CJAM announces Charity of 2011 – The J’s Hospice
We are pleased to announce that CJAM will be donating all services free to The J's Hospice in 2011.
How should small charities handle communications work?
Ann Nichols of the Guardian writes ‘ small organisations are adopting a range of techniques to get their message across’ CJAM specialises in supporting Association, Charity and Business clients with Marketing Communications.
Managing communications for a small charity requires multi-skilled people who can create marketing and PR campaigns, engage with stakeholders, produce e-bulletins, develop websites, deal with journalists, manage events, as well as being a whizz at social media. Most of the bigger charities have large communication teams of 30 staff or more who collectively posses these skills. But for small charities the picture is very different.
About 85% of UK charities are classified as ‘small’ or ‘micro’, with an annual income of less than £500,000 a year. I wanted to find out how these small charities manage their communications. Do they employ staff with skills in marketing and public relations? Do they rely on volunteers? Or do they manage with no communications support at all?
More than £450m investment for regional jobs and growth
Over 100,000 new jobs will be created and safeguarded under Government plans announced today by the Deputy Prime Minister to invest £450m in businesses across England.
The first round of the Regional Growth Fund (RGF) will see an expanded amount of public investment support 50 bids by companies and partnerships who demonstrated how they would create jobs and a high level of private sector-led sustainable economic growth in their local communities over the coming years.
The Government expects over 27,000 jobs to be directly created and safeguarded, with close to a further 100,000 jobs in associated supply chains and local economies.
£20m management training fund will help small businesses grow
Skills Minister John Hayes today called on senior leaders in SMEs to take advantage of funding that will support leadership and management training to help them grow their businesses.
Around 13,000 small and medium sized businesses and social enterprises that demonstrate a potential for growth will benefit from the Leadership and Management development grant. This will help stimulate innovation and employment, boosting the economy and helping develop a bigger and more cohesive society.
Independent Commission on Banking: Publication of Interim Report
The Interim Report sets out the Commission’s current and provisional views on the need for reform and on possible reform options.
Bribery Act 2010 – Quick Start Guide
The Bribery Act 2010 Quick Start Guide, will help organisations of all sizes and sectors put procedures in place.
New climate change advice to help businesses boost growth
Climate change will bring opportunities for economic growth if British businesses think now about how climate change will affect them, Environment Minister Lord Henley said today. The message came at the launch of a new interactive online tool designed by Defra and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) to prepare businesses for both climate risks and opportunities.
The Climate Resilience Toolkit is a quick and simple online tool available on the Business Link website for businesses wanting to increase their resilience to the changing climate, or explore possibilities for growth by taking advantage of the opportunities climate change will bring.
The toolkit provides a tailored report for each business to help it focus on what it should be doing to prepare, such as checking the robustness of its supply chain, the threat of flooding to premises and possible changes in customer demand for products.
Government bins business red tape
Business will be freed from the burden of red tape under a package of sweeping reforms to regulation, it was announced today.
In a speech to the Federation of Small Businesses in Liverpool, Mark Prisk revealed Business Secretary Vince Cable’s plans for a range of measures to be included in the Growth Review that will allow businesses to grow, including:
- a public audit of almost 22,000 statutory instruments that are currently on the statute book; and
- a moratorium to exempt businesses with fewer than ten employees and genuine start ups from new domestic regulation for three years.
New ‘Solutions for Business’ portfolio refocused on growth
The Government is launching a new portfolio of products today to help businesses and support growth in the economy.
The new Solutions for Business (SfB) package is simpler, making it easier to understand and accessible to companies.
There are 13 products designed to help businesses identify and overcome key challenges as they grow and develop. It will target activities where a Government lead is required, such as providing access to strategic advice, helping companies reach international markets and supporting innovation.
Business and Enterprise Minister Mark Prisk announced the 13 products at a North West Business Reception in Manchester.
Mr Prisk said:
“The new Solutions for Business portfolio has been designed to give businesses the help they need to expand and grow.
“We are moving away from centralised advice and focusing on targeted programmes. This streamlining is firmly based on developing those services which work, and which private providers do not offer. Securing economic growth is our central task and this step is part of our broad programme to free enterprise and help small firms prosper.”
April changes for Corporation Tax for associations and charities
These changes will affect third sector organisations that pay corporation tax, including clubs, societies, associations, co-operatives, charities and other unincorporated bodies.