Local business owners are invited to a free seminar in Leicestershire next month (February) to find out if they are eligible to claim back funds spent on research and development.

Figures show that 40% of businesses that have invested money in research and development fail to claim back the money they are entitled to. The government has a wide definition of research and development and the seminar, which is a being held on Tuesday 7^th February at Market Harborough’s new Innovation Centre, will assist companies in checking their eligibility for funding.

The event will include a presentation by HMRC (Leicester R & D Unit) on the research and development scheme, followed by Richard Cullum, Managing Partner of R & T Consultants who will explain how to make a claim. There are several other confirmed speakers offering their expertise and the event is being introduced by James Briggs, former chair of the Leicestershire Economic Partnership.

“Few people realise that you don’t have to be a multinational company to make an R & D claim,” explains Richard. “Many smaller companies who conduct research and development projects are entitled to claim. Unfortunately, most of these companies don’t realise that through tax credit schemes they can claim back a majority of the money they have invested.”

The seminar will give everyone attending the opportunity to find out if they are entitled to claim and will offer advice and assistance in putting forward a claim.

To book your place on the seminar contact 01858 414200 or e-mail reception.harborough@oxin.co.uk. Due to anticipated demand, places are restricted to a maximum of two per company.

The early evening seminar will explain how the use of websites such as Facebook and Twitter can help to grow a business. It will take place in the new Arc Business Centre at Archway House on the outskirts of Market Harborough on Tuesday 31^st January.

The seminar was first given in November and was fully subscribed, with over 60 guests coming from all over Leicestershire and Northamptonshire. Speaker Alastair Campbell of The Ideal Marketing Company (www.theidealmarketingcompany.com) was delighted with the interest shown by local companies. “No one can really afford to ignore the impact of social media anymore” he comments. “However, many people are still unsure about how best to go about using social media effectively. After the feedback we received last time I felt that another seminar on the subject would be useful for businesses in the region.”

For more information on the seminar or to book a place, please contact Alastair Campbell on 01858 445 543 or email alastair@idealmarketingcompany.com

If you want to get 2012 off to a flying start, you might be interested in a free seminar I’m running at the end of January. Following a ‘full house’ for this talk in November I have been asked to run it again.

It’s taking place on Tuesday January 31st from 5pm till 7pm at The Arc Business Centre, Lubenham Hill, Market Harborough, LE16 9SZ.

The theme is making the most of new business opportunities in 2012 by using a combination of traditional marketing principles – combined with the best of social media and the latest modern marketing techniques.

As it takes place near tea-time, we’re laying on drinks and nibbles to make it even more tempting for you.

It’s free to attend, but we are anticipating another full house so PLEASE book early to avoid disappointment. You are welcome to bring up to 2 colleagues with you.

Just e-mail seminars@idealmarketingcompany.com if you’d like to come saying how many places you’d like and I’ll e-mail you full directions and a reminder a few days before the event.

First of all, the good news – the fundamental principles of marketing have not changed since they were laid down well over a century ago. Personally, I don’t think that they will ever change, however, the best ways to put them into practice certainly has. Unless we all keep up with these changes it will be all too easy to get left behind. Your competitors may already be applying these ideas. It is now easier than ever to bring products and services to market at a lower cost and with less risk. In short, it’s an exciting time to run a business because marketing has cheaper and more effective:

• Faster to introduce to your customers

• Cheaper to create and replicate

• Easier to test, measure and improve

You are invited to a free marketing seminar in Market Harborough on November 29th from 5pm till 7pm which looks into how to combine the best ideas around ‘traditional’ marketing techniques (such as this direct mail letter) with the latest areas such as Twitter, Facebook, You Tube and LinkedIn.

You will be joining around 40 Harborough business owners at this event who between them will range from the total novices to the more experienced (even expert) in some of the areas. It will be a great opportunity to learn new ideas and gain valuable insight into marketing your company in 2012.

To reserve up to 3 places please call: 01858 44 55 43 or e-mail: seminar@idealmarketingcompany.com

Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, e-mail marketing and blogging are becoming an ever important part of the marketing mix. Are you ready to embrace them in 2012? Have you got multiple marketing channels working in your favour to make it easy for customers and prospects to find you? Find out how to make the most of new technology whilst keeping’traditional’ marketing that work for you at this free seminar taking place on November 29th at the brand new ‘Arc Business Centre’ in Market Harborough.

Discover how to:

• Drive customers to your website
• Develop a new level of trust with prospects
• Focus your marketing into the most cost effective areas
• Why branding and benifits will never go out of business

When? 5pm – 7pm on November 29th

How much? No charge if you book in advance

What does it cover? How to make the most of the latest social media marketing technlogy by learning from traditional marketing principles

Who is it for? Small business owners, Marketing Managers and anybody with an interestet in winning new business for their company or start up business.

What else? There will be free drinks and nibbles upon arival and a chance to catch up with other business owners at the start and end of the seminar

Where is it? The prestigious new ‘Arc Business Centre‘ located on Lubenham Hill, Market Harborough, LE16 9SZ (the former site of the Welland Lodge)

Visit www.businessarc.co.uk for more details. Please note: We are expecting around 40 business owners to attend and the event is likely to be over subscribed so we advise that you book early. Just e-mail alastair@idealmarketingcompany.com or call 01858 44 55 43 to book a free place.

A new event aimed at start up companies is being held in Market Harborough on September 20^th at the new Innovation Centre on Leicester Road which the Ideal Marketing Company is delighted to be supporting.  If it is a success, the plan is to make it an annual event. ‘Start-Up Harborough’ is a free event aimed at people thinking of setting up a new business, for people who have recently set up and for businesses that have been running for 3 years and under.

The event will be a combination of seminars, workshops and exhibitions designed to offer free support and advice.  It is being organised and sponsored by local networking group Working Breakfast.  The event is free for anybody to attend and will run from 3pm until 8pm.

“It can be so confusing when you first set up in business so this will be a ‘one stop shop’ where people can receive advice, ideas and support on a wide range of areas” says the Working Breakfast’s chair Kathy Bakewell.  Mick Judge, the Innovation Centre Managers comments “We are delighted to be helping with this event which aims to encourage people to set up on their own. The town needs to encourage new business owners and this is a good step forward”

Topics that will be covered on the day include seminars and workshops will include legal advice, security, design and marketing.  To receive a full run down of the timings, a list of topics covered or to reserve a place please e-mail wb@idealmarketingcompany.com or visit www.workingbreakfast.com

The events sponsor Working Breakfast is a local networking group that meets every Wednesday morning at The Angel Hotel from 7am till 8.30pm and is a non profit making organisation based around new business generation, advice, support and friendship.  Around 20 local businesses are currently members of the group which was formed at the end of 2009.

It’s been organised and sponsored by Working Breakfast,  www.workingbreakfast.com a local networking group for Harborough businesses.

Admission is free as is attendance of the seminars and individual sessions. If you’d like to know more e-mail alastair@idealmarketingcompany.com to register your interest and for a full breakdown of the speakers, the topics they are covering and their times.

The event is free to enter and open between 9.30am and 4.00pm and visitors will find 35+ innovative, inspiring and proven franchised business formulas – handing you a safer and supportive way to start your own business.

And all exhibitors have licenses available for the Leicester, Derby, Nottingham, Peterborough & Coventry areas and beyond throughout the Midlands & East Anglia.

The event is a one-stop-franchise-shop for the general public – and the shows are hosted with a smile. The shows are unstuffy, relaxed and informative…and somewhere amongst the exhibitors you’re sure to find your perfect business format.

And even better, you don’t have to slog into Central London or Birmingham to see it (nor have to take a bagful of one pound coins for parking)

• Free entry
• Free car parking
• Easy to find venue signposted from the M1 junction 21

And once here, you can browse the businesses on offer and take in “drop-in” workshops advising on finance and start up enterprise including advice on marketing from Alastair Campbell of the Ideal Marketing Company.

Are you looking for that new challeng? Then we’ll see you in at Leicester Racecourse, Oadby, Leicester and we’ll hand you the keys to a new self employed career

East Midlands Franchise Show – Leicester
Saturday 25th June 2011
9.30am – 4.00pm

FREE ENTRY – NO TICKET REQUIRED – FREE CAR PARKING

Leicester Racecourse Conference Centre, Oadby (4 miles south of Leicester city centre)
SAT NAV Post Code:  LE2 4AL

For more details, visit here

Free Branding and marketing seminar

I’m very pleased to be talking at a branding seminar being held in Market Harborough on July 5th at the Angel Hotel.  Please see details of this free branding seminar below…

Tuesday July 5^th, from 7pm till 9pm at The Angel Hotel, Market Harborough

Market Harborough based networking group Working Breakfast will be holding a special evening event for business owners and managers on the theme of branding.

How do you create a brand that is right for your business?  How can you protect your brand or use it to increase the value of your business? What makes a memorable logo and how can you get your brand out in front of customers?  These are just a few of the questions that will be covered by speakers during the evening which runs from 7pm till around 9pm on Tuesday July 5^th at The Angel Hotel.  Admission is free of charge.

This evening event is being organised and supported by Working Breakfast

Working Breakfast is a new business and lead generation club for local companies and meets every Wednesday morning at the Angel Hotel.  From January till the start of June this year over 1000 new business leads have been passed within the group (that’s an average of over 9 leads per member, per month).

On July 5^th up to 50 business owners and managers are expected to attend and places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.   It would be great to see you there.

To book a place – email alastair@idealmarketingcompany.com or visit www.workingbreakfast.com and compete the short online form.

Practical tips on how to get more from your marketing budget

There are so many ways to spend your marketing budget – from adverts to internet optimisation there has never been more choice available to the small business owners.  This seminar looks at 10 proven low cost ways to help generate warm new business leads, improve conversion rates and keep customers for longer.

As an award winning marketing company owner and published author, Alastair Campbell has spent 21 years coming up with effective marketing ideas that are either free or very low cost to implement.  It’s common sense advice that can be introduced instantly in your business to profitable effect. www.idealmarketingcompany.com

DTFC Networking Lunch – Wednesday 6^th July 2011 – Starts at 12.00 and Finishing at 14.00

The meeting will be relaxed, easy going, encouraging conversation and developing relationships and business friendships.

The event is £15 (inc VAT) per person, payable on the door and includes a two course lunch.

Please make sure you support this event and local business by attending, book below to confirm your place.
http://dtfcnetworkinglunch.eventbrite.com/?ref=ebtn

To book your free place call 07921 670273 or e-mail  Claire@daisymarketing.co.uk