Founded in 2008. The Landscape Juice Network (LJN) is the largest and fastest growing professional landscaping and horticultural association in the United Kingdom.
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Replies
Gary noticed that your BWC approved,was wondering how much it costs,in time and hassle not just cash and do you feel it generates much business
Irrelevant around here.
Interesting to note a taxpayer-backed authority, Trading Standards, has deliberately decided to miss out the M62 corridor altogether, a significant population density paying a very significant proportion of its taxation-derived income.
I see it is condescending to expand slowly from the south northwards rather than showing any inclination towards even so much as a gesture to those vast regions of our country which go on being regarded by the establishment as non-existent.
More evidence of central government arrogance and civil service silo thinking.
Really !
I suggest you read and understand how BWC is structured and who is responsible (ie Local Authority Trading Standards). My understanding is that funding & participation is local and partially derived from its members.
Perhaps worth questioning your own LA as to why they have not joined rather than making such a sweeping condemnation of a good scheme??
Mike Goodman said:
Hi Paul,
The cost varies by region. I believe our membership is ~£120 pa, with a once off application fee.
TS visit you to review your business entity, premisses (if relevant), your business forms (letters, invoices etc), check your status & insurances, T&Cs and review several client references. They are supportive, provide templates, etc, a contact point along with inclusion into various TS related publications. Our region offers legislation update sessions as well as emails updates. You also get some marketing collateral. It's relevance to me (and public) is it's independence - it is not a commercial revenue generating recommendation site.
Do they generate business ? I found they did but not often directly. Some of our clients have mentioned subsequently they checked us out via the BWC website. However the business model is different and it will never by a true business generating service
paul mcdermott said:
Gary RK, you are nominally correct. However, since Thatcher took away most of the discretion held by LAs and handed it to the mandarins, being nominally in the control of ministers, and Brown finished off the job by removing the rest, locally elected officials have very little say in the matter. Trading Standards are penniless in this region, quite apart from the fact that they are a law unto themselves unless and until the mandarins intervene.
In case you are in any doubt, I would love to see the scheme introduced not only here but across all of these sceptered isles.
Only 'nominally' ?, blimey I must be slacking ...
So, it's successful & active in the South/Midlands and clearly some LA's in the North West have been proactive:
It's down to your Local Authority as to whether they wish to participate in the scheme. One can point fingers at "others" / central government and perhaps it's too easy to blame Thatcher, Brown et al ;-) ? but suggest you express your desire to see a scheme to your local authorities TS Dept.
Mike Goodman said:
From the TS Ombudsman 2014 report;
"The rogue trader problem is exacerbated by the fact that homeowners are unlikely to check credentials before commissioning work.
The majority (57 per cent) did not check at all, with one in five (18 per cent) assuming that the tradesman was accredited and one in eight (13 per cent) unaware that such schemes even existed"
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