Marianne

The Gibraltar Federation of Small Businesses (GFSB) welcomes the introduction of the Fair-Trading Act 2023 which comes into effect from the 1st of October. This reformed legislation promises to simplify the business license application process. Whilst changes are welcomed, the GFSB feels the new Act could have included further amendments on the previous Act and that there are areas where more clarity is needed.

Owen Smith, the GFSB’s Chairperson commented, “The GFSB welcomes the proactive engagement and consultation by the GoG on this Act, even though its implementation was delayed by many years. Streamlining processes, expediting licensing, and introducing online procedures will positively impact our members and the wider business community. It’s a step in the right direction, but we feel that some aspects of the Act still need ongoing attention, especially regarding its enforcement.”

The GFSB praised the Government of Gibraltar (GoG) for listening to the concerns of its members through solid and consistent consultation in developing the Act. It hopes the new Act will make starting and running a business easier, speed up many processes, and allow businesses to do important tasks online. These changes are a great step forward and will help to encourage a spirit of entrepreneurship in Gibraltar. Whilst the GFSB is optimistic about the Act, not all member concerns have been addressed. The GFSB would like to see services entirely removed from the Acts remit and confirmation that the law will apply equally to everyone conducting business in Gibraltar, including government and government owned companies. Effective enforcement of the Act is also essential for local and cross-border unlicensed businesses.

The GFSB looks forward to confirmation that the Office of Fair Trading will be sufficiently resourced to carry out enforcement effectively. Lastly, it highlights the importance of revising the legislation regularly to ensure it moves with the times and remains relevant to the changing needs of local businesses. “The implementation of this revised legislation has taken years so we look forward to this process becoming far speedier and more fluid”.

The GFSB represents a cross-section of local businesses and is committed to working closely with the GoG,the Chamber of Commerce and the wider business community. It believes working collaboratively on projects like this can make Gibraltar an even better place to do business.

Has the time come for sweeping reforms to the existing law?

The GFSB are organising two Town Hall style meeting events that will be held in the GFSB conference room 122 Irish Town offering the chance for commercial landlords and tenants to have their say anddiscuss the current laws that bind them.

The meetings are on Tuesday the 26th of September (tenant focused meeting), Tuesday 3rd October (landlord–focused meeting) at 7:30 pm.

Members of the GFSB have raised the issue that the existing laws were created some time ago and inevitably in today’s world and current climate these are now dated, unfit for purpose and even bias.

The GFSB feels it is important everyone has ample opportunity to have their say and the GFSB wish to encourage both members and future members, landlords and tenants to attend and get involved with shaping these policies.

Organise your concerns and speak with a collect voice.

To register please contact the GFSB 200 47722 or email gfsb@gfsb.gi

This year the GFSB is incorporating a new event to the social calendar, providing another great opportunity for its members to meet, network, collaborate and strengthen bonds.

The casual BBQ-style summer party will take place at the Viceroy on the 28th of September 7 pm to 10 pm and tickets are on sale now via Buytickets and the GFSB office.

For this year the event will also be open to non-members with a limited amount on tickets available for purchase.

During the evening the GFSB will be giving a sneak peek into the substantial changes the GFSB is undergoing under the steer of Chairman Owen Smith. Including a new refreshed look to the GFSB branding, a new and improved website and a sneaky peek at the newly reenergised GFSB magazine.

The GFSB board will be present through-out the evening to discuss other changes that are on the horizon which will bring increased value to the GFSB membership moving forward.

This new and exciting summer event has been made possible by the very generous sponsors Lewis Stagnetto Importers and Distributors of premium quality drinks and Bassadone Motors who themselves will have a fabulous surprise of their own for attendees to get involved with on the night.

Come and join us for a wonderful evening of great food, networking, sneaky peeks, music, raffle and fun, as we wind up summer and launch a new era of the GFSB.

Tickets are on sale now: Members: £40 pp – Non–Members £50 pp

The Minister for Business has launched the Gibraltar Enterprise Scheme after consultation with the GFSB on the initiative, and following on from the GFSBs longstanding campaign to see a scheme like this reinstated. The closing date for initial applications is the 8th September.

The Scheme at a Glance
What is it?
A soft loan scheme for local businesses less than 3 years old
How much can I borrow?
Each loan will be an amount between £10,000 and £25,000.
What’s the benefit?
GoG will fully guarantee the loan for successful applicants.

Deadline: 8th Sep 2023

The Scheme will see local banks grant loans to start-ups, as well as existing small businesses which have been in operation for under three years. Trusted Novus Bank and the Gibraltar International Bank will take part in the scheme, and the loans will be fully guaranteed by the Government.

It aims to help the local start-up and small business community.

Minister Daryanani says small businesses are the “heartbeat” of Gibraltar’s economy, and that the Government wants to see them grow, create jobs and increase economic activity.

Details on the scheme are as follows;
Applicants are required to submit the completed application form as well as the
following documentation to the Ministry for Business:

1. ‘Know your customer’ documents (i.e passport, ID card, proof of address
and proof of ownership for companies);

2. A full and detailed Business Plan and financial forecast;

3. Established businesses should also provide audited or unaudited accounts
(as the case may be);

4. Disclosure as to whether the applicant:
(a) Is in arrears;
(b) Has any criminal convictions;
(c) Has been adjudged bankrupt;
(d) Has been disqualified from being a director of a company.

All applicants will be vetted by the Ministry for Business. Successful applicants
will be informed and given the option to approach one of the 2 banks and will be
subject to the relevant bank’s own vetting and onboarding procedures.

Application form for the Gibraltar Enterprise scheme can be found here: Application – Enterprise Scheme

Please click on the link with information on the refuse holding areas around the Town centre that are being serviced at 2 pm Monday – Saturday:  Refuse holding areas

Please click on the link with information on the recycling bins around the Town centre: Recycling bins around town centre

To find out more about the legislation on recycling regulations  please click here: https://www.gibraltarlaws.gov.gi/legislations/recycling-regulations-2023-7026/download

Contact details:

Ministry for Environment, Sustainability, Climate Change, Heritage and Culture
1B Leanse Place,
50 Town Range,
Gibraltar
Tel No: (+350) 20066491
Fax No: (+350) 20066706
Email: mhe@gibraltar.gov.gi

20th of July 2023

The Spanish general elections are due to take place this coming Sunday 23^rd of July. The Gibraltar Morocco Business Association (“GMBA”) is aware that the outcome of said elections are crucial for the near and distant future of Gibraltar.

Indeed 176 seats are needed for a majority to be attained and for the formation of a government. According to most opinion polls in Spain the outgoing party PSOE the Spanish Socialist Worker’s Party led by Pedro Sanchez seems to be losing out against the Conservative Party PP led by Alberto Nuñez Feijóo and an alliance between the latter and the ultra-conservative and nationalist Party Vox led by Santiago Abascal is an outcome that can today be seriously contemplated.

This situation could raise concerns in Gibraltar and since we do not yet know the results of the negotiations on the terms of the Treaty between the European Union and United Kingdom in relation to the future relations between Gibraltar and the EU, the prospect of a PP-Vox government is potentially a cause for concern.

The GMBA wishes to reassure the public in Gibraltar that even in the worse possible scenario of a Non-Negotiated Outcome (“NNO”) for the Treaty between Gibraltar and the EU combined with the rise of a PP-Vox government, the GMBA has been working hard to create an effective commercial route between Gibraltar and Morocco which would potentially allow for the provision to Gibraltar of all products and services currently provided through Spain.

We hope that the status quo of having over 10,000 workers per day from Spain crossing the frontier into Gibraltar who are essential to the stability of the local economy will not be jeopardised as well as the continued exchange of goods on both sides of the frontier. However, it is important at this stage to appreciate that a serious and effective alternative can be found in our neighbour from the south, namely Morocco.

The GMBA will be launching its website next week. This will allow the public to find out about the opportunities that exist today on the other side of the strait of Gibraltar. The GMBA website aims to facilitate the exchange of networking, foster business opportunities and good relations between Gibraltar and Morocco. In first instance the website’s nature is informative and allows the general public in Gibraltar and Morocco to find out about each other’s habits and customs. We do hope that the GMBA website will become the go to place for companies and entrepreneurs.

The launch of the website will also be the occasion for the public to acquire the commemorative coins specially produced by the Gibraltar mint. These were one of the last British coins endorsed by Her Royal Highness Elisabeth II before her passing on the 8^th of September 2022. The late Queen is depicted on one side of each coin and on the other side one of the coins depicts the famous Berber General Tarik Ibn Ziyad who conquered the Iberian Peninsula in 711 and whose name is eponymous to Gibraltar (a corruption of the Arabic Jebel Tarik meaning the Mountain of Tarik) and on the other coin both the maritime link (represented by the Mons Calpe Ferry) and air link (represented by GB Airways) both if which linked Morocco and Gibraltar during the closure of the land frontier between Gibraltar and Spain between June 1969 and December 1982.

The GMBA would like to reassure the public and the business community that we are here to service the community whether we undergo an NNO or a Deal with the European Union. For any information, please contact us at info@gmba.info.

Best wishes

The GMBA board

Gibraltar Morocco Business Association (GMBA)

Watergardens, Block 2. Suite 14

Waterport Road, Gibraltar

GX11 1AA

info@gmba.info

gmbe@icl.gi

Tel: +350 200 66330

www.gmba.info / www.gmbe.me

Eran Shay, GFSB Board member and entrepreneur, has been appointed the Alliance’s
Senior Vice President of ESBA – European Small Business Alliance.

Eran said
“I am delighted to have been elected as ESBA Senior Vice–President. Whilst coming from
ESBA’s smallest member country –Gibraltar, the Gibraltar Federation of Small Businesses is
in fact the only remaining founding member of ESBA.
It is an honour to be appointed to this role in a year in which ESBA is celebrating its 25th
Anniversary. I look forward to working with the ESBA Board so as to continue and deliver
value for our members and hope to meet more of our members during this coming year”.

ESBA President, David Caro said, “We have had a long association with Eran and I am
delighted he has joined the Board in this important role”.

The GFSB are thrilled that Gibraltar now has a representative on the Board of an influential
organisation such as ESBA who campaign on behalf of a million small businesses
throughout Europe, and recently celebrated their 25th anniversary here in Gibraltar taking
part in the awards ceremony for the GFSB Business Innovation Awards kindly sponsored by
Gibtelecom and attended a meeting with Minister Daryanani and Minister Sacramento.

ESBA future plans released ahead of 2024 Euro Elections

ESBA President, David Caro, has also launched the Alliance’s programme for the next
twelve months at its recent annual meeting, which will lead on a small business agenda for
the European Elections next year with key input from its member organisations.
David says ‘With 97% of businesses having less than 20 employees, the importance of
entrepreneurs to future economic prosperity and employment, this sector deserves a greater
recognition by the law makers across Europe, during these challenging times.
New Secretary General, Andrew Cave, will be driving this important work both in Brussels
and with our member organisations’.

Press release ends

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GFSB Board member and businesswoman Michaela Rees who has had experience with a four-day working week was asked to take part in the GBC Viewpoint programme on the 6th of July alongside Wendy Cumming GGCA Union president, Damex Director of Operations Thomas Johnson and Businessman James Brenig, as well as Dr. Karl Alvarez, Occupational Health Services Medical Director.
The concept of a four-day working week globally has seen an increase in popularity with benefits such as great productivity within the workplace, increased happiness with a better work-life balance, less sickness and absenteeism, reduced stress, and a better workplace environment.
Many countries are trialling the idea in various formats and to date a staggering 92% of companies continue to offer reduced hours to staff after the initial trial period.GBC did ask the Government for its stance and a spokesperson said they would not consider the idea, nor any proposal that increases cost given the need to restore financial stability.

https://www.gbc.gi/tv/programmes/viewpoint

What are your thoughts on the four-day working week?