The Insider

First onsite tour of the new Turner Contemporary Gallery

London 2012 Cultural Olympiad campaign ‘Discovering Places’ is being launched this coming weekend with a host of exciting, free public events throughout the South East, including the first opportunity to visit the building site of the new Turner Contemporary gallery in Margate.

Discovering Places aims to encourage communities to get out and explore the hidden gems on their doorstep, from historic castles to contemporary townscapes, woodland trails and local wildlife. Many of the Discovering Places events are run on a voluntary basis and all will offer free entry to anyone interested in discovering more about their local environment

The following Discovering Places events will take place in the South East over the weekend of 23-25 July. Full listings of the Discovering Places events can be found at: http://www.london2012.com/get-involved/upcoming-events/index.php

Labour Market Statistics

Our colleagues at the British Chambers of Commerce have been studying the latest quarterly figures and we’re told there are some welcome headline improvements, such as rising numbers of people in work and 34,000 fewer unemployed on the books. But these statistics mask some altogether more worrying trends:

Underemployment: recovery so far has been driven by part-time work. Nearly 1.1m people now report that they can only find part-time jobs, despite the fact that they’d rather be working full-time. This means that businesses will be more likely to turn to their existing labour forces as demand grows again - rather than create huge numbers of new jobs.

· Long-term unemployment: 32% of the unemployed have now been out of work for twelve months or more. If the Government expects businesses to hire these people, it will have to ensure they are ready to work – and that they are not ensnared by the sticky problem of the benefits trap.

· Earnings: while narrower, the gap between public-sector and private-sector pay awards is still there, and it’s still significant. The Chamber movement has made it clear to Ministers that it expects public-sector pay restraint as a part of wider austerity measures, and will continue to do so.

The Government’s economic projections for the next few years are based on very ambitious levels of business job creation. So the Chambers message to ministers is clear: the private sector will do its best to generate economic activity and jobs as the recovery continues. But business expects the Government to sweep away the barriers to growth – by investing in infrastructure, removing unnecessary regulation, and helping more companies trade overseas.

Win a Free Trip to the European Parliament

On the 14th October, over 700 entrepreneurs will descend on the European Parliament to put business at the top of the agenda.

The 2010 European Parliament of Enterprises (EPE) brings together 775 business men and women from across the European Union to debate and vote on hot business issues. Sitting in the Parliament’s hemicycle, will be national delegations from across the EU’s 27 member states. The British delegation will have the opportunity to take part in a Q & A with the BBC’s European correspondent, Gavin Hewitt and lunch with the UK ’s most senior official to the EU, Kim Darroch.

One lucky entrepreneur will have all their travel and accommodation covered by the BCC as all participants will be automatically entered into a prize draw

For further details, or to register, click here or contact Kieran O’Keeffe

Do you Want?

- 6 ways to get repeat visitors to your website

- Top tips for turning emails into sales

- Working from home - how to get more done

These tips and much more are offered in Business Link’s regular Online Newsletter. If you’re not receiving your copy simply email : info@businesslinksoutheast.net

Free online directory and mapping service for Kent based creative businesses

The ‘I Am Local’ mapping service at www.iamlocal.net provides a free online creative index and social network for artists, venues and organisations across the region. The organisation promotes the map as a live online resource that will continually grow and expand with new information and listings. In conjunction with its online site ‘I Am Local’ is distributed as a paper version at key venues throughout Kent , defining the growing network of arts culture both locally and nationally.’

Oriac House Learner Centre invites you to a series of Computer Skills Open Days

Whether you are already using a computer and various applications or whether you are a complete novice to computers and the internet, we have a training course for you. On Monday 19 July 2010,Tuesday 20 July 2010 and Wednesday 21 July 2010 you can come into the centre and sample the learning courses ABSOLUTELY FREE!

For anyone from 19-99 who doesn’t know how to use a computer or how to ‘surf the Net’ Oriac House Learner Centre in partnership with UK Online can give you access to free online courses and teach you how to use them FREE during the Open Days. For further information Phone: 01303 278418 email: training@oriac.co.uk

Channel Chamber Breakfast at the Grand 11th August 2010

Our networking breakfast does "exactly what it says on the tin", it gives members and non-members an opportunity to network, to meet many other businesses in a relaxed, fun yet business environment.

We meet from 7.30am onwards for open networking, with breakfast being served at 8.00am, We have a ten-minute speaker slot, followed by a quick round the room introduction, there is never any pressure to give referrals or to speak in public if you don’t want to.

Good humoured and inclusive, and you are bound to feel at ease, and able to sell yourself and your business. Remember to bring your cards!! To avoid disappointment please contact Tracy Reynolds on 01303 270022 or email info@channelchamber.co.uk