‘Give us something we can use!’

Angel asks: Will business bank work for microbusinesses?

Samantha Acton, Domestic Angels

The owner of a Dorset micro business who challenged Vince Cable to work in the interests of micro businesses has warned the business secretary that his new ‘business bank’ may not be of much use to Britain’s smallest businesses.

Dr Cable has announced £1 billion of government money to fund a new bank with a clean slate to “get behind” good businesses and be lending money within 18 months. He hopes the state funding will be matched by private sector investment.

But micro business champion Samantha Acton of Southbourne-based Domestic Angels home help service says he has missed the point.

“Micro businesses that employ fewer than five people make up 95 per cent of Dorset businesses and we are distinct from SMEs, with our own problems, concerns and difficulties,” she says.

“My main concern is that the plan is to lend to SMEs, but will this include microbusinesses? We are a nation of shopkeepers and micro businesses are big business, but don’t necessarily fall into the SME definition.

“All I’m asking for is something that’s of genuine use to the smallest businesses. The last thing any of us needs is to increase our debt burden with new bank loans – no matter how easy they are to get,” she adds.

“If Vince Cable really wants to help the majority of Dorset businesses it would be far more useful to increase the VAT threshold and take a more imaginative, real-world attitude to the National Minimum Wage.

“He says we must get behind successful British-based firms in vehicles, aerospace, life sciences and the creative industries, as well as our world-class scientists and universities, but none of these sound like micro businesses.”

As published on seekernews.co.uk

Cable quizzed on small business experience

Domestic Angel tackles minister at breakfast meeting
Entrepreneurs from across the Wessex region are continuing to contact a Southbourne businesswoman who questioned government minister Vince Cable about his credibility to advise microbusiness owners.
Samantha Acton, who runs Domestic Angels home help service, tackled the business secretary at a breakfast meeting for small business owners organised by WSX Enterprise over to his lack of experience of running a business with fewer than five employees.
“Microbusinesses account for 95 per cent of the businesses in Dorset and yet government ministers and the people that run business organisations have little or no actual experience of them,” says Samantha.
“Dr Cable didn’t try to hide that fact, but then reverted to a pat answer about approaching banks for funding and cutting red tape.
“If he bothered to find out about what it’s really like to run a business at this level he would be trying to do things that can really make a difference, such as raising the VAT threshold.”
Samantha gave Dr Cable a pen which he promised to use for the rest of the month to remind him to consider microbusinesses in his policy meetings.
“Nothing I’ve seen or heard from him since makes me think he has kept that promise, but our exchange of words has certainly struck a chord across the area and I’ve had a string of messages of support.”
Heather Martyn, a director at Bournemouth-based electronic design company Ammtek, echoes Samantha’s message to the minister.
“Some of these microbusinesses are our future SMEs or, eventually, large organisations and our Government needs to be able to offer incentives to these microbusinesses to become employers and to grow sustainably,” she says.
“Apprenticeships are a good start but don’t solve all issues. I welcome further communication with Dr Cable and his department on this subject.”

The Synergy of Success – Business and Sport Sponsorship at Bournemouth Rugby Club

The 1st XV team has been promoted to National League 2 South which includes clubs from Launceston in the West Country to Southend in the East. Home games have traditionally attracted gates of a couple of hundred loyal supporters but as we neared the end of last season and promotion became a reality, attendance grew dramatically. Along with the success has come increased media attention by the Bournemouth Echo and Radio Solent in particular, others are joining the bandwagon. In addition to these ‘highlight’ fixtures, we have 3 other active senior teams, a Colt section and the Youth and Mini. The business bottom line is that between 700 and 1,000 people walk past the same adverts on the side of the 1st team pitch every week and in most cases twice per week for the whole season which is great advertising. There are plenty of children in amongst these crowds who exert buying pressure on parents and a large number of the parents are business owners and decision makers as well as being homeowners. You could target this audience using one of the following opportunities:
Your Company Pitch Side Board, 3m x 1m in place during the period 1 July 2012 – 1 May 2013 – £900. This includes:
Production of your pitch side board which is standard in size but designed in co-operation with yourself to reflect your business and targeted message
You will have an advertisement in each 1st XV home game programme (15 next season)
You will have a logo link on the Club website http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/bournemouth/
Two season tickets to all BRFC home games (15 next season)
Two free tickets to two nominated pre-match lunches, to meet Club members and other sponsors
Sponsor a Match – £800
High class buffet for 10 people
£100 bar tab
Free entrance and programs to the match for 10 people
Logo link on the Club website http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/bournemouth/
Mention in the pre-match write-up (which appears on page 3 of the match program), the scoreboard and announcements prior and during the game
Be part of the winning season at Bournemouth Rugby Club. To reserve your sponsorship opportunity call Sam Acton on 07985281120 or email sam@domestic-angels.com

Family praise for Domestic Angels

Samantha Acton, Director (centre)
and Supervisors Marie Raggett (left)
and Lisa Cooper (right)

Home help service cared ‘above and beyond’

The family of a former mainstay of amateur dramatics in Bournemouth has praised a home help service for caring “above and beyond the call of duty”.

Don Colley, who died last year, some years after his wife Lilian, had been housebound for most of the last two years of his life but with the help of Domestic Angels was able to stay in his own home until the very end.

Now his closest relative, stepsister Frances Short, is keen to pay tribute to those care providers.

“It is thanks to Claire from Domestic Angels and Sam who owns the company that Don was able to be where he wanted to be, at home, long after the doctors wanted to put him in a home,” says Frances, who lives near Axminster.

“It is so important for the dignity of the elderly and frail that their wishes be respected. Don was very ill with asbestosis and was bed-ridden by the end, but was adamant that he wanted to be at home. He was quite difficult and could be dangerously forgetful, but thanks to Claire who went in to see him every day and tidy up he had three meals a day and a little company.”
Don and Lillian had both been active members of Bournemouth Little Theatre Club, but when she died in 2004 he became increasingly withdrawn, particularly after he was diagnosed with asbestosis at the age of 84.

“I used to come up every week to keep an eye on him, but the strain on me was beginning to show,” says Frances, now 68.

“Dom’s quality of life was seriously compromised and it was not a very happy time for any of us, but Domestic Angels were able to give him some quality of life and a little peace of mind for us with simple human kindness that really was above and beyond the call of duty.”Family praise for Domestic Angels

Care cost shock: Bournemouth council may have to increase adult fees

MORE than a quarter of Bournemouth adults receiving council-funded care could be set for a hike in their charges.
Bournemouth Borough Council says that, in the face of a growing elderly population, it cannot continue to subsidise adult social care the way it currently does.
Thirty per cent of those currently being helped – around 400 people – could have to pay more.
In one proposed scenario, those with an income, savings or investments of more than £23,250 would have to foot the full cost of their care.

The council has launched a three-month consultation with service users, but says that only people who can afford to pay more will.
There are three choices on the table – increase charges from this autumn, phase in changes over a longer period or have a maximum charge for a limited period. The changes will affect services like day activities, transport, home care, night care, disability-related expenses and residential care.
The council says it currently spends £48.7million of its total £148.68million annual revenue budget on community care.
Judith Geddes, executive director at the council, said it was facing increased demand for adult social care. She added: “At the same time we are having to manage the services on a tight budget. We have given careful consideration to the services we provide for adult social care and how we currently charge for them.”

Susan Willoughby, chief executive of care provider Care South, said: “It is critical that at all stages there is robust consultation between care providers, local authorities and those people using care services in order to accurately assess and take into account the cost of care – and to ensure that the best and most realistic approach is taken.”
Samantha Acton, owner of Domestic Angels, a home help firm, said: “The council must ensure that those people least able to afford care and those who are particularly vulnerable are protected. This will very likely mean that people who can afford to self-fund will be asked to finance some or all of the services they require.”
Letters and questionnaires are set to arrive with service user and a helpline has been set up.
It will be open between 2pm and 4pm daily on 01202 451609.
As published in the Bournemouth Echo

Angel hopes for the white stuff

A Dorset home help service is urging government ministers to focus on people not money in the delayed White Paper on social care reform, which had been due at Easter.
Sam Acton, owner of Southbourne-based Domestic Angels, believes too much emphasis is placed on funding and not enough attention is paid to the needs of carers or the people they look after.
“The social care system is desperately in need of reform, but I hope the delay is because the White Paper will offer some real changes in the way care is delivered in this country,” she says.
“The system is obsessed with 15-minute agency worker visits which means jobs are broken up into commercially-convenient time slots and prices. It’s trying to make real life work like a factory system, but this does not work. We’re dealing with people’s needs – no wonder carers feel undervalued and the people they care for are vulnerable.”
Amid fears the White Paper will fall short of the radical change originally promised some 85 groups, including leading charities and the Local Government Association, have written to Prime Minister David Cameron urging him to make reform a personal priority.
The open letter says the elderly and disabled will be left living in “misery and fear” and demands the Prime Minister show the “vision and courage” needed to make social care reform his “legacy to future generations.”
Samantha Acton believes change has to be as much about the carers as those they care for.
“Staff turnover in this industry is notoriously high, but it’s not just about the money,” she says.
“Domestic Angels tries to slow things down a bit and create a working environment in which carers can do a really good job. In the long run this has to be a more effective approach that’s better for carers, the people they take care of and society as whole.”

Dorset's Silver Line service could save lives

ESTHER Rantzen’s planned telephone counselling service for the elderly, could save lives according to a Dorset home help service.
The ChildLine founder has described The Silver Line as a “telephone befriending service” to combat loneliness and give older people a point of contact where they can access information about other organisations and get help with serious problems, as well as build friendships.
Samantha Acton, who set up Domestic Angels 10 years ago, said: “We see elderly folk all the time that are lonely and isolated – what Esther is doing could save someone’s life.
“In our experience of dealing with elderly people there seems to be a stigma attached to contacting some organizations.
“Esther is avoiding the language of the care agencies and doesn’t talk down to people. Older people have a lifetime of experience and knowledge that is often forgotten.”
It is hoped The Silver Line will be up and running by the end of the year.

As printed in the Bournemouth Echo 27.4.12