21/10/2007 by admin.

Cadbury’s Chirk will not be affected by ‘restructuring’ in the company which will axe a total of 700 jobs from its Bristol and Bourneville sites.

The confectionary giant announced that as part of the continued restructuring of its UK chocolate production, massive job cuts are to be made from the two sites over the next four years.

Chocolate production from the Bristol site will move to Poland. However in a statement the firm said that the Chirk and Leominster factories would be “unaffected by these proposals”.

The Chirk factory processes cocoa beans for making chocolate and employs 186 workers, more than 90% of whom live within an eight-mile radius of the site.

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21/10/2007 by admin.

The Glyn Valley Tramway are appealing for items to help them get started on their exciting project to rebuild the steam railway in the Ceiriog Valley, Wrexham. Find the list here. The Trust is also seeking funds to help them buy specially built Port-a-Cabin which acts as their project office. Visit www.tramwayblog.co.uk for more information.

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21/10/2007 by admin.

St Giles School is asking local businesses to donate plants and garden items to their gardening club. If you can help please email gardeningclub@stgilesschool.co.uk or phone 01978 356016.

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21/10/2007 by admin.

Giving to charity either with money or time can benefit your business in a number of ways. Several research studies have shown that businesses which show social responsibility have improved financial performance, an enhanced brand image, increased sales and customer loyalty, and an increased ability to attract and retain employees.

Many businesses restrict support to local beneficiaries by sponsoring an event or helping a charity either financially or through the supply of labour or staff expertise. Working with your immediate community in this way brings a wide range of business benefits:

*Loyal customers are often an important source of sales,

*Improving your reputation may make recruitment easier.

*A good relationship with local authorities can help eg councils prefer to award contracts to businesses with a record of community involvement.

Many businesses seek to align community involvement with their strategic business goals by getting involved in an activity related to their product. This makes commercial sense in that you can share your expertise as well as show the human face of your business. For example builders give free labour and materials to community projects, banks help to finance a project, or local shops may offer raffle prizes related to their business

Whatever road you take it is worth involving your employees - encourage them to volunteer for community activities - perhaps by giving them paid time off to do it. As well as improving your community relations, this can help motivate employees and develop their skills.

Remember that getting involved with charity is not the time to be shy. Your community involvement efforts should not be your best kept secret. Sharing your efforts will not only create positive publicity for your business, it will also help educate and remind others about the charity or cause you support, as well as inspire people to get involved.

Communicate your charitable efforts to your local media, customers and employees. Also make use of your website or company newsletter to get word out. A good photo connecting your business with the charity will help get your picture published.

Giving needn’t be taxing either. Setting up a payroll giving scheme is a simple, easy and tax-efficient way to encourage your employees to donate to charity. For more information on payroll giving schemes click here.

Perhaps your company could organise a one-off fundraising event such as a dress down day or put forward a team to take part in a local challenge. Could you organise a fundraising event at your Christmas party or sponsor the boss to do something amusing? It’s all for a good cause! You may want to match any funds employees raise, so consider offering match funding schemes.

A study by Walker Research found that when price and quality are equal 76% of consumers would switch brands or retailers when a company is associated with a good cause. So helping a charity can work both ways - good for the charity and good for business.

An example of a local organisation seeking support is the Glyn Valley Tramway Trust. The Trust is aiming to rebuild the steam railway that ran through the Ceiriog Valley and they are looking for support from local businesses. For more information visit the GVT blog at www.tramwayblog.co.uk.

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21/10/2007 by admin.

Awarding winning North Wales pub group Brunning and Price, whose sites include the Pant yr Ochain in Gresford, and the Cross Foxes at Erbistock, has been sold to Frankie & Benny’s owner The Restaurant Group for £32m. Read more…

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21/10/2007 by admin.

Wrexham butcher Jeremy Williams has come up with a novel fundraising idea which has got local dogs wagging their tails.
Read more…

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21/10/2007 by admin.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has warned that the proposed change to capital gains tax (CGT) taper relief, announced in the recent pre-Budget Report (PBR), will hit entrepreneurs in their retirement as well as in the normal course of business sales.

Many business owners, who started from scratch and worked long hours at considerable personal financial risk, were depending on the sale of their business to fund their retirement. With the increase in CGT from 10% to 18% these business owners will see a lower return on their investment. This comes on top of the removal of tax relief on share dividends in 1997 that did a great deal of harm to pension provision in the UK.

The change will not merely hit business people from April next year when the tax change takes effect. Those seeking to sell their business before April 2008 will find that potential buyers will seek a discount on the sale knowing that the alternative to selling immediately is a larger tax bill later on.

John Wright, FSB National Chairman, said:

“Many entrepreneurs now face a more uncertain retirement. Their contribution to the wealth of the nation – their hard work, their taxes, the jobs they offer people and the facilities they provided for their local communities are all being taken for granted.

“We are not talking about millionaires or fat cats, but entrepreneurs who have taken a big risk and deserve their modest rewards on the sale of their business. A secure retirement for entrepreneurs is now looking less likely thanks to the Government’s tinkering with capital gains tax taper relief.

“Following the removal of tax relief on share dividend in 1997 this move is yet another attack on people being able to make secure provision for their old age. The Chancellor should suspend this proposal until full consultation with business groups has been held to radically alter and improve upon this disastrous proposal.”

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