Midlothian & East Lothian Chamber of Commerce

How to make 28 days last a whole year. I am running my next 28-Day Brand Launchpad in January, and I have added some extra value (as if it needed any more!), by including 12 months of ongoing support after the programme ends. My 28-Day Brand Launchpad is the only group brand creation programme of its kind in the UK, bringing together a small group of purpose-driven small business owners, to help each other create a brand for their business in just 28 days. What is unique about this programme is the feedback on your work, the weekly groups calls, and the weekly group feedback days, along with the daily activities and weekly 1-2-1 time with me. One of my favourite quotes is 'When you are inside the jar, you can't read the label." This sums up nearly every business owner I have ever met. This programme gives you valuable perspectives on your business from other businesses owners, who bring their experience, skills and knowledge to the programme. Not only that, you now get 6 free bi-monthly 1-2-1 sessions with me, so you can tap into my knowledge and expertise for an entire year after creating your brand. So, creating and growing your brand doesn't all stop at the end of the 28 days. These sessions will keep you accountable, as you implement your new brand across your business and all communications. I know from experience, that life gets in the way of the greatest intentions. I want your newfound clarity, confidence and courage - that you will gain from the 28-Day Brand Launchpad - to remain and grow, along with your business. That's why I will stay in touch. We will have bi-monthly 1-2-1 sessions for the next 12 months after completing the programme. Think of me as your accountability buddy, to make sure you maintain your brand, attract your ideal clients and grow your business. 12 months after creating your brand I want it to have made the biggest impact on your business that you think, and you tell other people, that the 28-Day Brand Launchpad was the best investment you have ever made in your business. I will put a link to more information in the comments below. It would be great to have you on the next programme. Imagine the value your experience, skills and knowledge, will add! And multiply that by everyone else on the programme. #brand #brandcreation #clarity #confidence #courage #accountability

If you were at the Midlothian & East Lothian Chamber of Commerce business breakfast on Wednesday 30th, you would have heard all about Insights from Jaclyn Pringle FCIPD 🟡🔴🟢🔵 Jaclyn very kindly offered a complimentary insights profile to one lucky person who attended, and the winner was Emily McGowan from McGowan Marketing ! 🎉 We will look forward to learning your colour profile 😀

✍️ SIGNING NEWS ✍️ As we grow, we need to recruit good people. 🎉 November 1st = Scott Steele joins the team! 🎉 📖 Scott has a great story, and one we love to tell. 🔊 🏠 From Dumfries to boarding school for a rugby scholarship, representing 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 through the age groups. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Scott then headed South to prove himself, playing in the English Premiership for Leicester, London Irish & Harlequins. 🏆 4 caps for Scottish Rugby and then headed back to Edinburgh Rugby, finishing up after a series of injuries and (painful) operations.🏥 📅 It was then time to enter the workforce. Having focused for so long on Rugby, it took some time to find the right fit. 🧩 🤝 Scott is motivated to use his skills, experience and enthusiasm to support the work of the schools and businesses we work with to give the young people the best possible opportunities for their future. 💫 😁 TODAY'S THE DAY! WELCOME TO THE TEAM SCOTT 🌟 #metaskills #learningneverstops #localbusiness #brighterfutures #partnershipworking Mark Blair Paul Calder Mark Moncrieff Gordon Brown Hannah Campbell John Cox Adam Sinclair Niamh Waldron Fergus Scott Belinda Roberts MBE Jak Carlin 🟠 Neil Craik-Collins Midlothian Chamber of Commerce WeDO Scotland Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)

For those of you who attended the breakfast yesterday, here are Robin Turnbull's 3 top actions businesses should take to adhere to the new legal duty to prevent sexual harassment: ❗ Conduct thorough regular risk assessments, ❗ Provide meaningful, up to date training to all staff; and ❗ Implement a strong reporting system through their policies and contracts with third parties If you require help, please get in touch with Robin or book onto one of the Anderson Strathern training courses.

If you're in need of a summary of yesterday's budget, then look no further! Thanks to Grant Middleton of AGL Tax Solutions LLP for putting this together for us.

SCC CALLS ON THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT TO UTILISE CONSEQUENTIAL FUNDING TO SUPPORT ECONOMIC GROWTH Dr Liz Cameron CBE, Chief Executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce (SCC) said: “We welcome the additional £3.4 billion of funding for Scotland but as always the devil is in the detail, and we need to see a full breakdown of how this will be utilised to support economic growth. “As we look ahead to the Scottish budget, we urge consequential funding to be utilised to support the business community, particularly on non-domestic rates and planning, to ensure a level playing field with the rest of the UK.” On National Insurance Contributions, Dr Cameron said: “The increase in employer NICs and the reduction in the secondary threshold at which businesses have to pay it is a double tax hit for firms. “Firms are bearing the lion’s share of plugging the £40 billion fiscal funding gap cited by the Chancellor, with the increase in employer NICs accounting for half of this. However, increasing the Employment Allowance from £5,000 to £10,000 will support Scotland’s micro and small businesses with less than ten employees and this is to be welcomed. “Many businesses will be unable to absorb these costs and will have no alternative but to pass onto consumers. The scale of this additional cost will mean that pay rises and additional staff hiring could go on hold, or new jobs won’t be created. “Staffing remains the most significant cost pressure for businesses and impacts recruitment, retention and training and as the Office for Budget Responsibility’s highlighted the majority of any rise in employers' NICs would be passed on to workers via lower pay rises.” SCC welcomed the continuation of the freeze in fuel duty, Dr Cameron said: “The continuation of the freeze on fuel duty is a welcome boost during times of escalating costs and this is a positive measure at a time when cost pressures remain.” On support for Scotland’s drinks industry, Dr Cameron said: “There is a cheer for the draught products industry today, but Scotland’s national drink loses out on support. We urge the Chancellor to re-think this decision and provide the whisky industry with essential support to enable future growth and further investment.” On Capital Gains Tax, Dr Cameron said: “It is perhaps too early to see the impact of the increases to Capital Gains Tax but it is rarely a positive move given the competitive landscape we operate in. The substantial increase in the higher rate from 18% to 24% and a near doubling of the lower rate from 10% to 18% is likely to be difficult for many businesses to absorb.”

Excellent Midlothian & East Lothian Chamber of Commerce Breakfast meeting today at Queen Margaret University. Thanks Jaclyn Pringle FCIPD 🟡🔴🟢🔵 for describing the benefits of psychometrics - Insights Discovery - to business. Useful for personal career and team development etc. to understand our unique personal preferences. #careerdevelopment #careertransition #Psychometricassessment

Scottish Chambers of Commerce Urges Business Investment at Edinburgh Castle Reception Last night, SCC welcomed esteemed guests including Chamber representatives, politicians, and business leaders to the Scottish Business Reception hosted by First Minister which advocated for economic growth. In his address, SCC President Stephen Leckie emphasized the need for a UK budget focused on "growth, investment, and competitiveness." He stated, "The Chancellor’s actions and the message they send will directly impact business confidence and investment at a time when we need to create positive momentum. We hope that our calls to support business have been listened to and not ignored.” First Minister John Swinney reinforced this call commenting, “It takes political willpower to adapt and evolve our economies and grow thriving societies in all four nations – something the Chancellor can signal by including steps to advance the Acorn carbon capture and storage project in the UK Budget, which would provide new opportunities for workers in the oil and gas sector in Grangemouth and in other parts of Scotland.” Read the full press release here: https://lnkd.in/eKxAKEf8 The Scottish Government #SCCEdinburghCastle #SCCBusinessReception #EdinburghCastle #ChamberNetwork #BusinessGrowth

Great to see two of our members in the one video! Get yourself to The Leddie if you haven’t been, and if you want advice about selling a business, give Andrew Morrison a shout. He won’t sell it for you, but he will help you get ready for the sale.

As the region's leading independent business support and networking organisation, the Chamber is here to help our members save time and money, gain business knowledge and expertise and introduce them to potential customers and suppliers. We are the voice of Midlothian & East Lothian business - representing both SMEs and larger corporate organisations.