A progressive East Lancashire IT firm is set to double its turnover for a second successive year and create new jobs.

And fast-rising Holker Network Solutions, based in Colne, is also looking to expand into bigger premises to cope with a bulging order book.

But the firm has no intention of consolidating – director Matthew Metcalfe pledging that every penny of profit will be re-invested.

“People say we are bucking the trend, but we knew we had something different to offer when we set the firm up in 2009. However, even allowing for that initial confidence, the performance in the first two years has far exceeded expectations.”

Holker Network Solutions has quickly gained a reputation for coming to the rescue of businesses hit by IT ‘disasters’. Read More »

A number of members have been honourd with the Queen’s Award for Enterprise - the highest standard achievable by British businesses.

The awards are made annually by HM The Queen, and are only given for the highest levels of excellence demonstrated in each category. They are judged to a demanding level and winners receive a number of benefits and worldwide recognition.

Congratulations go to members:

acdc: Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade
Barrowford’s acdc is the UK’s leading specialist in long-life architectural LED and Cold Cathode lighting. The company has more than 3,000 projects delivered each year to key export markets including Europe, USA, Australia, Far East, Middle East and India.

Steve Hoyle: Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion
A well-known figure in the economic development arena, Steve made his career in local and regional government focusing on economic development and regeneration in the region. His successes include a successful Local Enterprise Growth Initiative bid which saw £30 million devoted, over four years, to encouraging enterprise in the most deprived communities in the Lancashire area.

Other excellence in export recipients included Accrington’s BMP Europe and Langtec. Hurst Green Plastics of Clitheroe picked up the innovation prize.

The awards were announced to coincide with Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday and will be formally handed out at a reception in autumn.

To see a full list of winners go to http://www.queensawardsmagazine.com/2012winners

Source: Lancashire Business View

The fourth DHL/British Chambers of Commerce Trade Confidence Index, a measure of the UK’s exporting health, reveals that exporters in the UK have seen increases in exporting activity over the first quarter of the year, with many businesses expecting the trend to continue in Q2 2012.

The index, which draws upon a survey of over a thousand exporters and an analysis of export documentation (required of all UK companies exporting goods outside the EU), shows that export orders and sales have increased over the last quarter. Trade documentation data for UK goods exports in Q1 2012 shows an almost eight percent increase (7.7%) on the same quarter last year, demonstrating that growth in export goods continued.

When asked about export activity over the last three months, 40% of businesses said they had seen an increase in export sales. When asked with regards to expected export activity, 39% reported an increase in export orders for the next quarter. Read More »

The Supreme Court has ruled that a company who forced a member of staff to retire at the age of 65 have not broken the law, despite changes which came into force last year regarding the Default Retirement Age (DRA).

From 6th April last year employers were no longer able to issue staff with retirement notices and from 1st October 2011, it became unlawful for a company to force employees to retire simply because of their age.

However, a case involving a Partner from a firm of solicitors who claimed he was forced to retire when he turned 65 has lost in his attempt to have his previously unsuccessful appeal reviewed and overturned.

In this case his employer (a city law firm) argued that there were legitimate aims for its retirement policy including ensuring young workers had the opportunity of becoming a partner after a reasonable period and limiting the need to expel partners for poor performance.

The Supreme Court held that the compulsory retirement age of 65 contained in the firm’s deed of partnership was a directly discriminatory measure but that it was capable of justification as it was founded on legitimate social policy aims aimed at ensuring succession at the firm and fairness between generations.

It would appear that despite legislation (which came into force in October 2011) preventing employers compulsory retirement ages of 65, employers can still enforce retirement within the law when they have reasonable reasons for justification of the policy, as in the above case.

It should be noted that employers can still fairly dismiss employees by adopting the proper process and having a fair reason, although under the Equality Act, dismissal cannot be on the grounds of any ‘protected characteristic’, including age.

If you require employment advice, including advice regarding the retirement or termination of the employment of employees, please contact Victoria Mitchell, Employment Solicitor at Farleys Solicitors LLP on 01254 229800 or Victoria.Mitchell@farleys.com

Almost 100 delegates attended April’s Hotpot for Hotshots, and it was great to see such a delicious mix of business people from across the county and beyond attend.

Emma Swan of Taylors Solicitors kicked off proceedings with an insight into sick leave and holidays, and how businesses can best handle this often contentious issue. Speaking of needing a break, following the budget Mark Schofield of Haworths Chartered Accountants tried to alleviate those financial headaches and convince us all it’s not as bad as it sounds. No sun lounger needed, yet!

And the two minute hotspot was taken by the delightful Harriet Roberts of Child Action North West who gave some great guidance on how non-profit partnerships can work for your business.

Not for the feint-hearted, you can take a look at the gallery of pics from the event here http://www.chamberview.co.uk/gallery/

We’ll be basking in a record-breaking summer at the next Hotpots (well one can hope!). The date for your diaries is 20th July. We’ll let you book now if you like – click here.

If you want to throw yourselves to the wolves, email dean@weareslater.co.uk and he’ll try and fit you in for a speaking slot.