Business News, Support, Training and Skills
Flooding Hardship Fund - Nottinghamshire County Council
 The Nottinghamshire Floods Hardship Fund supports residents and businesses affected by flooding.
Residents whose homes have flooded are eligible for support through the fund, which offers a one-off payment of £120.
Small or micro businesses with up to 49 employees, whose premises have flooded, will be eligible to apply for an emergency payment of up to £300 to help them cope with the immediate, short-term loss of income.
To apply for support through the Hardship Fund, please call the county council’s contact centre on 0300 500 8080.
There is more information available about the Hardship Fund and on how to get help with flooding on the Nottinghamshire County Council website.
New Business Grants Available in Broxtowe
 Broxtowe Borough Council launched 3 new business grants on the 16 October as part of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund programme.
Local businesses can apply for up to £5,000 of funding to help their business to reduce their carbon emissions, grow their micro business and improve the high street. The grants are:
1) SME Energy Grant
SME stands for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises. This grant scheme will offer up to £5,000 towards a range of energy-saving measures, including the installation of LED lighting, improved insulation, improved heating or cooling systems, upgrade to modern electronic thermostats, fit additional thermostatic controls, or PVC strip curtains to reduce draughts – as identified by an initial energy audit
2) Micro-Business Grant
This grant funding round will help local micro businesses address their support needs and help them to take their micro business to the next level, offering up to £5,000.This grant is flexible and could be used to: help to upskill staff or take on and support an apprentice, develop and implement a marketing campaign to grow the business or increase sales, upgrade essential equipment that will help the business to grow, launch a new product or service, launch a product or service into a new market, adopt a new-to-the-firm technology or process, or develop export capability.
3) High Street Business Grant
This grant funding will help small businesses on the high streets in Beeston, Chilwell and Eastwood. Grants of up to £5,000 can help towards the cost of shop and business frontage improvements including signage, street scene or conservation area related initiatives. Environmental energy saving measures, disability access improvements or digital, productivity and ecommerce investments that improve productivity or create jobs.
All three grant schemes are open from Monday 16 October until all of the money is allocated or closed on 15 December 2023.
This project is funded by the UK Government through the Shared Prosperity Fund.
Broxtowe Accelerator - New Business Support Programme
Date: 30 October
Time: 9.30am
Location: Online Webinar
The Broxtowe Accelerator, a jointly commissioned project across Nottinghamshire, is being delivered by East Midlands Chamber in partnership with Broxtowe Borough Council to deliver support for businesses in Broxtowe.
This programme will support businesses at all stages of their development to start, grow, and innovate. It will offer support with:
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Business Adviser Support
A team of locally based advisers and specialists, employed by the Chamber, will offer high-intensity support to businesses to create new jobs or exploit technology to improve performance. Diagnostics will be assessed, and a Business Action Plan produced through the Balanced Scorecard strategic management system model.
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Training
Including action planning workshops and webinars covering a wide range of areas fundamental to your business such as finance and HR, right through to cutting edge topics like AI.
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Access to Finance
Including specialised consultancy delivered through growth voucher support, and capital and revenue grants. All available through consultation with a business adviser.
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Networks for Collaboration
Helping you grow your networks, collaborate and learn from fellow businesses through projects such as the national Help to Grow: Management Scheme, East Midlands Manufacturing Network, and dedicated business forums.
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Tailored Pre-Start and Start-Up Business Support
Delivered in the form of one-to-one advisor consultancy and bootcamp workshops to up-skill individuals.
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Tailored Sector Based Support
Available for selected areas for high street businesses.
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Sustainability Support
Helping you to reduce your energy costs and carbon footprint for your business, and including energy audits.
This event is to launch the programme and to give businesses an opportunity to find out what support will be available to them. This is a free programme and event, and any interested Broxtowe businesses are encouraged to join to find out how we can support you.
This project is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Beeston Light Night - 4 November
Light Night is returning to Beeston!
The second Beeston Light Night is taking place on Saturday 4 November 2023. This will be taking place in The Square, the High Road, and Beeston Rylands.
There will be an exciting array of light displays and performers between 6pm and 9pm, with market stalls open in the old Argos building in Beeston Square from 10am.
Beeston Civic Society have created an interactive map where you can find out the performances that will be on display and where they will be based.
This project is funded by the UK Government through the Shared Prosperity Fund.
Refugee Employability Programme
 On 19 September, the Government launched a new £52 million Refugee Employability Programme to help refugees integrate into local communities.
The Refugee Employability Programme (REP) is a Home Office initiative for the specific needs of refugees, to give them the support they need to find work and build their lives in England. They aim to remove barriers which cannot be fully addressed by mainstream services.
It will provide support with:
- Employment - CV writing, training and interview practice
- English Language - classes, conversation clubs, literacy
- Integration Support - community groups, healthcare, childcare
For people who do not already receive integration support, the programme will help them access public services, including a GP and a job centre, local community groups and mental health support.
The programme is open to all those granted refugee status in the UK or those who have been granted Indefinite Leave to Remain through one of the Government’s humanitarian routes.
Nottingham Festival of Science and Curiosity - Coming to Broxtowe!
Date: 5 - 16 February 2024
The Nottingham Festival of Science and Curiosity will be back on February 2024 and will now be coming to Broxtowe!
The Festival are currently looking for academics, researchers, staff, students and businesses from all disciplines, cultural backgrounds and careers stages to get involved.
If you would like to get involved in the Festival, please get in touch with them by the 3 November!
Learning Offer for Employers
 Inspire are currently offering two bespoke training packages to support businesses to upskill their workforce. These are:
Multiply
Multiply is a government-funded programme to help adults improve their numeracy skills. Anyone aged 19 and over and doesn’t have a Maths Level 2 qualification can access free numeracy courses through Multiply to build confidence with numbers and gain a qualification.
Inspire can work with employers to develop innovative programmes designed to cover specific numeracy skills required in the workplace as well as offering staff the opportunity to work towards Level 2 Maths qualifications.
Courses include:
- Introduction to spreadsheets
- Refresh your everyday maths skills
- Maths- but less scary
- Statistics
- Money management
Branch Out in STEM
Inspire can support employees within small to medium sized organisations (less than 250 staff) based in the Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire (D2N2) area with a range of free training packages. These courses are aimed at supporting employees with their own growth and personal development in digital skills. Courses include:
- Using Spreadsheets to Manage Data (workshop)
- Organising and Analysing Data (Excel Level 2 Unit – Spreadsheet Software)
- Formulas, Analysis and Publishing Data (Excel Level 3 Unit – Spreadsheet Software)
- Working smarter with Word (workshop)
- Making effective Powerpoint Presentations (Workshop)
- Introduction to Digital Marketing (Workshop)
New ban on certain single-use plastic items
Government action to tackle the scourge of litter and protect the environment from plastic pollution ramps up, with bans and restrictions on a range of polluting single-use plastic items coming into force.
No business in England – whether retailer, takeaway, food vendor or part of the hospitality industry – will now be able to sell:
- Single-use plastic cutlery
- Balloon sticks
- Polystyrene cups and food containers
- The supply of single-use plastic plates, trays and bowls has also been restricted.
The new regulations were announced in January and extensive work has taken place throughout 2023 to provide further guidance on the ban for businesses.
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Government action to tackle the scourge of litter and protect the environment from plastic pollution ramps up, with bans and restrictions on a range of polluting single-use plastic items coming into force.
No business in England – whether retailer, takeaway, food vendor or part of the hospitality industry – will now be able to sell:
- Single-use plastic cutlery
- Balloon sticks
- Polystyrene cups and food containers
- The supply of single-use plastic plates, trays and bowls has also been restricted.
The new regulations were announced in January and extensive work has taken place throughout 2023 to provide further guidance on the ban for businesses.
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Untapped Workforce Webinar - SEND
 Date: 29 November
Time: 12pm - 1pm
Location: Online
This Webinar will explore some of the requirements for recruiting SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) employees. Make this the perfect place to discover the opportunity for your organisation to access this untapped workforce.
Join the discussion with Brackenfield School and Bracken Hill School in this lunchtime Webinar encouraging employers to understand the value of a SEN/D workforce. Discover what your organisation can do to meet recruitment needs ensuring inclusivity and diversity.
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