New Business Models For Local SMEs Alan Taylor

New Business Models For Local SMEs Alan Taylor Commercial Director Signature House Limited

Presentation Contents • • The Importance Of SMEs Starting A Business Is Scary Need To Encourage Entrepreneurship Businesses Need Support New Business Models Signature House Limited Development Potential Conclusion

SMEs In The Global Market • SMEs – Heart Of Any Economy • Entrepreneurship Encouraged In China • Supply Chains – ‘Integrating Corporate Elephants With Entrepreneurial Fleas’ * • UK Index Of Regional Competitiveness (UK – 100, London – 119. 2, N. West – 93. 8 (8 th)) ** • Businesses Need Support To Survive And Grow – More Than Ever * © 2006 Prof. Richard Scase ‘Global Remix’ ** © 2006 Robert Huggins Associates

Starting In Business - Scary To Do Is Being In Business Right For Me? How Will I Manage The Money? What Will My Business Sell? What Is A Business Plan? Where Will I Run My Business From? What About The PCs & Software I’ll Need? How Will I Deal With Tax & VAT?

Niklas Zennstrom of Skype • In March 2006 at the 4 th European Business Summit stated that businesses need to overcome the…. ‘. . lack of courage to get out there and try’.

Encouraging Business Start-Ups • • • Encourage Entrepreneurship Offer An Easy Path To Business Start-Ups ‘Off The Shelf’ As Much As Possible Cost-Effective Men & Women Ongoing Full Support Services

Business Support • • Business/Strategy Planning Accommodation & Facilities IT/Infra-Structure (Including SAAS) Purchasing/Supply Chain Financial Management Recruitment & Training Commercial/Sales & Marketing Funding/Investment/Grants

“Every Business Matters” • • Be Healthy – Sustainable Stay Safe – From (Global) Competition Enjoy & Achieve – Stakeholder Culture Make A Positive Contribution – To Community & Economy - Local And National • Achieve Economic Well-Being – Achieve Full Business Potential

“Wrap-Around Care” • Be Healthy – Manage Costs, Maximise Profits, Employ Latest Facilities • Stay Safe – Fitness For Purpose, Agility, Networking (Safety In Numbers) • Enjoy & Achieve – Management & Staff Development, Positive Environment • Make A Positive Contribution – Prosper & Grow In Their Local Community (Employment) • Achieve Economic Well-Being – Profitable, Sustainable, Scalable

New Business Models • • Technology Offers New Models PC Infrastructure – Virtual Environments Software Services – SAAS Security & Management Total Cost Of Ownership Flexible & Scalable (‘Instant Office’) e: Procurement Facilities Subscription &/or ‘Pay Per View’

Issues & Resolution ISSUE RESOLUTION How Do I Manage The Capital Costs? Subscription & Pay Per View Services What Will I Need? Services On Demand How Big Will I Be? Scalable – Up/Down Size As Required What Don’t I Know? Training, Services, Support Available How Do I Make A Profit? Manage Costs – Only Use What You Need – Concentrate On Core Business What If I Fail? Minimise Commitments (Manage Risk)

Signature House Limited • • Accommodation Solutions Since 2002 Serving Local SMEs Expansion Across North West Initially Linked Set Of Small, Local Centres Traditional Offices & Services Developing & Implementing New Solutions Virtual Environments, SAAS, e: Procurement

Development Potential • SAAS Application Development • Business Portal (Trading Community) • Integrate Support Services & Support Agencies • Extend To Managed Workspace • Extend To Light Industrial/Warehousing • Other Platforms – TVs, Games Consoles

Conclusion • • • SMEs Increasingly Important (Even Globally) Starting A Business Is Still Scary To Do SMEs Need Support (“Every Business Matters”) Technology Offers Innovative Models SHL Is Including These Models In Its Expansion Plans • Models Have Ongoing Development Potential • Build Trading Community

New Business Models For Local SMEs Alan Taylor Commercial Director Signature House Limited