Promote Local Business

The following page contains information about how the Council and its partners involve the business community in conversation and promote local businesses.

The Council and its partners

Oadby and Wigston Borough Council is strongly committed to working with its partners to maximise support to the business community. It has already developed links with the Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Small Business.

The Council also recently commissioned a business needs survey to discover what support the business community might need to help it grow and prosper in the borough and where there was room for improvement, especially with regard to services provided by the Council.

It was felt that there is a need for a forum where businesses can meet, can establish trading links, voice their concerns and receive information direct from representatives of the key support and governmental agencies.

The Council, has, in the past, hosted 'business breakfasts' and sought to promote local business through a business directory.

In future, the Council is committed to developing, jointly with the business community, two initiatives:

• a business affinity group and

• a revitalised business directory

Affinity group or business forum

Affinity groups and business forums can be at the heart of the relationship between the business community, the Council and the key service partners. They provide members with opportunities to identify their needs, network and share best practice as well providing the statutory and representative partners with a reliable and constant source for research and information for policy development.

They are also a link between businesses and all government agencies. The borough's businesses have a platform by which they can be engaged with and influence public bodies and policy.

In particular they:

• help develop links between businesses including training, supply and legislative issues,

• help facilitate connections between businesses, to discuss issues and problems relating to issues such as planning, housing, land, property, infrastructure, crime, environmental, local regulations and so on (topics can be debated and local [and where necessary sub-regional and national] action be agreed),

• help strengthen supply chain linkages between businesses in key sectors and within the borough and the immediate area,

• facilitate discussions on skills requirements (including the involvement and performance of training providers and education institutions) to support a more focussed and demand based training offer (these links should lead to improved pathways for pupils, students and trainees who have completed their education and training in skill areas where businesses really do require the skills gained) and

• deliver information and advice to businesses from business people on any business need (including training and legislation) in a business friendly environment.

The outcomes that can be expected for businesses taking an active role in the development of the affinity group include:

• greater links and communication between local businesses,

• improved supply chain linkages in the sub-region (defined as the Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LEP) area),

• increased trading between local businesses,

• improved understanding of new legislation and regulations and Her Majesty's Government policy,

• improved links between businesses and business support agencies,

• greater focus on, and understanding of, skills requirements, with full involvement of training providers and education establishments, including South Leicestershire College and the University of Leicester and

• greater ability to influence local, sub-regional and national decision and policy makers on the needs of Oadby and Wigston businesses

• improvements to company productivity, efficiency and profitability.

Oadby and Wigston business directory

The Council initiated a business directory some two and a half years ago. It was the intention of the Council that this would be up-dated on a regular basis and would aid trade generally and inter-trading between different companies. In the event, the directory has not been systematically up-dated and whilst it is clear that it was still used, it may not be encouraging the opportunities which were first envisaged.

The Council has decided to completely review the idea of hosting a business directory in discussion with representative trade groups and organisations and the local business community. It is essential that we identify a clear purpose for the directory which meets the needs of business and of potential buyers. It is essential that it is a credible directory and that businesses and buyers can have confidence in the content.

It will be necessary to consider both how it is updated and by whom and whether the cost of maintaining the site should be met by those businesses that are listed.

Finally, it is important that the listings contain enough information to be useful and whether the current bare contact details are sufficient to encourage potential buyers.

The Council is proposing to conduct this review during 2012.

Disclaimer: Before entering into any business transaction you should always satisfy yourself of the ability of the business concerned to fulfil your requirements throughout any ensuing business relationship or contract. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this directory and accept no responsibility for any error, exclusion or misrepresentation. All liability for loss, disappointment, negligence or other damage caused by the reliance on the information contained in the directory or in the event of any business, individual or firm ceasing to trade, is hereby excluded.