Membership Development on the road

March 4th, 2010

The wheels have been turning again and I have been crossing the snow covered regions yet again.

Areas I have covered in February: Crewe,Wrexham,Chester,Liverpool, Southport,Wolverhampton,Coventry and Leamington Spa.

I have beenvisiting a variety of companies within the hire industry; 3 trailer hire, 10 catering hire, 1 power hire, 1 audio visual hire,1 marquee hire, 32 tool hire companies and 8 suppliers to the hire industry – a combination of members and non-members.

I was also able to meet a great number of hire and supply companies at the Executive Hire Show Coventry at the beginning of the month 

I’ll be back on the road in March – if you would like me to come and visit you to discuss the prospect of joining HAE or EHA, or if you’re already with us and would like more information on the benefits you’re entitled to as a member company, give me a call on 44(0) 121 380 4605.

See you soon

Tim Munslow, Membership Development Executive

Membership Development on the Road!!

February 2nd, 2010

Starting the New Year off, come rain or snow, I have taken to the road.

Areas I have covered in January:  Bristol, Peterborough, Ipswich, South Shields, Middlesborough, Tewkesbury, Gloucester and Oxford.

I have beenvisiting a variety of companies within the hire industry; 4 trailer hire, 8 catering hire, 3 power hire, 2 audio visual hire, 19 tool hire companies and 8 suppliers to the hire industry – a combination of members and non-members. 

I’ll be back on the road in February – if you would like me to come and visit you to discuss the prospect of joining HAE or EHA, or if you’re already with us and would like more information on the benefits you’re entitled to as a member company, give me a call on 44(0) 121 380 4605. 

See you soon

Tim Munslow, Membership Development Executive

HAE/EHA meets VOSA to discuss hire industry vehicle issues

February 1st, 2010

Graham and I just met senior managers at VOSA to talk about developing a more effective working relationship with the Agency. Sharing good practice, raising awareness and targeted info for our members on the agenda. Also spoke about the 3.5T/tacho concerns raised by members- great opportunity for some industry-led guidance material on this.

Mark Bradshaw

New Training Programmes for 2010

January 11th, 2010

We will soon be publishing the calendar of training events for 2010 to include the new 5 day Hire Depot Managers/Supervisors Course, the 2010 Business Improvement Programme and two new locations for the Hire Desk Apprenticeship Scheme – plus lots more.

Merry Christmas from HAE and EHA

December 22nd, 2009

All of the staff at HAE and EHA would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

We have enjoyed working together over the past year and look forward to becoming even stronger together in 2010.

Our opening hours over the holidays are:

Monday 21 December – 9am to 5pm

Tuesday 22 December – 9am to 5pm

Wednesday 23 December – 9am to 4pm

Thursday 24 December – CLOSED

Friday 25 December – CLOSED

Monday 28 December – CLOSED

Tuesday 29 December – CLOSED

Wednesday 30 December – CLOSED

Thursday 31 December – CLOSED

Friday 1 January 2010 – CLOSED

W/C Monday 4 January 2010 – Normal hours of 9am to 5pm resume

HAE Customer Services 44 (0)121 380 4601
info@hae.org.uk
www.hae.org.uk

EHA Customer Services 44 (0)121 380 4602
info@eha.org.uk
www.eha.org.uk

Cheques – on the way out?

December 16th, 2009

key banking organisation meeting to discuss phased elimination by 2018 of cheques as method of payment . What do HAE/EHA members think? Full story on BBC news website http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8414341.stm

Mark Bradshaw
HAE/EHA Policy & Public Affairs

Changes to CITB-ConstructionSkills Grants Scheme

December 14th, 2009

HAE wishes to inform in scope members about changes that the industry-led CITB-ConstructionSkills Board has recently made to the Grants Scheme:

After ongoing debate, the CITB-ConstructionSkills Board have set into place a package of measures to help ConstructionSkills to restore its working capital, as required by Government.  As part of this package, the
CITB-ConstructionSkills Board have decided to reduce all grants by 15%, with effect from 1 January 2010.  However, the CITB-ConstructionSkills Board wanted to learn lessons from past recessions and limit the potential for skills gap emerging in the future.   As a result, they opted to protect grants for new entrants coming into the industry at all levels – from professionals to trade.

The CITB-ConstructionSkills Board also decided to:

  • Reduce the Training Plan day rate to £17.50 (applicable to all plans started during the 2009/2010 Scheme Year).
  • Increase the minimum duration of training acceptable within a Training Plan from 30 minutes to three hours (applicable to all plans started on or after 1 January 2010).
  • Limit entitlement to the Training and Development Plan per capita grant (£9 per head with a minimum of £450 payable) to the first Training Plan only (effective for plans started on or after 1 January 2010).
  • Reduce all other grants by 15%, with the exception of grants for apprenticeships and undergraduates.

These changes come after leading economists reported that the construction industry has contracted by 13% this year. This, combined with falling Levy, a continuing high demand for grants and a drive for efficiency within the organisation has resulted in further changes being made.

CITB-ConstructionSkills are issuing a news release to the trade media to tell employers about the changes that are being made to the Grants Scheme.

HAE has informed our in scope members at the earliest opportunity, so that everyone is aware of the communications that are being sent out from CITB-ConstructionSkills.

Gill Bridger, Head of Training and Professional Development

HAE and EHA PBR Overview

December 10th, 2009

The Chancellor’s Pre-Budget Report has become something of a mini-Budget and has grown in importance.  With the current economic situation and a forthcoming election, the statement released on Wednesday 9 December 2009 had extra significance.

HAE and EHA arranged for Eden Currie, chartered accountants, to produce an overview of the key tax and other changes, plus a summary of the main aspects likely to affect hire businesses.

This document is now available to download from the Members’ Area of the HAE website and by email.  Just click here and login

 

Mark Bradshaw,  Policy and Public Affairs

Lunch with the Prime Minister

December 3rd, 2009

HAE and EHA were present at a business lunch today with Gordon Brown.  Companies, trade bodies and other industry-related organisations heard the PM speaking about tackling climate change and the next generation of ‘green jobs’, support for apprenticeships, the need for banks to honour pledges given to provide funding for SMEs and economic prospects for 2010.

Many people wanted to ask questions and there wasn’t tiime for everyone to have their say, the PM said anyone with a question they wanted to raise should leave a written note.  I took up the offer, asking for reassurances on funding for apprenticeships and recognition for the contribution made by hire companies in this field. 

I will keep you posted on his response.

Mark Bradshaw

HAE and EHA Policy and Public Affairs Representative

New consultation on Agency Workers Directive

October 28th, 2009

Members should be aware that this consultation is now live and runs until 11/12/09. Details can be found at http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file53058.pdf

Mark Bradshaw

mark.bradshaw@hae.org.uk

0121 380 4621