The Prime Minister David Cameron, who announced the consultation today whilst visiting small businesses in the East of England, stressed the “vital” importance of SMEs to the economic recovery. “It’s not right that suppliers are not getting paid on time for the work they do and the services they provide and I know that late payment can have devastating effects on our small and medium sized businesses,” he said. “The government has already taken steps to help address this issue but I am clear that more needs to be done to build a business culture across all sectors of the economy that sees the fair, prompt and reliable payment of suppliers become a core corporate responsibility which is taken seriously at the most senior levels.” The consultation will call for views on a range of questions, including how the Prompt Payment Code (PPC) can be strengthened (see below for a list of consultation questions). Consulation Questions How can we encourage greater oversight and responsibility for payment policies at senior management and board level? What can be done to increase transparency around which companies are good payers and which ones are not? How can the Prompt Payment Code be strengthened and is there more that can be done to hold companies to account against it? Can more be done to enforce existing legislation, including the provisions on payment terms – for instance the prohibition of ‘grossly unfair’ payment terms? What can be done to encourage more companies to make use of their existing statutory right to interest for late payments? Is there a case for further legislation or penalties? Can government do more to help SMEs to help themselves, including through new technologies and services like electronic invoicing and mobile payments? The PPC has drawn criticism for its negligible impact, given that only 1,500 of Britain’s 4m plus firms have signed up to it, including less than half of the FTSE 350. In addition, of the firms that have signed up, some have reportedly stretched settlement to 120 days, according to the Federation of Small Businesses. FSB national chairman John Allan said: “Late payments is an increasing issue for our members. Being paid late or given extended terms can severely hamper many small firms. “They simply don’t have the same cash-flow buffer as a large businesses, so being paid on time can be the difference between being able to pay staff and not. Furthermore, when a small firm is paid late they then can become late payers themselves.” Katja Hall, chief policy director for the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), said: “Late payment is a serious issue for all businesses but particularly for smaller firms, as cash flow is their...

Earlier this month the Leeds-based company, which was incorporated into the £200m turnover Adare printing empire in 1994 before a management buy out eight years ago, installed two W&D reel-fed envelope machines as pat of a six-figure investment. The 125-staff company with a £20m turnover, has also notched up several impressive contract wins recently. These include two deals for transactional work, each worth £500,000, a £400,000 contract with a charity and a £500,000 contract for a utility and insurance provider. “Success is down to good customer service and not being overly ambitious but strong in business,” said sales director Ian Mitchelson. “We will always look to invest to make ourselves more efficient and profitable but it’s more about good, steady, consistent profits, not soaring from £20m to £50m.” Mitchelson added: “We have produced over 45bn envelopes over the last 25 years, and have processed over half a million orders. Many of our customers have been with us for as long as 15 years.” GNE is one of the largest independent UK manufacturers of direct mail and transactional envelopes, supplying both end user and trade customers with orders ranging from 1,000 envelopes to several million. Some 6m envelopes are supplied and 100 individual orders are processed a day. Managing director Warren Shermer said “We are delighted to be celebrating 25 years in the industry and are proud to be one of the key suppliers in the UK envelope industry as well as being a major local employer in the Leeds area with over 120 staff.” Operations director Barry Williamson said: “Over the last 25 years we have invested more than £15m in new equipment and technology, ensuring we can deliver the best possible product and service offering to all our customers.”...

The five-year deal extends a partnership that started two years ago when Air Business managed UKIP’s magazine distribution and then took on fulfilment, despatch and return of direct mail, said the latter’s managing director Graham Johnson. He said UKIP Media and Events had made hardcopy mailings a key part of its acquisition strategy as email responses had been declining. Its new focus was on magazines, mostly in the transport sector, and direct mail marketing campaigns. “No one ever said an email was beautiful, which is why we are investing more and moe in print,” said Johnson, who runs around 30 magazines and 30 shows globally.”Our print runs are increasing. We have probably done about 20% more print this year than last and we expect another 20% in the coming year – a 40% increase in two years is big. “People think it’s cost effective sending email. It is very cheap but the most expensive way of marketing in the world if no one comes to the event. The power of the letter has increased enormously. Email was effective before but now it doesn’t work, you may save costs but email is poor value for money as you don’t always get results. “A beautifully presented, signed invitation will get a reply and our five-year contract reflects that. We fully expect our relationship with Air Business to grow, continuing beyond five years, as our mailings grow. We will be mailing more in five years than we are today”. Air Business group managing director Adam Sherman: “Despite the increasing size of Air Business the customer remains at the forefront of everything we do. Our tailored solution has cemented our relationship with UKIP Media and Events.”...

The five-year deal extends a partnership that started two years ago when Air Business managed UKIP’s magazine distribution and then took on fulfilment, despatch and return of direct mail, said the latter’s managing director Graham Johnson. He said UKIP Media and Events had made hardcopy mailings a key part of its acquisition strategy as email responses had been declining. Its new focus was on magazines, mostly in the transport sector, and direct mail marketing campaigns. “No one ever said an email was beautiful, which is why we are investing more and moe in print,” said Johnson, who runs around 30 magazines and 30 shows globally.”Our print runs are increasing. We have probably done about 20% more print this year than last and we expect another 20% in the coming year – a 40% increase in two years is big. “People think it’s cost effective sending email. It is very cheap but the most expensive way of marketing in the world if no one comes to the event. The power of the letter has increased enormously. Email was effective before but now it doesn’t work, you may save costs but email is poor value for money as you don’t always get results. “A beautifully presented, signed invitation will get a reply and our five-year contract reflects that. We fully expect our relationship with Air Business to grow, continuing beyond five years, as our mailings grow. We will be mailing more in five years than we are today”. Air Business group managing director Adam Sherman: “Despite the increasing size of Air Business the customer remains at the forefront of everything we do. Our tailored solution has cemented our relationship with UKIP Media and Events.”...

With seven months to go before the 20-23 May 2014 event, exhibitors have already booked a combined 14,586sqm of floor space, up more than 5% on Barcelona 2012’s net exhibitor space of 13,844sqm. This represents 86% of the total 17,000sqm available at the Messe München and Fespa said it was aiming to sell the remaining 14% in full by the time the doors open on the wide format show next May. Of the exhibitors that have already signed up, 23% are newcomers to the show, while a third of repeat visitors are set to “significantly increase the size of their stand compared to Fespa Digital 2012” the organiser claimed. Managing director of Fespa Neil Felton said:”The fact that nearly a quarter of Fespa Digital 2014 floor plan is filled with companies who have never exhibited at Fespa before is brilliant news, because it means that even regular visitors to Fespa are guaranteed to pick up fresh perspectives and innovations. “With specialist brands across the full print spectrum, visitors to Munich next May will be able to immerse themselves in all aspects of the wide format production process from start to finish. Coupled with our world class educational features, Fespa Digital 2014 will be unmissable.” Fespa reported a rise in finishing specialists for the 2014 show, including Elitron, Esko, Fotoba and Zund, as well as digital textile printers, including d.gen, Kornit, MS Italy,Reggiani Machine and Stork. Other confirmed exhibitors include EFI, Flexa, KIP, Kaspar Papir, MS, Multicam, POD/MTEX, Print Equipment, Reflectiv, Shenzhen Handtop and Texo Trade Services. “The wide format community’s support for Fespa as an organisation and exhibition organiser is phenomenal,” said Felton. “Exhibitors tell us that they participate in Fespa events around the globe because they see our commitment to being consistently relevant in today’s market and they appreciate the fact that we’re never complacent about the visitor experience.”...