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Cairngorms Chamber of Commerce E-Newsletter Business Voice of the National Park - Issue Date: 14 October 2009

Business Events

1. Dates for your Diary

2. CCC Events Calendar

3. CNPA Meetings Calendar

4. Ward Forum – Badenoch & Strathspey

Business News

1. Chamber Lunch – October 2009

2. Business Gateway

3. Fusion Conference 19 & 20 November 2009 – Aviemore Highland Resort

4. HMRC PAYROLL WORKSHOP 28th October 2009 - Newtonmore

Chamber Members’ Benefits

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Business Events

1. Chamber Event Dates for your Diary:

4 November 2009 Cairngorms Business Conference

Cairngorms Means Business!

Followed by the Chamber AGM at 3.15pm

Boat of Garten Village Hall

4th November 2009 10.30 am – 3pm

Arrival and registration from 10am

Do you want to help shape how the Cairngorms National Park is marketed in the future? This is an ideal opportunity to be at the start of something quite extraordinary in the development of the area as a place to do business. The day will be a high value day away from your desk and will guarantee to surprise! This one day free to attend event will change the face of business within the Cairngorms National Park.

• Launch of the Cairngorms Business Partnership

• New Business and Tourism Development Plan – have your say in how it is to be developed

• Message from Holyrood

• Message from local business

• One voice - one agenda!

Who should attend:

Everyone in business operating in or around the Cairngorms National Park

What is the Cairngorms Business Partnership

The Cairngorms Business Partnership is a coming together of The Cairngorms Chamber of Commerce, Aviemore and the Cairngorms Destination Management Organisation, Glenlivet and the Cairngorms DMO, Royal Deeside and the Cairngorms DMO, Angus Glens, Cairngorms Hostels, Cairngorms Farmers Markets, Creative Cairngorms and all other interested parties with the objective of driving forward the business agenda within the Cairngorms National Park.

Booking

To book your place please email conference@cairngormschamber.com or complete and return the attached booking form or contact Jacqui on 01479 780 539.

Petrol costs reimbursed if three travel in same car.

Sponsored by Cairngorms National Park Authority and Highland & Islands Enterprise

2 December 2009 Christmas Social at Balmoral Estate

13 January 2010 Venue to be confirmed

3 February 2010 Venue to be confirmed

3 March 2010 The Cross at Kingussie

2. CCC Events Calendar – Business and Public Events

Business Events http://www.cairngormschamber.com/events/business.php

Public Events http://www.cairngormschamber.com/events/events.php

All Events http://www.cairngormschamber.com/events/local_events_and_business_meetings.php

3. CNPA Meetings Calendar

An interactive meetings calendar that lists almost all of the Park Authority meetings

http://www.cairngorms.co.uk/parkauthority/meetingcalendar/index.php?h=meetings

4. Ward Forum – Badenoch & Strathspey

http://www.highland.gov.uk/yourcouncil/yourward/ward21/

Comments or suggestions regarding the Ward Forum Meetings should be sent to the Badenoch and Strathspey Ward Manager, Sue Palmer sue.palmer@highland.gov.uk

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Business News

1. Chamber Lunch – October 2009

We were at Cairngorm Mountain Base Station where they’ve recently added a Camera Obscura to their attractions. Through a curtain, into a darkened room you see the mountain and surrounding views as you’ve never seen them before. And it’s free!

After lunch Ewan Fisher from new member Haven Products spoke of the work done by Haven to provide meaningful and sustainable employment to disabled and disadvantaged adults. A number of facts about their work came out but one that stuck was all the supplies of Revlon nail varnish to all of Europe are packed by Haven staff in Invergordon.

Brad Carroll of Health and Happiness explained how they help individuals in the Highlands develop personal and social networks. He used the story of a placement at Ardenbeg Bunkhouse to demonstrate how successful, and rewarding, the programme can be. He’s looking for businesses to take part in a new project. Contact him for more details.

Both Ewan and Brad emphasised that adults with learning disabilities have much to give to their communities and how working allows them to contribute as active citizens and be recognised for the skills, talent and value they bring to society.

We also had an impromptu update from Maria Peter, Business Gateway Officer based at Inverness. There’s grant funding available and a new representative for Badenoch and Strathspey (see below). Maria is keen to promote the services of Business Gateway and can be contacted at maria.peter@highland.gov.uk

Our thanks to our speakers and our hosts, CairnGorm Mountain.

2. Business Gateway

Business Gateway has been operating in the Highlands and Moray since April 2009. A major National advertising campaign is currently being rolled out. Business Gateway provides confidential, informed and impartial free advice on every aspect of starting, developing and running a business, from feasibility to financial planning to market research. There is also an ongoing supporting programme of free workshops and events, where entrepreneurs can network with other like-minded people and develop the skills needed to successfully run their businesses.

The Regional Development Offices for Badenoch & Strathspey is Lloyd Cornfield, and he can be contacted by phoning 07787 283215 (mobile) or 01479 872539, or by e-mail to lloyd.cornfield@highland-opportunity.com

3. Fusion Conference 19 & 20 November 2009 – Aviemore Highland Resort

If you’re looking for something to fire your imagination then you need to be part of this year’s Fusion conference at Aviemore Highland Resort, 19 & 20 November 2009. Over the years Fusion conferences have become a magnet for business leaders. Run by entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs, with nothing added, nothing taken away, there’s nothing else quite like them in the whole of Scotland. This year’s event is called Creative Collisions. Why? Because this is the place to uncover fresh ideas, meet companies who are succeeding and find out why, share your own businesses experiences with peers and open up a whole new world of possibilities.

To find out more and book your place visit www.fusionlinking.co.uk.

4. HMRC PAYROLL WORKSHOP - Braeriach Hotel, Newtonmore. Wed 28th October 2009. 9am -1pm. FREE

Is anyone interested in attending a free HMRC workshop on payroll taking place in Newtonmore on 28th October. Whether you already do your own payroll or would like to start doing it please come along. The workshop will cover basic things such as what you need to do when employees start/leave, monthly routines, sick pay and maternity pay, on-line filing. Even if you already have someone doing your payroll - it’s a good chance to give another employee some basic knowledge which might be needed in future (e.g. holiday cover).

The workshops are very friendly and informal and if you have any specific queries then you can get firsthand knowledge. It’s also very useful to have a contact at HMRC who you can phone or email if you need any advice on doing things properly.

I have got the HMRC trainer to agree to come to Newtonmore rather than a few of us having to go up to Inverness but hope to get a few more numbers. HMRC do quite a few of these events but as they have no budget for advertising them hardly anyone is aware so they are often cancelled due to lack of numbers. This is the link to subjects they cover - they would possibly do more in this area if we had enough interest. http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/bst/advice-teams-area/scotlandtraining.htm

If you are interested please email or ‘phone Alison on 01540 673798 or 07919 672487 to book a place.

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Chamber Members’ Benefits

Member-to-member discounts are available, usually on production of your membership card. Have a look. Anything useful to you? You will have to log in to the Members area first.

If you’d like to offer an incentive, add it to your page. Other member’s will be able to view it instantly.

If you need any help, a login or password, contact admin1@cairngormschamber.com