engage magazine issue 006/\\\'08 | Page 11

News
NEWS FOCUS 11
News

Smaller firms‘ hardest hit by steep rise in visa fees’

London 2012‘ dating agency’ for East Midlands businesses

“ Businesses are going
more of a hit.“ Business
A new service has launched
( LOCOG) expect to allocate
to face a considerable
accepted last year’ s rise of
for East Midlands businesses
over £ 6bn of work as part of
increase in visa fees this
135 % in skilled work permit
that want to provide goods
an estimated 75,000 future
year, and some smaller
fees on the basis it would
or services to London 2012.
business opportunities,
firms could see them go
fund improvements to the
‘ CompeteFor’ is a‘ business
covering direct contractors
up by as much as 580 %*,
immigration system. There’ s
dating agency’ which
and their supply chains over
says the Confederation
been little progress in
enables companies based in
the coming years.
of British Industry( CBI).
developing better employer
the region to bid for direct
To date, even though only a
Reacting to the government’ s
support, but the government
and supply chain business
small proportion of contracts
announcement this month of
has still imposed further cost
opportunities arising from
have been issued, over 20
fees it will charge business
increases at a time when it
the London 2012 Olympic
companies based in the
for visas under the new
is also expecting employers
and Paralympic Games.
East Midlands have already
Points Based migration
to perform more rigorous
Supported by the East
supplied the ODA.
system( PBS), the CBI’ s
checks on their employees
Midlands Development
More than 700 companies
Deputy Director-General,
as part of the system.” He
Agency( emda),‘ Compete
in the East Midlands have
John Cridland, added:
said The CBI has supported
For’ also links companies
registered to receive e-
“ Whether an employer needs
the Points-Based System as
with local Business Link
alerts about London 2012
just one skilled migrant or
a flexible way of managing
services to help boost the
procurement opportunities.
fifty, they must pay a new
migration but that it will
long-term competitiveness of
For further information
flat registration fee. This
need to be fair and seen to
businesses in the region.
about the London 2012
only becomes cost effective
work in practice. * Lloyds
The Olympic Delivery
Business Network, visit
the more people you hire,
TSB Business in Britain
Authority( ODA) and London
www. london2012. com /
so smaller firms will take
Survey, January 2008
Organising Committee
business
developing new business( 52 %) prefer one-to-one communication rather than other methods of correspondence with prospects and customers, compared with 39 % of their lower-performing colleagues. In addition, top performers are less likely to spend time on administrative tasks. More information on the report is available at www. watsonwyatt. com / saleseffectiveness.

Blind businessman wins Stelios Disabled Entrepreneur Award

A blind businessman has won the first ever Stelios Disabled Entrepreneur Award, run by charity Leonard Cheshire Disability. Amar Latif a Scotsman, now based in Leeds, who started losing his sight from the age of 16, is the founder of Traveleyes, the first commercial tour operator to specialise in holidays for visually impaired and sighted UK-based travellers.
He said:“ The £ 50,000 will be used to expand Traveleyes into a fully international service. This will enable us to serve our blind and sighted travellers around the world.
Stelios said:“ Self employment is the only viable option for many disabled people as it offers flexibility and helps bypass much of the prejudice that sadly still exists in the workplace.” Leonard Cheshire Disability launched the award and Stelios has pledged to work with the charity for the next ten years to give £ 50,000 each year to an inspirational disabled entrepreneur.
ISSUE SIX 2008 engage | uk