April 2024

Welcome to the April edition of Havant Borough Council's Business Newsletter.

This month we launch Youth Employment Scheme Havant (YES), our 6-month funded placement scheme to support growing your business, workforce and connecting with the local community. The scheme will provide businesses across the Borough with access up to £7,500 to start a new employee. By applying you can add to the success of the 8 placements we have already awarded. The next set of allocation will be on a first come, first serve basis. 

We kick off the project with our YES Havant launch event, where you can meet potential candidates and fill in your application form with support from the team. Book your space now on the link below. 

If you would like to book a virtual introduction meeting with our team please click on the link below. 

All email enquiries should be directed to economic_development@havant.gov.uk 

Portsmouth Creates have launched the Portsmouth Creative Directory, an online platform to support creative businesses and showcases Portsmouth and the surrounding areas creativity. portsmouthcreativedirectory.co.uk is a directory website profiling a range of creative business and individuals.

Creatives, freelancers and businesses of all shapes and sizes are encouraged to register and become part of a searchable network that will promote and showcase the breadth of the area's creative talents.

Incuhive Business Support Havant Borough Council have commissioned Incuhive to offer free support to businesses looking to grow or start-up across the Borough.

The support from Incuhive includes: 

• Funding and finance 
• Marketing and social media
• Business planning and/or adapting current plans 
• Cashflow 

If you are interested in mentoring style support tailored to your business needs please contact, Andy Pringle, andy.pringle@incuhive.co.uk. 

Are you a local food business? The Food Standards Agency (FSA) have released a package of guidance for businesses serving food that businesses to prepare for their first inspection with guidance on a range of areas including content on preparation before and after inspection.

The package also enables businesses to prepare for their first inspection with guidance on a range of areas including content on preparation before and after inspection. 

Are you looking for opportunities to support your local community?

Havant Borough Council are supporting Havant Rotary in their endeavours to ‘Feed Havant’ (https://feedhavant.co.uk/).  They have a project called ‘Bring a Can to Work’, and once they have collected the food they then distribute it around the 5 foodbanks we have in the Borough.  They also collect money each month that they also share for the foodbanks to buy much needed provisions.

HBC publicises this project internally and people bring in cans and dried food which is collected regularly.  Could you help them, by doing the same?  It really doesn’t take much.  You would need to publicise it within your organisation and have an area where people can donate.  Whoever is co-ordinating this would then contact Graham from Havant Lottery who will arrange for it to be collected. 

The foodbanks in the Borough are struggling.  Donations have dropped dramatically, and the usage has, sadly, increased.  Some of our foodbanks are needing to spend in the region of £800 per week to provide the food needed.  So all help will be gratefully received.

Want to know how you can get involved?  Contact Graham from Havant Rotary either by email on graham@arachnid.it, or by phone on 07516 100 585. 

Recruitment Support with Job Centre 

Job Centre recruitment support package is designed to help businesses promote and fill their current vacancies. 

They can offer support with a range of services including: 

• Free promotion and advertising of job roles 
• Bespoke recruitment events to suit your hiring needs 

All services are designed to be tailored to the business need, so no matter your size or needs Job Centre can work with you completely free of charge!

For more information and contact details please use the link below. 

Havant Waterlooville FC Business Networking 

Friday 12 Apr 2024 10:00 - 12:30

HWFC are hosting a business networking morning suitable for all businesses to attend. You will hear from a range of speakers including Troo Ltd and Havant Borough Council with a focus on supporting businesses to become more cost effective, gain business mentors and support recruitment. 

There will also be an opportunity for you to introduce your business to others and gain valuable connections across the local community. 

To book your space, use the link below and visit the Eventbrite page.