Customer Profile 

---

Cool Ventures first met Vanessa when she attended a High Growth workshop we were delivering in May 2012.  Vanessa had been trading for around 6 months and was already close to outgrowing her premises!  Although Vanessa had invested time and money into starting up, such rapid growth meant that she had not had time to put in place some of the systems and processes needed to support the business if it was to be as successful as Vanessa hoped.

As well as stocking the materials needed for refurbishing wooden furniture, The Marmalade House provides training courses for individuals wanting to learn how to paint their own furniture and undertakes commissions to modernise and update furniture using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.

Vanessa's enthusiasm and drive to develop her successful furniture business was immediately obvious to us and we suggested she apply for assistance from the Solutions for Business High Growth programme to help fund her coaching. Vanessa successfully applied for the support and Sue Marchant, one of our approved High Growth coaches worked with Vanessa to develop a plan to maximise the benefit she could gain from the coaching support.

As a Chartered Accountant Sue Marchant was able to work with Vanessa to produce her financial projections, but Sue's experience as a business adviser and business owner also enabled her to help Vanessa with the practicalities of planning and running her business and then developing it to the level she dreamed of.

Having helped map out the business requirements, including clarifying and documenting the requirements for premises, website and marketing, the plan was put in place. As well as the planning, Sue was able to recommend and put Vanessa in touch with other professionals who could advise on things like Tax and Intellectual Property so that Vanessa could make the right decisions regarding her legal status and protect her trademark and designs.

Having worked from home so far, at the end of November Vanessa will be moving into her new studio in the centre of Bath from where The Marmalade House can deliver training as well as providing more space for Vanessa to continue working on her furniture and hand-painted gifts and accessories safe in the knowledge she has a robust business plan and has taken steps to protect her ideas.

Vanessa says of Sue "You have given me fantastic support for my new venture and I will be recommending Cool Ventures to my friends and colleagues. Thank you!"

For more information on The Marmalade House, visit www.themarmaladehouse.co.uk.

For more information on how Cool Ventures can help your business, whether you are already trading or looking for help to start up visit www.coolventures.co.uk or call us on 01225 580850

New guidance has been published by the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) this month explaining how the Data Protection Act applies to cloud computing. The guidance confirms that organisations remain responsible for how their data is handled, even if they pass it to cloud service providers.

The new guide to cloud computing provides tips on storing personal data in the cloud, including information on how to work with cloud service providers while complying with the law.

With a YouGov survey commissioned by the ICO showing that 46 per cent of UK adults online who use cloud storage are concerned about the security of their information in the cloud, it is important that companies get it right from a customer satisfaction as well as legal standpoint


Employers exempt from automatic workplace injury liability

Employers will no longer be liable for workplace injuries regardless of fault, under reforms to the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill. This amendment is part of Government efforts to cut regulatory burdens on businesses and was one of the recommendations made in the Löfstedt review of health and safety legislation published earlier this year. Other amendments to the Bill include removing employer liability for third-party harassment and allowing individuals to enter bankruptcy without having to go to court.

There is more on the reforms at:
http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2012/october/automatic-liability-for-work-accidents-to-go-as-part-of-regulatory-shake-up/

_________________________________________________________________________

 

VAT Number Change

HMRC has changed the method they use to calculate VAT numbers allocated to businesses. HMRC have not disclosed the method of calculation in an effort to reduce the number of bogus VAT numbers being quoted by businesses on their documentation.

The previous method of verifying the last two digits of the VAT number quoted, by calculation should no longer be used as it is not valid for recently issued VAT numbers. This effectively reduces the verification process from two stages to one.

If you wish to verify the name of the VAT registered party, and ensure the VAT number being quoted has been allocated to the business/ company, you will need to access the following website, quoting the South Gloucestershire VAT number, which is 664 3211 52. http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/vieshome.do