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Accelerator scheme to boost local firms


A Phil Roberts: always look at the bigger picture True cost of running


a company vehicle A Staffordshire-based fleet management and leasing company has warned businesses to always look at the bigger picture when it comes to the cost of running company cars. Flexible Vehicle Contracts, of Barton-under-


Needwood, says many firms only look at the monthly lease cost of vehicles, and fail to take into account insurance, maintenance and fuel efficiency.


Managing director Phil Roberts said:


“Hundreds of companies are being caught out because they are not considering the total cost of leasing a vehicle. “My message to businesses is don’t be guided


too much by the monthly lease costs. In many cases, cars with a higher headline lease rate will work out cheaper over the term of the contract due to better fuel efficiency and lower tax rates.” A recent seminar at the Chamber led by a


Burton-based fleet management company also tackled the same subject. Craig Watson, of CBVC Vehicle Management, said that it was important to take into consideration vehicle whole life costs. He said: “The vehicle rental is only the start.” The seminar was held in conjunction with The


Energy Savings Trust. Getting in the swing: the bridge over the river Yar


new government scheme will provide a huge boost for a trio of fledgling businesses in the Burton area.


The businesses will be the recipients of a three month government funded scheme, ‘Local Business Accelerators’.


‘For most of the start-up businesses one of the biggest problems is raising their profile’


Each business will be given free advertising in the ‘Burton Mail’, and will also receive mentoring support from local business leaders and executives from the newspaper. The scheme is part of a national programme which will see £15m of advertising support in regional newspapers being given to start-up businesses.


Olympic Torch burns


bright in Staffordshire Ten communities in Staffordshire will welcome the Olympic Flame next year, as it passes through the county on its 8,000 mile route to London for the official start of the London 2012 Olympic Games. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for people in the county to see the Olympic Torch pass through their local area carried by inspirational individuals from within their communities. The Torch visits on Wednesday 30 May and


Saturday 30 June 2012 and will also call in at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas.


For more information on the locations, visit www.staffordshire.gov.uk/2012


Mid-Anglia’s link with


the past at Yarmouth Burton-company Mid-Anglia Engineering has given a key bridge on the Isle of Wight a new ‘brain’ to help it cope with the demands of the modern era. The swing bridge carries traffic over the river


Yar, at Yarmouth, and has to be raised at various times of the day to allow yachts to pass. It is the control system used to operate the lifting mechanism that has been replaced and updated by Mid-Anglia. The firm is familiar with the bridge, having designed the original control system in 1986. This still works perfectly, says the company, but spares for it are no longer available. Mid-Anglia’s Ken Logue said: “It is not often in engineering you have the opportunity to repeat a system commissioning on the same site nearly 25 years later.”


22 CHAMBERLINK DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011/12


David Bryon, divisional director of Burton Chamber, said the scheme would provide a shot in the arm for the businesses involved. “For most of the start-up businesses of which the scheme is aimed at, one of the biggest problems is raising their profile,” he said. “It is often an area which is either not included in their budget, or under-funded. This initiative will allow them to benefit from not just free advertising but from the strategic direction and support that they will need.” Mr Bryon will be one of the mentoring specialists helping the three chosen businesses, and others will include local lawyer Chris Else and the Burton Mail’s publishing director, Fiona Shaw. Mr Bryon added that the support package added up to between £20-30,000 worth of help for each business. The competition was open to all fledging


businesses, and the three winners were set to be chosen by the Burton Mail.


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