NDBA's monthly meeting for August will be an informal barbecue at the Pig on the Hill Westward Ho! from 2.30pm on Friday 27 August.

The cost is £10 per adult (£5 per child) with a pay bar.

While our monthly lunches usually focus on a serious business topic, this is a chance for more informal networking.

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To book a place, please call 0333 044 2038

July is rushing past and we're approaching our monthly lunch at midday on Friday 30 July at the Chichester Arms, Bishop's Tawton.

After discussing the optimum numbers for these events, we decided 20 was probably the largest number to make them practical – you can't get many more people round a table and hope to be heard.

 

We're happy that 17 people have already booked for this month, leaving just three places available. 

 

This month we are also pleased that Barbara Fryer (@BarbaraFPhotos) has offered to take professional portrait photos for anyone needing a good photo for use on their social media profile, web site or for PR. Barbara is charging £10 for one photo with additional photos £5 each. If you would like your photo taken after the meal, please dress accordingly, bring a comb and a USB memory stick so Barbara can copy the JPEG file on to it for you to use.

 

We look forward to seeing you for lunch, stimulating discussion, photographs and networking!

 

Call 0333 044 2038 or email info@ndba.org.uk to reserve your place. Lunch costs £20 and includes main course, drinks and coffee.

 

Directions to Chichester Arms:

 

 
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11 members and guests took the opportunity to discuss the budget and other topical issues at June's monthly NDBA lunch at the Chichester Arms, Bishop's Tawton on Friday 25 June.

James Hellyer painted a bleak economic scene, which set the tone for discussing how to move forwards. There seemed to be a considerable body of opinion that there is a lot of scope for public sector cuts which wouldn't be noticed. However, there was also concern at the effect on jobs of cuts and a drop in retail activity.

Suggestions for issues that the NDBA could pursue were broadband provision in the area and the future shape of business support after the abolition of the South West Regional Development Agency.

Barbara Fryer impressed everyone with her outstanding photograph of a white puffin which is available for sale as a limited edition print.

Kevin Woodward arrived late, but in time for the meal, after acting as llama midwife and delivering a male cria. The party raised their glasses to wish it well.

 

Social media is the latest buzz word, but many businesses are using it as an effective communications and marketing tool.

This interactive North Devon Business Alliance taster session demonstrates how to get started on twitter and facebook to:

• tap into the growing North Devon online community.
• increase your business presence.
• boost traffic to your web site.
• sell your products and services online.

The session will be run by Kevin Woodward (@llamakevin) and Robert Zarywacz (@robertz), two of the most experienced online networkers and social media users in North Devon.

To get the best value, you will be invited to register twitter and facebook accounts in advance. You are welcome to bring your wireless laptop along to participate live in online discussion (although not essential).

LEARN HOW TO

• Use twitter and facebook.
• Exploit the power of searches.
• Create online profiles.
• Join the North Devon online community.

Participant numbers will be limited to 12. Cost is £5 for NDBA members, £10 for non-members.

Book your place now

Please call 0333 044 2038 or email info@ndba.org.uk

Download Introduction to Social Media flyer.

The session will be hosted by Graham Lofthouse (@glofthouse) at Devonshire Asset Management, 16 Silver Street, Barnstaple, EX32 8HR.

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Visit ndba.org.uk

Follow northdevon on twitter and NDevonbusiness on facebook

 

If you're free this evening between 6pm and 8pm, please drop into Lilicos in Barnstaple where we've organised a Tweetup for North Devon.

What's a TweetUp?

A TweetUp is an impromptu gathering of twitter users in a public place.

There's no meeting, no agenda, just the opportunity to meet people.

You don't have to stay the whole time, but can pop in when you want.

It's not limited to business people, but any twitter user or, in fact, anyone is welcome.

What use is this to businesses?

All businesses operate in the community so perhaps, as well as enjoying ourselves, we'll meet prospective clients, suppliers, employees or associates.

It's social networking and a chance to put a face to an email or avatar.

A number of North Devon Business Alliance Business members will be there to talk business, leisure or whatever.

Hope to see you there . . .

Follow the #tweetupnd hashtag on twitter for news of this and other events and follow @northdevon.

Graham Lofthouse of Devonshire Asset Management considers business exits

Many people start a business in good health and focus on activity and processes that will make it successful, but fewer consider protection against an enforced exit from the business. At any time a partner or director could develop a critical illness preventing them from any further involvement in the business or, worse, suffer a sudden death. What would happen to their share of the business? Would their family’s interest in it be protected?

Graham Lofthouse of Devonshire Asset Management believes in giving as much consideration to how you leave a business as to how you build it: “People can devote decades to generating a valuable business, then find themselves and their families unable to enjoy the rewards they deserve due to a lack of planning.

“There is no need for this as almost anyone can structure a business to build in the necessary protection, while insurance can provide the financial support for owners and their families.”

One option is shareholder or partnership protection, which enables company directors to purchase business shares from a fellow director’s family should they die or suffer a critical illness preventing them from continuing in the business.

This protection is generally available to individuals in business with others in a limited company or a partnership. It enables policyholders to retain control and ownership of the firm, should the worst happen. Combined with a properly written shareholder agreement, which will ensure the existing shareholders get first refusal should the shares be offered for sale (and preventing their acquisition by a competitor or other undesired third party), this insurance provides a lump sum enabling the policy’s beneficiaries the money to purchase them at a fair value for all concerned.

As well as basic shareholder protection, business protection can be extended to cover directors’ loan accounts so that money is always available to cover the company’s liability.

Another option is key man insurance, which can support a business should (anything) death or disablement happen to particularly valuable employees. “Complexity can vary from one company to another so it’s important that directors and partners seek appropriate professional advice,” adds Graham.

“With a little bit of planning, it shouldn’t take much to ensure that you and your family enjoy the fruits of your efforts.”

Graham Lofthouse
t: 01271 327500
e: graham@devonshireassetmanagement.co.uk
twitter: @glofthouse

BUSINESS ACTION
> Review company memorandum and articles and associated agreements or partnership agreement.
> Seek appropriate professional advice.
> Explore insurance options.

Read more articles in NDBA's Business Action magazine

If you're coming to the North Devon Business Alliance buffet tomorrow at the Chichester Arms, Bishop's Tawton, you'll receive a copy of Business Action . . . 

or you can read Business Action online.