even more candidates
before May, setting out
what our members want
to see from a future
Westminster Government.
There are several themes
that are cross-cutting
for every part of the UK,
such as rebalancing the
economy and driving
sustainable growth in
every nation and region.
But there are also
things that we want
specifically for Wales.
We would like the next
Government to make it
clearer who is responsible
for what when it comes
to the split between the
Welsh Government and
Westminster. We also
want to see improved
transport links for Wales.
Whatever colour the
next Government may be,
it is important that they
understand the real needs
of small businesses and
that is why we have been
making such an effort to
meet with candidates and
urge them to back small
business in the
years to come.
Janet Jones,
Regional
Chairman
Janet Jones
Voice
THE
Page 2
THE FSB’s Powys
Branch organised
a successful
Apprentice of the
Year 2014 Awards.
Nick Evans, newly
elected Chairman of
the Powys Branch,
presented the award
to Jacob Sampson,
a trainee chef at the
Nags Head Hotel
and Restaurant
in Garthmyl.
He received an
engraved trophy and
an award of £100.
Trophies and awards
of £50 also went to
runners-up Helen
Jervis of Newtown,
Ceri Morgan of New
Mills near Newtown
and Gareth Jones of
Llandrindod Wells.
The competition
has proved such a
success this time
around that the
Branch is planning
to repeat it in the
coming year.
The FSB’s
Graeme Fisher
Policy summit is
a great success
SOME of the biggest
issues facing smaller
businesses were
discussed at the FSB’s
Policy Summit in
Swansea.
The event brought
together FSB members
from across South Wales
to hear top-notch speakers
discussing the themes of
Youth Entrepreneurship,
Access to Finance and the
Wales we Want.
The conference was
opened by Wales Office
Minister Baroness
Randerson, who spoke on
the important role small
businesses play in the
Welsh economy.
A session focussed
on the issue of Youth
Entrepreneurship. The
audience heard from local
FSB member Alex Lewis
who set up his company
Surviva with the aid of
the Prince’s Trust and
now supplies NATO with
reflective thermal blankets.
The other speakers
included Aberystwyth
University Vice-Chancellor,
Professor April McMahon,
and Teresa Holdsworth
from the Department for
Education and Skills at
Welsh Government.
There was another
session on Access to
Finance. Professor Dylan
Jones-Evans spoke
passionately on the subject
of the review into the
subject that he conducted
on behalf of the Welsh
Government. FSB Head
of Policy, Graeme Fisher,
(pictured) outlined results
from a banking survey,
while Nick Brown of the
Robert Owen Community
Banking Fund spoke
about alternative forms of
finance.
What businesses want
to see included in the
Welsh Government’s
Future Generations Bill was
also featured. Speakers
included FSB member
Andy Middleton, who
talked about the role of
sustainability in business,
and Helen Nelson of
sustainable development
and networking
organisation Cynnal Cymru.
Members back Small Business Saturday
PONTYPRIDD was
the focus for the
FSB’s activity
in North Wales
to mark Small
Business Saturday
on December 6.
South Wales
FSB Wales arranged
for a Keep Trade
Local brass band
to play in the town
centre, spreading
an atmosphere of
Christmas cheer.
Special Keep Trade
Local bags were
handed out to
shoppers together
with details of some
of the local shops
in the town offering
special Small
Business Saturday
deals.
A full report will
appear in the next
edition of Regional
Voice.
www.fsb.org.uk
A YOUNG FSB member
from Neath has been
named as the winner
of a Prince’s Trust
award.
Swansea Bay Branch
member Ceri Hardman was
named as winner of the
RBS Enterprise Award at
the Prince’s Trust Celebrate
Success Awards in Cardiff.
The award recognises
those young people who
have overcome serious
difficulties to succeed in
creating a sustainable
business or social
enterprise.
An audience of hundreds
at the Cardiff City Stadium
heard details of Ceri’s
inspiring story.
After missing most of her
final year of school through
illness she found herself
struggling to balance a
part-time job with caring
for a relative and bringing
up a new baby.
However, she had a
dream of setting up a
children’s play centre
and put together a solid
business plan.
Despite a sound
business case, she found
it hard to get landlords
and investors to take her
Kevin Morgan (left), Ceri Hardman and
Gerald Davies
seriously because of her
age. But, as with all good
young entrepreneurs, Ceri
was not deterred, and
when she finally secured
premises for the business
she approached the Prince’s
Trust and won its support,
taking part in the charity’s
Enterprise Programme.
Today, her Neath-based
business, Kidz Korner,
employs 11 part-time staff
and she is now planning
to launch a second
business venture as well as
expecting her second child.
She was presented
with the award by former
Wales rugby great, Gerald
Davies, and Kevin Morgan
of sponsor Natwest. FSB
South Wales Chair, Janet
Jones, paid tribute to Ceri’s
achievement.
She said: “Stories such
as Ceri’s really show
what can be achieved
when determined young
people put their heart into
something and get the
right support to make their
business idea become a
reality.
“Ceri is not the only FSB
member in South Wales to
have founded her business
with the aid of the Prince’s
Trust and it is great to
have such enthusiastic
young people among our
members.”
DM Dai steps down after decade of service
SOUTH Wales
Development
Manager Dai Davies
is retiring after
more than a decade
working for the FSB.
Dai, who is a
popular figure
across the South
Wales Region, will
be stepping down
next month. He
originally joined the
FSB in November
2004 as the Regional
Organiser for
South Wales. He
held that position
until becoming
Development
Manager in March
2011.
South Wales
Regional Chair,
Janet Jones, said:
www.fsb.org.uk
Dai Davies
“On behalf of all the
members, I would
like to thank Dai for
all his hard work
over the years. I
am sure that I will
not be alone when I
say that I will miss
seeing Dai at Welsh
Policy Unit and other
Branch and Region
events. Dai has
made an important
contribution to
our work in Wales.
Whoever replaces
Dai will undoubtedly
have some big boots
to fill and we wish
Dai the very best for
the future.”
Be a part of
the Big Voice
FSB members from South
Wales are being urged
to have their say in our
new Big Voice research
community.
By taking part in this
unique survey forum
small firms have the
opportunity to have their
voice heard by Government
and other senior national
policymakers.
Members can sign up
to the Big Voice panel
(http://bit.ly/Y8duxi) and
answer questions on the
issues that are important
to their small business,
such as broadband, access
to finance, employment,
pensions and tax.
The FSB uses the gathered
insights to form the basis of
its discussions with leading
politicians, to create change
at all levels of Government.
For example, FSB Big
Voice data was used in the
Chancellor’s announcement
on the uptake of the
Employment Allowance.
FSB Wales Policy Chair,
Janet Jones, said: “The
Big Voice survey panel
shines a spotlight on the
issues important to small
businesses. The collected
data is shared by the FSB
with politicians in Wales
and Westminster, to
create change for small
businesses. No matter how
small the company, the
experiences of its owner
helps policymakers and
politicians understand the
needs of small businesses
and how they operate.”
The online community
is managed by Verve the
specialist in Community
Panels for research, on
behalf of the FSB.
Andrew Cooper,
Founder of Verve, said: “A
Community Panel allows
the FSB to gain the views
of their members as if they
were just sitting in the
room next door. This new
community allows members
to be heard as never
before.”
South Wales
Voice
THE
Inspirational Ceri
wins Trust award
Page 11
Bid for contracts,
urges minister
“In the past, public sector
procurement contracts
seemed almost deliberately
designed to exclude smaller
firms,” said Mr Cairns. “That
had to change because we
want a fair playing field for
all companies – regardless
of their size.
“In November, Wales
Office minister Baroness
Jenny Randerson and
myself met with Welsh
business leaders and
explained how the UK
Government is working to
open up its contracts to
smaller firms and to use the
changes we’re introducing
to their advantage.
“We know there are
innovative and exciting
small firms in Wales and
we want more of them to
win contracts with the UK
Government.”
Mr Cairns said that
the Government was
simplifying the paperwork
REGIONAL AND
BRANCH STRUCTURE
If any members would like to attend
FSB meetings all they need do is
speak to any of the following officers
SOUTH WALES REGIONAL OFFICERS
Regional Chairman Janet Jones
Tel: (01874) 711258 [email protected]
Regional Secretary Julie Williamson
Tel: 07980 917 513 [email protected]
Regional Treasurer Lesley Walton
Tel: (01792) 468971 [email protected]
Regional Vice Chair Julie Williamson
Tel: 07980 917 513 [email protected]
Regional Vice Chair Phil Stapleton
Tel: (01792) 462141 [email protected]
National Councillor Julie Williamson
Tel: 07980 917 513 [email protected]
Deputy Nat. Councillor Phil Stapleton
Tel: (01792) 462141 [email protected]
www.fsb.org.uk
that had made it onerous
for SMEs to bid for
Government contracts
in the past. He said that
new legislation will make
payment quicker down the
entire public sector supply
chain and would cut even
more red tape and simplify
the purchasing process.
“We will also have
introduced much more
visibility over the
opportunities available by
improving our Contracts
Finder website,www.gov.
uk/contracts-finder – and
the new version is due to
launch in early 2015,”
he said.
“Most importantly,
any company with
concerns can raise
them with us
anonymously via our
Mystery Shopper
scheme. If
something isn’t being done
fairly we need to know.
“Channelling more UK
Government contracts to
SMEs is a win/win for all
concerned. I urge anyone
working in a small business
to get involved now,” he
added.
For more information on
Contracts Finder and how
to bid for work from the UK
Government visit http://bit.
ly/Help-SMEs
MEMBERS of the Ceredigion
Branch have elected Rhys
Evans as their new Chairman
at their recent AGM. Mr
Evans joins Secretary Sheryl
Gellatly and Treasurer Sue
Evans.
The AGM was followed by a
question and answer evening
featuring Keith Evans of the
Office of the Commissioner
for the Welsh Language, Elin
Jones AM, Dyfed Powys Police
Commissioner, Christopher
Salmon; Councillor Gareth
Lloyd, who is Cabinet
member for Economic and
Community Development
Services at Ceredigion
Council, and Gaynor Morris of
Finance Wales.
Security firm
guard Arnie
Alun Cairns
CARMARTHENSHIRE BRANCH
Chairman Chris Olchawski
(01550) 760141 [email protected]
Vice Chairman Selwyn Runnett
(01267) 221222
[email protected]
Secretary Keith Taylor
(01944) 448653 [email protected]
Treasurer Eddie Cooper
(01267) 281698
[email protected]
SWANSEA BAY BRANCH
Chairman Julie Williamson
07980 917 513 [email protected]
Vice Chair Phil Stapleton
(01792) 462141 [email protected]
Vice Chair Colin Archer
(01792) 419569 [email protected]
Secretary Ben Francis
07779 313 565 [email protected]
Treasurer Wayne Bellamy
01792 774 610 [email protected]
CEREDIGION BRANCH
Chairman Rhys Evans
01570 470 639 [email protected]
Vice Chairman Gareth Price
07794 497 967 [email protected]
Secretary Sheryl Gellatly [email protected]
01239 622 578
Treasurer Sue Evans
01570 471 040 [email protected]
PEMBROKESHIRE BRANCH
Chairman Tony Baron
(01834) 831677 [email protected]
Vice Chair (01646) 682809
Clive Collins [email protected]
Secretary Jane Baron
(01834) 831677 [email protected]
Treasurer Alun Evans
(01437) 761 404 [email protected]
AN FSB member business
from Swansea Bay has found
itself providing security for
one of Hollywood’s most
famous action heroes.
Family-run Cautela
Security, which is based
in Llansamlet, Swansea,
was the main security
provider and event sponsor
for an evening with Arnold
Schwarzenegger whose films
include The Terminator.
The event, hosted by
Jonathan Ross, was held at
the Centenary Pavilion in
Leeds.
South Wales
SOUTH EAST WALES BRANCH
Chairman Melvyn Byles
(01443) 761 404 [email protected]
Vice Chair Clive Davenport
(02920) 766628 [email protected]
Secretary Sybil Fowler
07711 796 574 [email protected]
Treasurer Barry Hilbert
07866 878 086 [email protected]
POWYS BRANCH
Chairman Nick Evans
07800 777 747 [email protected]
Vice Chair Colin Morris
07968986517 [email protected]
Vice Chair Janet Jones
(01874) 711258 [email protected]
Secretary Kaye Derwas
07834 539 260 [email protected]
Treasurer Jonathan Gibson
07808 030 109 [email protected]
Voice
THE
WALES Office Minister
Alun Cairns has urged
more FSB members in
North Wales to bid for
contracts with the UK
Government. Central
Government spends
£187b annually on
goods and services.
Evans now
in hot seat
Page 12
BIG
voice
Do you know what your rights
of membership are?
Find out more at
www.fsb.org.uk/bigvoice
Giving small businesses a BIG voice