Business
54 | MARCH 2017
Business
Read online at www. proinstaller. co. uk
Flow meters return
M-Series mechanical display flow meters have made a comeback this year, due to popular demand.
After 40 years of manufacturing in Sydney, Australia, by Macnaught Pty, the decision was made to stop producing the meters in favour of digital models. This has now been reversed following a review of global distributor feedback and resurgence in customer demand.
Oval gear meters are widely recognised as one of the most versatile principles
Switched on light
The handy Cabinet Light Jig from IronmongeryDirect is the must-have tool for tradespeople tasked with installing decorative puck lights or strip lights into cabinets. Eliminating the need for a false cabinet bottom, the tool ensures the light is installed in the correct position every time. It prevents errors and misjudged holes from being drilled, saving tradespeople a lot of time and effort.
The Cabinet Light Jig also enables the user to drill a of flow measurement, with their ability to accurately meter a broad range of low to high viscosity fluids without the need for flow conditioning.
With moving parts inside the meter body limited to a pair of oval gear rotors, maintenance is minimal. Unlike more complicated technologies M-Series can be quickly and easily disassembled, serviced and reassembled whilst still in the line without the need for special tools or training.
www. bellflowsystems. co. uk
precise hole into the back of the base cabinet panel to route the wire through, eliminating the need for wires to be hanging untidily around the side of the cabinet. As well as being used for light installations in cabinets, it can also be used to install puck lights into shelves.
For more information, visit: http:// www. ironmongerydirect. co. uk / products / cabinet _ furniture _ and _ hardware / fitting _ accessories / 6523028 / cabinet _ light _ jig / 296285
SMALL BUSINESSES ARE OUR FUTURE
Costs are rising for small businesses, new tax legislation is looming and Brexit continues to cause uncertainty. Mike Cherry, who recently completed his first year as National Chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses( FSB), looks at the challenges ahead.
“ In the UK, running a small business and being your own boss is one of the most challenging and satisfying things you can choose to do. We now have a record 5.5 million smaller businesses and the self-employed, but the rate of growth has started to slow. Our country’ s prosperity in 2017 will be founded on the success of the smaller business movement. In turn, that success rests upon all of us truly creating a new entrepreneurial culture. This means the whole of society- government and business, customers and employees, public and private sectors – all choosing to support smaller businesses and the self-employed.
“ Politicians need to pursue policies that make it not just easier to set up a business, but also to run it, putting small businesses at the very heart of policymaking. Teachers need to include running a smaller business as a viable option within careers advice. Customers need to decide whether to spend their money with innovative local businesses or distant multinational brands.
“ In 2017, this will only become more important. Our 5.5 million entrepreneurs are the engine of the UK economy, employing 60 per cent of the private sector workforce. But there are clouds on the horizon that must be addressed.
“ Our quarterly Small Business Index constantly tracks confidence levels,
and provides a regular health-check for the UK economy. Throughout 2016, confidence glided down before dipping into negative territory in the third quarter for the first time since 2012. Smaller businesses have been struggling, and it makes everyone’ s words and deeds important in 2017 – where we hope for recovery.
“ The UK’ s decision to leave the European Union and the resulting change of government in 2016 did create a huge amount of uncertainty, but new ministers from the Prime Minister down have been listening to our concerns and suggestions, as has the opposition. Brexit will bring risks and opportunities for our members, and the strategy adopted in the upcoming negotiations must manage down those risks, and accelerate the opportunities it provides. FSB’ s research and policy programme will conclude in the coming months to inform that process.
“ Brexit is now the biggest issue of our time and having the ear of those in power is more important than ever. But as we advocate for our members, we also say, don’ t forget the domestic, by which we mean the pressing issues that smaller businesses face on their doorstep, right now. FSB has managed to achieve this at every level of power.
Ministers, spokespeople and MPs at UK level have an open door to FSB UK, and the same is true with the administrations in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and London, who all have a dedicated FSB to speak to. Our ability to influence looks only to grow from the signs of local FSB regions and branches speaking to candidates in the upcoming Mayoral elections in May 2017.
“ Any smaller business owner will tell you that the sheer cost of doing business has steadily risen over the last year, with a range of policy choices hardening at the same time, creating a cumulative effect. The introduction of the National Living Wage steeply increased labour costs, just as the rollout of workplace pension auto-enrolment hit smaller business. 2017 started with a weaker medium-term economic outlook, and the prospect of inflation in the spring. This will squeeze smaller firms affected by
the rising price of imports, supplies and products, but without the ability to move their HQ or workforce, or hedge their costs. Smaller firms are anchored in their local community and will need to work out how to cope with margins being squeezed even further.
“ Given the current climate, FSB wants to help smaller businesses in any way we can. In 2017, we want to directly assist those looking to start a new business with a package of benefits specifically designed for pre start-ups. Our aim is to reduce the risks of setting up on your own and