Steve Foulsham: Look out for the lollipops at Biba

With conference preparations in full swing, my attention now shifts to two main objectives. First, to ensure that our schemes and facilities providers extract the maximum benefit possible from the platform which we provide, and secondly that my session entitled Small Business Workshop runs smoothly and is well attended!

Our scheme providers are always innovative with the themes for their stands, which is due partly to the eccentric nature of the individuals and in no small way to the very professional marketing teams having a wealth of ideas. Who can forget the drunken robots, giant orange cow, and remote control fork lift trucks of recent years?

We provide our scheme providers with their own identity at the conference by means of the Biba scheme providers ‘lollipop’, which you will find displayed on their stands. I would encourage all delegates to visit the scheme providers as they have all been chosen for their expertise in their particular field and the unique selling points that we have been able to negotiate for members benefit.

Currently, we have 27 schemes and facilities providers and we are always on the lookout for new scheme opportunities that will assist the members with access to cutting edge products.

The Small Business Workshop will give some pointers to help small businesses through the myriad of red tape, legislation and other requirements that so often fall personally upon the owner of the business to manage. It provides the broker with an opportunity to add value and enhance his position as the trusted professional adviser while learning all about the clients business.

That’s not forgetting, of course, that brokers are also small businesses themselves! Our panel discussion will focus upon employment law issues, consumer credit regulations, the data protection minefield, and risk management including health and safety policies, and risk assessments.

The SME sector is the bedrock of most regional brokers’ clientele, so please ensure that you register for what promises to be a very enlightening and active session.

Once again, we also have a great line up of guest speakers, led by Lord Alan Sugar. The only disappointment is that a certain couple couldn’t make it, as they will be on honeymoon.

Steve Foulsham is technical services manager at Biba.