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The committee 2012
James Fountain - CHAIRMAN
Cameron Ford -
VICE-CHAIRMAN
Michelle Allen - SECRETARY
Simon Shaw - TREASURER
Tim Shaw - CHAIRMAN
NEXT MEETING
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
6pm at
the Beacon Innovation Centre, on Cafferata
Way, Newark
Stephanie Bilton - CHAIRMAN
For details on how to get involved
please contact Stephanie
on 07756 026973
To help create and sustain an economic environment that will make Newark a vibrant and rewarding market town to live in, work in and visit.
-
Encouraging active networking and enterprise
creation within a business friendly
enviroment across the private and
public sectors.
- Establishing a long-term vision
for the town and a broad consensus to
deliver it.
- Defining, encouraging and
facilitating an appropriate retaul mix.
- Helping promote Newark as a distinctive
tourist destination and place to stay.
- Projecting Newark locally, regionally and
nationally.
- Becoming an award-winning town within
three years.
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NEWS FROM OUR LAST MEETING
Clean Sweep
It’s not every day you come across a
“lucky chimney sweep” at Newark Business Club,
especially when you meet in a tent (see below),
but the May meeting saw a visit by Stan
Hutchinson, alias Stan the Sweep, dressed in top
hat, black tail coat, white shirt and scarlet
scarf, plus chimney brush.
These are his working clothes, though not when
he’s actually cleaning chimneys. Stan’s period
dress is for officiating at weddings, where a
chimney sweep is deemed to bring good luck.
The tradition apparently dates back nearly 300
years to King George II, whose life was in
danger when a horse pulling his carriage was
spooked, and a chimney sweep was the only man
brave enough to step out and stop the carriage.
Legend has it that the King then decreed that
all sweeps were lucky.
Stan, a member of the Guild of Master Sweepers,
was lucky too – in questions at the end he was
able to lobby MP Patrick Mercer about the lack
of legislation to cover the safety of solid fuel
fires.
Marquee meeting
With the Newark and Nottinghamshire County Show taking place on the two days following, the club met in the commodious marquee known as The Ringside Club. Patrick Mercer spoke about a useful meeting between himself, a Business Club deputation, led by James Fountain and Bob Poyntor, together with the deputy leader of Newark and Sherwood District Council Roger Blaney and Jim Bamford of Nottinghamshire County Council to lobby Transport Minister Theresa Villiers for improved rail services between Lincoln and Nottingham.
Visionary idea
Sandra Cowley, a director of meeting sponsors Vision Apprentices, spoke fluently about how modern apprenticeships help both employers and young people to meet each other’s needs, how Vision Apprentices facilitate the process, and how not being sufficiently academic to want to go to university did not mean that school-leavers lacked ability or application.
Bravely admitting that she herself gained just one ‘O’ Level, Sandra was living proof of her point.
Magnus School Assistant Head Yvonne Elsey spoke on a similar theme as she promoted the school’s Super Learning Day on June 27, when the timetable is set aside to give Year 10 pupils aged 14-15 practical knowledge of the world of work.
Pupils receive guidance on skills such as CV writing and interview techniques, and Yvonne would love to hear from 10 employers willing to give a morning of their time to help. Their task would be to supply a job specification to the school, interview a shortlist of applicants, and select a successful candidate. Employers don’t have to find the winners real jobs, though useful contacts might be made on both sides.
On show
The Advertiser’s Rachel Mosedale gave a polished presentation supporting a Chamber of Commerce event called Showcase Market and Sell, to be held at Kelham Hall on May 18. Options on the day include speed networking - “a bit like speed dating but not with the same outcome,” said Rachel.
PR benefits
Business Club press officer Graham Keal spoke about the benefits of PR and offered tips on how businesses could, with a bit of guidance, do their own.
Graham Keal
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Newark Business Club Press Officer
FOCUS ON... Vision Apprentices
THIS MONTH'S meeting was sponsored by Vision Apprentices.
Skills shortages are recognised as the main threat to the growth of businesses in the UK.
To compete in today’s market, all employers need a motivated and highly-skilled workforce to achieve future business growth. But finding hard-working staff at affordable rates in this tough economic climate isn’t easy.
What’s the solution? Vision Apprentices.
Over 130,000 businesses have found the answer through apprenticeships, which is fast becoming the first option for employers looking to recruit.
We can help you recruit people who have chosen to specialise their training in your sector; employees who will fit into your organisation, become an integral part of your workforce and meet your specific future business needs.
A Vision Apprentice could be a young person who wants to train in your industry, a current employee who wants to develop their skills further or a mature person who wants to re-train for a new career – there are no limitations, we can provide the training, support and guidance for any ambitious candidate who has the potential to succeed.
Taking on an apprentice is about more than giving someone an opportunity to learn. Employers with the foresight to make use of the apprenticeship programme have long been aware of the benefits it can bring to their business.
Whether you want to recruit new people to address your skills gaps or need to develop your existing workforce, Vision Apprentices can offer you a bespoke approach to the development of your organisation without the excessive costs that come with recruitment and advertising job vacancies.
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