Help create a stronger business environment for the Business Services sector
One of the five business sectors identified for extra support from Haringey City Growth, is Business Services which includes all businesses that supply a ‘professional service to other businesses’, from accountancy to legal services and from printing to industrial cleaning.
As a firm operating in Haringey’s Business Services sector we are inviting you to become involved in driving forward Haringey City Growth, a major government backed initiative, which aims to strengthen and increase the competitiveness and profitability of the sector.
WITH YOUR HELP HCG will benefit your company by creating an environment favourable for your business to flourish and grow.
'I am championing the Business Services Cluster because I believe that by working together we can all make Haringey a better place to live and do business.
Together we can tackle the issues that affect the smooth operation of our businesses and hopefully encourage change for the better.' Angie Chandler, Director of Fraser Hamilton Associates (a Haringey Print firm) and member of the Haringey City Growth Board.
How will it work?
1. Tell us what your business needs are
To ensure that future services and support is really demand driven, we need to ask as many businesses involved in this sector to tell us what you need and what pressures you face. We have devised a brief questionnaire that will allow us to find out what these issues are and to set out a “Business Plan” for future activity.
In Business Services, we already know that some key issues are:
• Recruitment and training (where to find people and good training)
• Support for training
• Market differentiation and marketing support
• Environmental issues
• Management & leadership support
• Regulations
2. Join the Cluster Team
A Cluster Action Team (CAT) made up of ten or more sector businesses will be created and will capitalise on your combined business know-how to provide direction, determine priorities and then draw up a Business Plan. Chris Sleeman, Linx Associates Ltd, with specialist knowledge of the sector, has been appointed as Cluster Developer and is already working closely with key organisations in the sector.
3. Draw up The Business Plan
We will finalise the Business Plan by the end of this 2007, but only after it has been agreed with a representative group of companies in this sector in Haringey.
Specifically, we aim to:
• Hold two general Network Meetings, open to all local businesses in the Sector
• Hold four Cluster Action Team meetings –over the coming months
• Start one key initiative, around which businesses can rally, that will drive up business or tackle key skills or business issue
We are already working with a range of key sector organisations, where we can draw on their specialist support and national expertise. Once coordinated, you will receive the information and it will be presented at the meetings.
ACTION: Let us know what would make your business stronger….
If you have not been contacted by us directly and want to know more about this initiative, please email or call Chris Sleeman, as below. It WILL be worth your while – the more businesses we hear from and learn about your needs, the more likely we are to be able to set up systems to help you.
Cluster Developer - Chris Sleeman
Linx Associates Ltd
T: 020 8520 8180/07867 532508
E: chriss@linxassociates.co.uk
www.linxassociates.co.uk
