Category: Articles

The usual popularity of gadgets, electronics and appliances was this year once again re-confirmed

Following a long difficult stretch for many businesses due to Covid, businesses were looking forward for this years’ Black Friday with great ambition. Maltese businesses planned to overcome last year’s levels and reach as close as possible to 2019 sales figures.

Whilst the absolute majority of businesses did better than they did in 2020, some reached closer to their expectations of coming close to 2019 than others. It is clear that Malta’s economy is still suffering the effects of Covid and also other challenges coupled with this.

The usual popularity of gadgets, electronics and appliances was this year once again re-confirmed. Even though these businesses changed strategy making their offers available on a longer stretch of time, they still confirm that it was a good Black Friday period for them, with November showing that it will reach their expectations. Some leading players wished they had more stock in hand to sell.

Other items had a slower start for Black Friday but starting picking up later in the afternoon. Here the sales levels fall somewhere between 2019 and 2020 levels. Some business owners report that they are satisfied with a good performance while others expected better this year round.

It is clear that businesses need a sales cycle that is closer to normality in order to make-up for the hard months which are now behind us.

The challenges that businesses had to overcome this year were not small. The impact of international shipping did not make it easy for our businesses to be stocked to the ideal levels, this of course apart from the cost incurred. Many businesses are also suffering serious delays when importing from the UK because of Brexit and report working around the clock to get stocks cleared in time for Black Friday.

Linked to this, the heavy storm on Thursday did not make last-minute re-stocking for Black Friday possible and, of course, Thursday was in itself an important shopping day on the eve of Black Friday which only partially materialised thanks to online facilities.

Your input is greatly appreciated!

The LEAP4SME project consortium has developed a survey to gain valuable insights on barriers to energy efficiency for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The Energy and Water Agency is inviting businesses and organisations to participate in the below 15-minute survey.

The survey will provide information to policy makers on the individual barriers faced by Maltese businesses to get access to energy audits and support to implement energy efficiency measures.

Click here for survey.

A successful conference and networking event

Once again the Malta Chamber of SMEs, Malta Enterprise and Business First organised the annual SME Conference! Returning back to the physical event and re-experience networking.

This year’s SME Conference was organised at The Xara Lodge and over 200 people participated during the conference which was entitled “Being one step ahead, the opportunities for SMEs” focusing mainly on sustainability and the new economy. The aim of the conference was to give SMEs a spring board that will launch them directly into the challenges and opportunities post-Covid.

The conference was addressed by 3 Ministers, Hon. Miriam Dalli, Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Sustainable Development, Hon. Silvio Schembri, Minister for Economy and Industry and Hon. Aaron Farrugia, Minister for the Environment, Climate Change & Planning.

During the conference Malta Chamber of SMEs CEO Ms Abigail Agius Mamo announced the results of a survey which focused on Business Investment Priorities carried out by the SME Chamber during a panel discussion with the participation of Malta Enterprise CEO, Mr Kurt Farrugia and Business first CEO, Ms Marika Tonna.

The survey shows that the majority of businesses are prepared to move towards a sustainable economy and digitization.

Participants later were split into 4 workshops which focused on digitalisation opportunities, environmental initiatives, the new world of work and employment and sustainable finances.

As one of the first physical standing events, the SME Chamber gave importance to networking throughout the half-day event which included lunch.

The Malta Chamber of SMEs would like to thank our supporters: MEI, Trust Payments, RSM, MITA, Measures and Support Division, Identity Malta, Wasteserv and MTA.

Below kindly find some of the best moments captures by our photographer, Albert Camilleri.

 

Learnkey – Over 25 years of experience

Learnkey Malta is one of the pioneer Maltese Training Institutes, has been in operation since the early months of 1995. They are an ACCA Gold Centre and accredited by the City & Guilds, OTHM, ECDL, ILM, and the MFHEA.

Their programs give students the management, analytical and leadership skills needed to achieve success in higher education. Currently, Learnkey offers a range of courses that will for sure meet student’s requirements.

Learnkey launched several  Black Friday Offers and are offering up to 20% discount on Tuition Fees when paying in Advance. If you prefer paying your course in monthly installments, you can still benefit from a stunning 10% discount.

All courses are eligible for the GET QUALIFIED SCHEME where students can get up to 70% Refund on paid fees.

 

Black Friday Flyer – Click here

 

List of courses available for this great deal:

*Registration and Exam Fees not included

Click here for more information on Black Friday offers

 

This is a paid article

The Malta Chamber of SMEs takes this opportunity to wish the MFCC and the events sector well and to reassure them of our unwavering support

Over the last weeks Malta has reached another significant milestone, opening the doors of the MFCC, which is synonymous with large-scale events, after over 20 months of forced non-operation due to Covid. 

Together with MFCC CEO Anita Mifsud and the Minister for Tourism and Consumer Affairs, Hon Clayton Bartolo, SME Chamber CEO Abigail Agius Mamo opened the doors of the MFCC for the Home and Lifestyle Fair.  

Everyone has suffered the effects of Covid but some had to make a bigger sacrifice, of putting everyone’s health above their own livelihood. The events sector and all the sectors related to it and work with it had a very rough time during Covid. The Chamber of SMEs’ CEO stated that the path was unbearable and that the SME Chamber knows this because we went through it with this sector step by step. 

‘There was a time when we thought that a day like today would never come as there was no end or solution in sight. With everyone’s patience and very hard work we achieved this remarkable goal together and this is cause for great national celebration’ stated Abigail Agius Mamo. 

Fairs were taken for granted pre-Covid yet we have all missed them. The experience of having all the services come together under one roof, having ongoing offers and pairing all this with informative talks, is something that consumers should make the most of. 

The Malta Chamber of SMEs takes this opportunity to wish the MFCC and the events sector well and to reassure them of our unwavering support.    

The training will be offered free of charge and aims to contribute to wider efforts in Malta, and internationally, to put a halt to the heinous crimes associated with modern slavery and human trafficking

Funded by the British High Commission, Kopin is providing Maltese businesses with a one-off short virtual training on how they can help fight forms of modern slavery, including human trafficking, in their everyday work.

Evidenced by reports such as ‘Trafficking in Persons’ (TIP) and accounts by victims and survivors, such as the one which we had published last year, modern forms of slavery and human trafficking flourish world-wide, including in Malta.

“BAMS: Businesses Against Modern Slavery” is a continuation of Kopin in its fight against modern slavery and human trafficking (MSHT) and follows up on its project ‘REST THB’.

The training will be offered free of charge and aims to contribute to wider efforts in Malta, and internationally, to put a halt to the heinous crimes associated with modern slavery and human trafficking.

As part of the training, Kopin will encourage companies to sign a Code of Conduct against Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking.

If your company is generally interested in such training, please take just five minutes and fill in this questionnaire. Filling in the questionnaire will be considered simply as an expression of interest and does not constitute a commitment from your end. 

The training will be offered free of charge and on a first-come-first-served basis, and HR Managers are particularly encouraged to attend.

The employer organisations warned that an ageing work force across the European Union will present a challenge in Malta in the coming years

The Malta Employers’ Association, The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry, the Malta Chamber of SMEs, the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association and the Gozo Business Chamber are calling on government to put an immediate halt on the drain of human resources from the private sector, to be employed in the public sector including state appointed bodies.

More and more members of these organisations are voicing their concern about employees who resign haphazardly to take up what is perceived to be a more secure job with less work pressure in government entities. Some companies are having to reduce their operations as a result of a shortage of manpower. Many have to resort to replacing Maltese employees lost to the public sector with other nationalities. This is changing the distribution of the labour force, as government is employing a greater percentage of the Maltese labour force, with companies compensating for labour shortfalls by engaging more foreign labour. The business organisations stated that they are convinced that, in many cases, there is no real need for these persons in the public sector. It must be borne in mind that public sector employment is financed by the output and taxes generated by entrepreneurs and their employees, and depleting the private sector of human resources will spell trouble even for tax revenue generation.

The employer organisations warned that an ageing work force across the European Union will present a challenge in Malta in the coming years, as countries will compete for the younger cohort. This is all the more reason why government should not make the situation worse, simply for political expediency. Human resources in Malta are scarce and limited, and therefore cannot be squandered in this manner. To make matters worse, many companies are also complaining about the difficulties they still encounter in employing third country nationals, including cases of repatriation of workers who have been working here regularly for years. The economy can only progress by upskilling the local labour force and channelling it into productive use, both in the private and public sector.

Members believe that the license associated should be further promoted and the value added associated with being a licensed service provider

The Malta Chamber of SMEs together with the committee representing licensed education service providers held an introductory meeting with the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority.

The meeting aimed to raise a number of issues encountered by members. During the meeting both parties acknowledged the difficulties and issues in place especially the lack of resources available to process accreditation applications. Members also acknowledged improvements especially on the fact that the authority seems to be moving towards becoming more open for discussion and consultation especially through the advisory committee and an open working relationship with the SME Chamber.

Members believe that the license associated should be further promoted and the value added associated with being a licensed service provider. This should include tax incentives and other benefits which would add value to the license acquired, which normally involves a number of license and audit fees.

During the meeting it was also noted that both parties should also work together and address issues in the educational institutions e.g. present issues related to TCN VISAs jointly and to ensure that stipends for students taking up a full-time course with a private institution should also be offered and guaranteed.

Members also presented a number of issues related with time-frames, accountability, the proportionality of fines and penalties imposed, the need for a more transparent process with the processing of applications and the need for an adequate client support structure.

Finally, it was agreed that the both the SME Chamber, through its dedicated sub-committee and MFHEA, should continue to keep a close contact in order to ensure that issues encountered are dealt with as early as possible and also to ensure that this important sector continues to grow, while ensuring that quality across the sector is maintained.