Once upon a time ....

In a galaxy not so very far away, there has been yet another name change to confuse the innocent and empower the few.

Over the last couple of weeks we have seen the name of the Government Department once known as the DTI (The Department for Trade and Industry) changed to BIS (The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills). Not so bad but in between these was BERR (The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform) but all offering the same (or remarkably similar) support services to the business community.

Now I recognised that Government may not be as fixated on Brand Value as we are in business but for goodness sake too much change does little other than confuse users and make a massive workload for sign makers, printers and office relocation companies.

I wonder just how much this constant change really costs the poor old tax payer.

Gareth

Morning or afternoon person?

People really can be classed as “early risers” and “night owls”, according to new research. Scientists have uncovered proof that brain functions peak at different times of the day in different types of people.

Researchers in Canada found that the brains of “morning people” were most excitable at 9am but that this slowly decreased during the day. However, for night owls it was the exact opposite with their brains most excitable at 9pm.

The researchers also found that “evening people” became physically stronger throughout the day. But the strength of “morning people” remained much the same before fading later in the day.

I know which I am, do you?

Shelley, APA

From a report in the Daily Mail Friday 26th June by Emily Fox

'Thinking outside the Box'

You must have heard the phrase ‘Think outside the Box’. People use it all the time when they are trying to get you to act creativity or do something differently.

As a business strategist I have one fundamental problem with the notion of ‘thinking outside the box’, and that is, how can you if you can’t see it, feel it or someone has defined its parameters to you. How do you know when you are inside or outside of it?

So, the next time some asks you to TOTB, just ask them to define it!

Most businesses fail to recognise the true power of business planning and if they do, many don’t have a documented, rehearsed and communicated strategy available to all staff. Most businesses don’t have a Business Plan; which I find outrageous. However, if they did then they would definitely be able to tell people to be creative and think outside the Plan. So I believe, very strongly, that the box is the Business Plan and vice versa.

Does your company have a Business Plan? Is it communicated, regularly referred to and is it part of a culture by which you live and drive the business? I would like to know.

Gareth

Stress in the workplace

Almost six in ten workers are feeling more stressed out and under pressure as a result of the economic climate. This is the key finding of Aviva's latest healthcare report, Health of the Workplace, which also reveals that just under half of employers have no provision for dealing with stress.

Alex Marshall, a business development manager at Aviva, said some of the reasons employees are feeling extra pressure are linked to job insecurity, a strong commitment to their role and the need to provide for their family.

He stated: "Around 37 per cent of employees are failing to take lunch breaks, so as a first step, employers should be encouraging a good work/life balance and promote a culture that encourages staff to take their statutory break. Businesses need to be aware that longer working hours can affect workplace performance." Mr Marshall added that higher numbers of accidents or injuries could result from long hours, leading to an increase in claims of incapacity and long-term sickness benefits. There should be a strong focus on stress management, which should be treated like any other workplace hazard," he proposed.

One of my great PAs, Faye Jennings (now Crisp) had a 'look' that worked wonders when I was starting to get uptight. She would look across at me and shake her head from side to side in what I used to call her 'Stupid Boy' look. It was guaranteed to make me smile and recognise the error of my ways!

Gareth

Hail Fellow!

This week APA Director General, Gareth Osborne, visited the Institute of Credit Management to award a Certificate of Fellowship to Tracy Carter, PA to its Chief Executive, Philip J King. Blog readers may already know Tracy (TC) from her outstanding contribution as a commentator and will be pleased to know she will be joining the growing group of Blog Authors soon.

Gareth said, “Tracy’s involvement in APA was immediate. Since joining she has offered suggestions about the organisation, provided content for the monthly Members email, given advice to other Members and joined in on our blog site, prepared to comment on a host of topics. She is a well informed and involved PA and that is the best any association can hope for from its Members. We noticed that she was eligible - by experience - to become a Fellow and concluded that her passion and participation warranted recognition. Tracy is a true star in terms of her understanding of what makes a great PA and a credit to ICM. Having met Philip I have little doubt they make a great team.”

Gareth

Note for PAs: If you have staff in your business who are responsible for Credit Management matters why not ask if they are members of their professional body, ICM, and give them the url: http://www.icm.org.uk

Thanks Pal!

APA offers its sincere apologies to anyone who has experienced difficulty paying for membership, training or other pa-raphernalia through the APA Shop, using PayPal, over the last month. Thanks for your tolerance and I was delighted how seamlessly people reverted to ‘payment by cheque’ or ‘BACS’; proving that web-technology does not always 'rule OK!'

The problem, believed to have been caused by PayPal discontinuing one product and superseding it by another, resulted in us having to upload the new product module and then carrying out some extensive configuration changes to the server to ensure that the new module worked correctly. This resulted in considerable frustration and a number of unsuccessful attempts before correcting the predicament.

Normal service has now been resumed and online payment is working perfectly again.

Gareth

Righting the Wrongs

Turkey Twizzlers are good for you and polar bears aren't dying out! According to Professor Vincent Marks in a new book coming out soon anyway.

Melting ice caps, global warming, our favourite foods giving us cancer. The doom-mongers love to tell us we're all going to hell in a handcart. But don't panic! A new book uncovers some inconvenient truths that give the pessimists pause for thought ...

The main highlights include:
We don't know what causes heart disease,
Take health advice with a pinch of salt,
Mercury fillings are probably harmless,
Turkey Twizzlers are fine,
The Sun is behind global warming, our star not the newspaper,
The Maldives aren't sinking,
CO2 levels are not at unprecedented highs,
Polar Bears are not dying out ... nore are Penguins,
The Gulf Stream is not under threat,
There are few 'bad' foods,

This is the kind of science I love, I also like conspiracy theories.

Shelley, APA

Extracted from an article in the Daily Mail commenting on Global Warming And Other Bollocks: The Truth About All Those Science Scare Stories by Professor Stanley Feldman and Professor Vincent Marks, to be published by Metro on July 8.

Beware 118 for Mobiles

Controversial mobile phone directory 118 800 fails to connect on its first day
By Sean Poulter Daily Mail 19th June 2009

Generally, mobile phone numbers are private and only given to people known to the handset user - either friends and family or work colleagues. However, 118 800 will allow complete strangers to find and call you on your mobile.

Mobile phone networks have been inundated with calls from customers worried that their private numbers have been passed on to the company running the new service. In fact, the company behind it, Connectivity, has bought the numbers from list brokers who in turn buy personal details from market research firms and online stores. To date, the company claims it has collated a list of 16million mobile numbers - around 40 per cent of the 42million in regular use in the UK. However, it plans to build the list to cover the majority of users. Individuals will also be able to volunteer to place their numbers with the mobile directory enquiry service.

Critics claim the people whose numbers appear in the directory were never told their numbers would be bought and sold in this way.

Connectivity insists it is able to protect the privacy of the public because it does not hand over the mobile phone numbers to users of the service. Rather it acts as an intermediary to put the caller in touch with the person they are trying to find. Callers should be able to dial the 118 800 service and give the name and home area, preferably an address, of the person they are looking for. The company will then search for that person on its database.

The system for calling mobiles failed yesterday, on its first day.

Readers should be aware that their mobile number may not be as secure as they thought!

Shelley, APA

Call me a Donut [Doughnut]

A useful new website has recently been launched in a joint venture between Google and Royal Mail offering specialist marketing advice to small businesses across the UK. They have joined forces to establish Marketing Donut, which includes promotions and advertising tips from sales and public relations experts.

The site's developers say it has been launched in response to demand for "high quality, free advice" covering all aspects of marketing. Practical information on improving techniques will be offered, in addition to videos and tools designed to help companies improve the quality and effectiveness of their output.

Tim Rivett, Royal Mail's head of small business, said his organisation was committed to services that help companies across the UK grow – such as helping them attract and retain customers through cost-effective and creative direct marketing campaigns. In the current economic climate, small businesses are looking at targeted and accountable ways of advertising their products and services."

According to a new study conducted by the Internet Advertising Bureau, the internet was the only marketing medium to experience growth in 2008.

This information could be worth passing on to those in the business responsible for sales and marketing and make sure you tell them that it was APA that told you.

Gareth

To go view site go to: http://www.marketingdonutblog.co.uk/

The generation that ask 'Y'

Although a self-professed party animal, now in my mid-twenties, I am from a fairly conservative background and had a conventional education; I consider myself pretty normal. However, I do struggle to understand some of the 'youngsters' who come looking for jobs but find it hard to demonstrate a work-ethic.

I have just read a report of new research from Ashridge Business School which suggests that business managers should look beyond harmful preconceptions about younger members of the workforce and reports that many business managers fail to understand 'Generation Y' workers and are unaware of how to help them achieve their full potential.

It suggests that firms which subscribe to commonly-held views about those under the age of 27 risk alienating young talented staff.The report points out these workers are not the technical geniuses they are often portrayed to be and they often have poor self-awareness compared to previous generations. Generation Y is said to be short of risk-takers and new entrants to the world of work may be less concerned about the environment than they are often professed to be.

I plan to have a chat with our HR advisers and see what they recommend but if it is true I think it might be time for a radical rethink of how our managers recruit and induct new juniors. Perhaps we are getting it wrong, what do others think?

Aimee Lewis FAPA

Digital Britain

This week the Government published the Digital Britain Report, its strategic vision for ensuring that the UK is at the leading edge of the global digial economy.

The report provides actions and recommendations to promote and protect talent and innovation in our creative industries, to modernise TV and radio frameworks and support local news, and introduces policies to maximise the social and economic benefits from digital technologies.

The Report is one of the central policy commitments in the Government's Building Britain's Future plan and draft legislative programme.

Digital Britain measures include:

· A three-year National Plan to improve Digital Participation
· Universal Access to today's broadband services by 2012
· Next Generation fund for investment in tomorrow's broadband services
· Digital radio upgrade by the end of 2015
· Mobile spectrum liberalisation, enhancing 3G and accelerating Next Generation services
· Robust legal and regulatory framework to combat Digital Piracy
· Support for public service content partnerships
· A revised digital remit for Channel 4
· Consultation on funding options for national, regional and local news

For more information and to view the report go to: http://www.culture.gov.uk/what_we_do/broadcasting/5631.aspx

Colin Minto, Technology Director of APA said, “Britain needs a strong digital strategy for the future if we are to maximise the commercial opportunities available from an increasingly web-based society. The UK has historically turned its back on manufacturing and technological innovation and the financial sector has recently self-destructed. If Britain is not to fall back to become a truly third-world economy it definitely needs to lead the world in its digital expertise. APA supports the Government's thinking and has and will participate in its consultation process.”

Gareth

Homework set to increase

Up to a quarter of the UK working population could be carrying out employment duties from their homes by 2020, it has been claimed. According to insurance firm Aviva, workplace trends are changing and people are increasingly seeking to embrace non-standard work patterns as they seek an improved work-life balance. Consequently, the number of people engaging in "smart working" is set to rise significantly from the current figure of one million in the UK, it is claimed.

Julie Fromant, home lifestyle manager at Aviva UK said: "The work landscape is constantly changing and a quarter of the population is expected to work from home at least once a week by 2020. Mums and dads choosing to work flexi hours, the growing number of freelancers and higher levels of redundancy all mean that home working has become a real alternative to the corporate office."

Moneysupermarket.com editor Clare Francis claimed this week that home workers should keep their office separate from the rest of their house. She suggested allocating a room for use solely as a study or office, in order to prevent work encroaching too much into the personal lives of individuals.

This is a subject that is set to run and run but those who embrace the new employment style and practices will gain most in the long term.

Gareth

Building Britain's Future: New Industry, New Jobs

I have just sourced an interesting document published by BERR (formerly the DTI) packed full of useful economic statistics about the business landscape and its thoughts for how we may go forward (post the downturn).

I was looking for some useable information for my Boss to help bolster our new Business Plan and stumbled on this and thought it would be useful for other PAs doing similar tasks.

I hope it proves useful.

Sarah Tiddy FAPA

Link to a downloadable pdf: http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file51023.pdf

On APA and Politics

Like all truly professional Associations APA is politically neutral or, perhaps more correctly, an apolitical organisation. Our role makes it important that we can debate issues of particular importance to our Members and represent their interests at all levels, across all parties and the great political divide. Our attitude to governance reflects a strategy to support any Government that supports business, especially small business, irrespective of political creed.

For this reason APA avoids all political debate that is not driven by the will of our Members.

So why do I remind you of this? Well, I have to say that I am appalled to learn that Kitty Usher, a Treasury Minister, has today felt the need to resign from her post for fear of her actions reflecting badly on the Government and the Prime Minster. And press speculation concludes that this is because she has [allegedly] used the rules that govern MPs allowances to avoid payment of up to £17,000 in tax.

This follows in the wake of a sea of omissions by MPs, of all persuasions, that they have done the same is a massive collective breach of their professional ethics. Currently around 50 MPs have repaid around £500,000 to the Fees Office; with many more to follow.

If a Member of any professional association, including our own, was to make such a transparent and admitted breach of their Code of Professional Practice/Ethics they would almost certainly be expelled from membership.

Perhaps it’s time Politicians had an effective professional body! What do you think?

Gareth

Business travel habits change

A survey compiled and released to mark the first Business Travel Market at London’s ExCeL exhibition centre reports that the recession has forced business travel habits to change. A cross section of travel buyers from UK and Europe were surveyed and 86.2% said the recession had forced cost cutting measures, many of which would be retained after full economic recovery.

Of the cutbacks detailed, the highest response for change was that 79.2% are making greater use of conference call and web-based technologies. 67.9% have cut back on the number of approved trips, 66% now book further in advance to take advantage of lower cost options and 49.1% said class of travel had been downgraded. Only 7.5% reported a total travel ban, although 26.4% reported a travel ban for non-revenue generating trips.

Other cutbacks mentioned included holding same day meetings to avoid overnight stays, shorter stays, multiple meetings in the same trip, greater use of low cost airlines and public transport and a reduction in the use of limos and taxis.

Whilst those surveyed who will retain restrictions when financial stability returns, the top three measures most likely to remain were: continued and greater use of conference call and associated web-based technologies; early booking of lower cost travel options; and a downgraded class of travel policy.

Surprisingly, 31% reported an increased use of rail service to and within Europe, for environmental rather than cost cutting reasons, indicating that environmental concerns remain high on the corporate agenda. Finally, of the buyers that use a travel management company, 65.5% felt they provided best fares and rates and provided crucial data for efficient management of travel and offered 24/7 support. Only 13.8% thought they didn’t add value.

APA supports the need for a more strategic approach to cost effective business travel and encourages Members to work within their business to reduce excesses and unnecessary stays away from home. It is far more cost effective to travel on the same day; starting early and returning late and working for half day the following day or working from home than it is to fund an overnight stay.

Gareth

Would you work for Peanuts?

British Airways is asking thousands of its staff to work for free for up to four weeks, according to its spokeswoman, Kirsten Millard. In an e-mail to all its staff, the airline offered workers between one and four weeks of unpaid leave -- but with the option to work during this period. British Airways employs just more than 40,000 people in the United Kingdom. Last month, the company posted a record annual loss of £400 million.

"I'm 30 years in this business and I've never seen anything like this. This is by far the biggest crisis the industry has ever faced," said Willie Walsh, British Airways' chief executive. Demand for the airline's passenger seats and cargo holds fell during the last financial year, while its fuel bill rocketed to almost £3 billion. Walsh said British Airways' woes were inextricably linked to the downturn in the global economy and that there had been absolutely no sign of any "green shoots" of recovery.

The airline's premium passenger numbers fell 13 percent in the second half of last year, in line with the industry average. Total traffic fell 3.4 percent and while the airline carried 33.1 million passengers last year, it was a drop of 4.3 percent from the previous year. The dip in demand for British Airways' flights has forced a switch in strategy at the airline. From the end of last year, it has been trying to tempt passengers with lower fares, sacrificing profit per seat for "bums on seats."

APA supports BA as it fights the economic pressures of the moment but feels it is a giant leap of faith to ask its workforce (especially its heavily unionised workforce) to consider making this investment in the company's future. We recognise this is the first step towards redundancy as the only realistic alternative, but feel it might be a difficult strategy to pull off.

Gareth

Free Ironing

Times Online June 10, 2009 Mark Frary

Free ironing the latest perk in the business hotel war
North American chain adds tempting freebies for its loyal guests in a bid to win custom

I have often ranted here about the cost of wi-fi and praised those enlightened hotel chains that have decided to offer it free of charge. Of course, free of charge is just a relative thing in the world of room rates and some argue that hotels just increase them to cover the cost of providing the extra service.

Moaning about the cost of wi-fi is yesterday’s news though. Word has reached me that Omni Hotels, which has a clutch of top-notch business hotels in cities across North America including the Berkshire Place in New York and the Shoreham in Washington, has started to offer free ironing and shoe-shining to members of its loyalty programme Select Guest. This is in addition to the free wi-fi the company already offers members. Best of all, membership of Select Guest is free of charge too.

I think it’s a very savvy move from the company since ironing is almost universally detested except by masochists. With business hotels desperate to attract guests, rates are unlikely to increase to cover the costs either.

So will Omni’s move start a free extras war among the hotel chains? We now have free wi-fi, ironing and shoe shining. Whatever next? Free minibar perhaps?

I suspect that even now as I write, some forward-thinking hotelier out there is toying with the idea of giving rooms away free and having expensive adverts playing on vast flat screens covering all of your room’s walls.

Is this something when booking any accommodation for your boss he or she may be interested in? let me know

Shelley, APA

Work remotely this summer

Small businesses could save money by offering employees the option of home working, a new study suggests. Research by Citrix Online has studied the effects the recent Tube strikes had on businesses in the capital and found that over 1.3 million hours were lost by firms as a result. It found that 54 per cent of London workers had to travel into the office due to employers 'banning them' from remote working.

This is despite 47 per cent claiming to have been able to be just as productive working from home.The survey of 1,000 Londoners found that 33 per cent of them were disrupted by the strike by Underground staff. Some were found to have abandoned their journey, with only five per cent working from home, two per cent taking the day off and one per cent admitting to a sickie.

Gareth Osborne of APA said, “There is still a reluctance to trust staff working from home and until Managers tackle this head-on they will never take advantage of this inevitable trend in working practice. I personally believe the Head Office of the future will be entirely virtual and most people will operate from home or smaller remote locations.”

Bernardo de Albergaria, general manager at Citrix Online, said, "The survey clearly demonstrates that workers could be as or more productive working from home, but unfortunately many businesses are not being as quick to recognise the benefits of adopting a flexible working approach in their business continuity plans."

APA would encourage all forward thinking employers to form a Home Working Policy Group to start developing a strategy for inclusion in the staff handbook. It is worth starting by looking at those jobs that can be operated more flexibly. Gareth concluded, "I regularly work from home and can do three super productive hours before I break for breakfast at 9am."

APA

Some brightness on the horizon

Business confidence is increasing in the UK, according to the latest Lloyds TSB Corporate Markets Business Barometer.

It shows that after a third consecutive monthly rise, business confidence levels were at their highest in a year during May.Some 44 per cent predicted a rise in business activity when questioned last month, compared to 35 per cent out of April's sample. The number expecting activity to worsen fell from 21 per cent in April to 16 per cent last month as the barometer balance increased by 14 per cent.

Trevor Williams, chief economist at Lloyds TSB Corporate Markets, said: "While it would be premature to talk of an end to the recession, we should be careful not to overlook the significance of the growing confidence we are witnessing amongst businesses." He stated that confidence is "always the foundation" on which any recovery is built. Mr Williams added that three consecutive months of growing optimism amongst UK businesses had been seen, meaning an economic recovery should not be too far behind if this persists over the coming months.

Earlier this month, Defaqto economist Michael Baxter claimed low interest rates and quantitative easing are leading to an improvement in economic conditions.

APA believes there is some relaxation in the market and that will tend to fuel a little more calculated risk taking and some spending but recommends that businesses should exercise caution over the summer months and look again in September before doing anything radical.

Gareth

National Boss Day

Date 16th October 2009

Also known as "National Bosses Day". Boss's Day is a United States secular holiday celebrated on October 16. It has traditionally been a day for employees to thank their superiors for being kind and fair throughout the year. The holiday has been the source of some controversy and criticism in the United States, where it is often mocked as a Hallmark Holiday.

Is this something that the UK should adopt, we seem to adopt most things from America or is this a step too far? Shelley..

Small business costs are falling

The cost of running a small business dropped in the first quarter of the year, according to reports.

According to the More Than's quarterly business inflation guide, which measures a basket of the 20 most important items bought by small firms, running costs for small firms have dipped by 1.4 per cent over the first quarter of 2009. In particular labour, advertising, materials and vehicle costs all contributed to the fall.

Overall, costs in the first three months of this year were 0.6 per cent lower than the same period in 2008, with the recent falls offsetting rises seen in the last half of the year.Commenting on the findings, head of More Than Business Mike Bowman told the Press Association: "The fact that we're experiencing such sustained deflationary conditions demonstrates just how deep the recession has become in the UK. The volatility has made it very difficult to plan and invest, placing tremendous pressure on cash flows and managing stock and staffing levels."

Service orientated businesses are particularly likely to benefit from the drop in costs, as one of their main outgoings is labour.

APA believes every little helps and as a service business itself it is grateful for any savings although I believe that other peripheral costs (perhaps not embraced in More Than's survey) are negating the benefits. One of the greatest downsides is that debtors are talking longer to pay and the cost of the money to sustain these debtor days is rising. I would certainly like to hear from Members or readers who think their financial departments are jumping up and down at the news of savings.

Gareth

Balancing the baby and a business!

Some women find that the only way they could juggle work and children is to establish their own business, it has been claimed.

According to the British Association of Women Entrepreneurs (BAWE), childcare can put a "huge burden" on employment and starting their own firm can help some women achieve balance. However, the body's president Tatjana Hine stated that setting up shop on their own is not an "easy" option for working mums as they still have to work around and pay for nannies etc."

It isn't an easy option, it's as simple as that, there is no easy way to be looking after children and to be a company holder where you are employing people and you have them to worry about as well," she added.

Earlier this year a study by Prowess highlighted that female entrepreneurs could be key to helping the UK out of the recession.The research stated that positive evidence points to women business owners driving a new enterprise model based on diligent risk taking and collaboration which take account of wider social values alongside profits.

So what do APA Members think, would they consider going it alone and what help do they think they may need. Our own Doctor Gareth is a renowned entrepreneur, he might have some views on this? Please let me know.

Aimee Lewis FAPA

"Olderpreneurs"

People are increasingly setting up their own businesses at an older age, according to new research.Recent research by Standard Life and YouGov highlighted that the trend for 'olderpreneurs' is set to become more prominent, with eight per cent of UK adults hoping to start their own firms in retirement.

The research also found that 85 per cent of the population do not envisage themselves giving up work completely post-retirement, with almost a third saying they want to continue work in the same sector, but on their own terms.It was also noted that people feel totally confident with their skills levels at the age of 37, while workers reach peak fulfilment at 50.

Commenting on the findings, John Lawson from Standard Life said: "Quite simply, people do not get old like they used to. The Baby Boomers started a trend for redefining what is effectively their 'third age' and these findings point to a continued trend for re-writing the rule book for younger generations."

A recent survey conducted by The Bright Idea Handbook, which is published by leading consumer interest group Which?, highlighted that that 15 per cent of people have credible business ideas, but just one in ten follow them through.

Gareth

Bosses cutting the number of meetings

Business bosses are rethinking the amount of time their teams spend in meetings, according to new research. A study commissioned by IT firm Parity highlighted that UK staff spend the equivalent of eight weeks a year in face-to-face meetings.

It revealed that as a result of the recession, businesses are instructing staff to reduce the number of face-to-face meetings they hold in a bid to cut down on costs and maximise productivity by keeping staff in the office.

Simon Wayne, managing director at Parity Solutions, said: "While people may think they prefer the traditional meeting format, face-to-face meetings often end up wasting vast sums of money in travel costs and unproductive 'dead time', and could just as well be hosted from employees' desks."However, the study suggested that this could be an unpopular move, with 89 per cent of respondents stating they prefer meeting with someone in person. The firm suggested that technology could be used to hold virtual meetings such a teleconferences and webinars instead.

Gareth Osborne, Director General of APA agrees that Technology can be used to reduce some of the burden meetings place on senior managers but would encourage PAs not to drop meetings all together, he says, “Meetings are an essential part of relationship building and lasting partnership need people to look into each others eyes when they are making a commitment – I hope there never comes a day when you can do every thing via the ether!”

APA

Experts extol effectiveness of exporting

Small businesses should be looking to make sales abroad as well as to the home market, according to experts. A new joint drive by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) and UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) aims to make firms think about exporting, after research by the bodies highlighted that 58 per cent of companies only export because they were approached by their customers and 19 per cent by an agent or distributor.

Commenting on these efforts, Stephen Alambritis, head of public affairs at the Federation of Small Businesses, said that there is "nothing to beat selling abroad as well as to the home market". He added that the benefits of embracing the export market include having a fall back if the home market dries up, adding to business turnover and boosting a firm's reputation.

The BCC and UKTI research also highlighted that half of firms export to specific markets as they already have contacts there, which the BCC states shows companies are not being as proactive as they could be.

APA reminds Members that we do have a small but growing International membership and PAs aboard may have contacts that could be useful when companies are looking to establish a foothold in overseas markets.

APA

PA to an Apprentice

By now we all know that Lord Grumpy (Oops sorry, no offence intended your [potentially] Ennobled One!) has taken his new Apprentice and the battle is over for another year but will the talented Yasmina Siadatan be more successful than some of the recent winners? I believe her entrepreneurial flair has appealed to Sir Alan for some time and she stands a good chance of retaining his interest.

He obviously had a hard decision to make at the end between the three final competitors - Yasmina, the creatively talented Katie Walsh and the fiesty Debra Barr, who went out last in the penultimate show. All three would have been worthy winners and will make great busines leaders in the future.

I would like to know how you voted, who did you think would win and of the last three, which would you most like to work for [and not work for] and why?

Gareth

Bo Selecta

It’s always great to hear of good conquering evil or the little guy winning through against all odds. That’s why new of success for Natalie Ellis, 41, inventor of the travel dog bowl which reduces splashes and slobber by 90 per cent is such a joy.

The businesswoman was inspired to create the travel bowl by her pet miniature pinscher, Shizza, after a brush with the law for trying to give her thirsty dog a drink while driving.
She designed and patented the non-spill water bowl which has floating tray to cut splashes and spills.

But her dreams of cracking the American market were left in tatters when she was turned down for £120,000 of investment by the Dragons and told she did not have a chance of being successful in the US. Not to be deterred the mother-of-one from Leigh-on-Sea in Essex has made more than £1 million from selling her invention in America and has now been asked to supply one for the White House's first dog, Bo Obama. "They contacted me and said can we have one for President Obama and I was taken aback," said Mrs Ellis, "It's absolutely amazing to think my invention is going to be used in The White House. She said: "This could be the start of something really big for me, it's such an amazing opportunity.

"When I go back to Dragons' Den I will be sitting in one of the chairs."

Gareth Osborne of APA, himself a Doctor of Business Innovation, said, “This is a wonderful example of invention based-on life experience, backed by courage and dogged determination. PAs have to demonstrate that same power of innovation to find solutions to unforeseen problems thrown at them on a daily basis. It is the same problem solving talent that leads entrepreneurs to take risks, realise dreams and create their financial independence.”

Do we have any PAs with exciting ideas out there?

Carly Beales FAPA

Stress in the Workplace

Workers who are under a lot of stress for long periods of time are likely to experience low job satisfaction, it has been claimed. It is reported that stressed workers are experiencing panic attacks and insomnia as a result of the economic downturn.

Business Link adviser Alexandra Shoobert reminds business owners that staff who are not happy in their job are less likely to work as productively. Her comments come after a Norwich Union Healthcare study found that one in five workers is suffering from depression. Ms Shoobert claims that such occurrences can be symptoms of stress, which may have been brought about through worries about personal financial or job security, or even that of other loved ones. It doesn't necessarily follow that just because people are worried about their job security that they are going to work more effectively. They might work longer hours.”

Some 46 per cent of those interviewed by Norwich Union claimed to be suffering from insomnia while 33 per cent cited migraines and 21 per cent said they suffered from anxiety attacks and palpitations.

APA suggests PAs should be aware of the increasing incidence of stress in the workplace and watch out for signs of depression, especially in their Boss, who carries the greatest burden. A classic reaction when someone is overstressed or under extreme pressure in the work place, is the continuous rejection of assistance when they need it most.

APA

Rock en Espana

Strict European labour laws designed to protect employees has produced an unexpected offer to the employees of one Spanish Bank. Even in bizarre financial times this is an opportunity to seriously consider.

Spanish bank BBVA is offering to pay long-term employees almost a third of their salary to go away for up to five years. This is one of a number of options offered to its near 30,000 workforce in an attempt to contain costs. BBVA is also offering the opportunity of a shorter working week on reduced pay or extra unpaid time off for staff. For those who take a break, the bank is undertaking to preserve the post for the employee's return.

Laying off permanent staff in Spain is expensive -- employees are entitled to up to 45 days salary for every year they have worked for a company -- and many of BBVA's employees have been there long enough to qualify for up to three years pay if they were made redundant. The BBVA approach not only saves the bank money but keeps people out of Spain's increasingly long queues of jobless.

Unemployment reached 4 million in the first quarter, with the unemployment rate hitting 18.1 percent in April and a rate of well above 20 percent is widely predicted.

What the offer also shows is that even those Spanish banks which have so far escaped the worst of the economic downturn such as BBVA and larger rival Santander are vulnerable and need to cut costs to rebuild their balance sheets.

Gareth

Reported by Reuters

To retain staff be flexiblle

Flexible working and the availability of paternity leave can help firms retain talent and combat staff attrition, it has been claimed.

According to David Bartlett, deputy chief executive of The Fatherhood Institute, allowing workers some leeway to tailor their own employment conditions can make it easier to hold on to better quality staff. He comments that fathers in particular need access to greater workplace flexibility, claiming that there is a "good business case" for such moves.

Mr Bartlett says: "This recession is not going to go on forever, and you could argue 'when is there ever going to be a good time for this' as people are always under pressure. The businesses that are going to survive best are those who can see their long term future, and actually operate strategically and not just tactically."

He claims that flexible working is good for both businesses and for families – two things which he claims are often opposed to each other.

Mr Bartlett adds: "If you have people in work where things aren't going well for them from a family point of view, they are ultimately not going to function very well for you either."

APA strongly supports the principle of flexible workings but reminds readers that flexibility is a two-way street and as employers are encouraged to better understand the needs, wants and external pressures facing staff, then so should employees recognise the changing needs of business. Flexible employment works well where a clear agreement of expectations is reached in advance.

Gareth

News of the Day - please welcome Lily Minto

We have just received news that our own Technology Director, Colin Minto, has become a father to a beautiful baby girl - Lily Grace Minto, born today at 7:45am and weighing in at 6lb 9ozs. Lily is sister to Thomas, aged 3.

APA, and I am sure all of its Members, send Colin and family our love and best wishes.

Shelley

ER - have I really done that?

I was talking to one of our Members this morning and we touched on our TV favourites. We agreed on ER; having watched the final episode last week. It got me thinking …

So, having surfed the Net it appears that there have been around 325 one hour episodes and a few specials of ER and I think I have watched them all. If it is true, then I have invested 330 hours in ER. If we assume we sleep for 8 hours, leaving 16 hours when we could potentially watch TV. That means I have committed 3 weeks of my life to this series. Note to self – I must get a life!

Are people going to watch the new series - allegedly about PAs - called Personal Affairs?

Shelley, APA

Too few Women on the Board

Forget the glass ceiling – the real gender problem for Britain’s boardrooms is a lack of women ready to take on the role of director, according to Kathleen O’Donovan, one of the country’s most senior non-executives.

Research by a company co-founded by Ms O’Donovan, who became the FTSE 100’s first female finance director at BTR in 1991, has found that businesses want to appoint women to their boards but cannot find enough experienced female candidates. “Time and again, we were told there are too few women in the pipeline – too few rising up career paths, too few gaining experience in running things, too few in the top executive roles,” says the report by Bird & Co Board and Executive Mentoring.

It interviewed 36 directors of FTSE companies, public sector and not-for-profit organisations, two-thirds of them women. This comes after Helen Alexander, president-nominee of the CBI employers’ group, told the Financial Times last week that boards composed entirely of white males indulged in narrow ‘groupthink’ and were missing out on talent.

Ms O’Donovan is deputy chairwoman of Great Portland Estates and non-executive director at Prudential, Trinity Mirror and ARM Holding and with Isabel Bird, co-founded Bird & Co Executive Board Mentoring 18 months ago. It aims to coach, mentor and train 24 female executives in the coming months – and 100 over four years – to try to make them ‘board-ready’. Typically they will be divisional heads or on executive committees at FTSE 100 groups and would go on to gain their first non-executive directorship at a smaller quoted company. As well as Ms O’Donovan, the mentors will include Alison Carnwath, Land Securities’ new chairman, and Val Gooding, former chief executive of Bupa, who is on the board of J Sainsbury and Standard Chartered Bank.
The training will cover “corporate theatre” or boardroom dynamics, how to get your voice heard on a board, corporate governance and financial matters and how to get a non-executive role.
She said women often progressed faster in professional firms, non-quoted companies and public sector organizations.

Women still occupy less than 12 per cent of directorships in FTSE 100 groups.

APA

Start thinking Graduates

Graduates are being "paralysed by fear" and put off applying for UK jobs because they believe the hype that no-one is hiring, top graduate recruiters have warned.

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and Deloitte – the top two graduate employers – have called on UK firms to promote the job opportunities that are still available despite the recession, to prevent talented prospective employees 'abandoning ship' and seeking alternative careers or placements abroad.

The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills is advising graduates to seek work abroad or volunteer to avoid unemployment this summer.

But Sarah Shillingford, graduate recruitment partner at Deloitte, told Personnel Today: "Statistically it is more difficult to get a job, but the reduction in vacancies is not as great as people think it is.

Concerns over a lack of UK graduate jobs were further fuelled last week when a KPMG/Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development survey found just 49% of companies planned to offer jobs to university leavers this year.

Sonja Stockton of PwC said,” We would be concerned if talented graduates felt they needed to leave the UK to get work. We could lose a generation of students, skills and experience on the basis of presumptions graduates are making about the jobs market through reports that are not fully reflecting the opportunities that exist. More than ever, students and employers need to talk the same language about the skills required in business, and how students can develop and demonstrate them."

Emma Pollard, senior research fellow at think-tank the Institute for Employment Studies, agreed employers should better advertise opportunities to work in the UK, including paid placements or work experience. "Graduates don't know what they can do and what the opportunities are," she said.

APA feels this is the perfect time to be recruiting graduates and firms should start now to identify needs and commence discussions with universities. We feel that many business graduates may look for senior PA roles and this could be a good time for established and experienced PAs to recruit and train a graduate assistant and then place them elsewhere in the business.

APA

From an article by Kat Baker, Personnel Today