More than 100 exhibitors will be showcasing their products and services at the two-day B2B South East event at Brighton Centre which starts on Wedensday, October 26. James Lancaster found out what some of them have to offer.

Computer firm taps in to local market
Computer systems provider Valusys is venturing into the Government's Home Computer Initiative (HCI) - a scheme to improve IT literacy across the workforce.

So far, the project has tended to focus on large organisations such as BT and Royal Mail but Valusys, based in Old Shoreham Road, Hove, is aiming for the small to medium-sized market.

HCIs offers businesses a range of tax incentives allowing them to provide their staff with the equivalent of £1,500 worth of home computer equipment for three years.

In practice, this means that anyone who can afford £500 a year - or £4.25 a week - gets a £1,500 computer without signing up to extortionate higher purchase agreements.

After three years, staff get the choice of buying the computer outright or returning it to the employer and, if they want, starting the scheme again with a more up-to-date machine.

The initiative allows employers to provide PCs to staff without the benefit being taxed as salary so they save on national insurance and gains from an IT literate workforce Valusys managing director Mark Perrin said: "We feel very strongly that staff retention and loyalty is something many employers would like to see more of.

"With the introduction of the Home Computer Initiative, we hope to see increased PC skills and commitment from employees as they look to improve their computing skills."

To make the process easier for small businesses, Valusys has created an online service which allows employers and employees to register legally in just a few clicks.

Mr Perrin added: "We really want to attract Sussex businesses. There is still some confusion surrounding HCIs but because we are a local firm we can really work closely with people."

Guidance through job law minefield
Calibre HR & Training is a new consultancy firm helping to bring businesses up to speed with a raft of employment law and human resources regulation.

The company, made up of five directors and associates, is targeting small and medium-sized businesses, not-for-profits organisations and big multinationals.

Legislation surrounding hours, flexible working, staff consultation procedures and paternity leave, designed to benefit workers, is often cited as a burden on smaller companies.

But Calibre HR & Training believes the new laws are also a chance for firms to build better relations with their workers, reduce staff turnover and increase productivity.

Director Elspeth Watt said: "Employment law is increasingly complex but employers of all scales and from all sectors are acting on the evidence that skilled HR and management training can deliver a lot to an organisation's success.

"Calibre HR & Training has been created to help organisations of all sizes more effectively manage and grow their greatest resource, their people."

It has a network of trainers and associates across Sussex, Kent and Surrey, and will be exhibiting at B2B South East.

Making the most of your energy
Following diagnosis and treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2003, chartered civil engineer Gordon Borer became a passionate advocate of work-life balance.

He remembers when he was diagnosed with cancer: "Everything was distilled down to a single, needlesharp purpose - to get through the treatment and live a better, more fulfilling life."

In August 2004, Gordon, of Maldon Road, Brighton, changed career.

He now runs two businesses, Fortytwo Coaching, which helps individuals make sense of their lives and, just recently, Eximium, an executive business coaching services.

The latter is aimed at the owners and directors of small and medium-sized companies, helping them achieve better results through a technique called "energy management".

It teaches people how to make best use of their physical energy, emotional energy, spiritual energy and mental energy. Of these, Gordon says the most important is physical energy.

He says: "If you are not taking time out or getting enough exercise or you spend the whole day stuffing your face with toxins, then you will struggle to achieve high performance. We believe everyone performs exceptionally on occasions and we want people to have more of that."

Eximium, co-run by Mark Haverstock, is launching its "Exceptional Performers!" programme at B2B South East, a mixture of training, coaching and online support.

It is running an interactive seminar on Thursday called The Secret Lives Of Exceptional Performers and is sponsoring another stand called Are You Fit For Business.

For more information and to see the speakers programme go to www.theargus.co.uk/the_argus/business/b2b
Tuesday, October 25, 2005