BUSINESSNEWS
BWF Business Development
and Mentoring Scheme
Exceeds Demand
Joinery manufacturing and
woodworking businesses
have seized the opportunity
for places on a new business
development and mentoring
programme from the British
Woodworking Federation
(BWF).
The programme has been
brought about by the BWF’s
Woodworking Industry Training
Forum (WITForum), with
funding from the Construction
Industry Training Board (CITB),
in response to a joinery industry
skills gap analysis undertaken by
BWF last year. The programme
– worth £3,000 for each member
firm – provides companies with
one-to-one mentoring and
training workshops delivered by
an industry experienced business
development consultant.
Participating firms receive a
total of six face-to-face mentoring
sessions with a business
development expert who will take
an in-depth look at the company
and give guidance on how to
overcome barriers to growth.
A similar programme run
by another timber-based trade
association achieved company
sales growth of 14% against a
national increase of 9%, and
resulted in the employment
of 109 new staff across the 15
companies involved.
Dave Campbell, WITForum
Training Manager said:
“The unprecedented demand
for this programme is a testament
to the opportunity it brings to
help our member companies
achieve above average growth in
their businesses and the joinery
sector as a whole. The results from
the similar programme show the
potential the sector has to grow
and make their companies more
profitable and the competitiveness
of the sector.”
The programme includes
a combination of training,
workshops and best practice
exchange sessions focusing on the
significant skills gaps identified in
the research: strategy and business
planning, sales and marketing,
leadership, project management
and IT, and succession planning.
Dave continued:
“While we have filled the
programme, similar packages of
support are available thanks to
access to government funding
pots. So if you want to invest
in your company’s future and
realise above average growth, get
involved”.
To register for the programme
contact Dave Campbell at dave.
[email protected], http://
www.bwf.org.uk/training
Impact on business
of England’s early
World Cup exit
With England fans still reeling
from the shock of the team being
knocked out of the World Cup
in the group stage for the first
time since 1958, business rescue
and recovery specialist Begbies
Traynor has been analysing the
economic impact of the country’s
early exit.
It is estimated that failure to
reach the quarter final will cost
the UK economy £1.2bn with
each England fan expected to have
spent an additional £56 had the
team been successful. Figures show
that each England goal was worth
almost £200m to the economy.
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AUG 2014
Among the worst World Cup
losers are:
• Pubs and bars which account
for 50% of the loss: Brits were
sinking 37m pints a day during
England’s short-lived stay in Brazil
and this is now expected to drop
to 24m. Spending on all alcohol
is forecast to drop from £114m
per day to £38m
‘forecast to drop
from £114m per
day to £38m’
• Sports clothing firms face a
potential shortfall of £300m
due to over stocking of footballthemed items such as shirts and
flags
• Fast food outlets: takeaway firm
Domino’s estimate they would
have delivered an extra 12m
pizzas
• Bookmakers: the surge in betting
activity when England qualify
for the latter stages will now be
quashed meaning bookies will
see around a 35% drop in placed
bets
• Supermarkets; economists predict
they will miss out on a footballing
feel-good windfall through
reduced sales in food, alcohol and
barbecue promotions
• TV and advertising; ITV and
advertising agencies will miss
out on a 5%-10% boost in
advertising spend
On the positive side, some
businesses will benefit from
England’s defeat – DIY stores,
garden centres, travel agents and
cinemas are all likely to see an
upsurge as football fans abandon
their TVs in favour of other leisure
activities.
‘boost in bookings’
“Travel agents are already
seeing a boost in bookings as
football supporters opt to book
early holidays in the face of their
team’s defeat, but many other
businesses will lose their share of
the £1.2bn that progression to
the quarter finals was set to earn
the UK economy,“ comments
Andy Haslam (pictured),partner
at Begbies Traynor in the North
East.
To read more, visit www.clearview-uk.com