Jobs and Careers with James Caan 2012 - (Page 265)

Trade associaTions Standing together Wondering how your small business can have a big say? Welcome to the world of trade associations… Put together, small businesses make up a huge and critical part of the British economy – but individually each small organisation can’t lay claim to anywhere near the same sway at national level as some of the country’s largest employers. So when it comes to lobbying for legislative change, ensuring fair practices and “standing up to the big boys” – not to mention developing useful, relevant qualifications, getting a concerted message across to the public, and even optimising marketing opportunities - it’s much more effective to join forces. Trade associations (also known as industry groups or business associations) are organisations set up and run by organisations operating in the same sector or with other similarities that mean they can benefit from cooperation – while also remaining competitors. Typically, a trade association will engage in publicity (perhaps promoting the industry to consumers) and lobbying (working to ensure legislation supportive of the industry’s activities is passed by the national government, or that policies and decisions – perhaps in planning, transport etc – taken by local authorities benefit the association’s members) as well as drawing up standards and best practices for the overall benefit of the industry. This could go as far as creating qualifications which those working within the industry must take, or drawing up codes to which members must adhere – in most cases these will not have actual legal backing, but member-organisations can be excluded from the association for failing to abide by the rules and this can have a significant negative impact on the companies concerned. There are a huge number of trade associations in the UK to which businesses can apply for membership, and they can be invaluable for businesses even at the very smallest scale. If you are considering starting a business it’s advisable to check out what associations might be relevant to your sphere of activity at a very early stage, since they may be able to offer support "Most associations actively seek out new startup members and many have a sliding fee scale which encourages small businesses to engage" and assistance right from the word go – as well as providing a ready-made network with which to engage and from which to learn. This assistance can range from educating you on the regulatory, tax and other parameters with which you need to operate, to workshops and seminars on various specific aspects of your trade. It may also translate into helping you with any difficulties you may encounter once your business is underway; rather like a trade union, your association may wield collective power if for example you are the victim of unfair trading practices. Of course, there are usually fees involved, either one-off or regular (trade associations can be for-profit or not-forprofit but either way any activity needs to be funded somehow) and these can occasionally appear prohibitive (if your start-up capital is limited spending thousands of pounds a year on association membership may not be an option for you) but most associations actively seek out new start-up members and many have a sliding fee scale which encourages small businesses to engage. You may well find that more than one trade association is relevant for your business, as there is competition in many areas – and some associations cross sectors: the Federation of Small Businesses is a particularly relevant example. Assessing which organisation is right for you might not be straightforward and you may wish to do plenty of research to ensure you are getting value for time and money. Generally speaking, however, the more effort you put into engaging with an association, the more you’ll get out of it – and you may find yourself becoming increasingly active within the structure of your association as time progresses. n 125 066 Your business with James Caan

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Jobs and Careers with James Caan 2012

Career bites
What really counts
Weighing it all up
Around the world
Ask the experts
Growth sectors
Train your brain
Homework
Carve a career in care
Here come the girls
Mum’s the word
An apple a day
It’s for you-hoo!
A step forward
His & hers
Bank on it
Risky Business
In the money
3 Specialist medical jobs
The stuff of life
Power on
Engineering heroes
Outside the box
Keeping it clean
Your Business with James Caan
Go Go GadGets
On trend office
Take my advice
Getting Going
The bank job
Make the most of your assets
Back to business
The law and you
HR Matters
Make it work
Into the cloud
Design & shine
Reach out
Gorkana and Gurkhas
Protect and prosper
Making it count
Your business or your life?
Nice supplies
Beginning business
Ship it
Ethical business
Backing business
Standing together
Top 10 hiring tips

Jobs and Careers with James Caan 2012