Regulatory officers from across a range of services are being brought together at a special event aimed at making it easier for local businesses to seek advice.
D2N2 – the Local Enterprise Partnership for Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire – recognises that reduced resources and tighter budgets are forcing regulatory services to become more innovative and risk-based in their approach to enforcement.
As a result, officers in one service can have limited contact with their colleagues in other services and the aim is to bring them together from across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire to share best practice.
Through Better Business for All (BBfA), a partnership between businesses, business support organisations and local regulatory services in which D2N2 plays a key role, the Organisational Awareness Training Day will take place in Nottingham on Monday January 20, 2014.
Jacqui Tillyard, a business coach and mentor, will be the keynote speaker on the three basic communication issues that will help officers to communicate more effectively with businesses, thereby helping to build trust and rapport.
A number of organisations, including ACAS, the Gambling Commission, Gangmaster Licensing Authority, Fire Authority, Trading Standards, Customs and the Environment Agency will then run ‘speed dating’ type workshops.
D2N2 Chief Executive David Ralph said: “It is about breaking down barriers and making the whole system smoother and easier to access because people running SMEs are very busy and the easier and quicker we can make it for them to get the right advice, the better.”
Karen Edmonds, of the BBfA programme, added: “We want to see as many different regulators at the event as possible, from right across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.
“It is going to be a very interesting and informative day for the officers with the main aim of helping to support businesses in a more constructive and joined up way.
“Officers are very busy in their own field and by the end of the event, those working in regulatory services will have a better understanding of the system they work in, will have made contacts with officers in other services and will be able to effectively signpost businesses to the advice they require.”
The Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce has been working closely with D2N2 LEP on this issue.
George Cowcher, Chief Executive of the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “Over the past decade or so there has been a surfeit of red tape imposed on businesses of all sizes.
“While bigger companies can absorb the cost – both financially and in terms of the time needed to meet the demands of the bureaucracy – smaller companies are being penalised by having to comply with the same rules and regulations despite having smaller budgets and fewer staff.
“It has been recognised at last that something has to be done to level the playing field and the Chamber is happy to be doing what it can to achieve that goal.”
The event will run from 9am to 4pm at the Learning and Conference Centre, at the National College for Teaching and Leadership, in Triumph Road, Nottingham.
Regulators wishing to book a free place at the event can do so at www.d2n2bbfaorgawatraining.eventbrite.co.uk
