FOCUS UK 2010 - Q2

In this issue:

• SSA UK News
• News Features
  • Big Yellow now 25th Best Company
    • This year Big Yellow Self Storage was again invited to attend an awards evening at the end of February, when they achieved Two Star Status for the Best Companies Accreditation and 25th position in the mid-sized companies category of the Sunday Times “100 Best Companies to Work For” awards
  • Lok’nStore’s performance encouraging
    • Occupancy levels were down only 0.5% since the 31st of July and grew by 10.2% year on year, states the company in its preclose update ahead of interim results for the period to the 31st of January.
  • Attic invited to 10 Downing Street
    • Following the company’s success, a request was received from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (DBIS) to visit Attic Self Storage on Friday the 29th of January
  • GRG Storage sponsors youth team
    • GRG Storage of Cobden Street, Salford are proud to announce that they are sponsors of Salford’s Barrhill JFC Under-7 Aces
  • Pound Gates – Finalist in European Risk Management Awards
    • These prestigious awards recognise Europe’s leading risk managers and risk service providers. Pound Gates is one of three finalists in the “Risk Service Provider of the Year” category. 
  • Cumbrian storage company goes it alone
    • A self storage facility, which launched in Cumbria under an international franchise two years ago, is now going solo. Box Clever Smart Storage Solutions is the new name for the secure lock-up facility at Embleton, near Cockermouth
  • Big Yellow Group warns 2010 could be “patchy”
    • Revenues at Big Yellow Group rose by 1% to £14.3m in the three months to December, 2009 but the company has warned that 2010 promises to be “patchy”.
  • The Colchester Food Bank
    • The Colchester Food Bank is part of The Trussell Trust, a Christian charity set up in 1997 to tackle poverty at home and abroad.
  • A welcome shot in the arm?
    • Homeowners planning to improve their properties may be assisted by government legislation this year. Rather than focusing on new builds, Government will target repair and refurbishment projects.
  • Big Yellow helps Sport Relief challenge
    • Rugby star Lawrence Dallaglio and celebrity friends stored more than 200 bikes in Big Yellow Self Storage’s Twickenham facility, before cycling across Europe to raise £1m for Sport Relief.
  • Business News
    • New rules to help small businesses
      • The energy regulator Ofgem (Office of Gas and Electricity Markets), the first priority of which is protecting the interests of British consumers, has announced a new set of measures intended to help small business energy customers.
    • Extension to the EFG bank loan scheme
      • The government has announced an extension for applications to its Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG) scheme for a further 12 months beyond the original closing date of March, 2010.
    • Safestore’s new banking facilities
      • The government has announced an extension for applications to its Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG) scheme for a further 12 months beyond the original closing date of March, 2010.
    • Operators urged to check rates valuations
      • Self storage operators should double check and, if necessary, challenge the business rates valuations that came into force in April, 2010
    • Penalties for data protection breaches
      • From the 6th of April, 2010 the Information Commissioner may impose a civil monetary penalty of up to £500,000 for serious contraventions of the data protection principles.
    •  HMRC’s on-line VAT services
      • Members are reminded that from the 1st of April, 2010 all existing VAT-registered businesses with an annual VAT-excluded turnover of at least £100,000, and all businesses registering for VAT on or after the 1st of April, 2010 (regardless of turnover), have to submit their VAT returns and pay any VAT due on line.
    • Insurance Feature
      • Contractual liability for customers’
        • A fundamental part of the contractual process is the incorporation of trading conditions within a contract. Without a contract, legally enforceable at law, self storage contractors face very onerous liabilities for customers’ goods at common law
    • Company Features
      • Big Yellow’s commitment to CSR
        • Big Yellow Self Storage reduces its carbon emissions and saves money by becoming fuel efficient.
      • Self storage specialist Shurgard
        • Self storage specialist, Shurgard, has opened a new store in Surbiton, providing more than 50,000 sq. ft. of storage space across five floors
    • Conference 2012 - Programme
    • Employment Feature
      • Additional statutory paternity leave
        • The Additional Paternity Leave Regulations 2010 came into force on the 6th of April, 2010. These regulations provide a new right to additional paternity leave and pay, as previously the entitlement for a father or partner was up to two weeks paid paternity leave (this is now called “ordinary paternity leave”).