Editor: Pat Williams. E-mail pwilliams@creditman.co.uk
John Arnold. E-mail jarnold@creditman.co.uk
Site: Business Credit Management UK
URL: http://www.creditman.co.uk
Issue: Vol 4 Issue 35
Dated: 1 October 2000
Welcome to the Business Credit News UK.
In this weeks edition you will find the following topics.
UKBUSINESS ORGANISATIONS COMBINE TO APPOINT FIRST CHIEF EXECUTIVE FOR ENTERPRISE INSIGHT
The Directors General of the British Chambers of Commerce, CBI and Institute of Directors, have appointed Oonagh Harpur to be the first Chief Executive of Enterprise Insight, the joint business venture to create a more enterprising Britain.
Enterprise Insight is a partnership of organisations successfully delivering enterprise programmes to young people: Young Enterprise; Understanding Industry; Shell LiveWIRE; Prince’s Trust; Business in the Community; the National Federation of Enterprise Agencies; and the Education Business Partnerships.
A significant feature of Enterprise Insight is its Enterprise Forums bringing business ‘ambassadors’ together with young people and its partners.
The launch of Enterprise Insight in June was marked by a forum held at Downing Street involving the Prime Minister and members of the Cabinet.
Welcoming the appointment Tony Blair said today:
“An enterprise culture is vital - for young people, for business and for Britain. I welcome business working closely with a range of key organisations to help create the spirit of enterprise in practice which we all need to see.”
Oonagh Harpur’s appointment is with immediate effect and follows an open recruitment process. Her appointment was the result of a combined advertisement and search recruitment process, undertaken pro bono by Barry Gould of Whitehead Mann GKR as their contribution to the campaign.
Oonagh Harpur, who will be based at the CBI in Centrepoint in London said:
“If we are to bring about a genuine enterprise culture in the UK, it is vital that we engender an enterprising spirit of creativity in our young people and that they have every opportunity to express that in their working lives. Its up to all of us to achieve this: employers, teachers and parents”
The Chairmanship of Enterprise Insight rotates between BCC, CBI and IoD on a six monthly basis. George Cox, Director General of the Institute, will now take up the chairmanship for the next period following on from Chris Humphries Director General British Chambers of Commerce.
'NEW' ECONOMY - NEW OPPORTUNITY, SAYS CBI CHIEF
CBI Director-General Digby Jones told Cambridge businessmen and women last week that there is no such thing as a 'new economy', just a new opportunity. And that e-business techniques should never be used just because it is trendy or clever to do so, but because they add value and enhance productivity. Small businesses, particularly in traditional sectors, need to embrace e-commerce quickly or they will fall behind the game forever.
In a speech at Kings College, Cambridge, Digby Jones said:
"There's more to e-business that downloading music or ordering pizzas on the web. If used properly as a genuine new tool it can reinvigorate business - with creative new supply chains, a more flexible workforce and more potential customers. But my message to business is only use it if it makes good economic sense for your company, not just because you want to be thought of as trendy or clever."
Mr Jones will go on to highlight new measures that the CBI will be taking during the Autumn to gear itself up to help companies deal with the e-business challenge.
Mr Jones said: "My recent trip to Silicon Fen convinced me that a new CBI e-business council, involving leading edge companies from across the country, was necessary to ensure that the CBI keeps up-to-date and influential on all of the latest issues. I am delighted to say that John Stewart, Group Chief Executive, Woolwich plc, has agreed to chair this for us. There will also be a major new e-business survey in the Autumn. Working with the London Business School we will be assessing the impact of e-business, how it is being used and what, if any, barriers need to be dealt with. I believe these two developments will significantly enhance the CBI's ability to lobby on behalf of its members in this important area."
Mr Jones recognised that the Government is committed to making the UK the best place to do e-business but suggested that, to make that commitment a reality, they had to examine both existing policies and future ones. He pointed out that the regulation of Investigatory Powers Bill was a good example of what happens when e-commerce is not fully considered.
He said: "Unfortunately, the draft regulation was way too narrow and simply did not reflect normal business practice. It would have stopped an employee looking at e-mails a colleague had received while they were away from the office and forced a business to gain the consent of those people outside the business whose personal communications may have been monitored. This was impractical. We have no objection to employees being made aware that their communication may be monitored but obtaining consent is different"
Mr Jones said that CBI had been lobbying hard and was hopeful that the re-draft of the regulation, which is expected soon, had taken note of its concerns and would be a better fit with existing business practice.
Amsterdam 26 September 2000
The international credit insurer NCM announced the acquisition of the Danish factoring company, Forenede Factors a/s. Previously Forenede was a subsidiary of Danske Bank. NCM is the credit insurance market leader in the Nordic region and will, by purchasing Forenede Factors, become one of the leading companies within debt financing, credit insurance and debt administration.
The primary focus of factoring is receivables financing, cover of non-payment risk and receivables administration. It improves a company's liquidity, offering security when selling on credit terms and simplifying administration via 'outsourcing'.
Chairman of the Managing Board of NCM, Gerard van der Stelt, said about the takeover: "Purchasing Forenede fits our ambitions to offer our clients worldwide flexible and optimal receivables solutions. Forenede Factors, as a subsidiary of Danske Bank, is a highly esteemed factoring company. It offers a qualitatively strong product and its staff is highly skilled. With the acquisition of Forenede Factors, we give further shape to our expansion strategies, especially in the Scandinavian countries."
Though for most companies, receivables typically represent 35 - 40% of the balance sheet - a large cash investment, credit risk and administrative burden - they are often regarded as the least strategic class of asset. NCM considers that factoring can add substantial value for large, as well as small companies, and that it is an important growth area in credit management.
Gerard van der Stelt adds: "The purchase of Forenede Factors in Denmark is an important step in the strategy of the NCM Group to act as a full service 'Receivables Company' globally. Our customers show an increasing demand for more broad-based solutions, for which this transaction will open us up."
The NCM Group, a privately owned company with headquarters in Amsterdam, annually insures more than EURO 126 billion of business worldwide against the risk of non-payment. It has invested heavily in customer service and technological innovation and has operations in Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Malaysia, The Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, USA and UK. The majority of NCM's shares (90%) are owned by Swiss Re.
Swiss Re is one of the world's leading reinsurers with over 70 offices in more than 30 countries. In the 1999 financial year, gross premium volume amounted to CHF 22.4 billion and the result after tax amounted to CHF 2.8 billion. Swiss Re is rated "Aaa" by Moody's and "AAA" by Standard and Poor's.
For further information please contact either Marcel Wendrich, Director Corporate Communications, NCM on +31 (0)20 553 3055 (mobile +31 (0)6 53133570) or NCM EKR Managing Director, Jørgen Lund Lavesen on +45 33 26 51 00 (mobile + 45 40 94 85 00) or NCM EKR Sales Director, Erik Skovgaard Nielsen on +45 33 26 52 10.
CABORN WELCOMES NEW ERA OF TRADE RELATIONS WITH IRAN
DTI Minister Richard Caborn arrived in Iran on the 28 September, the first UK Trade Minister to visit the country in twenty years.
Mr Caborn will meet with his Iranian ministerial counterparts and local business representatives to identify future trade opportunities. Iran's commitment to decreasing its dependency on oil revenue by expanding and modernising its industrial base has led to increased opportunities for UK companies from all sectors.
Mr Caborn will see first hand how UK companies are benefiting from improved Anglo-Iranian relations at the Tehran International Trade Fair. The Fair is an annual event, supported by Trade Partners UK the Government's unified export body, that regularly attracts a strong British presence amongst the exhibitors. Mr Caborn will attend the opening ceremony, conducted by Iranian President Mohammed Khatami, and afterwards tour British stands.
Mr Caborn said: "It is an honour to be the first Trade Minister to visit Iran for two decades. This trip will go some way to developing our commercial relationship, for the benefit of both our countries, and focus on the role the UK can play in helping Iran develop its economy."
SHERIDAN FAILS TO HURRY BILL
Contributed by Stephen Cowan E-mail scowan@yuill-kyle.co.uk, Yuill & Kyle, Debt Recovery Lawyers, Scotland. www.debtscotland.com
It was reported in the London Times of 20th September 2000 that an attempt by Tommy Sheridan, the Scottish Socialist Party leader, to force the Executive to speed through legislation outlawing warrant sales by April was defeated yesterday. Last April the MSP forced the Scottish Executive to withdraw a hostile amendment to his Abolition of Poindings and Warrant Sales Bill, which will end the practice of seizing and auctioning household goods to pay off debts.
Yesterday the Justice and Home Affairs Committee ensured that the Executive still had until December 2002 to introduce legislation. Angus Mackay, Deputy Justice Minister, the said timescale was vital to give local authorities time to prepare for the change.
Mr Sheridan's move was backed by SNP members of the committee but opposed by Labour and Liberal Democrat MSPs, who supported Mr Mackay. However, Gordon Jackson, Labour MSP for Govan, said West Dunbartonshire and Clackmannan councils had both brought in a ban and it made no sense delay.
COMPANIES HOUSE ANNOUNCES IT IS TO EXTEND IT'S 'DIRECT SERVICE' OPENING HOURS
From Monday 2nd October 2000, Companies House Direct will be extending its service hours from 7:00am to 12 Midnight UK Time Monday - Saturday.
Please note that fax, post and microfiche services will only be available during the current ordering and delivery schedules.
INSURANCE PREMIUM TAX THREAT TO JOBS
Further rises in the rate of Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) could result in a significant number of UK companies dropping credit insurance as a means of trade protection.
That is the conclusion of a survey commissioned by international credit insurer NCM among a national cross section of more than 170 users of domestic credit insurance following fears of another rise in the IPT rate which currently stands at 5 per cent.
BANKRUPTCIES LIKELY
NCM Group Chairman Gerard van der Stelt warned:
"The survey sends a very clear message to Ministers that any further hike in IPT will have an adverse affect."
Opening the Credit 2000 Conference in London on the 18 September, he said:
"Given our squeezed margins credit insurers will be unable to absorb the cost of further rises. It is clear from the results that business, particularly small and medium sized companies, will be progressively reluctant to renew policies if there are further rises.
The net result will be hundreds of millions of pounds of trade uninsured from the risk of non-payment. Many bankruptcies will follow and thus, of course, consequent job losses."
MAIN RESULTS OF THE SURVEY
· Nearly one in five businesses are not confident of renewing domestic credit insurance if the IPT rate rises by as little as one per cent
- One respondent said:
"It would be a very short sighted strategy . . . Problems with the pound require lowering of costs rather than any increase, so as to promote jobs and increase exporting. If this policy was to take effect, business would turn against Labour."
- Another said:
"It would affect us badly from a cost point of view . . . we would have to look at cutting our costs elsewhere, probably on manpower."
*** FORTHCOMING CREDITORS MEETINGS ***
Contributed byhttp://www.insolvency.co.uk
For more detailed information and ALL the British Isles insolvency's (liquidation's, receiverships, administrations, dividends, creditors) please visit http://www.insolvency.co.uk
From 02/10/2000 to 10/10/2000 Number of Creditor meetings : 176 Section Company Time Venue 138 Scotland - Interim Liquidator calling Creditors Meeting 02/10/2000 Precision Machining & Repair Ltd 03.30 pm Glasgow 03/10/2000 Coatings UK (Scotland) Ltd 02.30 pm Glasgow MIC Textiles (International) Ltd 12.00 pm Glasgow 09/10/2000 Cameron Clothing Ltd 11.00 am Glasgow 10/10/2000 Sign Here! Franchising Ltd 03.00 pm Manchester 23 Administrator Calling a meeting of Creditors 06/10/2000 Stikits Ltd 10.30 am Leicester 10/10/2000 Parkwood Mellowes Ltd 02.30 pm Birmingham 48 Receiver calling unsecured Creditors Meeting 02/10/2000 Britannic Group Plc 10.00 am London 03/10/2000 Passion for Food Ltd 11.00 am London 04/10/2000 Worldsport Networks Europe Ltd 11.00 am London 10/10/2000 Pernickety Ltd 11.00 am Manchester 67 Scotland - Receiver calling Meeting of unsecured Creditors 06/10/2000 AGR Holdings Ltd 03.20 pm Aberdeen Arthur G Russell Ltd 03.30 pm Aberdeen 09/10/2000 Village Inns (Scotland) Ltd 11.00 am Glasgow 84 N. Ireland - Creditors Voluntary Liquidation 03/10/2000 Bay Street Trading Co Ltd 12.00 pm Belfast 98 Creditors Voluntary Liquidations 02/10/2000 Anchor Group Ltd 02.30 pm Henley-on-Thame Bigtop Ltd 03.00 pm London Car & Driver Ltd 11.15 am Altrincham Churchill Textile Mills Ltd 11.00 am Manchester Cirel UK Ltd 10.30 am Bromsgrove Classitem Ltd 03.00 pm London Clothes Shop Ltd - The 04.00 pm London Continental Timbers & Veneers Ltd 12.00 pm Southend-on-Sea County Windows Ltd 03.00 pm London D Wright (Knitwear) Ltd 02.30 pm Leicestershire Edenvale Fabric Supplies Ltd 10.30 am South Normanton Euro-Flor (UK) Ltd 11.30 am Norwich Forana Ltd 04.00 pm London J Squared Training & Consulting Ltd 02.30 pm Leeds K Conveyors Ltd 11.00 am Rotherham Kestrel Upholstery Ltd 11.00 am Birmingham Maly Shoes Ltd 11.30 am London New City Business Forms Ltd 12.00 pm London Reference Express Ltd 11.00 am Shepton Mallet Silverdale Industrial Services Ltd 11.00 am Sheffield Snowhow Ltd 11.00 am Hemel Hempstead Streamline Communications Ltd 10.30 am London Sturmey Archer Ltd 12.00 pm Birmingham 03/10/2000 Alexander Adam Ltd 10.00 am Newcastle-u-Tyn Baybridge Service Ltd 03.00 pm London Beenshoot Ltd - The 11.00 am Halsall Bodycheck Health Ltd 12.00 pm London Bryon Industries Ltd 10.30 am Kings Lynn Bullet Deliveries Ltd 02.30 pm Altrincham Citron Press Publishing Ltd 11.00 am Ilford Consultancy Bridge 02.30 pm London Curtis of Burnham on Sea Ltd 10.30 am Taunton David Asquith Ltd 03.15 pm Bately Dennis & Gemmill International Ltd 11.30 am Southampton Easy Deal Service Ltd 04.00 pm London F S Day Ltd 11.00 am Northampton First Call Removals Ltd 12.00 pm Cardiff Fuel Injection Marine Services Ltd 11.00 am Cardiff Global Machine Tools Ltd 11.30 am Cheltenham Grays (Solent) Ltd 11.00 am Portswood Hyde Engineering Ltd 11.45 am Gerrards Cross Itact Solutions Ltd 11.00 am London J W Burt & Sons (Builders) Ltd 10.30 am Taunton Jack Gahan (Leeds) Ltd 10.15 am Leeds John Hirst (Animal Feedstuffs) Ltd 11.00 am Manchester Leasing Investments Ltd 10.15 am Warwick Leighfield Properties Ltd 02.45 pm Leeds Magnos Brasserie Ltd 01.30 pm London McLennons Ltd 11.00 am Birmingham Micrologic International Ltd 11.00 am London Nationwide Property Register Ltd 11.00 am Hull Nortec (Building Services) Ltd 11.00 am Sunderland Paradigm Consultants Ltd 03.00 pm London Portman Ofice & Work Supplies Ltd 03.00 pm London Premcourt Engineering Ltd 11.30 am Nottingham Premcourt Ltd 11.30 am Nottingham Prominence Communications Ltd 11.30 am London R C C Realisations Ltd 10.30 am Sheffield Ross Vehicle Engineering Ltd 12.00 pm Glasgow S & K Contractors (UK) Ltd 11.30 am Crawley Sandpine Ltd 10.30 am Bromsgrove Seriously Scrumptious Ltd 02.30 pm Bristol Serv for Enhance of Ed & Dev Skil Ltd 03.30 pm Manchester Wallform Ltd 12.00 pm Manchester Websters Food Service Ltd 11.00 am Barnet Xerafin (UK) Ltd 11.00 am Wiltshire 04/10/2000 Aldec (Scotland) Ltd 11.00 am Birmingham Aldec Ltd 10.30 am Birmingham Anglia Taverns Ltd 12.00 pm London Annaley Construction Ltd 12.00 pm London Chimeric Advertising & Marketing Ltd 11.00 am Wolverhampton Coldstore Services Ltd 10.30 am Derby Connaught Fuel Systems Ltd 02.30 pm London Copypage Ltd 10.30 am London Diamond Supplies Ltd 11.00 am Sheffield Eton Piling Ltd 11.00 am Hornchurch Farfocus Ltd 11.30 am Halifax Forest Suppliers Ltd 11.00 am London H I Window Frames Ltd 11.30 am Birmingham IES Consulting Ltd 11.00 am London Ins I Tu-Line UK Ltd 11.00 am Hereford International Pictures Ltd 11.00 am London Multitec I T Ltd 11.30 am Glazebrook Optimum Vision Ltd 11.00 am Worthing Pegasus Polymers (UK) Ltd 03.30 pm London Powerline (Electrical Wholesalers) Ltd 11.00 am Barnet Rocs Computer Services Ltd 03.00 pm London Scapemaster Ltd 11.30 am Ashford Tapes & Wrapping Ltd 12.00 pm London W G (Cleaning Services) Ltd 11.00 am Birmingham Willow Fabrications Ltd 11.00 am Northwich 05/10/2000 Abel Furniture Ltd 11.30 am Abergavenny Abstract Business (North West) Ltd 11.30 am Preston Design Information Services Ltd 11.00 am Birmingham Dunelm Machine Tools Ltd 11.30 am Manchester Echo Ltd 10.30 am London Euroworld Clothing Ltd 03.00 pm London Far East Direct Ltd 10.30 am London Feature Story TV & Radio Prod (UK) Ltd 11.30 am Stanmore Field Construction Ltd 10.15 am Sheffield Gourmet Select Ltd 11.00 am Sunderland Harcol Switchgear & Co Ltd 10.30 am Liverpool Hargrave House Ltd 11.15 am Bromley I E Keyprocessor Ltd 11.00 am Grimsby Interbuild (UK) Ltd 10.30 am Leeds J & C Builders & Decorators Ltd 11.30 am Marlow Management Control Technology Ltd 11.30 am Ashby de la Mardyke Shipping & Chartering Ltd 02.30 pm Harlow Pale Green Press Ltd - The 12.00 pm London RCX Technology Ltd 12.00 pm London Room Service (Leicester) Ltd 11.30 am Leicestershire Security Fabricators Ltd 11.00 am Rotherham Setfire Recordings Ltd 04.00 pm London TFS Realisations Ltd 11.00 am Birmingham 06/10/2000 Aldermain Ltd 02.00 pm London Blue Crayon Ltd 03.00 pm Welling Bonegate Ltd 12.00 pm Hale Brighouse Plastics Ltd 11.00 am Bradford C L C Joinery Services Ltd 10.30 am York Choice Systems Ltd 10.30 am Harrow Colter Computer Services Ltd 11.30 am London Eurotech Security Ltd 12.00 pm London Hippo Systems UK Ltd 03.00 pm London Millheath Ltd 04.00 pm Southend-on-Sea Nuleaf Communications Ltd 02.00 pm London Poole Toy Centre Ltd 11.00 am Bournemouth Priorhouse Ltd 11.00 am Manchester Roll E Polys Ltd 10.00 am St Albans Skipton Tourist Info Centre (1999) Ltd 11.30 am Bradford Ted R J (Civil Engineering) Ltd 11.30 am Bromsgrove Trimatech Contracting Services Ltd 12.00 pm Manchester Turngrove Fans Ltd 11.00 am St Albans 09/10/2000 A J Reeves & Co (Birmingham) Ltd 10.15 am Warwick Alteriors Ltd 12.00 pm London Curvegold Ltd 10.30 am Guildford Horizon Interactive Technologies Ltd 10.30 am Worthing Kickon Plc 12.00 pm London Medcom Ltd 03.00 pm Welling Patrolmaker (Plant Operators) Ltd 03.30 pm Bedford Richwood Construction Co Ltd 11.00 am Staverton Spiers & Rolfe Printing Ltd 11.15 am Bromley Tradeteck Ltd 02.30 pm Manchester Windmill Graphics Ltd 11.30 am Bromley 10/10/2000 Arena Software Ltd 11.00 am London Arnold Suddaby & Co Ltd 11.00 am Exeter Bastin Ltd 11.30 am Kingston-u-Tham Brand Managers Ltd 12.30 pm Southampton Cast Heat Ltd 10.15 am Leeds D Caldwell & Partners Ltd 11.00 am Glasgow Euro Acoustics Ltd 11.30 am Leicestershire Indigo Software Consultancy Ltd 12.00 pm London Informed People Co Ltd - The 10.30 am Oxford Intekne Ltd 11.30 am Preston Marathon Moulds Ltd 10.15 am Worthing Mirage Information Systems Ltd 11.30 am Guildford Oakdale Printing Co Ltd 11.00 am Bournemouth Oceanlife.co.uk 12.00 pm London Parkcrown Products Ltd 02.30 pm Bournemouth San Hawk Computers (UK) Ltd 11.30 am London Team Hire Ltd 11.00 am Edgware Vehicle Realisations Ltd 03.30 pm Nottingham
TW LW TW LW
USA 1.46 1.40 Canada 2.18 2.08
Austria 22.84 22.63 Portugal 332.79 329.73
France 10.88 10.78 Belgium 66.96 66.34
Finland 9.87 9.77 Italy 3214.14 3184.68
Germany 3.24 3.21 Sweden 14.12 13.79
Holland 3.65 3.62 Switzerland 2.53 2.50
Spain 276.20 273.66 Ireland 1.30 1.29
Australia 2.67 2.57 Denmark 12.57 12.28
Hong Kong 11.44 10.94 Euro 1.66 1.64
Africa Com 10.59 10.20 Saudi Arabia 5.50 5.26
India 67.70 64.52 Malaysia 5.57 5.33
Singapore 2.55 2.45 Norway 13.35 13.17
Japan 158.17 152.11
TW This week LW Last week.
Silentnight announced pre-tax profits of 8.23 million pounds, on turnover of 100.7 million, for the six months ending July 29th 2000. Earnings per share stand at 12.6p.
F.W. Thorpe announced pre-tax profits of 3.02 million pounds, on turnover of 27.2 million, for the year ending 2000. Earnings per share stand at 16p on reduced capital.
A G Barr, the soft drinks maker announced pre-tax profits of 7.69 million pounds, on turnover of 58.2 million, for the six months ending 29th July 2000. Earnings per share stand at 28.7p.
Wolseley the builders and plumbers merchants announced pre-tax profits of 302.3 million pounds, after exceptional charge, on turnover of 6.403 million, for the year ending 31st July 2000. Earnings per share stand at 33.7p.
MERGER CLEARANCE
The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has decided, on the information at present before him, and in accordance with the recommendation of the Director General of Fair Trading, not to refer the following merger to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission under the provisions of the Fair Trading Act 1973:Acquisition by Horizon Organic Dairy Limited of Meadow Farms Limited
VARIATION TO UNDERTAKINGS FROM ANGLO AMERICAN ACCEPTED
Kim Howells, Competition and Consumer Affairs Minister, on the 29 September 2000 announced that he had accepted a variation to undertakings given by Anglo American plc which he accepted on 1 March in lieu of a reference to the Competition Commission of their proposed acquisition of Tarmac plc. Dr Howells' decision is in accordance with the advice of the Director General of Fair Trading (DGFT).
The undertakings required Anglo to divest certain assets in respect of their production of aggregates, asphalt, ready mixed concrete and mortar. The variation allows Anglo to lease those plants where they are retaining ownership of the quarry in which the plants are based, rather than selling all their interests in the plants.
Dr Howells has also decided to extend the deadline for Anglo to complete the divestments to 13 October 2000, in accordance with the DGFT's advice.
Department of Trade and Industry Minister Alan Johnson on the 29 September 2000 unveiled a new easy-to-use interactive website aimed at helping workers and employers find out how the National Minimum Wage (NMW) applies to them.
The launch of "TIGER" - Tailored Interactive Guidance on Employment Rights - comes as the NMW adult rate is set to rise to £3.70 per hour from Sunday 1 October.
By clicking onto http://www.tiger.gov.uk workers and employers can find out how the NMW applies to them. Users follow a simple decision tree, answering questions on their own specific circumstances. Ready-reckoners can be used to calculate actual hourly rates taking into account any special circumstances e.g. people who only work during school-term times; or who are provided with accommodation as part of their pay, or people who get a basic rate plus commission.
Alan Johnson said:
"With just a few clicks of a mouse, workers and employers can find out how the National Minimum Wage applies to them by using our new interactive website."
A number of organisations helped the Government test TIGER including Citizens Advice Bureaux, the National Hairdressers Federation and trades unions. They have welcomed the initiative which has also received support from the independent Low Pay Commission.
And Mr Johnson added:
"I am delighted to launch TIGER, yet another example of Government services becoming more easily accessible over the internet."
The National Minimum Wage Helpline can be contacted on 0845 6000 678 for further information or to complain about underpayment. All calls are dealt with in confidence.
Up-to-date figures to the end of August this year reveal that over £2 million has been won back by enforcement officers for low paid workers who were not being paid the National Minimum Wage.
Tuesday 3 October 2000 ICM Credit Scotland 2000 (Conference and Exhibition) Hampden Park Football Stadium, Glasgow Anyone interested in attending (or exhibiting) should contact David Ancliffe on (0131 200 8686). Friday 6 October 2000 Swindon Branch of the ICM Seminar Telephone Collection Techniques Credit Scoring and Vetting Procedures Receiverships/Liquidations Prioritise Your Workload Cost 85.00 members, 95.00 non-members Lunch included and Refreshments Contact Barry Parkin on 01793-766471 during working hours Monday 16 October Wessex Branch of the ICM Grant Thornton Workshop Evening Sponsored by Grant Thornton The Southampton Royal Yacht Club 7.00pm for 7.30pm Refreshments Tuesday 17th October 2000 Chilterns Branch of the ICM Insolvency Reform and Corporate Restructuring To be held at Kodak, Hemel Hempstead 6.30 for 7.00pm Friday 20 October 2000 Millennium Annual Dinner of the ICM Drapers Hall, City of London. Monday 13 November Wessex Branch of the ICM Annual Quiz Night Sponsored by ICC Information Ltd The Southampton Royal Yacht Club 7.00pm for 7.30pm Refreshments Friday 24th November Chilterns Branch of the ICM Annual Dinner Your Branch Committee invites you and your Colleagues, Suppliers or Customers to a formal Dinner, a Speech and Toasts by our Special Guest Speaker. This Years sumptuous occasion is at Putteridgebury near Luton, one of the most beautiful of locations in the branch area. Tickets : #30 Per member, #50 Member & guest or A corporate table for the modest price of #275.00 For details, tickets & Table reservations please contact: Jennifer Scott 01992 553931, Stuart Hopewell 020 7465 5908, # = pounds sterling If you have an event coming up which is credit management related and you would like us to make an entry in the Diary section please e-mail the details to jarnold@creditman.co.uk.
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