Shire, the UK’s third-biggest pharmaceutical company, will incorporate a new holding company in Jersey and hold all board meetings in Dublin, leaving its operations and 300 staff in Basingstoke, Hampshire.

The move is understood to be a result of disquiet about a possible government crackdown on profits from offshore subsidiaries. Most UK companies do not pay corporation tax on offshore profits that are kept overseas unless the foreign subsidiary is deemed to have been set up to avoid tax. However, all firms must pay corporation tax of 28 per cent on all profits brought into the UK, “topping up” any lesser tax already paid in another country to the UK level.

More on this from Times Online.

Greenhouse Graphics, the current Basingstoke Environmental Business of the Year and Hampshire Sustainable Business of the Year, have recently upgraded their pre-press facilities with the installation of a £70,000 chemistry free plate-making facility which now means that their commercial printing process is completely hazardous waste free.

The company worked with Hazred, the government funded agency that aims to reduce hazardous waste emissions from SME’s, who confirmed the hazardous waste free status. This puts Greenhouse Graphics in a very small and elite group of print producers who can claim a ‘hazardous waste free’ status.

This investment fits perfectly within our ‘ecoprint-system4′ brand, which has proven extremely popular with customers looking for a sustainable supplier of graphic design, printing services and electronic media.

says MD Ian Crossley.

But the best part of this for our customers is that they are gaining cost savings on their purchases because we are not exposed to the very significant rises in Hazardous Waste disposal costs that are occurring and are likely to continue in the future. For businesses looking to save money, buy a sustainable product and gain the PR advantages associated with using our ‘ecoprint-system4′ brand, it really is a no-brainer.

Basingstoke based Clarke & Son LLP’s chosen charity for 2007/08 was the Samantha Dixon Brain Tumour Trust and the firm raised an impressive £1,090.30 for the Yately based charity.

The solicitors raised the money through a number of in-house fundraising events including staff lunches, Christmas party raffle, skittles evenings, Easter egg mystery prize and a Wednesday Lottery Bonus Ball draw. The firm was grateful for donations from other local companies for their Christmas raffle including Basingstoke Rugby Club, The Red Lion and Halpern PR.

Maria Birchall, Fundraising Manager for Samantha Dickson Brain Tumour Trust (SDBTT) says

We were very happy to have been chosen as Clarke & Son’s Charity of the Year. The money raised will go towards much needed research and patient support. It is a sad fact that more children and people under 40 die from a brain tumour than any other cancer. Support from local businesses like Clarke & Son helps SDBTT raise awareness and funds for research.

Next year’s charity is Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity, for which the company hope to raise even more cash!

Attended by some 40 local businesswomen representing a diverse range of businesses, The Women in Business Group held its Annual General Meeting and monthly networking event, “Women who talk together do business together”, at the Holiday Inn, Basingstoke, on 27th March 2008. WIBG Secretary, Ann Davies, from Lamb Brooks, opened proceedings by welcoming everyone and taking the opportunity to introduce the committee.

For several members of the committee the AGM represented the culmination of many years’ contribution and commitment to the group. In recognition of their efforts and to thank those members retiring, they were presented with gifts of Festival Place vouchers.

In her final President’s report, Sue Brown, Corporate Tax Manager, at Tenon in Basingstoke, remarked on how 2007-08 had been another great year, the high point being the 15th Anniversary celebrations in September, headlined by guest speaker, Barbara Harmer. Sue said,

Women in Business events always attract interesting and wide-ranging speakers, like Barbara Harmer and local Consultant Surgeon and Divisional Director, Anne Stebbing, from the Basingstoke and North Hampshire NHS Foundation Trust. This year, we have programmed a diversity of speakers, on subjects ranging from “How Clean is your House?” to “Buying Confidently”.

Of her tenure, Sue added,

I have enjoyed my time as President, and have always been supported and encouraged by a great team, who I would like to thank personally, including the departing four members: Marion Bruce; Caroline Daymond, Hampshire Clinic; Ann Davies, Lamb Brooks; and Linda Poulter, Bates Investment Services.

Particular thanks go to Ann Davies, a past President, who we would like to offer life-time membership to. The Women in Business Group are in good hands and, remember, Women who talk together do business together!

Sue introduced her successor as President, Lindsey Page, from Hook-based, Finishing Touch. Lindsey will kick off her term, chairing the forthcoming meeting of the committee in April.

Ann handed over to Linda Poulter, Treasurer, to present the accounts for the year ended 31 October 2007, which showed another financially healthy year and growth in income from meeting fees due to bigger attendances at events. Linda thanked Tenon for producing the accounts, and commented that the financial situation is similar to last year. The Women’s Refuge in Basingstoke and the Euro MPs Charity have both benefited from charitable donations from WIBG over the year. The meeting was Linda’s last one and she said,

It’s been fun and I’m happy to hand over as Treasurer, after around four years in the role, and twice as many on the committee.

The meeting was also the last one for Ann Davies, Managing Partner, at Lamb Brooks Solicitors in Basingstoke. Ann acknowledged,

I’ve been involved with the Women in Business Group almost from the beginning. I took over the Presidency from Diana Giordmaine-Blade, the group’s first President, before handing on to Sheila Glyn-Owen, a solicitor practising at Phillips, and latterly Sue Brown.

In offering advice and encouragement to new President, Lindsey Page, Ann said,

The secret is a good committee who help and support.

Ann also recognised how all the group’s Presidents had done well in their chosen professions, and emphasised that all members of the committee were running the group in their own time. Ann presented Sue with a much deserved thank you gift of vouchers for local company, The Secret Garden, and a bouquet of flowers.

Picture - left to right: Lindsey Page (newly-enrolled WIB President), Ann Davies (past WIB President), Sue Brown (current President handing over to Lindsey at the AGM).

The committee for 2008 was proposed and agreed as:

• Lindsey Page, President (Finishing Touch)
• Sharon Baverstock (Spread the Word PR)
• Marian Bennett (North Hampshire Chamber of Commerce / Spruced Up)
• Sue Brown (Tenon)
• Maria Booker (Visual Impact)
• Julie James (Venue Focus)
• Julie Latcham (Lamb Brooks)
• Karen McGuire (Tenon)
• Fiona McKay (Clydesdale Bank)
• Kate Martin (Brain Chase Coles)
• Nicola Oakley (Proteus Theatre Company)
• Katie Russell (LD Property Management)
• Sue Thurston (SET Marketing Services)

Basingstoke based bank note printer De La Rue has drawn up a shortlist of bidders for its £450 million cash systems business, it is reported by The Press Association.

The move comes four months after the company, which prints one in five of the world’s currencies, announced a strategic review.

De La Rue’s cash systems business produces cash handling equipment and banking software and is valued by analysts at between £350 million and £450 million.

Bain Capital, Carlyle Group and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, a former owner of German software group Nixdorf, are among private equity groups thought to be in the running, the Sunday Telegraph reported.

If the division is sold it would leave the rump of De La Rue as its security paper and print arm, which also provides travellers cheques, passports and revenue stamps.

In November, De La Rue said half-year sales at the cash systems division grew by 2.1% to £161.6 million, while operating profits were 32.7% ahead of last year at £14.2 million.

This story is also covered in more detail at The Telegraph.

Another rise in traffic for quarter one of 2008 for Basingstoke Business News with well over 2000 unique visitors looking at nearly 5000 pages.

This shows and increase of 16% up on quarter four of 2007 and a year on year increase of 2400%. You can see more stats here.

Thanks to everyone that has supported this project. Please keep the stories flowing in and the traffic should continue to increase.

Cognitive Sales, a sales and marketing consultancy based in Hook, Hampshire, today launched its on-line sales and marketing clinic, a confidential, reliable and cost effective service for SMEs across the UK who want to improve their sales results.

For a fee of £29, the on-line clinic allows companies to ask a question and get a guaranteed, comprehensive expert reply emailed back to them within 24hrs.

Cognitive works with growing companies across a broad range of sectors including: finance, IT, media, electronics, professional services and manufacturing.

Until the end of July, £5 of every fee will be donated to the Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance charity, a charity that Cognitive has supported for a number of years.

Bryan McCrae, Managing Director of Cognitive, commented:

This quick and user-friendly service will provide SMEs with expert solutions to their sales and marketing problems and help them make more money.  At Cognitive we understand how getting your sales and marketing right is vital to the success of your business and we will help you get it right.

In the near future, Cognitive plans to compliment this service with a telephone based    coaching service and an internet based sales and marketing health-check.