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Don't miss a great line up of speakers at the BPA's AGM

10/06/2016

The BPA is delighted to invite members to its Annual General Meeting on 29^th June 2016 and has organised speakers to discuss pertinent topics making this a truly not-to-be-missed event.

Taking place at the Marriot Hotel in Grosvenor Square, London this is a BPA member’s only event and is completely FREE of charge, providing a valuable networking opportunity as well as the chance to improve your knowledge on pertinent industry subjects.

Starting at 2.30 pm and finishing at 4.40 pm members are invited to stay for complimentary drinks and networking, rounding up at around 5.30 pm.

For catering purposes, if you would like to attend, we would be grateful if you could download the R.S.V.P. FORM and return it as soon as possible (and no later than 24^th June) to Julie@b-p-a.org.

The day’s agenda is as follows:

14.30 hrs - Annual General Meeting

15.00 hrs – Tea Break

15.10 hrs – Sara Ludlam, intellectual property solicitor from 3volution Ltd and Bob Boardman, RD Tax Solutions

Sara Ludlam talks about maximising your returns from investing in innovation and Bob Boardman explains how right now you could be eligible for government tax incentives

The majority of companies in the nursery sector could be entitled to more than £40,000 towards Research & Development. Bob Boardman of RD Tax Solutions explains.

Many companies in the nursery sector invest heavily in research and development. However, a significant number of these are unaware that they can claim back a large percentage of these costs through a government tax incentive called Research & Development Tax Credits.

Companies can claim back costs incurred through developing new, or appreciably improving existing products, processes, systems and materials in the form of tax credits or a cash sum. The amount of tax relief available depends on the amount spent by the business and the profitability of that business when the work took place.

Bob Boardman of RD Tax Solutions is attending the Baby Products Association’s AGM on Wednesday 29^th June 2016 and will be explaining how companies in the nursery sector can benefit from this scheme. He explains: “On average, claim size is in excess of £42,000, so we are not talking about small change here. In some cases, the relief can extend to around 30% return on investment undertaken by a business in Research & Development.”

Andy Crane, managing director of BabyStyle, has already reaped the benefits of the Research & Development Tax Credit scheme and encourages other BPA members to apply too commenting: “We had heard about this scheme in the past, but because we were not actually developing new products, but were simply tweaking and improving designs, thought that we were not eligible. However, attending a talk by a local group of accountants, we discovered that this was not the case.

“As the research and development we have been carrying out is exclusively for our own brand, we are able to claim back costs incurred on design, tooling and even flights to China. In our first year, we were able to claim £157,000 and this was paid within weeks of our claim. We are now on a five year exemption scheme which means that we can claim back all future R&D costs incurred.”

Andy also explains that BabyStyle is classed as a manufacturer exporter and is able to claim government incentives for this too. He says: “BabyStyle manufacturers its products in China and is now selling these to the Chinese market. We thought that this would not be considered ‘British exports’. However, because our products are British designed, they are included in this scheme too.”

Andy will also be attending the BPA’s AGM and will be happy to share his experiences with BPA members over light refreshments after the event.

15.40 hrs - Caroline Skipsey - Head of Risk & Reputation – Crisp Thinking 

 With over 3 billion people active on social media, managing product issues and brand reputation has become increasingly difficult to handle effectively. Effective crisis management has changed with a digital world. Online press links linger, product recalls are shared and discussed widely and consumers talk openly about product issues.

How do you protect yourself from unwanted press attention, manage online risks and reputational issues in an increasingly digital world? 

Caroline is an expert in brand and corporate reputation management. She worked closed with the Competition and Market Authority’s recent report on Online Reviews and Endorsements. She has appeared on national TV discussing risks and issues such as managing conversations and trolling online. She has also talked about the key lessons that marketers and brands should take on board from the recent Volkswagen scandal. She currently works for Crisp Thinking, as Head of Risk and Reputation. Crisp’s service protects global brands 24/7 from social media and wider internet risks with a team of social media risk experts.

16.10 hrs – Dr Amanda Gummer, Fundamentally Children

What manufacturers should know about the critical 1001 days 

Dr Gummer shares her insight from the All Party Parliamentary Group’s findings on the first 1001 days and discusses how manufacturers can use that insight in product development and marketing to not only increase sales but make products that give children a better start in life. 

16.40 hrs - Networking and drinks

17.30 hrs

FINISH

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