14 business focus of the month


HW, Chartered Accountants, present a series of articles based on the HW blogs. They offer analysis, reviews and comments and welcome your feedback at www.hwca.com/blog


Exploitation or ‘helping hand’? writes Jane Wills, HW, Chartered Accountants, Slough


Last month the Government changed its work experience programme, removing sanctions against those who dropped out after one week. Even so, the scheme remains controversial.


The debate is whether this voluntary scheme for 16-24 year olds is about companies exploiting the unemployed or whether it's actually helping people on benefits to find work. I would argue the latter. It's got to be a 'win-win' situation for the scheme to work but stories describing it as 'slave labour' overlooked some of the more useful parts and homed in on


the worst cases. There have been many accounts about valuable experience being gained and full- time employment (at more than minimum wage) being offered at the end of placements.


The scheme is designed to provide young people with experience, without forcing employers to comply with the red tape requirements associated with taking on employees. That's a plus for employers – but also for the worker, who at least gets a foot through the workplace door.


Remember, these young people must have been unemployed for


over three months but less than nine, so the work experience catches them before being unemployed begins to feel like 'the norm' and they might start getting used to the 'benefits culture'. That's got to be good for everyone.


Also, the placement is for job seekers for between two and eight weeks – so it's a concentrated period of time where they learn about the mindset needed to hold down a job – being punctual, accountable etc. Even if they aren't offered a job at the end of it, they have imbibed some of the discipline needed in the workplace and this 'hands-on’ experience will help at job interviews too.


Such schemes are always open to abuse – but surely the approach should be to police it more effectively rather than kill it and lose all the positives?


Details: www.hwca.com


HW is running the Young Entrepreneur of the Year competition for those who have started up their own businesses. Details: www.hwye.co.uk


A royal understanding of the need to commercialise research


Isis Innovation, the research and technology commercialisation company of the University of Oxford, received a boost last month following a visit from the Duke of York.


The Duke of York, who works with entrepreneurs and SMEs in the UK to ensure that they are supported in their business endeavours, met with Isis chairman Bernard Taylor and managing director Tom Hockaday at the company’s office in Oxford to learn more about Isis’ successful efforts to commercialise technology that originates from the University of Oxford and other clients.


Taylor said: “We are honoured to welcome His Royal Highness to Isis, and greatly encouraged by his understanding of the need to transfer technologies from the research base to business.”


For more than 20 years Isis Innovation has been responsible for ensuring that the intellectual property generated within the University is made accessible for the benefit of society. Since 2000 Isis has been involved in forming 65 spinout companies, more than 700 licence deals and more than 900 academic consultancy projects.


This bedrock of experience is now being put to good use in the rapid growth of Isis’


www.businessmag.co.uk


Champagne corks–one for each of Isis' 65 spin-out company completions. From left : Tom Hockaday managing director, Isis Innovation, HRH The Duke of York, Bernard Taylor, chairman, Isis Innovation


international activities, offering support to other technology providers and seekers worldwide. Isis has assisted clients in more than 50 countries and has consultants on the ground in China, Spain and Japan, as well as in the UK, and this expansion is planned to continue.


The Duke of York showed particular interest


in the opportunities that exist for Isis to develop its business internationally, and Isis welcomed the chance to promote its opportunities for investment in the UK, as it seeks investors and business partners in the Middle East, India, China and elsewhere in Asia.


Details: www.isis-innovation.com THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – APRIL 2012


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