FLOW 23 – A successful conference on digital transformation

4 Sight Group in collaboration with the Malta Chamber of SMEs organised the 2nd edition of Flow 23 – The Digital Transformation Event.

The conference included the participation of over 150 delegates form various sectors to learn about the latest technologies, such as AI and automation, and how they can help businesses streamline their operations and improve efficiency.

Participants had the opportunity to network with other business leaders and learn from their experiences.

SME Chamber organises a webinar in collaboration with the Customs Department

The Malta Chamber of SMEs in collaboration with the Customs Department organised a Webinar on the recent changes in Declaration of Non-Harmonised Goods (Excise Duty). 

The Webinar included explanations related to:  

  • Process to Register for an Excise Registered Merchant; 
  • The new process on the Simplified Customs Declaration Scheme; and
  • The new procedure as of 1st of May 2023, the 48 working hours or the 5 working days with regards to when the concession could be submitted will no longer be applicable; 

Member may request the link to view the webinar by sending an email to .

Press Release: SME Chamber welcomes turnout in bid for Renewable Energy Projects

The Malta Chamber of SMEs notes with satisfaction the massive turnout for participation in the Invitation to Bid (ITB) issued by the Energy Ministry via the REWS (Regulator for Energy and Water Services) for the award of financial support for electricity from renewable energy. The participants were bidding for the feed-in tariff rate that Government will give them when they feed the power they generate into the national electricity grid. The proposed projects are all privately owned solar farms that they are planning to build and finance.

Over subscription in this case is a watershed moment for Malta. Malta has really turned a new page in renewable energy production. Clearly, there is investment appetite as well as confidence from Private Enterprise in the future of the country. It is also evidence of the good work being done by the Energy Ministry as well as encouragement for the Ministry to work together with stakeholders such as the Malta Chamber of SMEs to achieve even more.

Of a total of 50MW power generation through the proposed projects, only 19MW will materialize due to capping imposed on the capacity that can be installed. We strongly urge Government to raise the limits imposed so that the remaining projects are green-lit as soon as possible. It would be a pity if these investors lose interest; keeping up the momentum will likely attract new investors which will eventually result in putting Malta on the European renewable energy map. Encouraging more investment, such as this, one will enable the nation to reach its renewable energy targets. Funds currently being spent abroad to purchase energy can instead be diverted to the local economy, Industry and Employers.

Members of the Malta Chamber of SMEs meets German Business delegation

Members of the Malta Chamber of SMEs had the privilege of meeting a German Business delegation which is currently in Malta to explore business opportunities.

Malta Chamber of SMEs CEO Ms Abigail Agius Mamo welcomed the delegation and following this, individual B2B meetings were held between the German delegation and the esteemed members of the Malta Chamber of SMEs.

The German delegation was led by Mr. Detlef Bischoff, the Honorary Consul for the Land Saxony-Anhalt and the Free State of Saxony.

Business First recognised for ‘Quality’ service at Is-Servizz Pubbliku Awards

Business First a joint endeavour between the Malta Chamber of SMEs and Malta Enterprise received the #QualityAward at this year’s Is-Servizz Pubbliku awards that took place yesterday evening. This achievement highlights the outstanding work carried out by Business First and establishes it as the premier provider among all Quality Mark holders.

Business 1st is a joint venture between Malta Enterprise and the Malta Chamber for SMEs. It also forms part of the servizz.gov network. Led and managed by Malta Enterprise, B1st brings together number of government departments and entities that either offer a service or else regulate business activities. The aim of all the entities that have a presence at B1st is to assist business start-ups and SMEs prosper and grow thereby contributing to enhancing economic activity and competitiveness.

The Business First team has once again been recognized for their unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional quality and efficient services to their esteemed clients. The award serves as a testament to the team’s relentless pursuit of excellence and their unwavering focus on providing top-tier services to their valued clientele.

ME and Chamber of SMEs leadership congratulate B1ST team

Chamber of SMEs President Paul Abela explained that “When the Malta Chamber of SMEs joined forces with Malta Enterprise to provide a one-stop-shop service for business we had a clear vision on what was the experience we wanted to create to give a service to the business community. Our expectations has since been surpassed thanks to the stellar dedication by all Business First staff, led by Marika Tonna”.

“We take immense pride in the exceptional service that Business 1st delivers to our clientele daily. Our gratitude extends deeply to our industrious team. Their hard work doesn’t go unnoticed, and it’s heartening to see the positive impact they’re making, which is a testament to a nation that cherishes its commercial community. We hold in high regard our partnership with the Chamber of SMEs. Their contribution is instrumental in fostering an environment conducive to business growth and success” explained Kurt Farrugia CEO of Malta Enterprise.

Speaking about this significant achievement, Marika Tonna, CEO at Business First, expressed heartfelt appreciation for the entire team’s hard work and commitment: “We are so successful because our team members genuinely care about what they do and they always go the extra mile to give an excellent service. As management I believe that we do our best to lead by example while showing that we care for our team as people rather than as just employees”

For more information about Business First and the services they offer, please visit https://www.businessfirst.com.mt/  or contact Freephone 144.

The Malta Chamber of SMEs, a proud co-owner of Business first, would like to congratulate all the team at Business First for another award.

Malta Chamber of SMEs and CRPD presents results on online accessibility

A Press Conference was held on May 26th, organized by the Malta Chamber of SMEs in collaboration with CRPD. The purpose of the conference was to present the findings of a survey conducted by the Malta Chamber of SMEs among its members regarding Web Accessibility.

The attendees at the Press Conference included Hon Julia Farrugia Portelli, Permanent Secretary Ms. Nancy Caruana, CRPD Commissioner Ms. Samantha Pace Gasan, and two representatives from FITA.

A significant number of survey respondents expressed their willingness to improve the accessibility of their websites for people with disabilities, particularly through financial assistance and support programs. However, the main challenges identified by businesses in enhancing website accessibility were financial constraints, a shortage of staff, and a lack of information and expertise on how to make websites more accessible.

During the Press Conference, the Malta Chamber of SMEs and CRPD provided the following recommendations based on the survey findings, recognizing that the survey serves as an initial step in identifying areas for improvement in online accessibility:

The recommendations are:

* Revise the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines to be more user-friendly.

* Further collaboration between the government and stakeholders to organize outreach activities aimed at educating the business community about Web Content Accessibility.

* A quality mark acknowledging and rewarding businesses that have achieved web accessibility.

* Additional initiatives and financial assistance should be introduced to assist businesses in meeting the requirements of existing laws regarding accessible website content.

* A Help Desk for businesses seeking to improve the accessibility of their websites.

* Compilation of a list of service providers, through FITA or other, that can effectively aid in the process of enhancing website accessibility.

Click here to view Press Conference

 

“When a flower doesn’t bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower.”

It’s all about understanding each other better at work! Effective communication and understanding among colleagues are amongst the key factors in fostering a positive and productive workplace culture. Building good work relationships helps individuals to understand each other better, collaborate more efficiently, resolve conflicts, and foster an atmosphere of trust and respect.

We can all be different, act differently and behave in a unique way. This is perfectly fine if we manage to still respect and trust each other in the right way. Every player is unique and must play his/her important role for the success of the team. This is where the focus needs to be. We need to focus more on the current characteristics of the team whilst still aiming to win and achieve the desired results.

Time to shift our focus. It is now the time to stop looking the wrong way since this won’t allow entrepreneurs and decision-makers to set the right direction for their people and the organisation. It is only the team, the people, who will make it happen and achieve the results.

“When a flower doesn’t bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower.” This quote by Alexander Den Heijer is one that can shift our perspective immediately. To enhance understanding and foster better communication in the workplace, let’s make sure to active listen, embrace diversity, communicate clearly and respectfully, embrace empathy, promote open communication, engage in team building activities and promote learning and development to help people develop their soft skills in order to enhance work relationships.

We all have the power to improve workplace harmony as we are all part of the team. This is the only way to create an environment where employees understand and support one another and feel that amazing sense of belonging.

Ritienne Xerri, Director Misco

Summer Job Bank – Post a vacancy today!

With summer just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to start planning for that extra help your business needs to thrive. Jobsplus is reaching out to all innovative and ambitious employers who could use an extra set of hands, or ten, during the sunny months ahead.

MORE hands on deck, MORE productivity, MORE creativity, and ultimately, MORE success!

Jobsplus is curating a Summer Job Bank giving you the opportunity to submit vacancies and reach out to students in various educational institutions who are eager to gain valuable work experience, boost their resumes, and make some extra cash during their summer break.

Get started with Jobsplus today!

Post a summer job through the portal on www.jobsplus.gov.mt or the link below.

Please ensure that the employment type selected is that of SUMMER WORK.

For further assistance get in touch with us on 2220 1600 or .

Maximizing Efficiency and Profitability: The Benefits of a Cloud Unified Commercial Environment (POS)

Consolidating your business’s sales front with your back-end and online stores is critical in today’s fast-paced retail environment. However, moving from a traditional cash register to a cloud POS system is often seen as a complex task. Business owners get lost in the myriad of tools available, the legal and local VAT compliance jargon and what hardware suits the point of sale needs. This transition becomes an overwhelming task amidst the day-to-day running of the business.

Do you need help keeping your inventory streamlined across your online and in-store sales channels?

With the right cloud apps, selling is made easy – with one POS to manage your entire business, take payments and deliver first-class customer service. Additionally, you can have a seamless link between all your sales stores with one product catalogue, and process and dispatch your orders smoothly!

By integrating your in-store card payment services with your POS system, you can streamline the checkout process and reduce the potential risks associated with manual price entry in the card machine. This integration helps to minimize errors in payment processing. Furthermore, it can reduce the inconvenience of following up with customers for incorrect payment processing. In short, integrating your in-store card payment services with your POS system can ensure a smooth and hassle-free checkout experience for you and your customers.

Connecting your point-of-sale (POS) system with your website and accounting tools can help ensure a seamless data flow across your organization. By automating data transfer between these systems, you can reduce the need for manual data entry and minimize the potential for errors and discrepancies in your records. In addition, this integration allows you to keep track of your inventory, sales, and financial data in real time, which can help you make informed decisions and streamline your operations. Connecting your POS, website, and accounting tools can help you save time, reduce costs, and improve the accuracy of your data.

Need help to figure out where to start? The right partner will help you find the right path

Understandably, business owners may feel apprehensive about changing how their operations are run. However, this seemingly daunting task can become much more manageable with the help of the right technology and a reliable partner. By leveraging the expertise of these partners, businesses can delegate the responsibility of managing the complexity of implementing new technologies and focusing on their core operations. Ultimately, with the proper support and guidance, adopting new technology can become a more accessible and achievable task.

There has never been a better time for your retail operations to embrace technology and adopt tools provided by the cloud to power your business into the future.

How can a retail tech partner help?

Transitioning to cloud apps can feel intimidating, but with the help of experienced specialists, this exercise can be relatively painless, with minimal disruptions to your business operations. The critical step is understanding your pain points and business challenges, which involves defining, mapping, and comprehending your business needs. It’s important to start with the “why” to ensure your business objectives align with the cloud app’s capabilities in the market. The role of a cloud specialist is to identify the best app(s) that match your business operations. To avoid unpleasant surprises, this process must be thoroughly discussed with you, the customer.

In conclusion, elevate your retail business with a comprehensive inventory management system to streamline your in-store, online, and cross-channel fulfilment. With the ability to integrate seamlessly with your existing e-commerce stores and other sales channels, this solution can be easily implemented into your business operations. By unifying your stock management, you can better understand your inventory levels and avoid overselling or underselling products. Additionally, with an integrated system, you can efficiently fulfil orders from various sales channels, improving customer satisfaction and increasing sales. Implementing a unified stock management system can help boost your retail business’s efficiency and profitability.

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