Agenda and minutes

None.

Agreed as an accurate record.

To confirm the items of business marked Part I will be considered in public and that the items marked Part II will be considered in private.  

It was agreed that all items of business were considered in public.

For the purposes of the review this meeting took place at Hayes Business Studios. These were located on Uxbridge College Hayes Campus and were built from funding secured from the London Development Agency and Hillingdon Community Trust. The studios consisted of £1m ten unit facilities for new start up businesses and have been a great success story during these difficult economic times.

The Chairman provided the witnesses with the background to the Committee’s review and explained the aim of the review was to look at the impact of Public Funded Business Support and the success of New Business Start up within the Borough, with particular focus on micro businesses such as those within Hayes Business Studios.

Martin Blandy  - Manager of Hayes Business Studios

As part of taking up a studio at Hayes Business Studios, a business start up would be given ongoing professional support and advice which was delivered free by qualified and professionally trained business advisers in a way which suited and met the needs of the business. Training and support offered included:

·        Leadership and Management Programme delivered by Uxbridge College with up to £1,000 of grant support available

·        Train to Gain which helped businesses get the training they needed to succeed and stay successful

·        Business Seminars and Business Start up Open Days

·        Start up businesses could take advantage of free business banking for two years with Natwest Bank

The Business Studios were marketed through the Chambers of Commerce and Business Link for London.

Members were informed that in the first year for the Hayes Business Studios, nine out of ten office studios were occupied by business start ups.

Nas Khan – Businessman at Hayes Business Studios

Members were informed that tenants for the studios went through a strict interview process. A Business Plan was required which provided details of the businesses future plans. The initial support comprised of an interview with the local Business Link. The first 12 months were critical for new start ups and it was of paramount importance that new businesses had support and mentoring to ensure survival. Business to business support and just having another person in business to talk to was invaluable to a new start.

The Business Plan crystallised what was needed for a new business. The early days were chaotic with having to manage invoices, managing stock control, Pay As You Earn tax, Public Liability Insurance etc.

Members as an initial recommendation of the review agreed that new business start ups at the Studios would benefit from a core central service facility which they could buy into and which would provide invaluable professional support, whilst allowing the business to concentrate on selling their service and maximising the time to do this. An option could be having a separate business within Hayes Business Studios providing central support services to the businesses within the studios.

Reference was made to the businesses within the studios not interacting a great deal and Members agreed that greater interaction would facilitate business to business support  ...  view the full minutes text for item 54.

Noted.

The Committee asked that the Deputy Chief Executive attends the next meeting of this Committee to provide details on the Business Improvement Delivery report which was on the Forward Plan for Cabinet for 15 April 2010.

In addition Members asked that the Head of Democratic Services attends the next meeting of this Committee to provide an update on the impact of the restructuring which took place within Democratic Services 12 months ago. Members would like information on the effect of the changes in senior management within Democratic Services, particularly in relation to the level of support to Policy Overview and Scrutiny Committees.

Resolved –

      1.   That the Forward Plan and the actions outlined above be noted.