Been let down

[bandit666]

Hi all,

Had a really bad day today, as some of you may know from my posting new business going well 1st year and needing to expand, well ... have been in talks with various people who own land where my current business is (i currently rent) as not enough funds to buy at present. Well the people from the top of the tree have decided that although i have a flourishing business they cannot provide the extra land space that i need (although the area i trade from has been run down and neglected for a number of year. Their reasoning to do this is......there are new houses being built around the area both town and rural and they are hoping that big businesses may locate into this area because of the houses being built and they couldn't give my the required size of land i require with a long lease because of this.....i am truly gutted as the big business or other types of businesses get first bit at the cherry....most people dont understand the nature of my business and dont really wish to know as they see motorcycling as something you do for leisure or pleasure rather than an occupation. The area i trade from was chosen as it matched all the requirements expected of the DSA, there isn't really an option to relocate as the specific requirement are VERY hard to find what is it they say about someone pulling the rug away ??

[peterjhale]

These things are sent to try us. Don't be too dispondent. Keep in with these guys because if big businesses don't relocate, then..........

[bandit666]

thanks for the reply, just thought i would let you know the big guys are a government body!! and was set up to encourage self employment, the next step is to help your business grow as in assisting you with access to grants, helping securing new premises if needed ect. so i had the idea that not only am i going to read the riot act on tuesday when the bank holiday is over and things are back to normal....the riot act will include the governments motorcycle safety strategy wich was set up in 2005 then hit them with the fact that they have now been sheep like and followed the EU with the 2nd European Driving Licence again this covers safety issues for motorcyclists on the public highways (it could have been amended as our training and driving tests are tougher than those in Europe. i am hopping mad (or worse) that they appear to have dumped me like a hot potato because some big company night just want to relocate their business into an area that i already am trading in....this area being a S.I.P. area big businesses will be offered huge incentives to relocate thus squeezing a small business out, the reasoning behind this is that they will be able to offer more employment oppertunities than my company. i could if i were allowed to grow to my potential offer at least 4 positions imediatly,i am also writing to local MP's councilors and the Scottish Minister as was it not he government that encoraged people with self employment and how good it would be for the country as ths encouraged growth and prosperity for the poor man who was not born with the proverbial silver spoon in his mouth....a government cannot be seen to encourage this then be allowed to squash the peasants down when they appear to be climbing the social ladder out of poverty and their working class back ground....rant over, thanks for reading and will keep you posted.

[mark611]

why won't they let you expand temporarily until the 'big business' rolls in, this way there's a probability that they won't want your exact location. or you could offer to pay as much money as any potential big business.

[bandit666]

exactly the question i asked the guy, obviously caught him unexpectedly with my quick reply....looking stunned he then said, but if we were to let you do that:

it would cost you a lot of money

answere yes i know that

we wouldn't be able to offer you a long lease

answere why not

umm err we might be able to find another location for you

answere i have the perfect location here, i have a viable business that
needs to expand due to growth, i have no competition here, to
move from the area would mean students would have to travel
in excess of 12 miles for training,the local economy will lose
revenue,the area will losea thriving business, that can't be
right

umm err (looks at watch) i will have to go now as i have
another meeting to attend, emm when i get back to the office
we will have a brain storming meeting to discuss your proposal
and then get back to you or you could ask other businesses in
the area if they had space for you to use on a month to month
basis.

he then shot off let a bullet from a gun.

in answere to the second bit of the question, as a small business i could not afford to pay as much as a bigger business does...the intention i suppost to lure the big boys in is they would be offered incentives to relocate as the area is a S.I.P. (social enclusion policy meaning that companies get large grants from the government to employ local people for x amount of years) i am not entitled to these kind of grants due to size of company and as i am already trading in the area...

[DavidT]

I am sorry to hear it... not even going to get into my thoughts on some of these things.

Is it possibly for you to accept a short/er term lease? If your business is profitable & growing, there may be a relatively short period you require in order to make up the costs of expanding (I presume things like fencing, laying bitumen etc).

If you look at the additional profit you truly expect to make by expanding, then the costs of expanding... you will start to get an idea what period might be worth it... 6 months, 12 months, 3 years etc.

Also then, as a success story it wouldn't look too good on anyone if you get in the public eye as a small business getting forced out by the big boys... never know what opportunities might then arise (ie get them to place your business on the top floor (or indoor) of the shopping centre or whatever it is they might try to build.

[bandit666]

Thanks for all the replies and encouragement, have another meeting tomorrow with a representative of the Business Gateway who helped with the initial start up,got all my questions ready, 1st question is asking him to act as a sort of mediator between my company and Scottish Enterprise as thought my inexerience in business matters might be letting me down just a tad. I can walk the walk regards to motorcycle training but i suppose talking the talk to a person who doesn't understand the complex needs of this type of business might just need another person to maybe explain things much better that i could...no harm in trying before moving on to the plan of action...will keep you all posted

[simonr]

I smell a story in the local press brewing which will make some people look very silly if they don't get their act together..... a polite threa (sorry, comment) to this effect might be usefully applied at the right time?!?!

S

[bandit666]

Hello all,

As some of you know I had another meeting today regarding my expansion program.

Watching the news this morning before heading off to work for my business meeting proved to be quiet productive. Scottish Entrprise are infact going through change at the moment and the most important fact is that they are trying to focus on business (not for one second was size mentioned) that gave me some ammo for the meeting.
My Business Growth Manager (from Business Gateway who help with new business start-ups) couldn't understand why Scottish Enterprise had taken the stance that as the area was being regenerated they were more in favor of hanging onto the vaccent land incase a big business located there. My growth manager had done some digging and had found out the person who was in charge of the regeneration of the estate had only been in the job for about four months and hadn't had very much experience in dealing with small business growth. Business Growth Manager gave me more names a wee bit higher up the ladder so that I contact them with my dilema.

Phoned the first person on the list, he was in a meeting but was passed to his colleague, this happened to be the guy who had turned down my plan re expansion...oh no i hear you say.....phone conversation went quiet well, not only did he try and back track, I never said that ect.. I listened to what he had to say regarding the size of land that I required ect ect, then turned the tables and asked if i were a business that required wharehouse or office space of the same size would that make a difference? Well it probably would says he, well imagine that is what i need minus the brick walls...umm oh yes i can see what you mean now,conversation went on for a while longer,i listened patiently to his side and fought well from my corner, he then says noe i understand your needs a little better i will do some more research into your type of business and get back to you....thats great said i, it would have been nice to have resolved this issue (like yesterday) but as i am a patient person i will give you 8 weeks in order that you gather and collate all the required info, we then meet in person and walk round the estate with tape meaure and stakes so that you can actually see the size of the area that i need and in business terms it's not that big, if i don't hear from you personally within that time scale i will assume that everything is in place and will start the expansion process on the first area of land that is on the information map i gave you that outlines all the business requirements ( area 1 is of 3 and is the in the prime location that i want) i then thanked him and hung up. He now has a deadline to work to and i have a target....in the mean time i will highlight the issues raised with the local councillor and such to keep them informed of all the issues, so if this guy then comes back and says they cannot be helped i have my next loaded gun ready and waiting....cheers guys your help and support is valued by me in my quest for justice and fairness for me all the small businesses with the same troubles i have